Patent Application
20070267796
The invention provides a multi-purpose reversible clamp. The clamp enables securing, joining, or clamping of material at 90 degree angles in corner, butt, or other “V” arrangements. In some embodiments, the clamp also enables securing, joining, or clamping material into cross (e.g., “X” shaped) or “T” shaped arrangements.
In one embodiment, a reversibility feature of the clamp enables a corner clamp function as well as a parallel clamp function which can secure, join, or clamp material in parallel arrangements. This multi-purpose clamping functionality can be enabled by an upper jaw portion of the clamp that includes a male corner feature for use in a corner clamping configuration (e.g., enabling “V,” “X,” or “T” arrangements) and a flat/planar surface on the upper jaw opposite the male corner feature for use in a parallel clamping configuration. In one embodiment, the corner clamping configurations utilize the male corner feature of the upper jaw and a female corner receiving feature of a lower jaw. The parallel clamping configuration utilizes the planar surface of the upper jaw and spaced flattened surfaces located at the topmost portion of the lower jaw. Additionally, the multi-purpose reversible clamp can be securely mounted to a work surface via one or more mounting holes in one or more portions of the clamp.
Mounted on threaded rod 101 above handle 103 is a first jaw 105. In one embodiment, first jaw 105 may be considered a “lower jaw.” First jaw 105 includes a female corner receiving portion. In some embodiments, the female corner receiving portion comprises two perpendicularly arranged arms 107a and 107b. Each of arms 107a and 107b include an inner surface 109a and 109b, respectively.
At the top of arms 107a and 107b are flattened portions 111a and 111b, respectively. Flattened portions 111a and 111b comprise flat surfaces that face away from handle 103 and that are spaced apart according to the configuration/spacing of arms 107a and 107b. Flattened portions 111a and 111b both exist on a common plane 113.
In one embodiment, plane 113 of flattened portions 111a and 111b is orthogonal to longitudinal axis 112 and surfaces 109a and 109b are disposed orthogonally to one another. Thus, flattened portion 111b forms a 225 degree external angle with inner surface 109b (see
In some embodiments, first jaw 105 is vertically fixed with respect to threaded rod 101 such that first jaw 105 does not move vertically in relation to threaded rod 101. In some embodiments, first jaw 105 is freely rotatable around threaded rod 101 (i.e., threaded rod 101 is freely rotatable within a bore running through first jaw 105). This rotation may be enabled, for example, via a bearing disposed between first jaw 105 and threaded rod 101. This rotation may enable the plane of first jaw 105 to be held stable as handle 103 is used to turn threaded rod 101 within first jaw 105 (e.g., when tightening a movable second jaw to clamp material between the movable second jaw and first jaw 105).
In some embodiments, first jaw 105 may move vertically in relation to threaded rod 101. In these embodiments, the threads of threaded rod 101 may interact with corresponding threads on a threaded central bore (not illustrated) in first jaw 105 such that relative rotational movement between threaded rod 101 and first jaw 105 may translate into relative vertical movement between first jaw 105 and threaded rod 101 (e.g., towards or away from handle 103). In some embodiments, this vertical movement may enable clamping of material between first jaw 105 and a second jaw (e.g., second jaw 117) in corner, parallel or other configurations.
Multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 also includes a second jaw 117. In one embodiment, second jaw 117 is an “upper jaw.” In one embodiment, second jaw 117 includes a male corner portion on a first end and a flat/planar surface 119 on a second end opposite from the first end. The male corner portion comprises a second pair of orthogonally arranged surfaces 121a and 121b, which are disposed orthogonally from one another. As such, planes 123a and 123b of surfaces 121a and 121b are perpendicular to each other, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, planar surface 119 may be considered to be a second additional clamping surface. In some embodiments, this second additional clamping surface may be used for, inter alia, parallel clamping, as discussed below. In some embodiments, the additional clamping surface 119 may face a direction toward surfaces 111a and 111b while simultaneously providing the surfaces 121a and 121b (for clamping surfaces forming the inner corner of a corner workpiece) in an orientation facing outer corner workpiece engaging surfaces 109a and 109b. For example, rather than forming a lower point 133, upper jaw 117 may have a flattened lower surface.
In one embodiment, second jaw 117 is mounted on threaded rod 101 via a threaded central bore (not illustrated) disposed through second jaw 117. The main axis of the threaded central bore runs parallel to the main plane of movable upper jaw 117. When second jaw 117 is mounted onto threaded rod 101, the threaded central bore and threaded rod 101 share the same axis (e.g., longitudinal axis 112). In some embodiments, when mounted on threaded rod 101, second jaw 117 maybe moved vertically with respect to threaded rod 101 by rotating second jaw 117 and threaded rod 101 relative to one another (e.g., rotating second jaw 117 around threaded rod 101 or by turning handle 103, causing threaded rod 101 to rotate within the threaded central bore of second jaw 117).
In one embodiment, when second jaw 117 is mounted on threaded rod 101 via the threaded central bore of second jaw 117, relative rotational movement between threaded rod 101 and second jaw 117 translates into relative vertical movement between threaded rod 101 and second jaw 117. This is because of the nature and interaction of the threads on both the threaded central bore and threaded rod 101. For example, in one instance, threaded rod 101 may include male threads disposed in a spiral fashion along part or all of its length. Similarly, the threaded central bore may include matching female threads. As such, these interacting threads are able to translate relative rotational movement between threaded rod 101 and the threaded central bore into relative vertical or transverse movement between threaded rod 101 and second jaw 117 (e.g., second jaw 117 moves along threaded rod 101 towards or away from first jaw 105). This translation from rotational to vertical movement using threads may be similar to that of a male machine screw being inserted into a threaded female screw receptacle. The vertical or transverse movement of second jaw 117 along threaded rod 101 towards or away from first jaw 105 enables placement and clamping of material between second jaw 117 and first jaw 105 in corner, parallel, or other configurations.
In some embodiments, second jaw 117 is mounted on threaded rod 101 with the male corner portion facing first jaw 105 (flat surface 119 facing away from first jaw 105). This first relative position of first jaw 105 to second jaw 117, wherein the first pair of orthogonally arranged surfaces (i.e., surfaces 109a and 109b of the female receiving portion of first jaw 105) face the second pair of orthogonally arranged surfaces (i.e., surfaces 121a and 121b of the male corner portion of second jaw 117) may be referred to as a corner clamping configuration. In the corner clamping configuration, the spacing between second jaw 117 and first jaw 105 may be changed by moving second jaw 117 towards first jaw 105. This enables a user to clamp a corner workpiece between the male corner portion of second jaw 117 and the female corner receiving portion of first jaw 105.
A user may cause second jaw 117 to move towards first jaw 105 for clamping purposes by grasping handle 103 with one hand and rotating handle 103 (thus, causing threaded rod 101 to rotate), while ensuring that second jaw 117 does not rotate (thus, drawing second jaw 117 along threaded rod 101 towards first jaw 105). Other methods may be used to achieve similar relative movements. In another embodiment, wherein first jaw 105 is vertically movable relative to threaded rod 101, rotation of handle 103 may cause first jaw 105 to move along rod 101 towards second jaw 117, which may remain vertically fixed.
In the corner clamping configuration, surfaces 109a and 109b of first jaw 105 engage the surfaces defining the outer corner of a workpiece being clamped in a corner configuration. Also, surfaces 121a and 121b of second jaw 117 engage the surfaces of a corner workpiece defining the inner corner of the workpiece being clamped in a corner configuration. As such, multi-purpose clamp 100 enables material to be clamped into 90 degree corner arrangements (e.g., two pieces ending in 45 degree angles or other complementary angles) or butt arrangements.
In some embodiments, first jaw 105 includes two lower channels 115a and 115b. Channel 115a is formed by a lower surface 202 formed on a lower side of arm 107a and a surface 204 formed on a lower central portion 206 of first jaw 105. In one embodiment, surface 202 and surface 204 are disposed parallel to one another and are disposed at a fixed distance relative to one another. This distance, in one embodiment, equals approximately 2 inches, making channel 115a suitable for receiving a “2×4” depthwise. However, other distances for other sizes/types of workpieces is contemplated. In one embodiment, the distance between surfaces 202 and 204 may be adjustable. For example, arm 107a may be adjustably fixed closer or further from lower central portion 206. In another example, the distance between surface 202 and 204 may be adjusted by placing an insert, defining a channel with a different width inside channel 115a. Other methods of adjusting channel width may be used.
In addition, lower central portion 206 (which in one embodiment, has a triangle configuration) includes another surface 208 that cooperates with a lower surface 210 on arm 107b to define channel 115b. In one embodiment, surfaces 208 and 210 are disposed parallel to one another and also disposed at a fixed distance to receive a particular size/type of workpiece, such as being spaced by 2 inches to receive a “2×4” depthwise. However, other distances for other sizes/types of workpieces is contemplated. In one embodiment, the distance between surfaces 208 and 210 may be adjustable. For example, arm 107b may be adjustably fixed closer or further from lower central portion 206. In another example, the distance between surface 208 and 210 may be adjusted by placing an insert, defining a channel with a different width inside channel 115b. Other methods of adjusting channel width may be used.
Channel 115a can be considered to be a continuation of the channel formed between surface 121b of second jaw 117 and the surface 109b of first jaw 105 when multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 is in the corner clamping configuration (illustrated in
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, second jaw 117 is mounted on threaded rod 101 with planar surface 119 of second jaw 117 facing towards both handle 103 and first jaw 105. This second relative position of first jaw 105 and second jaw 117, wherein the first additional clamping surface (formed by flattened surfaces 111a and 111b of first jaw 105) and the second additional clamping surface (in this embodiment, surface 119 of second jaw 117) face one another is referred to as the parallel clamping configuration. When mounted in the parallel clamping configuration, planar surface 119 is facing towards handle 103 and fixed lower jaw 105, as illustrated in
The parallel clamping configuration enables a workpiece to be clamped in a parallel fashion between first jaw 105 and second jaw 117. First, the workpiece is placed between first jaw 105 and second jaw 117. The spacing between first jaw 105 and second jaw 117 may then be changed by moving one of first jaw 105 or second jaw 117 closer to the other. In one embodiment, second jaw 117 is moved toward first jaw 105. This may be accomplished, for example, by a user grasping and rotating handle 103, which causes threaded rod 101 to rotate within the threaded bore of second jaw 117 (while the user prevents similar rotation of second jaw 117). This relative rotation of threaded rod 101 inside second jaw 117 draws second jaw 117 toward first jaw 105, which remains vertically fixed relative to rod 101. Other methods may be used to achieve similar relative motion, achieving the same result.
In another embodiment wherein first jaw 105 is vertically movable relative to threaded rod 101, rotation of handle 103 may cause first jaw 105 to move along rod 101 towards second jaw 117, which remains vertically fixed.
As second jaw 117 is moved towards first jaw 105, a first surface of the workpiece is engaged by flattened surfaces 111a and 111b (i.e., the first additional clamping surface) and a second surface of the workpiece is engaged by planar surface 119 (i.e., the second additional clamping surface).
As illustrated in
Multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 may be changed from the corner clamping configuration of
Once removed from threaded rod 101, the user may rotate second jaw 117 180 degrees, on an axis perpendicular to longitudinal axis 112 of threaded rod 101, so that planar surface 119 faces first jaw 105. The user may then remount second jaw 117 onto threaded rod 101 by placing threaded rod 101 into the portion of the threaded central bore of second jaw 117 that exists on the end of second jaw 117 having planar surface 119. Second jaw 117 may then be moved toward first jaw 105 by rotating second jaw 117 relative to threaded rod 101 in a manner that draws second jaw 117 towards first jaw 105. For example, this may be accomplished by a user turning handle 103 with his or her hand, which causes threaded rod 101 to rotate within the threaded central bore of second jaw 117. This may also be accomplished by rotating second jaw 117 around threaded rod 101.
Reversible corner clamp 100 may also be switched from a parallel clamping configuration to a corner clamping configuration in a similar manner as that described herein for switching from a corner clamping configuration to a parallel clamping configuration (e.g., removing second jaw 117, rotating it 180 degrees and remounting).
In one embodiment, as noted above, the male corner portion of second jaw 117 may have a flattened tip rather than pointed tip 133.
In one embodiment, multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 may include one or more mounting holes 129 for securing multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 to a structure, workpiece, work surface, tool, or other item.
In some embodiments, one or more of first jaw 105, second jaw 117, handle 103, and/or other elements of multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 may be manufactured from molded, extruded, or otherwise-manufactured plastic. Other materials (e.g., metals, polymers, wood, etc.) may be used to manufacture first jaw 105, second jaw 117, handle 103, and/or other elements of multi-purpose reversible clamp 100. In some embodiments, handle 103 may include additional grip elements made of rubber, foam or other material that provides a comfortable and/or secure gripping surface for the hand of a user. In some embodiments, threaded rod 101, threaded removable cap 127, and/or other elements of multi-purpose reversible clamp 100 may be manufactured from steel or other metal. Other materials (e.g., other plastics, polymers, wood, etc.) may also be used to manufacture threaded rod 101, threaded removable cap 127, and/or other elements of multi-purpose reversible clamp 100.
While the invention has been described with reference to the certain illustrated embodiments, the words that have been used herein are words of description, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the associated claims, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structures, acts, and materials, the invention is not to be limited to the particulars disclosed, but rather can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, some of which may be quite different from those of the disclosed embodiments, and extends to all equivalent structures, acts, and, materials, such as are within the scope of the associated claims.
