GB2399531A

GB2399531A - Foot-operable clamp device

Info

Publication number: GB2399531A
Application number: GB0306079A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grant Clinch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-18
Filing date: 2003-03-18
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Also published as: GB0306079D0

Abstract

A foot-operable clamp device 10 comprises a support member 12, an adjustable clamp 14 supported by the support member 12, and a clamp operating mechanism 16 for opening and closing the clamp 14. The clamp operating mechanism 16 is operable by a foot of a user to move the clamp 14 between a clamping condition and a released condition. A method is also provided.

Description

239953 1 OOT-OPF.RA13LE CLAMP DEVICE This invention relates to a foot-

operable clamp device, and Lo a method of using such a clamp device.

I'rying to support an object in an unstable position, for example a door on one of it's edges, is often difficult. This is made all the more troublesome when the object has to be worked on at the same time, for example planing an edge or chiselling a recess. Similar difficulties are encountered when trying to support window frames and sheet material.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foot operable clamp device comprising a support member, an adjustable clamp supported by the support member, and a clamp operating mechanism for opening and closing the clamp, the clamp operating mechanism being operable by a foot of a user to move the clamp between a clamping condition and a released condition.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 10, inclusive.

According to a second aspect ol' the present invention, there is provided a method of supporting an object using a t'oot-operahle clamp device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: a) adjusting the adjustable clamp to accept insertion and removal of the 5object, when in the released condition, and to clamp the object when in the clamping condition; b) arranging the clamp to assume the released condition; c) placing the t'oot-operable clamp device on a surface; d) positioning the object in the clamp; and e) operating the clamp operating mechanism to clamp the object in the clamp, so that the object is supported by the loot-operable clamp device.

Preferably, the object, when held by the clamp, is supportable by the foot operable clamp device without any user assistance.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is an elevational view from one side of one embodiment of a l'oot operable clamp, in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a partially exploded view ol' the t'oor-operable clamp shown in ligrre 1.

Referring to the drawings, a foot-operable clamp device 10 is shown therein and comprises an elongate support member 12, typically being a tubular metal bar or rod, a clamp 14 supported by the support member 12, and a clamp operating mechanism 16 for moving the clamp 14 between a closed clamping condition and an open released condition.

The clamp 14 includes first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20. Each clamp jaw 18, 20 is slidable on the elongate support member 12, and has a body portion 22 and a clamping plate 24. The first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 are oriented so that the clamping plates 24 oppose each other. The body portion 22 of the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 is typically formed from metal, such as steel, and the clamping plates 24 are formed from a suitably soft material which generally prevents marking, such as wood or plastics. 'I'he first clamp jaw 18 is fixable relative to the support member 12 via releasable screw-threaded fixing elements 26 or devices which extend through one or both side walls 28 of the body portion 22.

The clamp operating mechanism 16 comprises an articulated main member 30 having a first part 32 and a second part 34 pivotably interconnected along a pivot axis P. an l,-shaped or substantially L-shaped foot pedal 36 pivotably connected to the first and second parts 32, 34 on the pivot axis P. and an adjustment mechanism 38 for adjusting the gap G between the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 of the clamp 14.

The first part 32 of the articulated main member 30 includes a foot plate 40 on its upper surface 42. rl he foot plate 40 overhangs the first part 32.

I'he adjustment mechanism 38 includes a fixed part 44 which is fixed to the elongate support member 12, typically via a screw-threaded fastening device 46, such as a nut and bolt, a slidab]e part 48 slidable on the elongate support member 12 between one end of the support member 12 and the fixed part 44, and a screw threaded adjustment element 50 which is screw-threadingly engaged with the slidable part 48 and which is supported for rotation about its longitudinal extent by the fixed part 44. The adjustment element 50 includes a knob or handle 52 at the free-end thereof.

The first part 32 oi the articulated main member 30 is pivotably attached to the slidable part 48 of the adjustment mechanism 38. The second part 34 of the articulated main member 30 is pivotably attached to the body portion 22 of the slidable second clamp jaw 20.

lithe clamp operating mechanism 16 also includes a spring element 54 (shown in Figure 1) attached between the second clamp jaw 20 and the first part 32 of the main member 30. The spring element 54 is a tension spring which tends to urge the slidable second clamp jaw 20 away from the first clamp jaw 18.

The clamp operating mechanism 16 is in the form of an over-centre toggle mechanism which can hold the clamp 14 closed. When the toot plate 4() of the main member 30 is urged towards the support member 12, the main member 30 straightens.

The first and second parts 32, 34 of the main member 30 are attached to the slidable part 48 of the adjustment mechanism 38 and the slidable second clamp jaw 20, respectively, at positions which allow the articulated main member 30 to pivot over centre and towards the elongate support member 12. The overhanging edge of the foot plate 40 contacts the second part 34 of the main member 30 and prevents excessive over-centre pivoting of the main member 30 towards the elongate support member 12.

The toot pedal 36 is dimensioned so that, as the main member 30 approaches the limit of its over-centre pivoting, the foot pedal 36 is urged upwards through contact with the elongate support member 12.

The clamp 14 is released and opened by operation of the foot pedal 36, which, through bearing on the support member 12, acts to urge the pivot axis P away from the elongate support member 12. The spring element 54 is then able to pivot the main member 30 away from the elongate support member 12 and cause the slidable second clamp jaw 20 to be drawn along the elongate support member 12, away from the first clamp jaw 18.

The overall shape of the clamp device 10 is elongate and relatively slim, making use, transport, and storage simple. To this end, the longitudinal extent of the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 is relatively short. The longitudinal extent of the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 is far less than the length of the elongate support member 12, and is comparable to the longitudinal extent of the fool plate 40 When the clamp operating mechanism 16 is in the released condition, the clamp operating mechanism 16 can project above the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20, relative to the elongate support member 12. There is no requirement for the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 to have a particularly long length, due to the clamping force which can be imparted through the clamp operating mechanism 16.

In use, the first clamp jaw 18 is initially fixed at a suitable position along the support member 12, if required. The gap G between the clamping plates 24 of the first and second clamp jaws 18 and 20 of the clamp 14is then set in accordance with the width or thickness of an object (not shown) to be clamped. The gap G is sufficient to enable the object to be positioned in, and removed from, the clamp 14, when the clamp 14 is in the released condition, and held by the clamp 14 when the clamp 14is in the clamping condition.

The adjustment of the clampjaw gap G is effected by rotation of the knob or handle 52 of the screw-threaded adjustment element SO of the adjustment mechanism 38. Rotation of the knob or handle 52 causes the slidable part 48 of the adjustment mechanism 38 to move towards or away from the fixed part 44. This, in turn, causes the main member 30 of the clamp operating mechanism 16, and consequently the slidable second clamp jaw 20, to move towards or away from the fixed first clamp jaw 18.

The foot-operable clamp device 10 is positioned on a suitable surface, typically being the ground or a floor. With the clamp 14 of the tootoperable clamp device 10 in the released condition, the object is positioned in the clamp 14, transversely to the longitudinal extent of the elongate support member 12, by the user. 'I'he clamp operating mechanism] 6 is then operated by the user urging the foot plate 40 downwards with his or her foot. 'this causes the slidable second clamp jaw 20 to move towards the fixed t'irst clamp jaw 18, to clamp the object in the clamp 14, and the main member 30 to adopt its over-centre locked position.

In this clamping condition, the object is supported by the foot-operable clamp device 10. The support of the object is stable, due to the length of the elongate support member 12, and requires no further user intervention to provide additional or supplementary support.

To release the clamped object, the user first grasps the object and then operates the foot pedal 36 of the t'oot-operable clamp device 10 with his or her foot. This causes the clamp 14 to open and adopt the released condition, allowing removal of the object from the clamp 14.

Although the clamp operating mechanism is intended to be operated by a foot of a user, thereby allowing hands-free operation of the clamp device, both the foot plate and the foot pedal could be operated by hand. However, it is beneficial to use the foot, since the weight of the user can be brought to bear over the operating mechanism, allowing a greater clamping force to be achieved.

The first and second clamp jaws ot the clamp could be individually reversed.

This would also entail reversal of the clamp operating mechanism. I he toot-operable clamp device could then perform the function of a footvperable spreader clamp device.

It is thus possible to provide a hands-tree clamp device which can be foot- operated. It is also possible to provide a clamp device which can provide the sole means for stably supporting an object when the object is positioned in an unstable orientation. It is further possible to provide a clamp device which is compact and therefore easy to transport and store.

The embodiments described above are given by way of example only, and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foot-operable clamp device comprising a support member, an adjustable clamp supported by the support member, and a clamp operating mechanism for opening and closing the clamp, the clamp operating mechanism being operable by a foot of a user to move the clamp between a clamping condition and a released condition.

2. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamp includes first and second clamp jaws, the first clamp jaw is fixable relative to the support member, and the second clamp jaw is connected lo the clamp operating mechanism, the second clamp jaw being movable by the clamp operating mechanism to enable the clamp to take up the clamping condition and the released condition.

3. A clamp-device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second clamp jaw is slidable on the support member.

4. A clamp device as claimed in claims 2 or claim 3, wherein the clamp operating mechanism comprises a foot plate for moving the second clamp jaw by which the clamp assumes the clamping condition, and a foot pedal for releasing the clamp from the clamping condition.

5. A clamp device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the clamp operating mechanism further comprises a spring element for urging the second clamp jaw away from the first clamp jaw.

6. A clamp device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the clamp operating mechanism further comprises an adjustment mechanism by which the distance between the first and second clamp jaws can be adjusted.

A clamp device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adjustment mechanism is a screw-threaded adjustment mechanism.

8. A clamp device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamp operating mechanism is an over-centre toggle mechanism.

9. A clamp device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member is elongate.

10. A clamp device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first clamp jaw is selectively fixable relative to the support member.

11. A method of supporting an object using a foot-operable clamp device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: a) adjusting the adjustable clamp to accept insertion and removal of the object, when in the released condition, and to clamp the object when in the clamping condition; b) arranging the clamp to assume the released condition; c) placing the foot-operable clamp device on a surface; d) positioning the object in the clamp; and e) operating the clamp operating mechanism to clamp the object in the clamp, so that the object is supported by the toot-operable clamp device.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the object, when held by the clamp, is supportable by the foot-operable clamp device without any user assistance.

13. A foot-operable clamp device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.