US2914831A

US2914831A - Readily adjustable flexible holder

Info

Publication number: US2914831A
Application number: US489926A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mcbrien Roger William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-02-23
Filing date: 1955-02-23
Publication date: 1959-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-01

Description

Dec. l, 1959 R. w. MQBRIEN 2,914,831

READILY ADJUSTABLE FLEXIBLE HOLDER Filed Feb. 23. 1956 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent C) 1 2,914,831 READILY ADJUSTABLE FLEXIBLE HOLDER Roger William McBrien, East Alton, Ill. Application February 23, 1955, Serial No. 489,926 Claims. (Cl. 24-243) The invention relates to holders of the type comprising a rigid main member and a llexible band forming a loop projecting from the main member and adjustable for securely surrounding the article to be held. The invention is of the general type shown in Patent No. 2,693,015 and is particularly adapted for holding tubes or asks in chemical laboratories.

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forms a substantial bearing for the nut. Flexible band 2 is doubled one or more times and passed freely through the space between the cross bars of U stirrups and 14 (see Figure 2) and when the length of the band projecting from the tube handle has been determined roughly,

.. nut 13 is advanced to the left along bar 12 to clamp One object of the invention is to more readily adjust the length ofthe exible band projecting from the rigid member to accommodate different sizes of asks or other articles to be held.

` `Another object is to arrange a holder of this type so that the article being held may be readily released from the holder.

,Another object is to accommodate a greater supply of flexible band within a main member but without increasing the diameter of the member.

Another object is to simplify the jaw structure with a holder.

`In the accompanying drawings illustrating selected embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 shows a stand with the holder mounted on it and, supporting a ask above the bottom of the stand. .'fFigure 2 is an elongated horizontal section through the' holder shown in Figure 1 and is drawn to an enlarged scale;

y Figure '31 is a detail View of `parts shown in Figure 2 but 'moved to a different relative position and is drawn to a still larger scale.

VFigure`4 is a vertical section through the jaw and rigid handle portion of the holder illustrating another form ofV the invention. v

":Figure `5 is a topview of the rigid handle portion of the holder shown in Figure 4.

ure' 4. f

-Figure 7 is a view of the device shown in Figure 6 lookingat 'an angle of 90.

The holder comprises a rigid tubular handle 1 and a flexible band 2 of stainless steel projecting from the holder andclamping means associated with the handle for` gripping the band at a selected point in its length to hold the band tightly around an object, such as the neck of the ask F. The tube 1 may be held in the hand and inserted in the block B slidable vertically on the upright U of a stand S.` The left hand end of handle lissecuredto an upright plate 3 carrying at each of its upper and lower Vends a pair of fingers 4 forming a seat forfthe flask neck. A latch 9 is secured to one end of band 2 by inserting the end of the band through slots in the latch and punching a hole in the end of the band fora screw 5 threaded into the latch. The latch terminates in a hook 6 which Amay be inserted through an opening-7 inplate 3 at one side of the latter and between the corresponding upper and lower fingers 4. The oppositeend 8 of the latch forms a guide for the adjacent portion of the band anda convenient element for engagement by the finger or thumb of the user.

.The'other end of band 2 is passed between opposing faces of a clamp structure which includes a U-shaped stirrup .-10 secured by a rivet or screw 11 to a bar 12 having `threads at opposite sides mounting a nut 13. A second U-shaped stirrup 14 has its cross bar received betweenthe legs of stirrup 10 and has its legs slidable along opposite sides Aof bar 12. A follower 15 is posi- .tiopedbetvgeen r1ut.13 .and the endfof-stirrup'14and the band between the cross bars of the two stirrups.

Bar 12 and associated band clamping parts and a considerable portion of the doubled band are then inserted in tube 1, the bar being passed through a square hole 'in a collar 16 rigid with the tube and thereby held against rotation in the tube. The user threads an elongated nut 18 onto the end of bar 12. Preferably a short coil spring 17 surrounds bar 12 at the right of collar 16 and is contacted by the forward movement of nut 18 which drawsA the band further into the tube until the object surrounded4 bythe band is gripped as tightly as is necessary to hold it against slipping, as may be determined by the cornpression of spring 17. Preferably suicient tension will be placed on the band before the spring is solid. A11l y inturned lip 1a at the right hand end of the tube is received in a peripheral groove in the nut and retains the nut against removal.

With this arrangement, the ilask may be readily removed from the holder by merely loosening the tension of -nut 18 and tilting latch 9 until its hook 6 will slide through opening 7. When the ask or another object is to be again held by the looped band, the latter is placed around the article and hooks 6 inserted through openings 7 and the opposite end of the band drawn into the tube by bar 12 and nut 18.

- '.Figure 6 -is a detail'of the band clamp shown in Fig- 4equal in length to tube 21.

If a substantially larger or smaller object is to be secured to the holder, nut 18 is removed from the end of.

the bar and the bar drawn out of the opposite end of the tube. Clamping nut 13 is unscrewed a few turns to relieve thel pressure on the band exerted by

stirrups

10 and 14 and the band is shifted through the space` clamp and associated length of band is again inserted into tube 1 until nut 18 can be threaded onto the end of bar 12.

Figures 47 show another arrangement in which tube 21 is much shorter than tube 1 and bar 212 is substantially Nut 28 applied to bar 22 is of cup section and receives coil spring 27, which is seated against the outer end of tube 21. Nut 28 has internal threads fitting over external threads on the tubular handle 21.

A simpler form of clamp for the band is embodied in this structure and is detailed in Figures 6 and 7 in that a single U-shaped member `or stirrup 24 is pivoted at 25 on bar 22 and the cross bar of stirrup 24 forms a yielding element permitting the swinging of the stirrup between the two positions shown in Figure 7. When the stirrup and bar are in alignment, there will be suflicient friction to securely hold band 20. One or both legs of stirrup 24 may be dimpled at 26 to be received in corresponding depressions 27 in the bar to more readily hold stirrup and bar aligned.

In this form of the invention, the tubular handle may be split at one end and the split ends spaced apart as shown in Figure 5 to form the object seat on the handle andv also form concavo-convex guides for the baud.

With this arrangement, both end portions of the loop formed by the band are drawn into the tube simultaneously when nut 28 is rotated, thus making a more rapid sary toV release a greater portioniof the doubled band 3 length to provide sufficient slack to remove the article being held.

With both forms of the holder, the object being held may expand or contract without loosening the grip of the holder and an inexperiencedoperator may hold even a fragile article` more readily than if the grip i's dependent uponan exact adjustment of the clamping screw. This feature is particularly advantageous if the article being held is in a vibration area wheretinsuicient tightening would cause the object to slip downwardly or where excess tightening would cause the article to break. With the arrangement first described, the tightening nut cannot be misplaced because it will be retained in assembly with theA tube by lip 1a. The clamping of the band at'any'pointinits length` and the housing of-'a substantial length ofsurplus bandV in the tube makes it possible to obtain accurate adjustment of the band for different sizesl of objects; The shape of latch 9' with its hook 'facilitates the ready release of the object from the band without the necessity ofv extensive unscrewing of the tightening nut- 18.

Variationsin the details of the structure may be made while retaining all of the advantages mentioned'and without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use ofthose modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1'. An-adjustable holder ofthe kind described comprising an elongated open end sleeve, aV bar` slidable in said sleeve and normally retained therein with one end spaced inwardly from the ends of the sleeve, a ilexible band having a quick-release hook and eye connection atone end to1one end of said sleeve end and forming a loop outwardly of said sleeve end and having a substantial length extending from the loop and secured to said bar andV doubled back and forth within said sleeve between the end of the bar and said sleeve end, said sleeve having an interior shoulder facing away from said sleeve end, and a nut partly within the sleeve and rotatably seated on saidy shoulder and threaded onto said bar and projecting from the opposite end of said sleeve for manual' rotation, said sleeve and nut having cooperating circumferentialV groove and ridge elements retaining the nut assembled with the sleeve.-

2. In a holder-of the kind described, an open end sleeve, a bar slidable axially therein, a U-shaped stirrup With legs embracing one end of said bar and pivoted thereto and having squared ends, the end piece of the stirrup being movable about its pivot from one side of` the bar to the other and into alignment with the bar axis, said end piece being spaced outwardly fro-m the end of Vthe bar when aligned with said axis, a flexible bandA forming a loop exteriorly ofthe sleeve and extending into` the sleeve and through said stirrup'between the end of said bar and the end piece of the stirrup, a follower slidable along the bar toward and from the squared ends of the stirrup, a nut threaded on the bar,`

to force the follower against the stirrup ends, and a nutk threaded onto the bar and seated against the sleeve for moving the bar, stirrup, follower and follower nut as a unit lengthwise through the sleeve.

3. An adjustable holder of the kind described comprising an elongated tubular open ended handle, an elongated bar slidable axially in said handle but held against rotation therein and threaded substantially throughout its length, a flexible band including a loopprojecting from one end of said handle and having one end secured to said handle, a manually releasable device mounted on the end of the bar and movable therewith into the-handle and frictionally securing the other end of said loop directly to the end of said bar nearer said loop, said band extending from said device toward said handleend and being doubled back and forth within the tubular handle for storage between the end, of theban and said. landleaend, saidhandleV havinga. shoulder facing, away from said loop, and a nut threaded onto said bar and seated against said shoulder and projecting from the other end of said handle for manual rotation to draw said bar and doubled band inwardly of thehandle.

4. In. a, holder of the. kind described, an open end sleeve, a bar slidablel axially thereiniand through one open end thereof, means holding the bar against rotation followingY its insertion into the sleeve, a U-shaped stirrup having a= cross piece and having legs embracing one end of saidbar, there being a pin extending transversely through the bar and the ends of the stirrup legs` remote from said cross piece to pivot the stirrup on the bar for swinging movement from a position in which said cross piece is aligned with the bar end, but spaced slightly therefrom to a position at one side `of the bar, said stirrup being slidable with said bar in said sleeveA when its cross piece is in the first-mentioned position, a ilexible band forming a loop exteriorly of one end of the. sleeve with end portions passing between the stirrup end piece and the bar end, the stirrup cross piece yieldingy lengthwise of the stirrup to frictionally grip the band against the bar end when the. stirrup cross piece and bar end are directly opposed, the band being readily withdrawn from between the stirrup cross piece and `the bar end when the stirrup is moved to the second-mentioned position, and a nut threaded onto the other end of the bar and seated against a shoulder near the other end of the s-leeve and rotatable on its seat for moving the` bar,` stirrup and band as a unit lengthwise of and inwardly of the sleeve.

5. In a holder ofthe class described, an elongated open end'sleeve, a bar slidable lengthwise in and through an open end of the latter, a U-shaped stirrup embracing one end of said bar and comprising parallel legs and a cross piece, there being a pin extending transversely through'the bar and the end portions of the stirrup legs to pivot the latter on the bar for swinging the cross piece of the stirrup from a normal position in alignment withk the bar to the side of the bar, when the bar is withdrawn from the sleeve, the cross piece of the stirrup being slightly spaced from the end of the bar when the stirrup and bar are aligned, a flexible band forming a loop exteriorly of the sleeve with extendedv portions spaced from the` loop and passing between the stirrup cross piece and the bar end, the stirrup cross piece frictionally engaging and gripping the band against the har end when the stirrup and the bar are aligned but clearing the band from means for moving the bar, stirrup and band as a unit lengthwise in the sleeve to shorten the length of the1 loop exteriorly of the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS 916,706v Hoequard et al Mar. 30, 1909" 979,118 Wolf et a1 Dec. 20, 1910 1,357,295 McNaughton Nov. 2, 1920 1,408,900 Miller et a1 Mar. 7, 1922 1,479,988 Gage Ian. 8, 1924 1,512,014 Bryar Oct. 2l, 1924 1,540,084 Parker `lune 2, 1925 1,642,045 Ryder Sept. 13, 1927 1,816,197 Ruemelin July 28, 1931 1,952,863 Hueber Mar. 27, 1934 1,978,646v Oishei et al. Oct. 30, 1934 2,247,642 Neville uly 1, 1941 2,443,271 Russell' June l5, 1948y 2,621,383 Tressider et al. Dec. 16, 1952 2,693,015 Richards et al Nov. 2, 1954- 2,695,437 Bernard Nov. 30, 1954 2,747,820k Blu May 29, 1956 FOREIGN` PATENTS 324,524, Germany Ang; 31, 1920?