AU2009201173A1

AU2009201173A1 - Improvements in and relating to clamping devices

Info

Publication number: AU2009201173A1
Application number: AU2009201173A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kristian Michael Aus; Bryan Hugh Marshall
Original assignee: SPL GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: Cyclone Tools Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-01
Filing date: 2009-03-25
Publication date: 2009-10-15
Also published as: NZ575933A

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: SPL Group Ltd Actual Inventors: Bryan Hugh MARSHALL and Kristian Michael AUS Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000. Invention Title: "Improvements in and relating to clamping devices" Details of Associated Provisional Application No.: 2008901558 1 April 2008 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Q:\OPER\RSiCJan 09 - June 09\3075091 l-CAP-72.doc - 25/3/09 PO0PER\RSH\375091 ICAP.dc-5A3/2U1) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CLAMPING DEVICES This invention relates generally to clamping devices for holding objects in a desired orientation relative to one another, for example pieces of wood or other workpieces when 5 being fastened together. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a clamping device comprising a clamp body carrying a plurality of clamp head supports each having associated therewith a clamp head assembly, each clamp head assembly including a clamp head, one or more of 10 the clamp heads being linearly movable with respect to the support with which it is associated, and one or more of the clamp heads being rotatable relative to the support with which it is associated to change the line of clamping action of the head. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a clamping device 15 comprising a clamp body carrying three or more clamp head supports each having associated therewith a clamp head, one or more of the clamp heads being linearly movable with respect to the support with which it is associated. Advantageously at least one of the clamp heads is rotatable with respect to the support with 20 which it is associated to change the line of clamping action of the head. In a preferred embodiment the clamp body includes a main section which may be in the form of an elongated member and laterally extending sections at one end of the elongated member extending to opposite sides thereof. When viewed in plan the clamp body may be 25 of a generally T-shaped configuration to provide a longitudinal limb and a transverse limb. The limbs of the clamp body may comprise bars of metal, plastics or any other suitable material secured together in any suitable fashion or formed in one piece. Clamp head supports may be provided at the end of the main limb of the main body remote from the transverse limb and also at the free ends of the transverse limb. 30 The supports may be in the form of arms which extend substantially at right angles to the P %OPERRSH{\1O750911-CAP .c-25A/2009 -2 plane containing the clamp body sections. Each clamp head support has associated therewith a clamp head assembly and each clamp head assembly may be operatively mounted to a mounting section of the support with which it is associated for linear movement relative thereto. Each clamp head assembly may include a clamp head, a stem 5 and an actuating handle. Each stem may include a threaded portion adapted to cooperate with a threaded portion on the mounting section of the support with which it is associated so that rotation of the stem by rotation of the actuating handle causes the linear movement. The actuating handle may take various forms. For example it may comprise an element 10 linearly aligned with the stem and adapted to be gripped and manually rotated. In another form it may comprise a lever extending laterally with respect to the stem and which is manually rotatable. A ratchet mechanism may be associated with the actuating handle. Preferably, the mounting sections of the two clamp head supports are adapted for rotation 15 so that the associated clamp head assemblies can be rotated relative to the clamp body to change their respective lines of clamping action. In one form the mounting sections of the supports associated with the transverse limbs of the clamp body are adapted for rotation relative to the clamp body. 20 According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a clamping device comprising a clamp body carrying two opposed clamp head supports each having a clamp head, at least one of the clamp heads being linearly movable with respect to its associated support, and at least one of the supports having an adjustable mounting for facilitating movement relative to the clamp body to vary the distance between the supports. 25 In one form the clamp body may comprise an elongated member with one clamp head support being secured or, integral with, an end of the clamp body and the other mounted to the clamp body for movement relative thereto. Each support has a clamp head assembly associated therewith. In one embodiment the clamp head assembly associated with the 30 first mentioned support may comprise a head which is fixed relative to the support with which it is associated and the other clamp head assembly associated with other support is P0PER\RSMuu r'N I I -CAP.doc-25/3/2y) -3 mounted for linear movement relative thereto. The clamp head assembly mounted for linear movement may include a clamp head, a stem and an actuating handle, the stem being threadably mounted to the support so that rotation thereof causes linear movement of the clamp head towards or away from the other clamp head. In one form the actuating handle 5 may include a lever connected to the stem via a ratchet mechanism although it could take other suitable forms. The movable support may further include an adjustable mounting comprising a carriage which is operatively mounted to the clamp body. The carriage is movable between a locked position in which relative movement between the carriage and the clamp body is substantially inhibited in at least one direction and a released position in 10 which relative movement between the carriage and the clamp body in the aforementioned direction can be effected. To this end the adjustable mounting may include a detent which in the locked position is locatable within one of the plurality of locating sections on the clamp body. The carriage may have associated therewith two more guide members which cooperate with track sections on the clamp body. The carriage may be pivotable so that the 15 detent can move from the locked and released positions. To this end the guide members may provide pivot points for this pivotal movement. The carriage may be a generally channel shaped structure which overlies the clamp body. The tracks may be in the form of slots in the sides of the clamp body, each being adapted to receive a respective guide element. The locating sections may be in the form of recesses in one side of the clamp 20 body, the recesses being arranged side by side and along the clamp body. In a modified form of the clamping device described above, to permit alternative clamping actions the clamp head is pivotally mounted to the fixed support so that it can adopt either of two positions, one in which if faces towards the movable support and the other in which 25 it faces outwardly away from the movable support. Correspondingly, the movable support is able to be reversibly mounted on the body whereby its clamp head can face towards or away from the fixed support. Foot members may be adapted to be mounted to the clamp body to provide a stable base upon which the clamp body can rest. The foot members may be secured to the clamp body via the tracks. Additional clamping members may also be 30 secured to the clamp body.

P OPER\RSH\07VT I l-CAP doc-2503/2(m9 -4 According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a clamping device which includes a clamp body including two sections pivotally mounted together, each section having associated therewith a clamp head support carrying a clamp head, and a biasing device for urging the clamp heads into a clamping position, the clamp body sections being 5 configured such that manual movement thereof towards one another causes the clamp heads to adopt a release position. The clamp body sections may include gripping handles operatively connected together for pivotal movement relative to one another at a pivot mounting. The pivot mounting may 10 have associated therewith the aforementioned biasing device which may be in the form of a spring such as a coil spring which urges the handles away from each other and the clamp head assemblies towards one another. One clamp head support may be in the form of an arm which is secured to, or integral with, 15 the associated handle. The other clamp head support may have an adjustable mounting which includes a mounting arm mounted for linear movement relative to the associated clamp body section and lockable in a selected position relative thereto. In one form the mounting arm is receivable within an aperture in the associated clamp 20 body section. In one arrangement the arm may be adapted to extend through an aperture in the other clamp body section. In another arrangement the arm may extend to one or both sides of the other clamp body section. In order to enable a clearer understanding of the invention, drawings illustrating example 25 embodiments of the invention are attached, and in those drawings: Figure I is an isometric view of a clamping device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figures 2 to 5 are illustrations of the clamping device shown in Figure 1 illustrating different applications to which it is suited; P:OPER\RSuo75091I CAP doc.-23/03t20()9 -5 Figure 6 is an isometric view of a clamping device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 5 Figure 7 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 8; 10 Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 7; Figures 11 and 12 are details of that part circled and marked C in Figure 10; 15 Figures 13 and 14 are isometric views of a modified form of clamping device to that shown in Figure 6; and Figures 15 and 16 are isometric views of another embodiment of clamping device according to the invention. 20 One form of clamping device according the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. With particular reference to Figure 1 the clamping device 10 comprises a clamp body 12 which includes an elongated section 13 and laterally extending sections 15 and 16 which are configured in a generally T-shaped structure when viewed in plan. At the free ends of 25 sections 13, 15 and 16, clamp head supports 21, 22 and 23 are provided, each being adapted to support a clamp head assembly 26, 27 and 28, respectively. The clamp head supports are in the form of arms which extend substantially at right angles to the plane containing the sections 13, 15 and 16 of the clamp body 12. Each clamp head assembly is operatively mounted to a mounting section 41, 42, 43 of its associated support for linear 30 movement relative thereto. Each clamp head assembly includes a clamp head or pad 3 1, 32, 33, a stem or spindle 34, 35, 36 extending parallel to the aforesaid plane of the clamp P :OPER\RS)l75W I 9 -CAP doc-25/i3l/219 -6 body and an actuating handle 37, 38 and 39. Each stem has a threaded portion adapted to cooperate with a threaded portion on the mounting section of the support so that rotation of the stem causes the linear movement. Two of the mounting sections (as shown, the mounting sections 42, 43) of the clamp head supports are adapted for rotation so that the 5 associated clamp head assembly (as shown, the assemblies 27, 28 respectively) can be rotated relative to the clamp body about axes generally perpendicular to axes of the stems in order to change the line of clamping action of the associated clamp heads 32, 33 as will be evident from the following description with reference to Figures 2 to 5. It will, however, be noted that in the configuration of Figure 1, the clamp heads 32, 32 are set to 10 provide parallel lines of clamping action in a direction opposite to that of the head 31 which is positioned substantially midway between those of the heads 32, 33. The arrangement of the clamp head supports enables the clamp head assemblies to be able to adopt a number of different orientations relative to one another so as to provide the 15 clamping device with the capacity to hold objects in various configurations relative to one another. Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the clamping device holding objects in various configurations. In Figure 2 two elongated members 80 and 81 are arranged to be held with one of the 20 elongated members being at right angles with its end in abutment with a side of the other. In this arrangement clamp head assemblies 27 and 28 are rotated to a position where they can grip elongated member 81 and the other clamp head assembly 26 holds the elongated member 80 in position against the member 81. In Figure 3 the two elongated members 80, 81 are held in side by side relation by the three clamp head assemblies 26, 27, 28 in the 25 configuration of Figure 1. In Figure 4 an elongated member 83 is held in position against a triangular shaped member 84 or other member with a face other than 900 by rotating clamp head assemblies 27 and 28 into the positions shown. In Figure 5 the clamp head assemblies are arranged to hold the two elongated members 85 and 86 of stepped thickness in the position as shown. 30 Figures 6 to I1 illustrate another form of clamping device according to the invention.

P:\OPER\RSH\3I7509I I-CAP doc-25/03/2009 -7 Referring to Figure 6 there is shown a clamping device 110 which includes clamp body 112 comprising an elongated bar 113. The device further includes clamp head supports 114 and 115, one of which is secured to, or integral with, an end of the clamp body 112 and the other mounted to the clamp body 112 for movement relative thereto. The supports 5 114 and 115 have an associated clamp head assembly 117 and 118 respectively. The clamp head assembly 118 associated with support 115 comprises a clamp head 121 which is fixed relative to its support, and the clamp head assembly 117 associated with support 114 is mounted for linear movement relative thereto. The clamp head assembly 117 includes a clamp head 125, a stem 126 and an actuating handle 127. Stem 126 is 10 threadedly mounted to support 114 so that rotation thereof causes linear movement of the clamp head 125 towards or away from clamp head 121. The actuating handle 127 may include a lever 129 connected to the stem via a ratchet mechanism 130. Support 114 comprises a carriage 141 which is mounted for movement along the clamp body 112 when in a released position. The carriage 141 includes a detent 143 which, when in a locked 15 position, is located within a selected one of a plurality of locating recesses 145 arranged in side-by-side relationship along the clamp body 112. The carriage 141 has associated therewith two guide elements 147 and 148 which cooperate with tracks 152 and 153 extending along the clamp body 112. The carriage 141 is pivotable so that the detent can move between its locked position (see Figure 11) and its released position (see Figure 12) 20 in which the carriage is able to be moved along the clamp body 112, with the guide elements 147 and 148 providing pivot points for this pivotal movement. The carriage 141 is a generally channel shaped structure which overlies the clamp body 112, with the tracks 152, 153 being in the form of slots in the sides of the clamp body and each receiving a respective one of the guide elements 147, 148. 25 The provision of the movable carriage 141 thereby permits a "coarse" adjustment of the clamping device, with a "fine" adjustment being achieved via clamp head assembly 117 which enables the final clamping force to be applied. 30 Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a modified form of clamping device to that shown in Figures 6 to 11. The same reference numerals have been used to illustrate the same parts.

P 0PER\RS\307509I 1-CAP.doc-2/03/2009 -8 In this modified form of clamping device, clamp head assembly 118 is in this embodiment pivotally mounted to support 115 so that it can adopt two operating positions, one as shown in Figure 13 and the other as shown in Figure 14 in which it has been displaced 5 through 1800. Clamp head assembly 117 is able to adopt the alternative positions shown in Figures 13 and 14 by disengagement of the support 114 from the clamp body 112 and re engaging with the support oriented through 1800. In the position shown in Figure 14 the clamp head assemblies are adapted to engage two spaced apart objects and apply forces thereto. Foot members 160 and 162 are removably mounted to the clamp body 112 to 10 provide a stable base upon which the clamp body 112 can rest. The foot members may be secured to the clamp body 112 via the tracks 152, 153. Additional clamping members such as 167 may also be optionally secured to the clamp body 112 via the tracks 152, 153. Referring to Figures 15 and 16, there is shown another form of clamping device according 15 to the invention. The clamping device 310 includes a clamp body 312 which includes sections having gripping handles 313 and 314 operatively connected together for pivotal movement relative to one another at pivot mounting 317. The pivot mounting 317 has associated therewith a biasing device in the form of a spring such as a coil spring which urges the handles 313 and 314 away from each other to a rest position in which associated 20 clamp heads (to be described below) are in a clamping condition under the force of the biasing spring. The clamping device further includes clamp head supports 320 and 330 having associated therewith clamp heads 325 and 335 respectively. Clamp head support 320 is in the form of 25 an arm 323 which is secured to, or integral with, handle 313. Clamp support 330 includes a support arm 333 and an adjustable mounting arm 337 mounted to a section 334 of the clamp body which extends from handle 314, whereby the mounting arm 337 and thereby the associated clamping head 335 can be moved relative to the section 334 into a selected position relative to the clamping head support 320, with the arm 337 then being locked to 30 the section 334 in that position.

P:\OPER\RSUM7o5 11CAP doc.253/2(X9 -9 In the embodiment shown, the mounting arm 337 is received within an aperture 338 in section 334, and an adjustable locking mechanism is provided to releasably lock arm 337 relative to section 334. The device can thereby be adjusted so that when in that clamping condition, the clamp heads 325, 335 remain parallel. The locking mechanism may take 5 any suitable form. For example it may comprise a series of recesses similar to that shown in Figure 6 with the recesses being on the arm 337, and a manually actuable detent being mounted to section 334 to enable the arm 337 to be locked or released relative to section 334. A recess 339 is provided in arm 323 to receive arm 337 when in the adjusted position shown in Figure 15 in which the clamping heads 325 and 335 are relatively closely spaced 10 when the handles 313 and 314 are in their rest position. Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A clamping device comprising a clamp body carrying a plurality of clamp head supports each having associated therewith a clamp head assembly, each clamp head 5 assembly including a clamp head, one or more of the clamp heads being linearly movable with respect to the support with which it is associated, and one or more of the clamp heads being rotatable relative to the support with which it is associated to change the line of clamping action of the head. 10

2. A clamping device comprising a clamp body carrying three or more clamp head supports each having associated therewith a clamp head, one or more of the clamp heads being linearly movable with respect to the support with which it is associated.

3. A clamping device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the clamp heads is 15 rotatable with respect to the support with which it is associated to change the line of clamping action of the head.

4. A clamping device according to claim 2, having three such clamping head supports with associated clamp heads each of which is linearly movable, the supports being so 20 arranged that the clamp head of a first one of the supports can provide a line of clamping action in a first direction, and the clamp heads of the second and third supports can provide respective lines of clamping action in a direction parallel to the first direction but opposite thereto, to permit clamping between the clamp head of the first support and the clamp heads of the second and third supports. 25

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein in the configuration defined in that claim the line of clamping action provided by the clamp head of the first support is substantially midway between that provided by the clamp heads of the second and third supports. 30

6. A device according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the clamp heads associated with the second and third supports are each rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the line of PAOPER\RSHI075091- -CAP.d-25A)1/200J clamping action to thereby change the line of clamping action.

7. A device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the clamp body is of generally T-shaped configuration to provide a longitudinal limb and a transverse limb, the 5 first support being at the remote end of the longitudinal limb, and the second and third supports being at opposite ends of the transverse limb.

8. A clamping device comprising a clamp body carrying two opposed clamp head supports each having a clamp head, at least one of the clamp heads being linearly movable 10 with respect to its associated support, and at least one of the supports having an adjustable mounting for facilitating movement relative to the clamp body to vary the distance between the supports.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein one clamp head support is secured to, or 15 integral with, the clamp body, and other includes the adjustable mounting.

10. A device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the adjustable mounting co operates with the clamp body to releasably lock the associated support in a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions along the body. 20

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the locking action is provided by engagement of a detent of the adjustable mounting with one of a series of recesses spaced along the clamp body. 25

12. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the clamp head associated with the said one support is movable to an outwardly directed position facing away from the other support, and the other support is removably mounted on the body to permit reversal of its position whereby its associated clamp head faces away from the said one support. 30

13. A clamping device which includes a clamp body including two sections pivotally P OPER\RSHM075O9I -CAP doc.25A)1fl(MV9 -12 mounted together, each section having associated therewith a clamp head support carrying a clamp head, and a biasing device for urging the clamp heads into a clamping position, the clamp body sections being configured such that manual movement thereof towards one another causes the clamp heads to adopt a release position. 5

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the clamp body sections include gripping handles operatively connected together for pivotal movement relative to one another at a pivot mounting. 10

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the pivot mounting has associated therewith the biasing device which urges the handles away from each other and the clamp heads towards one another.

16. A device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein one of the clamp heads 15 is mounted for linear movement relative to its associated clamp body section into a selected position relative to the other clamp head whereby to vary the distance between the heads when in their clamping position, the device further comprising means for locking the said one clamp head in its selected position relative to its associated clamp body section. 20

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the linear movement of the said one clamp head is provided by linear movement of its associated support relative to the associated clamp body section.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the support associated with the said one 25 clamp head includes an arm extending through an aperture in the associated clamp body section, the said locking means being operative to lock the arm in a selected position relative to the associated clamp body section.

19. A clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 30 Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings. P:OPER\RSH\3075091 I-CAP.doc-2503/2009 -13

20. A clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 5 Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 15 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.