EP0518998B1 - Process for making a versatile clamping device designed to hold objects without damaging them, such a device and its use - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for making and a method for using a device designed to hold objects by clamping while preventing damage thereto. This device includes a cylindrical support part (1) and two arms (2), each arm having a transverse hole and at least one of these arms is carrying an elastic buffer (3) secured thereto. This buffer possesses a contact face and has under its contact face a thickness large enough so that said buffer acts as a compression spring when his contact face contacts the surface of one of the objects. And this buffer is resilient enough such that his contact face can flex and pivot to substantially conform to this surface. The support part is disposed within the transverse hole of each arm such that at least one of these arms is movable along the support part. And the buffer is disposed at a distance from the support part with its contact face approximately at a right angle to it.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of making a versatile clamping device intended to hold objects without damaging them, such a device and its method of use.

2. STATE OF THE ART

Among the clamping tools made up of two jaws, one of which slides parallel to the other along a guide straight, some are completely devoid of systems binding to exert pressure, of the screw type, eccentrics, springs, hydraulic means or the like. So Ralph K. Coffman applied in 1945 for the US Patent 2,510,077 and which describes such a tool. Particularities of Coffman's tool are that the guide is made up of several (in drawings 3) separate parallel cylindrical rods, distributed along the length of the jaws, and that these are fitted with cork pads facing one of their ends. Furthermore, the rods are laterally connected to each other at each of their own ends by a barette, to which is attached the central rod. It follows that the said jaws are held captive between said bars end. Coffman seemed completely convinced that in order for the jaws can be locked by friction on the guide, it it absolutely had to be made up of several rods, that these are automatically bent when tightening and therefore, so that the jaws are parallel between they in the clamping position, that they are inclined at rest towards each other, on the side of the cork runners, at an acute angle. He did not seem to know the molding press, called hammer press, as revealed on page 107, Figure 257, in the book by Lombard and Masviel, entitled "Cours de Technologie", Tome 1 (wood) and edited by Dunod and Pinat, in 1910, in Paris. This hammer press, which belongs to the category of tools tightening mentioned at the top of this state of the art review also blocks by friction, but its guide is only composed of a single rod and its jaws are substantially parallel to each other at rest. This hammer press is found, always offered in wood (generally charming), in numerous commercial hardware catalogs, such as that of the house "Charbonnel fils" (in Thiviers in Dordogne, France) of 1910, figure 378 of plate 40, such as that of Establishments F. Guitel & Etienne Frères united (rue Saint-Martin in Paris) of 1924, figure 2592 on page 232, and such as that of the Royal Forge (rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, in Paris) of 1927, figure 306 of plate 32. Besides that the guide is only composed of a cylindrical rod, one of the jaws is systematically fixed at the end of the rod and each of these is devoid of glides, cork or other, but has at the most away from the rod opposite the other jaw, by location where one could precisely stick a cork pad. Besides, in 1948, this same hammer press, with a jaw fixed at the end of the rod and a parallel jaw sliding on said rod, is presented on pages 27 and 28, relative to the figure 42, with cork pads at this location, by the cabinetmaking professor Trillat, in his book entitled "Le Guide Pratique du Métier ", printed by Fillet à Combe in Bourgouin (Isère, France). Henri Trillat knew the hammer press fitted with cork skates, before becoming a teaching teacher technical in 1932, while he was employed in the workshops cabinetmaking (as head of furniture manufacturing, end). He therefore taught this press to his students from 1932. There are still many hammer presses fitted with cork skates, in the old cabinetmaking workshops, in France. One of the peculiarities of the hammer press, shown in Mr. Trillat's book, is that the straight supporting rod jaws has a circular section, while on the commercial catalogs cited above, the stem is systematically shown with a rectangular section. And the tightening of this hammer press is done by hand, as the specifies Trillat on page 83, next to the figure 31, of a revision of his first work, entitled "Technology General and Specialty in Carpentry-Cabinetmaking "and edited by Dunod, Paris, in 1959. This means that patent applications for Ditto of May 1981 (to obtain US patent 4,555,100) and of Pappas in November 1984 (PCT request / US85 / 00420) are in large anteriorized part (especially that of Pappas, when he envisages, two-thirds of page 3, that the jaw guide can be composed of a single rod). Both claim a tool for clamping, of which a jaw is necessarily fixed at the end of a straight guide, the other jaw sliding parallel to the first along said guide and being parallel to it at rest, and with each of the two jaws fitted with one of its ends opposite the other jaw, as for the hammer press of Trillat, of an elastic cork type pad. They stand out from the hammer press by breaking down the guide into several parallel rods, distributed lengthwise jaws, which Coffman did before them, however. More specially, Ditto stands out by producing frames from wider or deeper shoes that can be put on the original skates and an overhanging layout of the passage rods in the jaws, thus believing that it can improve the friction for blocking the free jaw against the rod at tightening moment. Pappas does not really stand out from the hammer press than by claiming a hanging system on the wall or on established from said press.

3. AND 4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention differs from the state of the art previously mentioned in what consists in a process according to claims 1 and 10 and in a device according to claim 2.

This gives the hammer press possibilities considerable news and turns said press into a tool multifunction. Thus the new hammer press, according to the present invention, not only makes it possible to make a clamp, the only function of the hammer press so far, but also, by returning the jaws on the rod, spreader to go tighten in the recesses, and by adding jaws on said rod, rider, which is a new type of four-clamp spectacularly strong and stable clamping jaws, and different types of large multiple hands. By abutting the rods with couplers such as electrical connectors and repositioning the jaws accordingly, it is by elsewhere possible to significantly increase the opening maximum. It is also possible, with such connectors, when they are multiple, laterally couple the stems in parallel to constitute multipoint vices, and to proceed to multidirectional tightening, possibly in chain, in bending the connector strips by short lashing on some of the stems.

The present invention is then distinguished from the state of the art previously mentioned by replacing the classic skates of cork with elastic ring pads on all sides, but with a greater thickness on the side of the outer face support. The advantages of ring pads over skates cork are plentiful. First of all, there is no longer any need to fastening system, bonding, pin and hole type, for securing the pad or pad on the jaw. Then the ring pads can receive and laterally support other buffers equipping other jaws, which allows and facilitates all kinds of angle clamps, including for clamping workpieces whose contours are elusive. And of course, the ring pads are easily interchangeable, with ring pads with other profiles, to enter the rooms whose access is difficult for example. Thornton (US Patent 4,834,352) had envisaged for its tightening device with handle of the sheaths of completely surrounding protection, but under equal thickness, the end of the jaws. The purpose of these sleeves was to play the role of protective wedges, but not that of essential means for exert the clamping pressure which is played by a large spring in pin. In the present invention, the ring pads are the essential means for exerting the clamping pressure and, consistently, they present in the direction of clamping a greater thickness. This is what the ring pads of the present invention different from protective sheaths of Thornton. This difference is all the more marked as Thornton's apparatus frankly departs from the concept of hammer press. It is actually an opening extrapolation off the clothespin, with the traditional flaws of the clothespin: jaws moving away from the parallel when tightening and almost uncontrollable force due to leverage. The use of protective sleeves which is otherwise classic (whether around the beaks of pliers, in the form of sheaths, or around the fingers, with gloves), is not likely to fundamentally change the clothespin performance. The use of ring pads, as pads, for the hammer press, on the contrary, gives it new properties, such as the ability to tighten, combination with another hammer press according to this invention, in all angular directions with control automatic clamping force, which would be rather difficult with the Thornton press.

A device according to the invention takes the name of "assembler" in the following description.

The tightening operation of an assembler, comprising only two movable arms, consists in pushing these, one towards the other, along the support piece, with the bearing face of the pad of one arm facing the other arm. The force exerted for this thrust is found by translation, more or less, between the arms, at the level of the pad (s). As soon as the resistance at the push occurs at the expected level, the push is released. The arms are then blocked by tilting against said support piece like the lift poles on their cable, whether or not something was held between the arms opposite pad (s). To rule out, the principle is the same. With the movable arms turned over on the support piece, we act in the opposite direction reverse.

The tightening operation is the same when the support part of the assembler is partitioned into several elements parallel cylindrical, not distributed in the direction of the jaw length, as in Coffman, Ditto or Pappas, but in the orthogonal direction, and over all of which just slide two movable arms.

For an assembler that includes just four movable arms can be oriented around said support piece in two directions forming a V, the first two along it being fitted with pads with the bearing face facing the two following arms, these being fitted with pads with the face support turned in the opposite direction, the tightening operation differs in approach to the movable arms, but the system of blocking remains the same. The first two arms are oriented around of said support piece according to said V and they are pushed towards the next two, arranged roughly along the same V, roughly the pad of the first arm facing that of the third arm and the pad of the second arm facing that of the fourth arms. As soon as the bearing faces of the pads are in contact with surfaces of enclosed objects and that sufficient strength is manifest, just release the push. Such a maneuver clamp has been given the name "overlap" and such a mounting of four movable arms on a cylindrical support piece received that of "rider" or "super-assembler". The overlap can be also used to spread. The relative position of the arms stays the same except that these are returned on the coin support. An intermediate configuration between the assembler according to the invention and the rider or super-assembler is to use two movable arms forming said V on one side of the clamp and only one movable arm on the other. According to the relief of the surfaces to enter, this configuration may prove sufficient.

With the overlap which offers four support faces, for relative to the tightening achieved with an assembler comprising only two movable arms, there is a dramatically more tightening vigorous and more stable, even on tormented grounds. When a rider, in the tightening phase, applies against a edge of table a wooden plate, the angle formed by the V, according to which the first two arms are respectively arranged and the next two, approaching 60 °, it is extremely difficult to take off said plate from the table, while each arm mobile has been pushed by only one finger end during the tightening operation. A hand gripping the plate of all its fingers under the pull of an arm of medium strength is not enough. Furthermore, it appears that it is perfectly possible to achieve a stable and effective clamping, even when the faces support of the four buffers, which equip the rider, apply at different levels on tormented reliefs. This possibility is obviously extremely practical for the restoration of golden objects such as frames or cartridges. With the rider sub-variant with three movable arms, two on one side forming a V and a movable arm on the other pressing roughly opposite the middle of the V, it is possible to avoid obstacles preventing tightening vis-à-vis. So to tighten on its base, the foot of a pendulum, this foot having opposite the other side of the base a column, the pads of the two arms mobiles forming the V take hold on either side of the column while the buffer of the opposite movable arm presses said foot.

If, on the free part of the support part of a rider grabbing the edge of a horizontal workbench or equivalent, we add a third pair of mobile arms fitted each of a substantially elastic pad for gripping, without damage, objects to paint or to work hands free, we gets a third hand called "vertical". If at this third pair of movable arms, called "server", we add a fourth, a fifth, etc ..., pairs of movable arms, always mounted on the free part of the support piece, we successively obtain a fourth, a fifth, etc ..., "vertical" hands. Yes each of the pairs of mobile "server" arms can be oriented in several directions around said support piece, these auxiliary hands are all the more practical.

Another auxiliary hand configuration can be obtained by mounting three pairs of movable arms one behind the other along said support piece, the movable arms of each pair being provided with substantially elastic pads whose bearing faces are turned. towards each other. The first two pairs of movable arms are separately locked by pad-to-pad clamping at one end of the support piece in two orientations differing by a non-zero angle which may be significantly above or below 90 °. Along the remaining part of the support piece, the third pair of movable arms also constitutes a "server" for picking up objects to paint or to work with your hands free. The third hand thus obtained is called, in the remainder of this application, third hand "horizontal" because, resting on three feet - the pads of the first two pairs of movable arms blocked at one end of the support piece and the other end of it, it can be installed anywhere on a roughly horizontal surface. If to this third pair is added a fourth, a fifth, etc ..., pairs of movable arms, always mounted on the remaining part of the support piece, we obtain successively a fourth, a fifth, etc ..., hands "horizontal".
Note: For a firmer grip on one of the auxiliary hands previously considered, a "server" can possibly be replaced by a rider.

• Tout d'abord, les serveurs qui équipent les mains auxiliaires selon l'invention ne risquent pas avec leurs tampons substantiellement élastiques de griffer les pièces saisies comme peuvent le faire avec leurs dents les pinces crocodiles des mains auxiliaires traditionnelles.
• Par ailleurs, à la différence des pinces crocodiles, ces serveurs ont leurs éléments de mâchoires qui peuvent s'ouvrir très largement tout en restant parallèles l'un à l'autre.
• Enfin, les mains auxiliaires selon l 'invention sont nettement plus légères que les mains auxiliaires traditionnelles, puisqu'elles se passent de socle lourd pour tenir l'équilibre, même lorsque les serveurs sont chargés. Quatre des bras mobiles montés sur la pièce support suffisent à assurer l'assise de la main auxiliaire (voir sommaire précédent). Dans le cas des mains auxiliaires verticales, ils sont combinés en chevaucheur pour s'agripper sur le rebord d'un établi ou d'une table. Dans le cas des mains auxiliaires horizontales, les tampons des deux premières paires de bras mobiles bloquées par serrage à une extrêmité de la pièce support réalisent avec l'autre extrêmité de celle-ci un trépied sustentateur. C'est dire la puissance générique de la combinaison: pièce support cylindrique, bras mobiles et tampons substantiellement élastiques.

The advantage of the auxiliary hands according to the invention compared to the traditional auxiliary hands is situated on several levels:

• First of all, the servers which equip the auxiliary hands according to the invention do not run the risk, with their substantially elastic pads, of scratching the pieces seized as the crocodile clips of traditional auxiliary hands can do with their teeth.
• Furthermore, unlike crocodile clips, these servers have their jaw elements which can open very widely while remaining parallel to each other.
• Finally, the auxiliary hands according to the invention are significantly lighter than traditional auxiliary hands, since they do not need a heavy base to maintain balance, even when the servers are loaded. Four of the movable arms mounted on the support piece are sufficient to ensure the seat of the auxiliary hand (see previous summary). In the case of vertical auxiliary hands, they are combined in a rider to grip on the edge of a workbench or table. In the case of horizontal auxiliary hands, the pads of the first two pairs of movable arms locked by clamping at one end of the support piece produce with the other end thereof a lifting tripod. That is to say the generic power of the combination: cylindrical support piece, movable arms and substantially elastic buffers.

Obviously the rider, hand configurations vertical and horizontal auxiliaries can be realized only because of the ability of the movable arms to take several orientations around the support piece.

The modularity of assemblers, which is linked to mobility arms on the cylindrical support piece, never creates a faculty offered until now with the clamping tools: that of power increase the opening at will. Said arms can be slid outside of their support piece (any end caps of these parts are removable) and installed on another support part, of the same section. Cylindrical support parts of the same section can be fixed in the extension of each other by couplers such as dominoes for electrical assemblies, sleeves for mechanical tubes or cable fittings. Little It is important that the couplers constitute barriers for the arm mobility between the different parts sections supports. Just install a movable arm on each of the two end sections and the opening between these movable arms is necessarily more important than if these movable arms were on only one of the connected support parts. So the opening maximum of assemblers according to the invention easily becomes expandable, which contrasts sharply with the clamps traditional where the fixing of one of the jaws at the end of the support piece makes it inconceivable the lengthening thereof. Naturally, if we place instead of one, several movable arms on each of the end sections of the support parts thus fixed in the extension of one another, one can realize under a large maximum aperture all original fixtures exposed higher, like overlap, auxiliary hands, etc. On the other hand, we can also consider extending a room support by support pieces of different section, by means of couplers whose inputs have different diameters, such as dominoes for large electrical wires, and thus put in front of the movable arms of different dimensions. Depending on the shapes of the objects seized, such an arrangement can be very useful.

According to a related assembly, called "star", on the support part of an assembler, carrying at least two arms mobile, is secured a coupler capable of grasping, in at least a direction distinct from that of said support part, a other support piece capable of carrying at least one movable arm fitted with a substantially elastic pad. Such a coupler can consist of a cross like there exist in electricity in the form of branch pads, or in the marine or in construction set I type Mechanic to ensure the crossing of two cables or halyards. It can also consist in a flexible strip of dominoes for electrical mounting which is kept bent, for example, by the way it is stowed on the first of said support pieces. If the management of the first of said support pieces makes an angle of approximately 90 ° with one of the other support parts gripped by the coupler, it is possible to enclose objects on three sides (tightening in Tee) or on four sides (cross clamping) between the movable arms that these two support pieces carry. And when the coupler is capable of gripping multiple support pieces in directions all distinct from that of the support piece on which said coupler is secured, it is possible to enclose objects of multiple sides between the mobile arms carried by said parts supports. The tightening obtained is then called star tightening. Obviously said tightening, in Tee, in cross and in star, can be done with movable arms arranged overlapping.

With star mounting, it becomes possible to pull the sides of a frame corner and objects together can be gripped significantly more securely.

Another faculty offered by the invention is linked also to the mobility of the arms on the cylindrical support part. One of the movable arms of an assembler, comprising just two arms mobile equipped with buffers, can be slid at the end of the support piece (any end caps are removable). Yes an auxiliary bar, such as a ruler or a tool handle, is fixed parallel to a large area (for example, by means of servers of two third vertical hands according to the invention gripping the two opposite edges of the large surface), it is possible to press with the pad of this movable arm, in any which point of this surface, along this bar, without said support piece risks damaging said surface since it does not protrude from said movable arm. The assembler working as a retractor, it suffices that the pad of his other arm mobile bangs against the auxiliary bar. By this assembly which received the name of "tightening in overlap", the extension or projection of the assembler is made unlimited. The assembler can go apply pressure at any distance from the edge of a large surface, which can be flat, curved, hollow or at tormented relief. It is enough that the auxiliary bar follow the surface contours, long enough and oriented in the right way. For stronger pressure, both arms mobile can be replaced by a rider in position spacing. Until now, this type of overlapping mounting was little known to those skilled in the art and was only conceivable with a special tool, a retractor very rare in workshops, and shims generally inconvenient to install. With the present invention, this assembly is easily and directly possible with the same assembler that allows all other original assemblies previously described, with the possible addition of movable arms. This is what characterizes the versatility of the new assembler.

Another interesting feature of the invention, when each movable arm is fitted with a ring buffer, is that the ring buffer belonging to an assembler in clamping or spacing position can bear, against its side, under various incidences, the support of the tampon carried by one of the mobile arms of a second assembler. This is a result of both the anti-slip ability and the malleability of the substantially elastic pads. The second assembler can therefore with the buffer of one of his other arms movable, force, in the clamping or spacing position, on a side of object not facing parallel or on one of the pads a third assembler, also in the clamping position or spacing. This type of assembly makes it possible to get rid of the absence of an easy-to-grasp outline to hold objects enclosed, which is often the case with works of art restore. This assembly was until now very difficult to carry out with the traditional clamps because of important wedges and quirky, always awkward; to install and sometimes long to find, had to be stuck under the jaws. In general, it needed more than two hands and squeeze like a bully, and this can be incompatible with the solidity of the objects to be enclosed. This mounting becomes elementary, even under low clamping force, with the new assembler, thanks to the pads substantially elastic. It received the name angle clamping, clamping by stapling or bridging, depending on the number of assemblers it puts to ensure a better seat, the support assembler can optionally be replaced by a rider.

a. enserrer lesdits objets entre des tampons substantiellement élastiques portés par des bras mobiles disposés le long d'une ou de plusieurs pièces supports cylindriques et capables de prendre plusieurs orientations autour de celles-ci,

b. appliquer sur le dos desdits bras, en direction desdits objets, le long desdites pièces supports, une poussée et relâcher cette poussée, de manière à bloquer chacun desdits bras par basculement contre la pièce support sur laquelle il est disposé,

c. utiliser éventuellement comme appui des objets auxiliaires placés au contact de tampons substantiellement élastiques portés par d'autres bras mobiles disposés et bloqués le long desdites pièces supports ou les tampons de ces bras mobiles eux-mêmes.

From all of the above, it follows that the assembler according to the invention is versatile and that its general method of use, which makes it possible to hold objects by tightening without damaging them, consists of the following steps:

at. enclosing said objects between substantially elastic pads carried by movable arms arranged along one or more cylindrical support pieces and capable of taking several orientations around them,

b. apply a push on the back of said arms, in the direction of said objects, along said support pieces and release this push, so as to block each of said arms by tilting against the support piece on which it is disposed,

vs. possibly using as support auxiliary objects placed in contact with substantially elastic pads carried by other movable arms arranged and locked along said support parts or the pads of these movable arms themselves.

For all variants of the assembler which have been considered so far, an additional feature may consist in that the ends of the support piece are provided removable end caps, clips, jumper, pin, key, pin, or section of cheerful flexible cylindrical thread by light forcing.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Figure 1 is an elevational view of a assembler according to the invention with two movable arms of which one is fitted with a rondel-shaped buffer le;
• Figure 2 is an elevational view of a assembler according to the invention with two movable arms each fitted with a washer-shaped pad;
• Figure 3 is an elevational view of a assembler according to the invention with two movable arms each fitted with a ring-shaped buffer;
• Figure 4 is an elevational view of a possible use of the device according to the figure 2 according to the invention;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a assembler according to the invention with four movable arms mounted as a "rider" and each equipped with a buffer ring-shaped;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a assembler according to the invention with six movable arms mounted in third vertical hand and each equipped with a ring-shaped stamp;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a assembler according to the invention with eight movable arms mounted in fourth horizontal hand and each equipped with a ring-shaped stamp;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a assembler according to the invention whose support part is carrying two movable arms and on which is stowed a coupler grabbing in one direction separate from that of said support piece, another support piece carrying two other mobile arms fitted each of a substantially elastic tampon;

6. COMPOSITION AND MODES OF USE DETAILED OF THE EMBODIMENTS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

• une pièce support (1) cylindrique, telle qu'une tige ou un tube, pas forcément de section circulaire,
• au moins deux bras mobiles (2) capables de glisser le long et de prendre plusieurs orientations autour de ladite pièce support (1) et s 'étendant chacun nettement de part et d'autre de celle-ci dans une direction essentiellement orthogonale,
• au moins un tampon substantiellement élastique (3), lequel tampon, d'une part, est fixé sur un des bras (2) à distance de ladite pièce support (1) et, d'autre part, présente à l'opposé du bras sur lequel il est fixé, une face d'appui, dont l'assiette est essentiellement orthogonale à la pièce support.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a versatile tightening tool equipped according to the present invention therefore comprises in combination:

• a cylindrical support piece (1), such as a rod or a tube, not necessarily of circular section,
• at least two mobile arms (2) capable of sliding along and taking several orientations around said support piece (1) and each extending clearly on either side thereof in an essentially orthogonal direction,
• at least one substantially elastic pad (3), which pad, on the one hand, is fixed on one of the arms (2) at a distance from said support piece (1) and, on the other hand, present opposite the arm on which it is fixed, a bearing face, the base of which is essentially orthogonal to the support part.

A complement may consist of the addition to at least one of the two ends of the said support piece, a stopper (4) to prevent the movable arms (2) to free themselves from said support piece (1) when these are not retained on said part by a any action.

As mentioned above, a device according to the invention has received the name of "assembler".

By substantially elastic is meant that said pad (3) is composed of a material flexible elastic like natural rubber or synthetic, foam plastic or cotton, and that its thickness under its bearing face is preferably greater than a millimeter. It can have a solid or spongy structure. It can also be consisting of a hollow flat box with walls thin in wood, hard plastic or metal, which have the property of straightening when pressure is reduced that is exercised on it. Said support face is substantially flat or slightly in a bowl and its plate is essentially orthogonal to said piece support. For certain applications, said face support can nevertheless be curved. Said buffer can take the form of a glued washer, a shutter fixed by a pin or a ring threaded on said arm movable at a distance from said support part. The advantage of a ring, compared to a washer or a shutter, to constitute the buffer is that said ring can be fixed alone on said arm without require bonding or orifice provided in said arms. It is enough that its internal dimensions are slightly less than or equal to those of external dimensions of said arm where it must be fixed, to be able to be forced into the arms there and get stuck there.

According to another embodiment, the buffer (3) is achieved by a stack of washers substantially elastic, like springs composed of "Belleville" washers; initially type of underachievement, the washers are glued to the tail leu leu; in a second type of sub-realization, the washers are perforated and threaded, also at the tail leu leu, forcing slightly, on a second cylindrical part parallel to said support piece. Opposite the bearing face of said buffer, said second cylindrical part slides in a passage formed on the support arm of said pad, and is retained beyond this passage by a stopper, similar to that which can equip the ends of said support piece (1).

One of said means for enabling one of said movable arms (2) to slide along said part support (1) is constituted by the arrangement of a hole passage, whose internal cross-sectional shape to a small clearance near the shape of the external section of said support piece (1). But such a way can also consist of a stirrup attached to the side said arm (2), said stirrup forming a loop; another possibility is to form said through hole in making each of said straight arms (2) by side-by-side assembly of two half-arms each provided, in the direction of their thickness, a groove cylindrical with a half-moon section, the hollow of the groove of a half-arm facing the hollow of the groove of the other half-arm for assembly; a neighboring possibility is to spare on the side of each entire arm, in the direction of its thickness, a cylindrical groove and close it longitudinally by a plate; can also consider having a tenon part wrapped said arms by a hollow rail forming said part support.

In the case of Figures 1 to 8, each stopper (4) consists of a section of sheath flexible tubular whose diameter is slightly less than the average diameter of said support piece (1). Said section is threaded by light forcing at the end of said rod. Such end caps (4) can also consist of clips, jumpers, pins, keys or pins. But, compared to these last means, use flexible sheath to put on in force on a tube is a particularly economical, because it avoids any machining of the support rod or tool for manufacturing said end caps, which inevitably happens if said rod to a non-standard section. Such a gay is not commonly found, because few constraints are required, with some exceptions, especially on the thermal side or on the aggressive side of the environment. Only are required a slightly smaller diameter than the medium diameter of the support rod and a good conservation of elasticity over time, in ordinary environmental conditions. Can do the case of flexible PVC, polyethylene tubes medium or low density, silicone, rubber natural or synthetic.

Figure 1 shows an assembler according to the invention with just two movable arms (2). One substantially elastic pad (3) is used. he consists of a washer adhering to its movable arm (2) carrier, by gluing or by pin penetrated in force in an orifice formed in said arm (2).

In the case of Figure 2, always with a assembler according to the invention comprising just two arms movable (2), two substantially elastic pads (3), one per arm, are used. They each consist in a washer adhering to its support arm (2), by bonding or spike forcefully penetrated into an orifice formed in said arm (2).

In the case of Figure 3, also with a assembler according to the invention comprising just two arms movable (2), two substantially elastic pads (3), one per arm, are also used. But they each consists of a rubber ring or the like equivalent plastic cellular material or structure, strung in force on his carrying arm (2).

• amener l'ensemble des objets (8-9), à enserrer, entre les bras (2) de l'outil, en regard des faces d'appui des tampons substantiellement élastiques (3);
• appuyer avec les doigts ou la paume de la main sur le dos des bras, à l'opposé desdites faces d'appui , le long de la pièce support (1), en direction desdits objets (8-9); les bras (2) coulissent alors le long de ladite pièce support; dès que lesdites faces d'appui touchent les surfaces de saisie desdits objets (8-9), les doigts perçoivent une résistance, celle des objets, comme s'ils appuyaient directement sur lesdits objets;
• continuer à appuyer sur le dos des bras (2) en augmentant la pression pour comprimer les tampons;
• dès que la main ressent avoir atteint la force qui suffit à serrer convenablement lesdits objets l'un contre l'autre, arrêter d'appuyer; les bras mobiles (2) se bloquent alors automatiquement et instantanément contre la pièce support, par basculement, comme les perches d'un remonte-pente sur leur câble.

According to FIG. 4, to tighten with an assembler according to the invention comprising just two movable arms, it suffices to

• bringing all of the objects (8-9) to be clamped between the arms (2) of the tool, facing the bearing faces of the substantially elastic pads (3);
• press with the fingers or the palm of the hand on the back of the arms, opposite said bearing faces, along the support piece (1), in the direction of said objects (8-9); the arms (2) then slide along said support piece; as soon as said bearing faces touch the gripping surfaces of said objects (8-9), the fingers perceive a resistance, that of the objects, as if they pressed directly on said objects;
• continue to press on the back of the arms (2) increasing the pressure to compress the pads;
• as soon as the hand feels that it has reached the force which is sufficient to properly press said objects against each other, stop pressing; the movable arms (2) then lock automatically and instantly against the support part, by tilting, like the poles of a ski lift on their cable.

It should be noted that an assembler equipped according to the invention behaves like a real relay of the human hand or hands (in the sense of relaying), for the accomplishment of a task, such as tightening. It can indeed hold indefinitely a clamping position under the same force as the hand (s) can hold temporarily.

A simple push on the part of the "belly" of said arms (2) located on the other side of the support piece (1) relative to the objects (8-9), is sufficient to unlock said arms (2) and to release tightening all objects.

The spacing maneuver, with an assembler according to the invention comprising just two movable arms (2), operates from analogously. However, you should first return the arms to said support piece, so as to present the bearing faces of said pads to the outside. The objects to be removed are first brought to either side of the arms mobile (2) of the tool, facing the bearing faces of the pads (3). The sequence of operations is then identical to the maneuver tightening from the moment when the fingers or the palm of the hand begin to press on the back of said arms, except that the force at perceiving manually is the one with which we wish to rule out.

FIG. 5 shows a variant of the assembler comprising four movable arms, the first two (2a) and (2b) along the support piece (1) being equipped with substantially elastic pads (3) with the bearing face facing the two arms following (2c) and (2d), these being fitted with buffers substantially elastic with the bearing face turned in the opposite direction. The first two arms (2a) and (2b) are oriented around said part support according to a V and they are opposed to the two arms following (2c) and (2d), arranged substantially according to the same V. Roughly the tampon (3) of the first arm (2a) faces that of the third arm (2c) and the tampon of the second arm (2b) faces that of the fourth arm (2d). As mentioned above, such configuration has received the name of "rider" or "super-assembler" and the tightening operation which is to bring the two V's together overlap. Just press on the back of the arms movable along said support piece (1), direction of enclosed objects. As soon as the faces pads are in contact with the surfaces of the enclosed objects and sufficient resistance manifest, just release the push to obtain the tight blocking of said movable arms against said objects, always by tilting against the support piece. The overlap can also be used to spread. The relative position of the arms stays the same except that these are returned on the support piece. An intermediate configuration between the assembler according to the invention and the rider or super assembler is to use two movable arms forming a Y on one side of the clamp and only one arm mobile on the other. According to the relief of the surfaces to enter, this configuration may prove sufficient.

In the case of Figure 6, it has been added to the free part of the support part (1) of a rider composed of two pairs of movable arms (2a) - (2b) and (2c) - (2d) grabbing the edge of a workbench horizontal or equivalent, a third pair of arms mobiles (2e) - (2f), called "waiter", each of these arms being fitted with a substantially elastic pad (3), to grab objects to paint or work hands free. Such a configuration corresponds to what was called above, "third hand vertical ". A server is used as an assembler with two movable arms for tightening operations and spacing.

Figure 7 shows another auxiliary hand configuration: a fourth hand called "horizontal". It is made up of four pairs of movable arms (2a) - (2b), (2c) - (2d), (2e) - (2f), (2g) - (2h), mounted one behind the other on along said support piece. The movable arms of each pair are equipped with substantially elastic buffers (3), the bearing faces of which are turned towards one another. The first two pairs of movable arms (2a) - (2b) and (2c) - (2d) are separately locked by pad-to-pad clamping at one end of the support part in two orientations differing by an angle close to 70 °. Along the remaining part of the support piece, the third pair (2e) - (2f) and the fourth pair (2g) - (2h) of movable arms constitute "servers" to grab objects to paint or work on. hands free. The pads of the first two pairs of movable arms (2a) - (2b) and (2c) - (2d) blocked at one end of the support piece and the other end of the latter obviously form a tripod. Each server can be used separately as an assembler with two movable arms for tightening and spacing operations.
Note: For a firmer grip on the auxiliary hands shown, each "server" can possibly be replaced by a rider.

In FIG. 8 is shown an assembly "in star ". On the support part (1) of an assembler according to the invention, is stowed as a coupler, a flexible strip (5) of dominoes for assemblies that has been bent. Said support part (1) carries two movable arms (2a) - (2b), both fitted with substantially elastic pads (3). Said bar (5) is curved because it is stowed s said support piece (1) by two studs (6) and (6a) normally distant who have been reconciled one of the other by twisting the bar in its mean plane. The screws of these studs are tightened on the support piece (1), i.e. they are stuck on it. The pin (7) of the bar grips, still screwing above, another cylindrical support part (1a) on which are installed two other mobile bra (2c) and (2d), both fitted with substantially buffers elastic. The direction of the first support piece (1) makes an angle of about 90 ° with that of the other support piece (1a). The tightening operation for each pair of movable arms (2a) - (2b) and (2c) - (2d) is identical to that used for an assembler according to the invention with two movable arms. It is possible thus to enclose objects on four sides, like the shows figure 8, between the movable arms that carry these two support pieces. The tightening obtained is called cross tightening. It would obviously also be possible, with additional cylindrical support parts seized by other studs on the barette, bearing each at least one other movable arm, to enclose objects from multiple sides, which corresponds to tightening in a star. Similarly, it is possible to stow on the second support part (1a), another coupler grabbing a third cylindrical support piece (1b) in a direction separate from those of the two first supporting parts, and possibly to secure on this third support piece yet another coupler, and so on to achieve a chain star mounting. Such a chain configuration can be useful to enclose the contours of objects of complicated shape. Another coupler model can consist of a cross with two channels or more divergent from each other and able to retain each imprisoned by a screwing system or another, a rod or tube type support piece. This kind of cross exists in electricity in the form of bypass studs. We are also serves as braces in the navy and in games Mechanical construction to ensure the crossing of two cables or halyards. They are also available in sheet or plastic for enclose electrical junction boxes. The barette, as that coupler, can still be replaced by juxtaposition forced hollow on hollow, in different orientations, of several profiles in the form of gutters similar to those which are used for the construction of exhibition stands or display stands.

In all variants of the assembler according to the invention which have been described so far, it is obviously still possible to replace one of said movable arms (2) with a fixed arm.

Following is a possible embodiment of the assembler comprising just two movable arms (2), the support part (1) is subdivided into several parallel cylindrical elements, which in fact constitute as many parallel support parts homogeneous. Said elements are made integral with each other others at each of their ends by couplers which can be domino bars for electrical assemblies or equivalent when said elements have very large diameters neighbors. At least one of the two said arms is sliding on these elements, the other being able to remain fixed on these elements. Both arms have a wide support face. In a first type of sub-embodiment, the substantially elastic buffer (3) that carries one or each of the two arms consists of a single piece; in a second type of sub-realization, the buffer substantially elastic that one or each of the two arms carries is split into several pieces; in this case, said pieces are located at the same distance from the middle plane in which are the various cylindrical elements that make up said support piece; said pieces can be left free to act independently of one another or be sandwiched between the arm that carries them and a rigid connecting plate intended to play the role bit vis-à-vis enclosed objects. It appears that the sandwich conformation with several pieces of elastic buffer taken in parallel between the arm which the doors and a rigid plate, clings, by dint of equal compression, much more firmly objects ensured that the single buffer conformation. That obviously implies a synergistic effect. In the second type of underachievement, when the buffer is split into several pieces, the arm can be itself partitioned into several blocks each resting on one or more of said elements forming the part support. And since these elements constitute as much of parallel support pieces, everything happens as if we had several assemblers according to the invention coupled in parallel to form a vice multipoint.

It should also be noted that the device according to the invention can find multiple applications such as attaching devices to a support when said device is made integral with one or constitutes one of said arms

Claims (10)

1. The method of making a versatile device for holding objects by clamping without damaging them comprising the steps of:

   a) providing a cylindrical support part (1), such as a rod or a tube, not necessarily with a circular section,

   b) placing on said support part (1) at least two arms (2) of which one at least is moveable ,

   c) securing to one at least of said arms (2) at a distance from said support part (1) one substantially elastic buffer (3) having one external contact free which is approximately at a right angle to said support part and under which the thickness is elastic enough to act as a compression spring.
2. A versatile device for holding objects by clamping without damaging them, with a cylindrical support part (1), such as a rod or a tube, not necessarily with a circular section, said device being characterized in that it comprises in a combination:

   at least two arms (2) of which one at least is moveable,

   at least one substantially elastic buffer (3) secured to one of said arms (2) at a distance from said support part (1), said buffer having one external contact face which is approximately at a right angle to said support part and under which the thickness is elastic enough to act as a compression spring.
3. The device of claim 2 in which every buffer (3) is an allover elastic ring which is surrounding the arm (2) to which it is secured, said ring being provided with a larger thickness under the external contact face.
4. A device according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises at least four movable and removable arms (2) of which the two first ones along the support part are provided with buffers (3) that have their external contact faces both turned towards the same direction, the two other arms being provided with buffers (3) that have their external contact faces both turned towards the other direction.
5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises in addition at least another pair of successive movable and removable arms (2) along said support part (1), these last arms being provided with buffers of which the external contact faces are being turned towards opposite directions.
6. A device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises at least three successive pairs of movable and removable arms (2) along said support part (1), the two arms of each pair being provided with buffers (3) of which the external contact faces are being turned towards opposite directions.
7. A device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein each of the two ends of said support part (1) features an easy removable stop (4) such as a clip, a U-shaped spring, a pin, a key or a cotter pin, or even a length of cylindrical supple sheath slipped on said support part by a gentle forcing.
8. A device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein to the support part (1) is secured a coupler which can hold another cylindrical support part, said another support part being liable to carry at least another movable and removable arm provided with a buffer according to claim 2 and possibly another coupler.
9. A device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the support part (1) is subdivided into several cylindrical and parallel units so that no substantially elastic buffer (3) could be aligned with any two of said units.
10. The method of holding objects by clamping without damaging them comprising the steps of:

    a) placing two arms of which one at least is movable on a cylindrical support part,

    b) securing to one at least of said arms at a distance from said support part one substantially elastic buffer having one external contact face which is approximately at a right angle to said support part and under which the thickness is elastic enough to act as a compression spring,

    c) manually pushing the back of said arms so that the external contact face of said substantially elastic buffer could press on the surface of one of said objects,

    d) stopping to push when resistance reaches desired degree so as to lock those of said arms which are movable by tilting them against said support part

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