US3294427A - Cylindrical holder having means to support a held object coaxially therein - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1966 R HUNT GYLINDRICAL HOLDER HAVING MEANS TO SUPPORT A HELD OBJECT COAXIALLY THEREIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23, 1965 m WIIIIAFIIA Dec. 27, 1966 G. R. HUNT 'CYLINDRICAL HOLDER HAVING MEANS TO SUPPORT A HELD OBJECT COAXIALLY THEREIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1965 Ind/enter Gera/a/IF, Hafiz 1 Zn United States Patent 3,294,427 CYLINDRICAL HOLDER HAVING MEANS T0 SUP- PORT A HELD OBJECT COAXIALLY THEREIN Geraid R. Hunt, Club Molino, Anaco, Venezuela Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 482,336 6 Claims. (Cl. 2871) This application is a continuation in part of my application for Letters Patent entitled Holder, Serial No. 190,425, filed April 26, 1962, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a novel holder.

Throughout the several arts, it is often necessary or desired that an object be gripped, held, supported or otherwise engaged, either releasably or substantially permanently. Still further, it is oftentimes necessary or desired that an object be supported or held in such a manner as not to scar or damage it and/ or to protect it against vibrations and shocks, or engage and support an element of a machine or the like so that the vibrations and the like set up by the said machine are not transmitted to the surrounding and supporting structures.

In other situations, it is necessary or desirable to establish adjustable sliding, Wiping or guiding engagement about an elongate axially shiftable member or part, at a single point or at spaced points throughout its longitudinal extent.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel device adapted to be engaged about an object to establish supporting, gripping, sliding, wiping 0r guiding engagement therewith, as circumstances require.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which is adaptable for use as a shock mounting for machines, electrical components and the like, a holder for hand tools and the like, a releasable line or shaft gripper, a line or shaft wiper, a line or shaft guide or centralizer; a shockproof package or shipping container, and for many other obvious or apparent uses.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder of the character referred to which is easy and econorn-ical to manufacture: a holder which involves few working parts; a holder which is rugged and durable yet light and compact; a holder which is highly effective and dependable in operation; and a holder which is easy and convenient to use and to service.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of several forms and applications of my invention throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a holder as provided by the present invention and engaged about a cold chisel;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the holder, showing it in an unactuated position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the holder actuated and engaged about the shank of the cold chisel;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the holder illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 and showing a novel locking means related thereto;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a modified form of holder having an open work-receiving side and another form of locking means;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the holder actuated into engagement about a shaft; and,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 and showing similar coupling :means incorporated in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7.

Considering the form of the invention shown in FIGS.

1 through 5 of the drawings, the holder A that I provide involves a pair of elongate, axially-aligned, openended tubular support sections 10 and 11 having fiat, inner opposing ends 12 and 13 in sliding bearing engagement with each other, and outer ends 14 and 15, each provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally outwardly- opening notches 16 and 17, respectively. In the particular case illustrated there are four notches in the outer end of each support section.

The sections are rotatably coupled in axial alignment by a switchable coupling means, which means is shown as including an elongate tubular retainin or guiding sleeve 18 about the inner end of the section 10, which sleeve projects axially inwardly from the end 12 of the section 10 and slidably receives the inner end portion of the support section 11.

The sections 10 and 11 and the sleeve 18 can be formed of metal or, as illustrated in the drawings, can be formed of a transparent material, such as Plexiglas or other similar transparent plastic material.

The form of holder presently under consideration further includes a pair of elongate, flexible, elastic bands 19 arranged to extend longitudinally through the interior of the support sections 10 and 11. The end portions of the bands are arranged in adjacent notches in the outer ends of the support sections so that the said end portions of the bands are engaged about the exterior of the portions of the said support sections occurring between said adjacent notches and so that the ends of the several lengths 20 of the bands extending longitudinally of the construction are suitably anchored at or to the outer ends of their related sections 1'!) and 11.

The bands 19 can be established of a single thickness of rubber or rubber-like material, can be established of a plurality or a bundle of small bands, or can be in one or the other of the above forms and provided :with a suitable plastic, or woven fabric jacket. Still further, if desired the bands can be established of a suitable coil spring which spring can be exposed or jacketed as desired, or as circumstances require.

When the structure is in its unactuated position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the notches I6 and 17 related to each length 20 of the bands 1? are in axial alignment and the said lengths 20 of the bands extend parallel with the central longitudinal axis of the construction.

In operation the object to be held, that is, the work W, is arranged to extend into or through the support sections 10 and 11. When the work is thus arranged the sections it) and 11 are manually rotated one relative to the other. Upon initial rotation, for example, about one-quarter of one revolution, the notches 16 and 17 are moved out of alignment and the lengths 20 of the bands extend diagonally of the interior of the construction to first establish point contact about the piece of work. There being in excess of two lengths 20, the work is centralized in the construction.

Without further turning of the sections 10 and 11, the structure serves as a centralizer for the work and also serves as a lateral shock absorber.

Upon further limited rotation of the sections 10 and 11, say for example, three-quarters of one revolution, each length 20 of the bands extends about and engages a segment of the exterior of the work and in addition to centralizing and serving as a shock mounting, can also serve as a wiper. That is, it can serve to centralize, yieldingly stabilize and also wipe a shaft or line running longitudinally through the construction.

As the sections 1% and 11 are rotated, the lengths 20 of the bands are stretched tauter and establish increasing pressure and frictional engagement with the Work.

Upon several rotations of the sections it) and 11 relative to each other, the lengths wrap tightly about the work and hold it snug or tight. When thus engaged and upon axial shifting of the work relative to the holder, the bands tend to bind and increase their gripping efifect about the work to the end that the work cannot be disengaged therefrom without the exertion of such forces as will break the bands and/or the support sections.

In practice, the sections 10 and 11 can be fabricated frame-like structures and need not be tubular, as shown.

The tension of the bands normally yieldingly urges the support sections together and into tight frictional engagement with each other so that upon release of the sections after manual actuation of the construction, the structure will not be returned to its unactuated position by the torque exerted by the twisted bands.

To insure against relative rotation of the support sec tions by the torqued bands 19, the inner opposing ends of the sections can be suitably serrated or provided with suitable teeth 21 to establish a suitable jaw clutch-type locking means, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

When it is desired to release the bands from engagement about the work it is only necessary to rotate the support sections relative to each other in the opposite direction. In order to so rotate the sections, it may be necessary to manually urge the sections axially apart from each other to release the frictional engagement therebetween or to release the jaw-clutch type locking means, whichever the case may be.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the inner end of the section it) is provided with a reduced extension 22 and the inner end of the section 11 is provided with an enlarged bore 23 in which the extension 22 is slidably engaged, thereby eliminating the provision of a separate retaining sleeve, as is provided in the first form of the invention. The extension 22 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced radially-disposed pin-receiving openings 24 and the section 11' carries a suitable radially-shiftable stop pin 25 adapted to be selectively engaged in the openings 24 and to thereby establish another form of the locking means between the support sections.

Also in this second form of the invention, individual lengths or lines 2t), having knots or enlarged heads 26 at their opposite ends, are provided instead of bands, as illustrated in the first form of the invention. The ends of the lines 20 are engaged in the notches 16' and 17 so that the heads 26 thereon engage and stop at the exterior side of the notches, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

Still further, sections 10 and 11 are provided with longitudinally-extending, laterally-outwardly-opcning work-receiving openings or slots 27. When the structure is in its unactuated position the slot openings 27 are aligned and such that the structure can be shifted laterally about and into engagement about the work W, as illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. When the work W is engaged in the sections 10' and 11', the sections are rotated relative to each other and the structure operates in the same manner as does the first form of the invention, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

It is to be noted that when the lines 20 are wrapped about the work, and the sections are subsequently rotated so that the slot-like openings are again in register, the work W is held captive by the bands and will not shift from engagement in the construction.

It is to be understood that in practice, work receiving openings such as are provided in the second form of the invention can be provided in the first form of the invention. Further, it is to be understood that the several coupling means disclosed and the different forms of lines and the manners in which they connect with the support sections are interchangeable features and can be selectively employed in carrying out the invention.

In FIG. 9 of the drawings, I have shown the form of coupling means illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings incorporated in the slotted sleeve type structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, i claim:

1. A holder of the character referred to including an elongate support comprising a pair of elongate tubular open ended support sections arranged in axial alignment and having opposed inner ends and oppositely disposed outer ends, coupling means coupling the sections together in axial alignment and for free relative rotation, said sections having laterally, normally axially aligned, workreceiving openings coextensive with their ongitudinal extent and providing for free lateral access into the interior of the support, a plurality of elongate flexible, resilient work-engaging lines extending through the interior of the support in circumferential spaced relationship and normally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support, anchoring means securing the ends of the lines to the outer end portions of their adjacent support sections, said support sections being adapted to be rotated relative to each other whereby the work engaging openings are shifted out of alignment and said lines are shifted out of parallelism to extend diagonally through the support and to establish substantial helical engagement about an elongate piece of work arranged centrally of and extending longitudinally through the support and lock means normally releasably holding the sections against relative rotation and including a part with a circu mferentially disposed portion at the inner end portion of one section and engageable with a mating part at the inner end portion of the other section,

2. A holder of the character referred to including an elongate support comprising a pair of elongate tubular open ended support sections arranged in axial alignment and having opposed inner ends and oppositely disposed outer ends, coupling means coupling the sections together in axial alignment for limited axial movement and for free relative rotation, said sections having laterally, normally axially aligned, work-receiving openings coextensive with their longitudinal extent and providing for free lateral access into the interior of the support, a plurality of elongate flexible, resilient work-engaging lines extending longitudinally through the interior of the support in circumferential spaced relationship and normally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support, anchoring means securing the ends of the line to the outer end portions of their adjacent support sections, said support sections being adapted to be rotated relative to each other whereby the work-engaging openings are shifted out of alignment and said lines are shifted out of parallelism to extend diagonally through the support and to establish substantial helical engagement about an elongate piece of work arranged centrally of and extending longitudinally through the support, the inner opposed ends of the sections having circumferentially spaced axially inwardly projecting teeth, the teeth of each section to engage and seat between the teeth of the other section and to lock the sections against relative rotation when said sections are in butted engagement with each other.

3. A holder of the character referred to including an elongate support comprising a pair of elongate tubular open ended support sections arranged in axial alignment and having opposed inner ends and oppositely disposed outer ends, coupling means coupling the sections together in axial alignment for limited axial movement and for free relative rotation, said sections having laterally, norimally axially aligned, work-receiving openings coextensive with their longitudinal extent and providing for free lateral access into the interior of the support, a plurality of elongate flexible, resilient work-engaging lines extending longitudinally through the interior of the support in circumferential spaced relationship and-normally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support, anchoring means securing the ends of the line to the outer end portions of their adjacent support sections, said support sections being adapted to be rotated relative to each other whereby the work-engaging openings are shifted out of alignment and said lines are shifted out of parallelism to extend diagonally through the support and to establish substantial helical engagement about an elongate piece of work arranged centrally of and extending longitudinally through the support, the inner opposed ends of the sections having circumferentially spaced axially inwardly projecting teeth, the teeth of each section to engage and seat between the teeth of the other section and to lock the sections against relative rotation when said sections are in butted engagement with each other, said coupling means including a semi-circular sleeve engaged about and extending between the inner end portions of the sections and fixed to one or" said sections.

4. A holder of the character referred to including an elongate support comprising a pair of elongate tubular open ended support sections arranged in axial alignment and having opposed inner ends and oppositely disposed outer ends, coupling means coupling the sections together in axial alignment and for free relative rotation, said sections having laterally, normally axially aligned, workreceiving openings coextensive with their longitudinal extent and providing for free lateral access into the interior of the support, a plurality of elongate flexible, resilient work-engaging lines extending longitudinally through the interior of the support in circumferential spaced relationship and normally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support, anchoring means securing the ends of the line to the outer end portions of their adjacent support sections, said support sections being adapted to be rotated relative to each other whereby the work-engaging openings are shifted out of alignment and said lines are shifted out of parallelism to extend diagonally through the support and to establish substantial helical engagement about an elongate piece of Work arranged centrally of and extending longitudinally through the support, said coupling means including an inner extension on the inner end of one section and an outer extension on the inner end of the other section and slidably engaged on the inner extension, and lock means releasably holding the sections against relative rotation including, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pinreceiving openings in the inner extension and a radially shiftable lock pin carried by the outer extension and engageable in said pin receiving openings.

5. A holder of the character referred to including an elongate support comprising a pair of elongate tubular open ended support sections arranged in axial alignment and having opposed inner ends and oppositely disposed outer ends, coupling means coupling the sections together in axial alignment and for free relative rotation, said sections having laterally, normally axially aligned, work-receiving openings coextensive with their longitudinal extent and providing for free lateral access into the interior of the support, a plurality of elongate flexible, resilient work-engaging lines extending longitudinally through the interior of the support in circumferential spaced relationship and normally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support, anchoring means securing the ends of the line to the outer end portions of their adjacent support sections, said support sections being adapted to be rotated relative to each other whereby the work-engaging openings are shifted out of alignment and said lines are shifted out of parallelism to extend diagonally through the support and to establish substantial helical engagement about an elongate piece of work arranged centrally of and extending longitudinally through the support, said anchoring means including a radially and longitudinally outwardly opening notch in the outer end of each section adjacent the outer end of each line and an extension between and connecting the adjacent ends of adjacent pairs of lines and extending radially outwardly through the notches and thence circumferentially about the exterior of the sections between the related notches.

6. A holder of the character referred to including an elongate support comprising a pair of elongate tubular open ended support sections arranged in axial alignment and having opposed inner ends and oppositely disposed outer ends, coupling means coupling the sections together in axial alignment for limited a'xial movement and for free relative rotation, said sections having laterally, normally axially aligned, work-receiving openings coextensive with their longitudinal extent and providing for free lateral access into the interior of the support, a plurality of elongate flexible, resilient work-engaging lines extending longitudinally through the interior of the support in circumferential spaced relationship and normally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support, anchoring means securing the ends of the lines to the outer end portions of their adjacent support sections, said support sections being adapted to be rotated relative to each other whereby the Work engaging openings are shifted out of alignment and said lines are shifted out of parallelism to extend diagonally through the support and to establish substantial helical engagement about an elongate piece of work arranged centrally of and extending longitudinally through the support, the inner opposed ends of the sections having circumferentially spaced axially inwardly projecting teeth, the teeth of each section to engage and seat between the teeth of the other section and to lock the sections against relative rotation when said sections are in butted engagement with each other, said coupling means including a semi-circular sleeve engaged about and extending between the inner end portions of the sections and fixed to one of said sections, said anchoring rneans including a radially and longitudinally outwardly opening notch in the outer end of each section adjacent the outer end of each line and extensions between and connecting the adjacent ends of adjacent pairs of lines and extending radially outwardly through their related notches and thence circumferentially about the exterior of their related sections and between their related notches,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 234,577 11/1880 Hufiman 68243 1,705,964 3/1929 Dempsey 17491 2,509,688 5/1950 Loosli. 3,040,655 6/ 1962 Byars.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,190,792 4/1959 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. V. KUNDRAT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A HOLDER OF THE CHARACTER REFERRED TO INCLUDING AN ELONGATE SUPPORT COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATE TUBULAR OPEN ENDED SUPPORT SECTIONS ARRANGED IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT AND HAVING OPPOSED INNER ENDS AND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED OUTER ENDS, COUPLING MEANS COUPLING THE SECTIONS TOGETHER IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT AND FOR FREE RELATIVE ROTATION, SAID SECTIONS HAVING LATERALLY, NORMALLY AXIALLY ALIGNED, WORKRECEIVING OPENINGS COEXTENSIVE WITH THEIR LONGITUDINAL EXTENT AND PROVIDING FOR FREE LATERAL ACCESS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT WORK-ENGAGING LINES EXTENDING THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE SUPPORT IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACED RELATIONSHIP AND NORMALLY PARALLEL WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SUPPORT, ANCHORING MENS SECURING THE ENDS OF THE LINES TO THE OUTER END PORTIONS OF THEIR ADJACENT SUPPORT SECTIONS, SAID SUPPORT SECTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE WORK ENGAING OPENINGS ARE SHIFTED OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND SAID LINES ARE SHIFTED OUT OF PARALLELISM TO EXTEND DIAGONALLY THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND TO ESTABLISH SUBSTANTIAL HELICAL ENGAGEMENT ABOUT AN ELONGATE PIECE OF WORK ARRANGED CENTRALLY OF AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND LOCK MEANS NORMALLY RELEASABLY HOLDING THE SECTIONS AGAINST RELATIVE ROTATION AND INCLUDING A PART WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED PORTION AT THE INNER END PORTION OF ONE SECTION AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A MATING PART AT THE INNER END PORTION OF THE OTHER SECTION.

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