This invention relates generally to the field of clamping devices used to temporarily secure together two components. More specifically, the invention pertains to clamps that are used to provide additional work surfaces to woodworking apparatuses such as cutting apparatuses or woodworking benches.
With respect to woodworking apparatuses such as cutting devices (i.e., table saws, routers and band saws), clamps may be used to secure an auxiliary fence to an existing machine fence to provide additional surface area to support work pieces for cutting or to provide a sacrificial fence. Similarly, clamps may be used to affix wood boards to benches to increase working area space. Such auxiliary fences or boards are typically configured so the clamps engage these components and the woodworking apparatus in a manner to provide a flush and/or clear working surface.
Prior art auxiliary fences often include extruded metal (aluminum) members; however, these components are limited in size because of manufacturing cost and weight. In addition, the channels for receiving clamps extend in only one direction. That is, the extruded metal fences cannot be manufactured to include channels in multiple directions. Accordingly, woodworking enthusiasts and professionals often use wood boards as auxiliary or sacrificial fences that are adapted to receive clamps so that a flush work surface is available. More specifically, channels may be formed along edges of the board to receive a clamp post; however, the boards have a height dimension similar to that of the fence for the cutting tool and do not function well with larger wooden work pieces to be cut.
Alternatively, T-shaped grooves or channels have been formed on one side of the board to receive a T-shaped clamping post of a clamp, but the cross-sectional dimensions of these channels are not standardized, and the end users have difficulties in cutting the properly sized grooves to receive T-shaped clamping posts of a clamp. In addition, the T-shaped channels if cut too deep may compromise the structural integrity of the work surface. If cut too shallow, the T-shaped channels form thin strips of wood on the clamp side, which strips can readily break thereby comprising the attachment of the auxiliary fence to the machine fence of the woodworking apparatus.
Embodiments of a multi-purpose utility clamp may include a component engagement member having a clamp head and a handle. A guide arm is operatively connected to the component engagement member at a first end of the guide arm. A first post is operatively connected to a second end of the guide arm to move linearly relative to the guide arm. A second post at an end of the support post is disposed generally perpendicular to the first post and has a first end connected to the first post and a second end, distal the first end, and the second end is disposed opposite the clamping head. The second post has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape along a length thereof between the first end and the second end, and the second post is configured to be inserted into a channel having a corresponding trapezoidal shape and formed in an auxiliary component to be clamped to another component.
In an embodiment, the second post has a front surface facing the clamp head and a back surface opposite and generally parallel to the front surface, wherein the back surface is wider than the front surface. First and second opposite side surfaces extending from the back surface to the front surface are disposed at an angle of about 76° relative to the back surface, or at an angle of about 14° relative to a reference line that is perpendicular to the back surface.
Embodiments of the invention may also include a multi-purpose utility clamp in combination with an auxiliary wooden component configured to be clamped to a woodworking apparatus. The clamp may comprise a component engagement member including a clamp head and a handle. A guide arm is operatively connected to the component engagement member at a first end of the guide arm. A first post is operatively connected to a second end of the guide arm to move linearly relative to the guide arm; and, a second post at an end of the first post is disposed generally perpendicular to the first post and has a first end connected to the first post and a second end, distal the first end, and the second end is disposed opposite the clamping head. The second post has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape along a length thereof between the first end and the second end, and the second post is configured to be inserted into a channel having a corresponding trapezoidal shape and formed in an auxiliary component to be clamped to another component. The wooden auxiliary component includes at least one channel formed in the wooden component, and the at least one channel has a cross-section trapezoidal corresponding to the trapezoidal shape of the second post.
These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in view of the drawings. Similar structures illustrated in more than one figure are numbered consistently among the drawings.
In describing particular features of different embodiments of the present invention, number references will be utilized in relation to the figures accompanying the specification. Similar or identical number references in different figures may be utilized to indicate similar or identical components among different embodiments of the present invention.
It is to be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like as used herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope are approximations, the numerical values set forth in specific non-limiting examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumed therein. As a non-limiting example, a range of “less than 10” can include any and all sub-ranges between (and including) the minimum value of zero and the maximum value of 10, that is, any and all sub-ranges having a minimum value of equal to or greater than zero and a maximum value of equal to or less than 10, e.g., 1 to 7. It is to be noted that all ranges disclosed within this specification are inclusive and are independently combinable.
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A guide arm 18 is provided in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft 14 at a first end 18A thereof and supports a first post 20 at a second end 18B. The first post 20 is connected in linear sliding engagement with the guide arm 18 to accommodate different thicknesses of items to be claimed together. A second post 22 (also referred to herein as “clamping post”) is attached to the first post 20 at preferably, substantially 90° and extends toward the clamp head 16. The term “substantially” or “generally” perpendicular means within ±5° of 90°, and preferably within ±2° of 90°. The first post 20 and second post 22 may be separate parts that are welded together, or other fastening mechanisms may be used to secure the posts, 20, 22 together. Alternatively, the first and second posts 20, 22 or may be forged or made as a single integral component.
As will be explained in more detail below, when clamping to components together, the second post 22 is inserted into a channel of an auxiliary (or second) component to be clamped to a woodworking apparatus. The second or auxiliary component, which may be a wooden member with one or more channels, is positioned against a surface, such as a fence of a table or table saw or router table (or a first component), and the clamp head 16 is positioned against the first component by sliding the first post 20 along the guide arm 18 away from the first component, or sliding the engagement member 11, including the clamp head 16 toward the first and second components. The handle 12 is then rotated thereby rotating the threaded shaft 14 so the clamp head 16 moves linearly toward the second post 22 securing the two components together.
The threaded shaft 14 acts as a gear mechanism operatively connected to the guide arm 18 to facilitate relative movement of the clamp head 16, guide arm 18 and clamping post 22 to clamp to components together. While embodiments described herein includes the guide arm 18 attached in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft 14 for adjustment of the second post 22 relative to the clamp head 16, the invention is not so limited, and may include other gear mechanisms or other clamping mechanisms. For example, the guide arm 18 may be operatively connected to a handle that has lock and ratcheting mechanism to position the second post 22 relative to the clamp head 16 such as incorporated in the Quick Clamp sold by Festool. In addition, the term handle is intended to cover any type of gripping member that allows manipulation of the clamp 10, such as a knob. To that end, the invention is not limited to a rotatable handle connected to a threaded shaft. In addition, the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described herein wherein the support post 20 is in sliding engagement with the guide arm 18. The invention is intended to cover any clamp, with the below-described clamping post member with a cross-sectional trapezoidal shaped post member corresponding to a dovetail shape of a channel formed in an auxiliary fence, bench or work piece.
The inventor of the subject invention has innovatively developed the clamp 10 including a clamping post (second post 22) that has a generally trapezoidal or dovetail cross-sectional configuration. In an embodiment, the trapezoidal configuration extends the length of the clamping post 22, or is disposed at least at or toward a first end 22A of the clamping post 22, or the trapezoidal configuration is disposed along a length of the second post 22 between the first end 22A and second end 22B thereof, and the trapezoidal shape does not have to necessarily extend an entire length of the second post 22. In addition, the second post 22 may be slightly narrower at the tip of the first end 22A so the second post 22 can be readily inserted into a channel on the second component. One or more dovetail channels or channels are preferably formed in the auxiliary component having the dimensions of a dovetail router bit that is commonly and widely used by woodworking enthusiasts and professionals. In this manner, end users can readily form dovetail channels in which the clamping post 22 snugly fits for clamping. Moreover, although the invention is described in reference to use with woodworking apparatuses, the invention is not so limited. The inventive clamp may be used with a variety of different fabricating tools and could be used with, for example, metal fabricating tools. In addition, the second auxiliary component may be wooden or composed of other materials such as metallic materials.
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While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein. Non-limiting examples include a component that is described above as being attached to one part of the apparatus may alternatively be attached to a different part of the apparatus in other embodiments. Parts described as being indirectly connected may be connected directly to each other, and vice versa. Component parts may be assembled from individual pieces or may be integrally formed as a single unit. Alternative types of connectors and alternative materials may be used. The apparatus may be used with other types of power tools. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/007,017 filed Jun. 3, 2014, and is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/728,154, entitled “MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITY CLAMP” and filed on Jun. 2, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62007017 | Jun 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14728154 | Jun 2015 | US |
Child | 16110747 | US |