GB2285595A

GB2285595A - A clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2285595A
Application number: GB9500463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Hartley
Original assignee: Edward Booth; James Booth
Current assignee: Edward Booth; James Booth
Priority date: 1994-01-13
Filing date: 1995-01-11
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-11
Also published as: GB2285595B; GB9405307D0; GB9500463D0

Abstract

A clamp 2 suitable for holding a household door, comprises a base member 4, a first jaw 6 moveable relative to the base member 4 and a second jaw 8. Preferably at least one of the jaws 6, 8 is pivotally mounted, whereby at least one of the jaws 6, 8 is pivotally moveable relative to the base member 4 and an over-centre locking mechanism 20, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 secures the at least one pivotally moveable jaw 6, 8 in position. The locking mechanism is adjustable by means of threaded ring 40 to accommodate different thickness of door. The pivotal mounting 22 of jaw 6 is adjustable in slideway 14 also to enable different size doors to be clamped. <IMAGE>

Description

A CLAMP Field of the Invention The present invention relates to clamps and more particularly to clamps suitable for holding a household door.

Background to the Invention Various clamps which to varying degrees are suitable for holding a household door are known for instance from the following patent specifications: US 4168827, US 4270741, US 4391437, GB 2134433 and GB 2255587.

However, the clamps disclosed by all of these documents suffer from a number of disadvantages. For instance, they lack ease of adjustability, simplicity of manufacture, sturdiness, security of holding and/or provision for planing of the door.

It is an object of embodiments the present invention to obviate or overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art whether or not referred to herein.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a clamp suitable for holding a household door, the clamp comprising a base member, a first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being pivotally mounted, whereby at least one of the jaws is pivotally moveable relative to the base member and an over-centre locking mechanism which can secure the at least one pivotally moveable jaw in position.

Suitably, the second jaw is fixed in place relative to the base member. Preferably, a support arm is provided between the base member and the second jaw.

Suitably, the over-centre locking mechanism is located on an arm connecting the first jaw to the base member.

Suitably, the over-centre locking mechanism comprises a knuckle joint.

Suitably, a handle is provided for operating the over-centre locking mechanism.

Suitably, each jaw carries a softer material to engage a door with minimal damage thereto.

Suitably, means provided for adjusting the length of the connection arm whereby the first jaw can be moved longitudinally relative to the base member. The means for adjusting length the connecting arm may comprise a long screw.

According to the present invention, in a second aspect, there is provided a clamp suitable for holding a household door, the clamp comprising of base member, a first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being pivotally mounted, at least one pivotally mounted jaw having a support arm between the pivotally mounted jaw and another part of the clamp, the support arm being pivotally mounted to the pivotally mounted jaw.

Suitably, the pivotal mounting of the support arm with the pivotally mounted jaw is spaced from the end of the jaw distant from the base member.

Suitably, another jaw has a support arm between the other jaw and the base member, the support arm of the other jaw being connected at a juncture to the other jaw at a position spaced further from the base member that the pivotal connection of the pivotally mounted jaw.

Suitably, the support arm connected to the other jaw is fixed relative to the other jaw.

Suitably, the pivotal mounting between the support arm and the pivotally mounted jaw is located approximately one-third of the way along the pivotally mounted jaw from the end of the pivotally mounted jaw distant from the base member.

According to the present invention, in a third aspect, there is provided a clamp suitable for holding a household jaw, the clamp comprising a base member, the first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, a support arm between the first jaw and another part of the clamp, and means for adjusting the length of the support arm, whereby adjustment of the length of the support arm adjusts the spacing between the jaws.

Suitably, the adjusting means comprises a thumb screw. Preferably, the thumb screw is located in the support arm.

Suitably, the first jaw is moveable longitudinally relative to the base member. Suitably, the longitudinal movement is provided for by a slot and pin connection between the first jaw and the base member. Suitably, the base member includes a slot in which a pin of the first jaw cooperates.

According to the present invention, in a fourth aspect, there is provided a clamp suitable for holding a household door, the clamp comprising a base member, a first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, and a latch means which can extend between the first and second jaws above the base member to provide means for supporting a door above the level of the base member between the first and second jaws. Such an arrangement assists in enabling a door to be planed.

Various combinations of the features of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention can be combined as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

Brief DescriPtion of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow; in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of the embodiment of the present invention in a first position.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1 in a second position.

DescriPtion of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a clamp 2 in accordance with the present invention. The clamp 2 comprises a base member 4 a first jaw 6 moveable relative to the base member 4 and a second jaw 8.

The base member 4 comprises an elongate generally square section hollow metal bar 10 through which there are provided holes 12 which can be used to affix the base member 4 (and hence the clamp 2) to a fixed structure (for instance a bench or a wall). The base member 4 includes a slot 14 to cooperate with the first jaw 6 as will be described in more detail below.

The first jaw 6 comprises an elongate, substantially flat sided generally U-shaped in cross-section metal bar 16, the open side of the U-section facing away from the second jaw 8. The U of the bar 16 forms two arms 17. On the side of the bar 16 facing towards the second jaw 8 there is secured a facing material 18 which is intended to be sufficiently soft to prevent damage to a work piece.

The facing material 18 could, for instance, be a plastic or a leather material. Typically, it will be adhered to the face of the bar 16.

Approximately one-third of the way along the bar 16 (from the top end distant from the base number 4) there are aligned holes on either of the arms 17 of the bar 16 used, as described in more detail below, to affix to the first jaw 6 an adjustment mechanism 20.

At the end of the bar 16 adjacent the base member 4 the two arms of the U-section bar 16 project beyond its connecting body to produce legs 22 on either side of the base member 4. Aligned holes (not visible) provided in the legs 22 enable the first jaw 6 to be cooperatively connected to the slot 14 of the base member 4 as will be described in more detail below.

The second jaw 8 comprises an elongate, generally square in the cross-section hollow metal bar 24 substantially similar to that of the base number 4. The bar 24 is welded at its foot to the base member 4. The bar 24 projects upwardly substantially perpendicular from the base member 4. Between the base member 4 and the bar 24 is welded a support arm 26, in this case of similar material to that of bar 24. The flat surface of bar 24 facing the first jaw 6 carries a facing material 18 substantially similar that carried on the first jaw 6.

Approximately half way up the bar 24 there is a hole 28 therethrough (and through the facing material 18) the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis of the bar 24 and to the facing surfaces of the jaws 6, 8. There is a similar hole 28 in the first jaw 6, although it is not visible in the figures. The purpose of the holes 28 will be described in more detail below.

Between the first jaw 6 and the base member 4 is a support arm 30 part of which comprises the adjustment mechanism, indicated generally by reference numeral 20.

The adjustment mechanism 20 comprises an over-centre toggle type locking mechanism with a thumb screw adjustment as will be described in more detail below.

The support arm 30 comprises a substantially rectangular, square-section solid metal bar 32 pivotally connected by pin 34 to the metal bar 16. Projecting from the bar 32 is an externally threaded rod 36 which is positively secured in the bar 32. The rod 36 projects into a second bar 38 in which the rod 36 can move longitudinally. Typically an oversized bore is drilled in the second bar 38 to provide for the longitudinal movement of the rod 36 therein. Between the bars 32, 38 respectively and about the threaded rod 36 is an internally threaded ring 40 adapted to be used as a thumb screw with a knurled or otherwise patterned exterior surface to aid gripping.

The second bar 38 is pivotally connected by pin 41 to a connecting arm 42. The arm 42 comprises an elongate Ushaped metal bar section which (similar to bar 16 of the first jaw 6) is pivotally connected by pin 43 to the base member 4. On the upper, in use, surface of the arm 38 is a handle 44.

The first jaw 6 is connected to the base member 4 by a pin 45 through the legs 22 projecting through the slot 14 of the base member 4. The slot 14 extends, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, generally perpendicular to the facing surfaces of the jaws 6, 8.

The manner in which the clamp 2 may be used will now be described.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings that follow, the clamp 2 is shown in an open position. An article, for instance a household door, to be clamped is placed between the first and second jaws 6,8 and the adjustment mechanism 20 can be utilised, by turning the thumb screw ring 40, to adjust the spacing between the jaws 6,8. The first jaw 6 is then closed on the article using handle 44 to operate the over centre mechanism to achieve the "closed" position of Figure 2. If the spacing between the first and second jaws 6, 8 is not as desired the adjustment mechanism 20 can be used to change it, in either the "open" or "closed" position.This process can be repeated until, upon moving the clamp from its "open" to its "closed" position using the over centre mechanism, the article is held securely.

As the spacing between the jaws 6, 8 is adjusted, the first jaw 6 moves relative to the base number 4. In use, the pin 41 slides in the slot 14.

If it is desired to support an article, for instance a household door, at an angle using the clamp, perhaps for planing, the following procedure may be adopted. A pin 46 is pushed through the holes 28 to provide a support for such an article. The pin 46 can, in this way, act as a latch between the jaws 6, 8.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A clamp suitable for holding a household door, the clamp comprising a base member, a first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being pivotally mounted, whereby at least one of the jaws is pivotally moveable relative to the base member and an over-centre locking mechanism which can secure the at least one pivotally moveable jaw in position.

2. A clamp according to Claim 1, in which the second jaw is fixed in place relative to the base member.

3. A clamp according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which a support arm is provided between the base member and the second jaw.

4. A clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the over-centre locking mechanism is located on an arm connecting the first jaw to the base member.

5. A clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the over-centre locking mechanism comprises a knuckle joint.

6. A clamp according to any preceding claim, in which a handle is provided for operating the over-centre locking mechanism.

7. A clamp according to any preceding claim, in which each jaw carries a softer material to engage a door with minimal damage thereto.

8. A clamp according to any one of claims 4-7, in which means are provided for adjusting the length of the connection arm whereby the first jaw can be moved longitudinally relative to the base member.

9. A clamp suitable for holding a household door, the clamp comprising of base member, a first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being pivotally mounted, at least one pivotally mounted jaw having a support arm between the pivotally mounted jaw and another part of the clamp, the support arm being pivotally mounted to the pivotally mounted jaw.

10. A clamp according to Claim 9, in which the pivotal mounting of the support arm with the pivotally mounted jaw is spaced from the end of the jaw distant from the base member.

11. A clamp according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, in which another jaw has a support arm between the other jaw and the base member, the support arm of the other jaw being connected at a juncture to the other jaw at a position spaced further from the base member that the pivotal connection of the pivotally mounted jaw.

12. A clamp according to any one of Claims 9-11, in which the support arm connected to the other jaw is fixed relative to another jaw.

13. A clamp according to any one of Claims 9-12, in which the pivotal mounting between the support arm and the pivotally mounted jaw is located approximately one-third of the way along the pivotally mounted jaw from the end of the pivotally mounted jaw distant from the base member.

14. A clamp suitable for holding a household jaw, the clamp comprising a base member, the first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, a support arm between the first jaw and another part of the clamp, and means for adjusting the length of the support arm, whereby adjustment of the length of the support arm adjusts the spacing between the jaws.

15. A clamp according to Claim 14, in which the adjusting means comprises a thumb screw.

16. A clamp according to Claim 15, in which the thumb screw is located in the support arm.

17. A clamp according to any one of Claims 14-16, in which the first jaw is moveable longitudinally relative to the base member.

18. A clamp according to Claim 17, in which the longitudinal movement is provided for by a slot and pin connection between the first jaw and the base member.

19. A clamp according to Claim 18, in which the base member includes a slot in which a pin of the first jaw cooperates.

20. A clamp suitable for holding a household door, the clamp comprising a base member, a first jaw moveable relative to the base member and a second jaw, and a latch means which can extend between the first and second jaws above the base member to provide means for supporting a door above the level of the base member between the first and second jaws.

21. A clamp according to Claim 20, in which the latch means comprises a pin extending between the first and second jaws.

22. A clamp substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.