WO1995028257A1

WO1995028257A1 - A clamping device

Info

Publication number: WO1995028257A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/002567
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Brian House
Original assignee: Douglas Brian House
Priority date: 1994-04-14
Filing date: 1994-11-22
Publication date: 1995-10-26
Also published as: GB9407347D0; AU1072995A

Abstract

A work bench has a frame (109) supporting a work surface (100) with runner assemblies (103, 120, 121, 122) which travel fore-aft in slots. The surface (100) is moved back and forth by handle (115) and screw jack (112). Slots (101) in the surface (100) expose fixed supports (123) with holes (110) which can be engaged in a selective position by pegs (108) of a fixed member (107). The surface (100) has holes (102) on opposed sides to receive pegs (106) of clamping members (105). The arrangement allows two work pieces, such as lengths of wood, of different widths to be worked on side by side and without excessive winding of handle (115) being required to accommodate the different widths. Thus a short screw jack throw is able to accommodate a wide range of widths of work piece by pre-set adjustement of pegs (108) of fixed member (107) in selective holes (110) on the fixed frame (109).

Description

IIILK

A Clamping Device

The present invention relates to a clamping device which can support two elongate work pieces side by side allowing for either work piece to be releasably clamped as desired. Such a clamping device is especially useful in carpentry and D. I. Y. operations.

This invention also relates to a clamping device and particularly to a clamping device in the nature of a vice for holding work pieces during operations carried out thereon.

With this invention the clamping procedure is simplified, time is saved and good use is made of available space for working. Cutting and sawing of timber and drilling operations thereon are facilitated.

Conventional clamping devices are not always entirely suitable, especially those which can only clamp a single work piece. Sometimes one needs to work on work pieces jointly at about the same time, for instance to work on two different pieces of wood, one a small one and the other a large one. Removal of a clamped work piece from a conventional clamping device often needs some manipulation and takes time and similarly laborious is the clamping of a work piece in such a conventional clamping device. With this invention, work can be done at about the same time on two work pieces of different sizes more simply, rapidly and with economy of effort.

According to the present invention there is provided a clamping device which can support two elongate work pieces side by side allowing for either work piece to be releasably clamped as desired, whereby upon release of one clamped work piece, but without removal of the released work piece from the clamping device, the other work piece can be releasably clamped. Preferably the clamping device is operated by a rotatable handle, the handle being rotatable in opposite senses to clamp one or the other work piece. Advantageously the clamping device comprises one elongate fixed jaw having opposed clamping surfaces and a pair of spaced apart opposed elongate movable jaws, a work piece adapted to be clamped between one clamping surface of the fixed jaw and one of the movable jaws or to be clamped between the other clamping surface of the fixed jaw and the other movable jaw; suitably the movable jaws are provided by opposed longitudinal upstanding walls of a platform, the platform being movable relatively to the fixed jaw to increase the distance between the fixed jaw and a movable jaw.

In one preferred form of the invention the clamping device comprises a platform with opposed longitudinal upstanding walls constituting opposed movable jaws and between the movable jaws is located an elongate clamping member parallel to the movable jaws, the said clamping member being releasably fixed to the platform at predetermined spacings from the said movable jaws. Advantageou ly the said clamping member functions as a substantially fixed jaw relative to the movable jaws but is capable of limited rotational movement in its own plane to accommodate elongate work pieces which are parallel sided or are tapered. Further, to allow for the clamping of elongate tapered work pieces, the platform may be provided with means to rotate it to a limited degree in its own plane so that a movable jaw matches the taper of the work piece.

Conveniently the clamping device of this invention comprises a platform provided with upstanding elongate side walls constituting movable jaws of the clamping device which is adapted to be mounted on a base.

In accordance with this invention, there is also provided a clamping device comprising a base member for attachment to a bench or like support structure, a moving jaw member comprising two spaced work piece engaging abutments interconnected and further coupled with a screw-jack threadably engaging a flange on the base member whereby the jaw member and both abutments may be moved back and forth along the base member by rotation of the jack, an abutment fixed to the base member and between the two spaced abutments, the fixed abutment forming one clamp means in conjunction with one moving abutment and second clamp means in conjunction with the other moving abutment.

With such a constructional arrangement two vice jaws are provided forming the clamping means, one pair of jaws being movable from a fully closed position to a first spaced position and the other pair of jaws being movable from the first spaced position to a second wider spaced position.

By way of example one preferred form of the invention is illustrated by Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 2C of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a frame upon which a table top with supporting vice member is to be mounted,

Figure 2 is an end view of the table top,

Figure 2B is a plan view of the table top of Figure 2A, and

Figure 2C is a plan view of a vice member to cooperate with the table top of Figures 2A and 2B.

Referring to Figure 1, an underlying metal frame 10 is provided, the frame 10 being made of square box section. Four holes 1 are provided to enable the frame to be fixed to a suitable support (not shown) . There is a movable jig plate 3 bridging parallel bars 8 of the frame 10, the plate 3 terminating in sleeve portions 24 which are slidable along the bars 8. The jig plate 3 may be fixed at a desired position relative to the bars 8 by tightening a screw clamp 2. Upstanding square section pegs 4 are fixed to the sleeve portions 24 of the jig plate 3. Screw clamps 12 on the jig plate are adapted to hold a separate element (not shown) when a table top 6 has been removed. The positioning of the table top 6 will be described later. The jig plate 3 is movable forwards and backwards along the bars 8 by operation of a toggle lever handle 5 fixed to the jig plate 3 at 15.

Referring to Figures 2A, 2B and 2C, there is seen table^* top 6 comprising a bottom plate 7 and upstanding sidewalls 13. Table top 6 is moved to sit on top of a vice member 17 of box section as indicated diagrammatically by arrows 9, and when fitted on to underlying vice member 17, slit 11 in bottom plate 7 of table top 6 engages anchoring flange 16. Prior to mounting the table top 6 on to the underlying vice member 17, the latter will have been placed on the underlying frame 10 in such a manner that the upstanding pegs 4 fit into the correspondingly shaped hollow sheath members 14 on vice member 17.

The clamping device illustrated in Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 2C is intended to operate with elongate work pieces. There will be two separate working regions for the vice, a first region 21 located between a sidewall 13 remote from handle 18 of clamping member 20 with threaded shaft 19 and the opposed faces of sheath members 14, and a second region 22 located between sidewall 13 near handle 18 of clamping member 20 and the other opposed faces of sheath members 14. Clamping member 20 of box section is fixed to vice member 17 and holds one end of threaded shaft 19. Screw clamps 23 are provided to clamp sheath members 14 to the inside locating pegs 4.

In a working procedure using the clamping device described and illustrated a suitable work piece, for instance a strip (S-^) of wood (not shown) extending from one peg 4 to the other and of relatively narrow width is disposed alongside the sheath members 14 in the region 21, and another strip (S2) (not shown) of wood, again extending from one peg 4 to the other, and of relatively broad width is disposed alongside the sheath members 14 in the region 22. By rotating the handle 18 anticlockwise, the table top 6 is moved towards the handle 18 and the strip (S^) is clamped between the sheath members 14 on the one hand and the sidewall 13 remote from the handle 18 on the other hand. Upon rotating the handle 18 clockwise the table top 6 is moved away from the handle 18 and the strip (S₁) is released and the strip (S2) becomes clamped between the sheath members 14 on the one hand and the sidewall 13 near the handle 18 on the other hand.

In another example, a further construction of the invention comprising a work bench is illustrated by Figures 3 to 10 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawing , wherein:

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a work bench

(serving as a work top) , Figure 4 is a front view of the work bench of

Figure 3, Figure 5 is a plan view of the work bench of Figure

3 partly cut-away, Figure 6 is a side view of the work bench looking in direction A of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a sectional view of the work bench on

B-B of Figure 5, Figure 8 is a sectional view of the work bench on

C-C of Figure 5, Figure 9 is a plan view of the work bench top with the movable clamping member parallel, and

Figure 10 is a plan view of the work bench top with the movable clamping member in an angled position.

Referring to Figures 3 to 10 of the drawings, the construction has a table top 100 comprising an elongate flat board with a pair of parallel elongate slots 101 extending transversely of the elongate table top 100. The slots 101 provide access to the bottom of the table top 100. Holes 102 are provided in the table top to locate side and centre dowels to which reference will be made later.

Referring to Figure 4, two bolts 103 with rollers 120, washers 121 and nuts 122 enable the table top 100 to be fixed to underlying steel frame 109 seen in Figures 7A, 8A and 8C. The bolts 103 lie along the longitudinal centre of the table top 100. A strengthening block 104 is provided on the undersurface of the table top 100.

Two side members 105 are provided with integral dowels 106. The two side members are located on the table top 100 by inserting the dowels 106 into the holes 102 of the table top 100 so that the longitudinal edges of the table top 100 are provided with opposed upstanding sidewalls formed by the side members 105.

A clamping member 107 has integral dowels 108 projecting downwardly.

The steel frame 109 has two cross members 123 having locating holes 110 to locate the clamping member 107 y insertion of the downwardly projecting dowels 108. A fixing bracket 111 that fits into block 104 (seen in Figure 6) by means of a bolt 124 to be passed through an aperture in bracket 111. A threaded shaft 112 is fixed to operating handle 115. A swivel bracket 113 is mounted on the frame 109 by a bolt and nut. As mentioned previously 120 are the rollers through which the bolts 103 pass. Bolts 103, rollers 120, washers 121 and nuts 122 are not tightened unduly so as to allow the table 100 to swing around in its own plane or straighten out when in use.

Referring to Figures 4 to 10, the clamping member 107 is in place on the table top 100 and the table top 100 is mounted on the frame 109, the frame 109 being supported by legs 128.

The clamping device illustrated in Figures 3 to 10 is intended to operate with elongate work pieces. There will be two separate working regions for the vice, a first region 129 located between a side member 105 remote from handle 115 of the frame 109 and one side of the clamping member 107, and a second region 130 located between the other side member 105 near the handle 115 and the other side of the clamping member 107. The clamping member 107 may be fitted by its dowels 108 into any of the four pairs of holes 110 in the cross members 123 as desired.

In a working procedure using the clamping device described and illustrated a suitable work piece for instance a strip (S^) of wood (not shown) is disposed in the region 129 and another strip (S2) of wood (not shown) is disposed in the region 130. By rotating the handle 115 clockwise the table top 100 is moved away from the handle 115 and the strip (S-^) is clamped between the remote side member 105 and the stationary clamping member 107. Upon rotating the table top 100 clockwise the table top 100 is moved towards the handle 115 and the strip (S_j) is released and the strip (S2) becomes clamped between the near side member 105 and the stationary clamping member 107. This particular working procedure applies to work pieces consisting of elongate parallel sided strips.

Referring more especially to Figure 10, a working procedure using a suitable work piece for instance a strip (S^) of wood (not shown) is disposed in the region 129 and another strip (S2) of wood (not shown) is disposed in the region 130. With this procedure either or both strips (S^) (S2) may have a tapered side. The clamp illustrated and described has considerable flexibility in accommodating the tapered side of such a strip on account of the limited rotatability of the table top 100 in its own plane by means of rollers 120 and by virtue of the displaceable movement of the dowels 108 of the clamping member 107 in the slots 101 which are significantly wider than the diameters of the dowels 108 allowing for a certain amount of movement of the dowels 108 in the slots 101, and thereby allowing a certain movement of the clamping member in its own plane. Thus, for instance, the table top 100 may attain the position shown in Figure 10. In other respects the working procedure follows that described in the preceding paragraph.

Another construction is explained and described more fully in conjunction with Figures 11 to 14 of the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment as an example.

In these drawings: -

Figure 11 is a side view in a first jaw position,

Figure 12 is a view in a second jaw position,

Figure 13 is a perspective view in the position of Figure 1, and

Figure 14 is a plan view in the second position.

Referring to the drawings a clamping device or vice comprises a base member B which may include slots Bl for bolting to a workbench (not shown). The base has a lug L with a threaded bore which threadably receives a jack- screw J having a tommy-bar T. A movable jaw member M has two spaced abutment jaw parts Al and A2 the assembly being slidable on the base B and movable there along by the jack-screw J. A fixed abutment A3 is secured to the base B between the abutments Al and A2.

With this construction the jack-screw when adjusted over its range may change the spacing of abutments Al and A3 from the position shown in Fig 1 to the position shown in Fig 2 whilst si ultaneously changing the spacing of abutments A2 and A3 from the position shown in Fig 1 to that shown in Fig 2. Thus the clamp has a wide adjustment range defined by the two pairs of abutments for a lesser range of movement of the jack-screw J.

In a modification of the construction shown in Figures 3 to 10, the side members 105 and the clamping member may be substituted by rectangular, or other shaped, abutments having a single peg to engage the holes 102 in the table top 100. Similar abutments may engage holes 110 in cross members 123. This alternate arrangement which is considered to be within the scope of this invention, enables angular pieces of wood to be accommodated and mi t re joints or the 1 i e to be cut by virtue of selective positioning of the abutment in noles 102 or 110. Needless to say an overall matrix of such holes may be provided in the table top 100. The arrangement provides for an edge of a piece of wood to be laid-on to abut two spaced abutments at an angle to the side of the table top. A saw guide may be provided on the table top to facilitate accurate cutting.

In a modification of the vice shown in Figures 11 to 14 the fixed abutment A3 may have pegs on the underside which engage with holes in the base B thus making the abutment A3 movable in pre-set steps to accommodate more widely different widths still using the relatively short jack-screw throw. The base B may have a series of holes along each side of the top surface for such a purpose.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A clamping device which can support two elongate work pieces side by side allowing for either work piece to be releasably clamped as desired, whereby upon release of one clamped work piece, but without removal of the released work piece from the clamping device, the other work piece can be releasably clamped.

2. A clamping device according to Claim 1, wherein the clamping device is operated by a rotatable handle, the handle being rotatable in opposite senses to clamp one or the other work piece.

3. A clamping device according to Claim 1 or 2, comprising one elongate fixed jaw having opposed clamping surfaces and a pair of spaced apart opposed elongate movable jaws, a work piece adapted to be clamped between one clamping surface of the fixed jaw and one of the movable jaws or to be clamped between the other clamping surface of the fixed jaw and the other movable jaw.

A clamping device according to Claim 3, wherein the movable jaws arc provided by opposed longitudinal upstanding w l l of a platform, the platform being movable relatively to the fixed jaw to increase the distance between the fixed jaw and a movable jaw.

5. A clamping device according to Claim 4 comprising a platform with opposed longitudinal upstanding walls constituting opposed movable jaws and between the movable jaws is located an elongate clamping member parallel to the movable jaws, the said clamping member being releasably fixed to the platform at predetermined spacings from the said movable jaws.

6. A clamping device according to Claim 5, wherein the said clamping member functions as a substantially fixed jaw relative to the movable jaws but is capable of limited rotational movement in its own plane to accommodate elongate work pieces which are parallel sided or are tapered .

. A clamping device according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein to allow for the clamping of elongate tapered work pieces, the platform may be provided with means to rotate it to a l imited degree in its own plane so that a movable jaw matches the taper of the work piece.

<-'< . A clamping device according to any preceding claim and comprising a platform provided with upstanding elongate side walls constituting movable jaws of the clamping device which is adapted to be mounted on a base.

9. A clamping device comprising a base member for attachment to a bench or like support structure, a moving jaw member comprising two spaced work piece engaging abutments interconnected and further coupled with a screw-jack threadably engaging a flange on the base member whereby the jaw member and both abutments may be moved back and forth along the base member by rotation of the jack, an abutment fixed to the base member and between the two spaced abutments, the fixed abutment forming one clamp means in conjunction with one moving abutment and second clamp means in conjunction with the other moving abutment.

10. A clamping device according to any preceding claim arranged to have two vice jaws forming the clamping means, one pair of jaws being movable from a fully closed position to a first spaced position and the other pair of jaws being movable from the first spaced position to a second wider spaced position.

11. A clamping device constructed and arranged to function as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 2C of the drawings.

12. A clamping device and a work bench incorporating same constructed and arranged to function as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figures 3 to 10 of the drawings.

13. A vice for clamping work pieces constructed and arranged to function as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figures 11 to 14 of the drawings.