WO2001000919A1 - Pince de prehension - Google Patents

Pince de prehension Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001000919A1
WO2001000919A1 PCT/GB2000/002454 GB0002454W WO0100919A1 WO 2001000919 A1 WO2001000919 A1 WO 2001000919A1 GB 0002454 W GB0002454 W GB 0002454W WO 0100919 A1 WO0100919 A1 WO 0100919A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
arrangement
jaws
clamp
double
ended
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/002454
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Brian Robert Alfred Wybrow
Original Assignee
Brian Robert Alfred Wybrow
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brian Robert Alfred Wybrow filed Critical Brian Robert Alfred Wybrow
Priority to EP00940620A priority Critical patent/EP1175526A1/fr
Priority to AU55531/00A priority patent/AU5553100A/en
Publication of WO2001000919A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001000919A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F55/00—Clothes-pegs
    • D06F55/02—Clothes-pegs with pivoted independent clamping members

Definitions

  • This invention relates to clamping arrangements.
  • single-ended, and double-ended, clamping arrangements possess design characteristics which are custom-suited to particular applications.
  • the use of the region enclosed by the spring elements of the design, to enclose clothing or other objects, also reduces the extent of the action of opening of the jaws both with respect to distance and duration.
  • the region enclosed by the spring elements also allows objects such as cables or rods, or the like, to be held loosely, but in a way such that they will not slip out via the jaws, and without any pressure being applied to such objects.
  • protrusions and depressions can be formed in the interconnecting parts of each of the sections which, together, make the double-ended clamp, in order to provide lateral stability when the two parts are in intimate contact with one another.
  • Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 2 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 3 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 4 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction, with one of its pair of jaws in its opened configuration.
  • Figure 5 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction clamped to an object by one pair of jaws and thereby demonstrating the effect of this on the clamping force at the other pair of jaws.
  • Figure 6 shows, in side elevation, a double-ended clamp of two-piece construction in a loose configuration.
  • Figure 7 shows, in side elevation, a double-ended clamp of two-piece construction, with elements of the two parts closer to one another.
  • Figure 8 shows, in three-dimensional form, double-ended clamp of two-piece construction, with elements of the two parts closer to one another.
  • Figure 9 shows, in side elevation, a double-ended clamp of two-piece construction containing elements which can be brought together in order to create clamping forces at the jaws.
  • Figure 10 shows, in side elevation, a close up view of a variant of the double-ended clamp.
  • Figure 11 shows, in side elevation, an enlarged view of part of a double-ended clamp, which has separately, interlockable spring loop elements.
  • Figure 12 shows, in side elevation, a double-ended clamp, which has separately, interlockable spring loop elements.
  • Figure 13 shows, in three-dimensional form, a close-up view of part of a variant of the double-ended clamp.
  • Figure 14 shows, in three-dimensional form, part of a double-ended clamp, which has separately, interlockable spring loop elements.
  • Figure 15 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp which has separately, interlockable spring loop elements.
  • Figure 16 shows, in three-dimensional form, double-ended clamps in use around instrumentation.
  • Figure 17 shows, in three-dimensional form, double-ended clamps being used for creating a framework involving rods.
  • Figure 18 shows, in front elevation, double-ended clamps being used for supporting clothing, etc., on a washing line.
  • Figure 19A shows, in front elevation, conventional clothes pegs being used for supporting articles on a washing line.
  • Figure 19B shows, in front elevation, conventional clothes pegs being used for supporting articles on a washing line but with double-ended clamps being used to spread out the articles.
  • Figure 20 shows, in front elevation, the use of a combination of conventional and double-ended clamps to hold articles on a washing line.
  • Figure 21 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp being used to hold an object on a supporting rod.
  • Figure 22 shows, in front elevation, an arrangement involving two supporting lines and double-ended clamps ready to be clamped to an article.
  • Figure 23 shows, in front elevation, an arrangement involving two supporting lines and double-ended clamps, but with the upper supporting line and double-ended clamps, pulled down so that the article is clamped to the lower line.
  • Figure 24 A shows a side elevation and three-dimensional view, of a design of double- ended clamp, which is of two-piece construction
  • Figure 24B shows a side elevation and three-dimensional view, of a design of double- ended clamp, which is of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 24C shows a side elevation and three-dimensional view, of a design of double- ended clamp which is of one-piece construction, and which has flat, and angled, extensions of its spring loop sections.
  • Figure 25 shows a side elevation, and three-dimensional view, of a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction, having spacing between the flat extensions of its spring loop sections so that it can hold thick objects.
  • Figure 26 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp in use holding two objects together.
  • Figure 27 shows a side elevation and three-dimensional view, of a double-ended clamp having various designs of clamping jaws at each end.
  • Figure 28 shows a side elevation, and three-dimensional view, of a double-ended clamp having various designs of clamping jaws at each end.
  • Figure 29A shows, in side elevation, a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction, having three line grippers at each end and also handles which can be used to operate the clamp by means of the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 29B is a three-dimensional representation a double-ended clamp of one-piece construction, having three line grippers at each end and also handles which can be used to operate the clamp by means of the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 30 shows in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp of two-piece construction, having three line grippers at each end and also handles which can be used to operate the clamp by means of the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 31 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp, having three line grippers at each end but with open U shaped regions at the ends of the operating arms which can be gripped by the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 32 shows, in three-dimensional form, a clamping arrangement of two-piece construction having handles, which can be gripped by means of the finger and thumb and jaws which are flat in shape.
  • Figure 33 A shows, in side elevation, a clamp of two-piece construction in which elements can be brought together in order to create the desired clamping force at the jaws.
  • Figure 33B shows, in three-dimensional form a clamp of two-piece construction in which elements can be brought together in order to create the desired clamping force at the jaws.
  • Figure 34 shows, in three-dimensional form, a clamp of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 35 A shows, in side elevation, a clamp of two-piece construction, which has handles which can be gripped by the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 35B shows a three-dimensional view of a clamp of two-piece construction, which has handles which can be gripped by the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 36 A shows, in side elevation, a clamp of one-piece construction, which has handles which can be gripped by the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 36B is a three-dimensional representation of a clamp of one-piece construction, which has handles which can be gripped by the finger and thumb.
  • Figure 37 shows a side elevation and three-dimensional view, of a double-ended clamp of two-piece construction.
  • Figure 38 shows a side elevation and three-dimensional view, of a clamp of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 39 shows, in side elevation variants of a clamp of one-piece construction.
  • Figure 40 shows, in three-dimensional form, a variant of a design of clamp, which can be attached to a clipboard or other object.
  • Figure 41 shows, in three-dimensional form, a variant of a design of clamp, which can be attached to a clipboard or other object.
  • Figure 42 shows, in three-dimensional form, a variant of a design of clamp, which can be attached to a clipboard or other object.
  • Figure 43 shows, in side elevation and three-dimensional form, a variant of a design of clamp which can be attached to a clip board or other object by means of its own self contained spring clip.
  • Figure 44 shows, in side elevation and three-dimensional form, a single ended clamp of one-piece construction, having one fulcrum.
  • Figure 45 shows, in side elevation and three-dimensional form, a single ended clamp of one-piece construction, having provision for two fulcrums.
  • Figure 46 shows, in side elevation and three-dimensional form, a single ended clamp of one-piece construction, having provision for two fulcrums and showing the use of a lockable device which creates a fulcrum in one chosen location.
  • Figure 47 shows, in side elevation and three-dimensional form, a single ended clamp of one-piece construction, having provision for two fulcrums and showing how the inner fulcrum is created by means of a supporting rod or line.
  • Figure 48 shows, in side elevation and three-dimensional form, a single ended clamp of one-piece construction, having provision for two fulcrums and showing how the outer fulcrum is created by means of a supporting rod or line.
  • Figure 49 shows, in three-dimensional form, single ended clamps in use with the clamps in a vertical orientation.
  • Figure 50 shows side elevations and three-dimensional views, of various single ended clamps.
  • Figure 51 shows, side elevations and three-dimensional views, of devices, which allow double-ended clamps to be interconnected with one another and also designs of double-ended clamp containing only one main spring loop.
  • the Figure also shows a side elevation of a design of double-ended clamp whose jaws can be opened by squeezing at the centre.
  • Figure 52 shows, in side elevation, variants of a design of single ended clamp.
  • Figure 53 shows, in three-dimensional form and in side elevation, a conventional clothes peg.
  • Figure 54 shows, in three-dimensional form and in side elevation, a single ended clamp containing a spring loop and separate spring.
  • Figure 55 shows side elevations and three-dimensional views of designs of double- ended clamp, which are intended to be used on appliances such as television sets, or in packaging applications, and the like.
  • Figure 56A shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp of two-piece construction having a snap-fit assembly on each piece which allows the two pieces to be clamped together to produce the clamping force at each pair of jaws.
  • Figure 56B shows, in three-dimensional form, alternative views of a double-ended clamp of two piece construction, and a view of the assembled clamp.
  • Figure 57 shows, in three-dimensional form, more detailed views of a double-ended clamp having a snap-fit assembly on each piece which allows the two pieces to be clamped together to produce the clamping force at each pair of jaws.
  • Figure 58 A shows, in side elevation, a single ended clamp having elements which can be brought together to create a desired clamping force at the jaws.
  • Figure 58B shows, in side elevation, parts of a single ended clamp having elements which can be brought together to create a single ended, but double jawed, clamp.
  • Figure 59 shows side elevations and three-dimensional views, of a single ended clamp of one-piece construction, whose operating arms can be brought together in order to put the design into a configuration which creates a clamping force at its jaws.
  • Figure 60 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp having flat jaws.
  • Figure 61 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp having operating arms, which are specially shaped to provide operational advantages.
  • Figure 62 shows, in three-dimensional form, a double-ended clamp having operating arms which are specially shaped to provide operational advantages and which allow the double-ended clamp to represent a dolphin or the like.
  • Figure 63 shows, in three-dimensional form, various designs of double-ended clamp having interconnecting means formed on them to allow the clamps to be connected to one another or to other objects.
  • Figure 64 shows, in three-dimensional form, various designs of double-ended clamp having interconnecting means formed on them to allow the clamps to be connected to one another or to other objects.
  • a double-ended clamp, 1, of one-piece construction has fulcrums formed by the points of contact, 2 (left) and 3 (right) respectively, of the inner ends of operating arms, 4, 5 (left) and 6, 7, (right) respectively.
  • the arms 4, 5, 6, and 7, are assumed to be in a roughly horizontal orientation.
  • a spring loop, 8 (left) has a central, curved, approximately vertically orientated, section, which joins two spring arms, 8AU (upper left) and 8AL (lower left) whose outer ends come together at the points of contact of the inner extremities of pairs of clothes line grippers, 10 and 11 (left).
  • a spring loop, 9 (right) has a central, curved, approximately vertically orientated section, which joins two spring arms, 9AU (upper right) and 9AL (lower right) whose outer ends come together at the points of contact of the inner extremities of pairs of clothes line grippers, 12 and 13 (right).
  • the approximately vertically oriented sections of the spring loops, 8 and 9 can be curved and that the most appropriate shape for the intended application will be found by experimentation.
  • spring arms, 8AU (upper) and 8AL (lower) are joined to the inner extremities of the left pair of operating arms 4 (upper) and 5 (lower) respectively, by means of a pair of clothes line grippers, 10 (upper) and 11 (lower).
  • spring arms, 9AU (upper) and 9AL (lower) respectively are joined to the inner extremities of the right pair of operating arms 6 (upper) and 7 (lower) respectively, by means of the pair of clothes line grippers, 12 (upper) and 13 (lower).
  • arms 4 and 5, respectively can be opened, and, similarly, forces can be applied at arms 4 and 5, respectively, in order to open arms 6 and 7, respectively.
  • Pairs of clothes-line grippers 10, 11 (left) and 12, 13 (right) where each part of the pair is roughly semi-circular in cross-section (but which can be of any desired shape) and where each pair forms a roughly circular loop, serve to allow the double-ended clamp to grip objects of roughly circular cross-section, e.g. a clothes line.
  • variants of the double-ended clamp can contain clothes line grippers which have a shallower, curved cross-section, e.g. that of an ellipse, so that clothing, and other items, of various shapes and thicknesses, can be gripped by the double-ended clamp.
  • clothes line grippers which have a shallower, curved cross-section, e.g. that of an ellipse, so that clothing, and other items, of various shapes and thicknesses, can be gripped by the double-ended clamp.
  • other designs of double-ended clamp can have a whole range of differently shaped line grippers or they can either have no line grippers at all, or have them at one end of the double-ended clamp only.
  • the jaws of the double-ended clamp can have flat, or round, contours, appropriate parts of which, act as fulcrums whilst also allowing flat objects such as paper or card, or other such objects and/or materials which have parallel, or roughly parallel, faces, to be gripped.
  • the double-ended clamp can serve as a very effective office clip or clamp, and in these forms and applications, the devices are better referred to as double-ended clips.
  • the desired functional action of the double-ended clamp is to provide double-endedness, it is important that the flexibility of these curves is not so great that they bend, and therefore do not allow the arm, 6, to pull the whole of the line gripper, 12, upwards, together with the upper arm, 9AU, of the right-hand spring loop, 9 when arm, 4, is pushed towards the horizontal centre-line of the double-ended clamp, 1, with point, 2, acting as a fulcrum.
  • Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the double-ended clamp, 1, shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 which represents a perspective view
  • a double-ended clamp, 16 is similar to double-ended clamp, 1, shown in Figures 1 and 2, but has the spring loops, 8 and 9, closer together, thereby reducing the overall length of the double-ended clamp.
  • the function of the double-ended clamp, 16, will be the same as that of double-ended clamp, 1.
  • a threaded spacer which is tapered, and which has a section of constant diameter, could be used to open the jaws at one end systematically.
  • FIG. 5 represents a perspective view, the part of a clothes line, or cylindrically shaped object, 17, is seen in place between the pair of jaws at the left hand side of the double-ended clamp, 16.
  • the double-ended clamp is either made from two similar pieces, where each piece is held in contact with the other by means of a strap and/or clamp and/or by means of interlocking joints in each part, or, alternatively, the double- ended clamp is made in just one piece, which may involve the interlocking of flexible sub-parts of the construction, with one another.
  • the gripping force existing at the jaws of the double-ended clamp is attained by designing each part so that fulcrums on either side of a mating central flange, are at a different horizontal level from that of the central flange itself. This ensures that when the two parts are in contact at their fulcrums, ready to be clamped or interlocked, the action of clamping, or interlocking, which has to be carried out against restraining forces offered by the spring arms of the loops which make up the double-ended clamp, gives rise to gripping forces at the jaws of the double-ended clamp. Spring tension can therefore be accurately controlled and internally adjusted, by design and/or by the incorporation of spacers, in special designs of double-ended clamp.
  • the fulcrums which are on either side of the central interlocking region are moulded, or manufactured, so that they are in touching contact, but with an air gap between them, whilst the central flanges, which will eventually be in close proximity, are then at a prescribed distance from one- another, but loosely connected by means of flexible material.
  • one central interlocking region is pressed towards the other central interlocking region by the application of opposing forces at the outer surfaces of the two regions, the two central pieces are ultimately locked into one another against the restraining forces applied by the spring arms of the loops which make up the double-ended clamp.
  • the double-ended clamp is manufactured by joining two separate pieces to one- another, a whole range of different fastening devices in a wide range of materials and fastening methods, is available. These can merely clamp one piece to the other by gripping both pieces externally, or they can interlock them by utilising pre-formed holes or indentations in the surface of each part. Alternatively, by designing the two similar pieces so that they possess dovetail joints at the mating faces of their central flanges, it will be possible to slide one piece into the other. A yet further alternative, based on the interlocking of two different pieces, is to design one piece so that it has a male section which locks into a female section on the other, ideally in the region of the central flange of each.
  • One of the crudest, but nevertheless still effective, methods, which has been used in early prototypes, is to use a "nut, bolt, and washers", arrangement, where the bolt passes through a hole in the central flange of both pieces with one part held firmly against the other, by means of a locking nut and washers.
  • the two pieces could also be joined together by means of riveting techniques, by screwing one specially designed piece into another, or by locally heating the central flanges of both pieces so that they melt into one-another, and then cooling them; a particularly well established method of achieving this, is to use ultra-sound welding techniques. They could also be joined together by means of so-called, snap-fit mechanisms, of which there are many alternatives.
  • Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the double-ended clamp, 18, shown in Figure 7.
  • double-ended clothes clamps need to withstand the weather conditions which are common for conventional clothes pegs.
  • materials of construction should be able to withstand extremes of temperature and rain, ice, snow, and the effects of ultra-violet light and other sources of radiation.
  • the all-plastic, double-ended clamp can be manufactured at a lower cost, because the conventional metal spring is eliminated, thereby reducing materials costs and assembly costs.
  • the gripping strength obtained via the spring arms of the double-ended clamp can be controlled by the shape and the thickness of component parts, and spacers can also be used, and special designs of double-ended clamp could provide for adjustable gripping force. For instance, interlocking teeth in each piece of a two-piece double-ended clamp could be arranged to be lockable at any desired distance of separation between the two pieces, thereby providing means for adjusting the clamping force at the jaws.
  • FIG 9 which represents a side-elevation
  • the front face of a double-ended clamp, 19, which is similar to double-ended clamp, 18, already described with reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8, but which has a redesigned central section, has upper piece, 20, containing central section, 19UC, and lower piece, 21, containing central section, 19LC, where lower piece, 21, is similar to upper piece, 20, as can be seen by rotating upper piece, 20, through 180 degrees, in the plane of the paper, about its geometric centre and displacing it vertically to the position of piece, 21, shown in the diagram.
  • the upper and lower, central sections, 19UC and 19LC, respectively, are each provided with interlocking teeth which are formed on the inner contact faces of interlockable channels, 19IUC (upper) and 19ILC (lower). It is pointed out that these interlockable channels could be implemented in the form of snap-fit joints, which are explained in more detail, later.
  • Figure 10 which represents an enlarged view of the part of Figure 9 which is enclosed by the circle, 22, the upper central section, 19UC, of part, 20, is provided with a channel, 19IUC, one side of which is toothed and the other side of which is plane-sided.
  • each upper, and lower, central section is flexible so that it can move sideways whilst the teeth engage with one another. This flexibility needs to be controlled so that it is sufficient to allow interlocking but not so flexible that the teeth do not remain interlocked. Movement of either piece in a direction at right angles with the plane of the paper, is prevented by reversing the location of each toothed channel, half way into each upper, and lower, piece, 20 and 21, respectively. As seen from say, the front, the central and side channels, change over, half-way through the double-ended clamp, 19, as a consequence of the existence of stepped rectangular channels which reverse, laterally, half-way into the double-ended clamp, in each upper and lower piece.
  • Figure 11 represents a side elevation
  • Figure 12 which represents a side elevation
  • Figure 12 also shows these two pairs of interlocking teeth, 24 and 25, which form part of the structure of double-ended clamp, 27, and it can be seen that Figure 11 represents an enlarged view of the central section of a double-ended clamp, 27, which comprises upper piece, 28 and lower piece, 29.
  • Figure 13 represents a perspective view of the region enclosed within each of the circled parts of Figures 11 and 12.
  • FIG 14 which represents a perspective view, the central section of double-ended clamp, 27, is shown again but with the addition of studs, 30, 31, 32 and 33, which will allow a suitably tapered tool to be inserted between pair, 30, and 31, or between pair, 32 and 33, in order to push the flexible side parts of the structure away from one-another, so that the clamping force at the jaws can be controlled by adjustment of the relative positions of the two toothed parts, or so that the upper and lower sections of the spring loops can be separated from one-another, completely.
  • Figure 15 shows a perspective view of double-ended clamp, 27, shown in Figure 12.
  • an electronic instrument, 34 has plugs, 35, 36, 37 and 38, connected to its rear panel, 34RP. Pairs of leads 39, 40, and 41, 42, respectively, are held in double-ended clamps, 43 and 44, respectively, thereby ensuring that the leads are maintained in an orderly arrangement.
  • Double-ended clamp, 45 which is fixed to the side panel, 34SP, of instrument, 34 (by means of nuts and bolts or clips or adhesive or other suitable means) holds cable, 46.
  • FIG 17 represents a perspective view
  • an arrangement of double-ended clamps, 47, 48 and 49 is shown holding together rods, 50, 51, 52, and 53, in a vertical orientation, thereby demonstrating the use of double-ended clamps in supporting a framework of rods.
  • the displayed configuration also demonstrates the use of double-ended clamps in tidying cables, rods, tubes, etc., and it can be assumed that these can be in any desired or existing, configuration.
  • Specially designed double- ended clamps can be used together with such rods, or the like, to create easily assembled and disassembled packaging arrangements.
  • tea cloth, 60, pillow case, 61, and sock, 62 are supported by means of double-ended clamps 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71, which are each clamped to the article suspended immediately above them. It is pointed out that these double-ended clamps can be any of those already described in the foregoing and following description.
  • FIG 19 A which represents a front elevation, an arrangement, 72A, of articles being dried on a washing line, consists of posts, 73 and 74, which support a washing line, 75.
  • Articles, 80 and 81 are held on the line, 75, by means of clamps, 76, 77, 78 and 79, in the conventional way, and the usual overlap is shown by means of the dotted lines, 8OF and 8 IF.
  • edges, 82, 83, and 84, 85, respectively, of articles 80 and 81, respectively are not completely vertical, and that the usual folds encountered in such articles whilst drying on a washing line (here represented just as curved lines) will reduce drying efficiency, especially if tangling occurs.
  • Double-ended clamps 86 and 89 can be seen to pull the articles, 80 and 81, respectively, to the left and right, at their left and right extremities, respectively, whilst double-ended clamps, 87 and 88 serve to pull the inner extremities of articles 80 and 81, towards the centre of the arrangement. It can thus be seen how the use of double-ended clamps in this way will increase drying efficiency because a greater area of each article is presented to the surrounding air. Also, articles such as sheets or the like, will be in a more presentable state when dried, ready for immediate use or for folding, and ironing.
  • double-ended clamps, 86 and 89 need to have one half which is larger than the other, and would generally be larger than double-ended clamps, 87 and 88, and also that double-ended clamps, 86 and 89, could be attached to loops of rope, wire, etc., which are themselves attached to the posts, 74 and 73.
  • the diameter of these posts dictates the dimensions of clamps, 86 and 89.
  • an arrangement, 90, of articles being dried on a washing line consists of posts, 73 and 74, which support a washing line, 75.
  • Double-ended clamp, 91 (which could be a conventional peg) and conventional clamp, 92, clamp a towel, 80 onto the line, and double-ended clamps, 87 and 88, clamp towel, 80, to adjacent towel, 81, which is itself supported on line, 75, by means of double-ended clamps, 93 and 94, by suspension.
  • Double-ended clamp, 89 clamps the right hand edge of towel, 81, to the support post, 73, whilst double-ended clamp, 86, clamps the left-hand edge of towel, 80, to the support post, 74.
  • This object can, for instance, be a negative film being processed, or a photographic print (which objects benefit from the use of "soft clamping") or anything which can conveniently be inserted into, and then removed from, the clamping arrangement.
  • Particular objects would dictate the exact shape of the jaws at one end of the double-ended clamp and particular supporting rods or rails, would dictate the shape of the jaws at the other end of the double-ended clamp.
  • the supporting rod, 96 could be in any suitable orientation and that rod, 96, could itself be attached to a supporting object such as the arm of a lamp and that it could then contain paper from which information was to be copied into e.g. a computer.
  • FIG 22 represents a perspective view
  • an article, 98 is shown ready to be clamped to washing line, 99, which is supported by means of posts, 100 and 101.
  • Another line, 102 which, in one variant is flexible, has double-ended clamps, 103 and 104, clamped to it and is also supported by means of posts, 100 and 101.
  • Figure 23 which represents a front elevation, the arrangement shown in Figure 22, is shown again but with flexible line, 102, pulled down towards line 99, and with double-ended clamps, 103 and 104, clamping article, 98, to line, 99.
  • line 102 can be provided with sliding, cylindrically shaped, "runners", which can be slid along the line, and over which, the double-ended clamps 103 and 104, can be clamped.
  • Other variants of this concept can involve a whole range of alternative means for allowing line, 102, to move up or down in order to allow the double-ended clamps 103 and 104, to be used to clamp articles on line, 99.
  • double-ended clamp, 105 possesses the general characteristics of double-ended clamps already described, e.g. double-ended clamp, 18, shown in Figure 6, but has a short, upper central section, 105UC, and a similar, lower central section, 105LC.
  • An important characteristic of these double-ended clamps is the absence of line grippers, which simplifies the design, whilst retaining the clamping features of designs of double-ended clamps already described. It is to be assumed that the upper and lower parts will be brought together and clamped to one another as described with reference to double-ended clamp, 18, shown in Figure 7.
  • the enclosed loops at one end of the double-ended clamp thus serve to enclose the clothes-line or other supporting structure, with or without an article also clamped in it, whilst the loop at the other end serves to hold an object which is to be clamped, such that the contacting fulcrums at each end of the double-ended clamp serve to grip the supporting structure and the object to be clamped.
  • double-ended clamp, 106 resembles double-ended clamp, 105, but has no central sections, and the spring loops are not connected with one another.
  • This double-ended clamp thus resembles double-ended clamp, 16, shown in Figure 3.
  • double-ended clamp, 107 resembles double-ended clamp, 106, shown in Figure 24B, but has elements, 108, 109 (left) and 110, 111 (right) which are inclined as shown, so that when the jaws are opened at either end, the pairs of grippers at either end, become more parallel with one another, and until parallel, serve to pull the gripped object into the inner loop, rather than to push it outwards.
  • this design serves to demonstrate how the degree of opening of the jaws of the double-ended clamp can be minimised because of the existence of adequate space inside the spring loops. This serves to reduce the effect of the phenomenon known as creep, which characterises plastics.
  • a variant, 112 of the double-ended clamp, 107, shown in Figure 24C has the jaws constructed so that the flat extensions, 113, 114 (left) and 115, 116 (right) of the spring loops, are already spaced sufficiently apart so that they can accommodate a greater thickness of material to be gripped, e.g. a shelf.
  • This application is shown in Figure 26, where double-ended clamp, 112, is shown connecting two representations of shelf units, 117 (left) and 118 (right). This therefore demonstrates the use of the principles of the double-ended clamp for creating structures, and also for clamping objects to other structures such as shelves.
  • a double-ended clamp, 119 has upper left, line gripper, 120, upper left, straight element, 121, upper central interlocking region, 122 (resembling region 19UC shown in Figure 9) upper inner right, line gripper, 123, upper middle right, line gripper, 124, and outer right, elliptical line gripper, 125. It can also be seen that the left-hand spring loops have a shape, which is different from that of the right hand spring loops. The lower section and other parts of double-ended clamp, 119 have not been described since they are similar.
  • a double-ended clamp, 126 resembles double-ended clamp, 119, shown in Figure 27, but has the left hand pair of operating arms, designed so that parts, 127, upper, and 128, lower, slope in the direction shown, in order to prevent objects which are to be gripped, from being forced outwards.
  • This is similar to the design principle operating for double-ended clamp, 107, shown in Figure 24C, where elements, 108 and 109, have a function which is similar to that of elements, 127 and 128.
  • a double-ended clamp, 129 having the line gripping properties of double-ended clamps, 47, 48 and 49, shown in Figure 17, but having separate spring loops, has finger and thumb holes, 130, 131, 132 and 134, at its ends, which allow the double-ended clamp to be held and operated with the fingers and thumb.
  • Figure 29B shows a perspective view of double-ended clamp, 129, shown in Figure 29A.
  • Figure 30 shows a perspective view of a double-ended clamp, 135, resembling double- ended clamp, 129, but constructed in two halves which can be brought together at their central regions in the same manner as already described with reference to double- ended clamp, 18, shown in Figure 6.
  • Figure 31 shows a perspective view of a double-ended clamp, 136, resembling double- ended clamp, 135, but having semi-circular, finger and thumb grips, 137, 138, 139 and 140.
  • a clamp, 141 resembles double-ended clamp, 135, shown in Figure 30, but is single-ended, having a right-hand pair of finger and thumb grips, 144 and 145, but with the left hand pair of finger and thumb grips, replaced by upper and lower, flange-shaped grips, 142 and 143.
  • a clamping arrangement, 146 resembles, clamp, 141, shown in Figure 32, but has curved elements, 147 and 148, and flat elements, 149 and 150, and finger and thumb holes, 151 and 152.
  • the flat elements represent regions, which can be brought together and clamped to one another in order to pull the jaws of the clamping arrangement together in order to create the desired clamping force at the jaws.
  • the curved elements, 147 and 148 serve as fulcrums when the finger and thumb grips 151 and 152, are brought together.
  • This arrangement allows the points of contact of curved elements, 147 and 148, to slide and roll over one another as the finger and thumb grips are pressed together against the restraining action of the spring loops of double-ended clamp, 146, and there is consequently no other restraining force operating.
  • Figure 33B shows a perspective view of double-ended clamp, 146, shown in Figure 33A.
  • Figure 34 shows a three-dimensional representation of a clamping arrangement, 153, resembling arrangement, 146, shown in Figure 33B, but which has a closed spring loop, 154.
  • Figures 35A and 35B respectively, show a side-elevation and a perspective view, respectively, of a clamping arrangement, 155, having a tapered nose and having central regions, which can be brought together and clamped to one another to create clamping pressure at the tapered nose jaws.
  • Figures 36 A and 36B respectively, show a side-elevation and a perspective view, respectively, of a clamping arrangement, 156, which resembles arrangement, 155, shown in Figures 35 A and 35B, but which has independent spring loops.
  • Figures 37, 38 and 39 show side elevations and perspective views, of clamps, 157, 158, 159, 160 and 161, which contain elements of clamping arrangements described in the foregoing and which serve mainly, to allow the principles of the invention to be implemented via a more light-weight structure.
  • a clamp, 162 has a base section, 163, which can be glued, or otherwise fixed, to an object, and an operating arm, 164, which when pressed downwards, causes support section, 162D, to bend at fulcrum 162F, thereby allowing clamping arm, 165, to rise so that either an object can be secured under it, or so that a cable, etc., can be secured inside the spring loop, 162SL.
  • a clamp, 166 resembles clamp, 162, shown in Figure 40, but has a base section, 167, operating arm, 168, spring loop, 166SL, and clamp arm, 169. It can also be seen that support section, 166D, is not connected to base section, 167, and that it is free to slide and role, in contact with the base section, along fulcrum-line, 166F.
  • a clamp, 170 has a base section, 171, operating arm, 172, and clamp arm, 173.
  • clamp, 174 is similar to clamp, 170, shown in Figure 42, and has a base section, 175, operating arm, 176, support section, 174D, fulcrum line, 174F, and clamp arm, 177, but has an additional element, 178, which allows the whole clamp to be attached to a clipboard, or other object, so that the unit, 174, serves as a versatile clip, Thus papers, etc., can be held in place between clamp arm, 177 and base section, 175, whilst the whole unit is clamped by means of element, 178, to another object.
  • the clamping means, 178 can, if desired, be replaced by more elaborate designs based upon the principles of the double-ended or single ended clamps, described in this patent specification.
  • a single ended clamp, 179 has operating arms, 180 and 181, which have curved depressions, 179RU (upper) and 179RL (lower).
  • the curved depressions can either contain a cylindrically shaped fulcrum, 182, or otherwise be placed around a clothes line or similar object which serves as a fulcrum, so that when the arms, 180 and 181 are pressed towards one another, the jaws, 183 and 184, move apart against the restoring force offered by the tension in the spring loop, 185.
  • An object e.g. an article of clothing
  • the perspective view does not contain the fulcrum, so that the curved shape of the depressions, 179RU and 179RL, can be seen.
  • Figure 45 which contains a side elevation and a perspective view
  • a single-ended clamp, 187 has operating arms, 188 and 189, and two alternative pairs of depressions, which give rise to fulcrum voids, defined as 190 and 191.
  • Jaws, 192 and 193 clamp objects within space, 194, under the clamping action of spring loop, 195.
  • fulcrum voids 190 and 191
  • single-ended clamp 187
  • the operating arms, 188 and 189 closer together than they would be when supported on a clothes line and that the line serves to push them apart whilst, at the same time, forcing the jaws, 192 and 193, together.
  • Figure 49 which contains perspective views, the single-ended clamps shown in Figures 47 and 48, are shown again, but in a vertical orientation, thus exemplifying a method of use in which the rod-shaped fulcrum also acts as a point of suspension for objects, e.g. negative film or photographic prints, to be clamped and suspended during drying or other processing.
  • a variant of the invention can have the fulcrum rod designed so that it sits in a supporting cradle, and another, can have at least two single-ended clamps, mounted on the fulcrum rod at a suitable separation, so that the assembly can be carried to a conventional clothes line or clothes management system and used accordingly. A quantity of clamps can thus be brought collectively, to the clothes line and then used for clamping clothing, etc.
  • single-ended clamps, 199 and 200 are variants of the designs of single-ended clamp already described with reference to Figures 45 to 49, inclusive, whilst single-ended clamps, 201 and 202, respectively, are variants having similar characteristics, but with curved fulcrums which meet along lines, 20 IF and 202F, respectively, such that the fulcrums make smooth contact with one another, with no socket for a rod-shaped fulcrum.
  • single-ended clamp, 203 resembles single-ended clamps, 201 and 202, and has fulcrums which meet at line 203F, but has interlocking central regions, 203 CU (upper) and 203 CL (lower) which allow the gripping force between the jaws to be increased by interlocking them with one another, and which resemble the central regions of double-ended clamp, 19, already described with reference to Figure 9.
  • a double-ended clamp, DEI is shown ready to be connected to another, similar double-ended clamp, DE2, by means of a joining piece, JP1, which has cylindrically shaped ends having cross-sections which match the cross-section of the line gripper spaces of the clamps.
  • JP1 which has cylindrically shaped ends having cross-sections which match the cross-section of the line gripper spaces of the clamps.
  • clamps, DEI and DE2 can be seen to have been clamped to one another via joining piece, JP1.
  • JP1 joining piece
  • a clamp, 204 resembles single-ended clamp, 199, already described with reference to Figure 50, but has an additional pair of operating arms, 205 (upper) and 206 (lower) which, when pushed towards one another, with line 204FL, acting as fulcrum, cause arms 207 (upper) and 208 (lower) to move apart against the restoring force resulting from the resilience in the left-hand extremities, 209 and 210, of spring loop, 211, and of other parts of the structure, thereby allowing voids, 212 and 213, which can also serve as line grippers, to release anything clamped inside the partially enclosed region which they define.
  • arms, 207 and 208 When operating arms, 207 and 208, are moved towards one another, with line, 204FR, acting as a fulcrum, arms, 205 and 206, move apart against the restoring force offered by the resilience of the spring loop, 211, thereby allowing void, 214, to release anything clamped inside the partially enclosed region which it defines.
  • clamp, 204 can also be used in the way that single- ended clamp, 199, already described with reference to Figure 50, does, because regions, 212 and 213, can each contain a fulcrum rod or clothes line, etc.
  • a variant, 215, of the design of clamp, 204 contains similar basic elements, such as left-hand operating arms, 216 and 217, right-hand operating arms, 218 and 219, spring loop, 220, and elements, 221, 222, respectively, which latter, correspond with elements 209 and 210, respectively, of clamp, 204.
  • Void, 215V corresponds with void, 214, void, 223, corresponds with void, 212, and void, 224, corresponds with void, 213, but has flattened, curved edges.
  • Fulcrum line, 215FR corresponds with fulcrum line, 204FR, of clamp, 204.
  • Clamp, 215, like clamp, 204, can thus serve as a double-ended or single-ended clamp, whilst containing only one main spring loop.
  • a double-ended clamp, DECA has jaws, OAl, OA2, OA3 and OA4, which are opened by squeezing in the direction of, and rough locations indicated by, arrows, DECF1 and DECF2. It can thus be seen that the so called “operating arms" of clamp, DECA, have almost disappeared, being much shorter than those found on other double-ended clamps described in this patent specification.
  • This variant exemplifies a totally different method of opening the clamp but it is pointed out that, with longer operating arms existing in this variant, duality of application can be achieved; the arms in clamp, DECA, are shorter, in order to show how much shorter a double-ended clamp utilising the "squeezing" principle of operation, can be.
  • Such "squeezable" clamps will be useful in confined spaces and where a clamp might be anchored to a base unit. If desired, force can be applied in one of the said directions only.
  • Single-ended clamp, 226, contains regions, 226SU and 226SL, which serve to relieve stresses in the regions where operating arms, 226OAU and 226OAL, meet spring loop 226S, and similarly, single- ended clamp, 227, contains regions, 227SU and 227SL, which serve to relieve stress in the regions where operating arms, 2270 AU and 2270 AL, meet spring loop, 227S.
  • a conventional clothes peg, 228, consists of an upper part, 228U and a lower part, 228L, and has jaws, 229, 230, operating arms, 231 and 232, and a torsion spring, 233.
  • the observable side of the spring, 233 has an arm, 234, which has a right-angled extension (not shown) which fits into a groove, 235, formed in the lower part, 228L, of the peg, and the concealed part of spring, 233, has an arm (not shown) with a right-angled extension, 236, which fits into a groove, 237, formed in the upper part, 228U, of the peg.
  • a clamp, 238, consists of an upper part, 238U and a lower part, 238L, and has jaws, 239 and 240, operating arms, 241 and 242, and torsion spring, 243, which sits inside a cylindrically shaped void, 244.
  • the visible arm, 245, of spring, 243 has a right angled extension, which engages with a cylindrically shaped void, 246, formed in the front side of upper part, 238U, and an arm, 247, at the other end of the coiled spring, 243, shown in outline, engages with a similar cylindrically shaped void, 248, formed in the rear side of lower part, 238L.
  • Spring loop, 249 serves to hold the whole clamp together, and since spring, 243, provides the desired clamping force, whilst also serving to hold the clamp together, spring, 243, need only be thick enough to assist in holding the whole unit together, whilst allowing the part without the spring, 243, to be moulded as one object.
  • the torsion spring, 243 does not need to be so large as the spring, 233, used in the conventional peg, 228, already described with reference to Figure 53, and that, whilst this reduces the overall weight of the clamp and the cost of materials and manufacture, it means that the spring is also less conspicuous.
  • other variants can have the arms, 245 and 247, respectively, of the spring, 243, sunk into grooves in the sides of the upper and lower parts, 238U and 238L, respectively, of the clamp, 238, and this allows for an even less conspicuous and less costly spring to be used.
  • the spring can also be located in the same way that conventional torsion spring is located on conventional clothes peg, 228.
  • any or all of the operating arms, 4, 5, 6, or 7, of the double-ended clamp, 16, shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, can be formed as open or closed loops (see for example, clamp, 129, shown in Figure 29B) thereby allowing the clamp to be suspended from a picture rail or clothesline or the like or from a protrusion.
  • the conventional clothes peg is made by drawing the parts of the corresponding injection moulding tool apart in a direction, which is parallel with the plane of the paper on which the side elevation of the peg is drawn. It is also pointed out that considerable amounts of material can be removed from the new designs of clamp shown, whilst retaining strength, thereby reducing the volume of plastic or other material required for construction.
  • the facility for using a conventional torsion spring in the new design of clamp allows the use of a general purpose, "non engineering", type of plastic, which will be cheaper.
  • clamps which are attached to, or attachable to, or otherwise incorporated as part of the design of, other objects, e.g. appliances such as lawn mowers, power tools, or television sets, etc.
  • Such clamps can also be designed and adapted to be used as toothbrush, or tool, holders or in packaging or transportation systems.
  • a clamping system, 250 consists of a lower, base part, 251, which can be mounted, by means of adhesive or screws, etc., onto an object, and an upper flexible part, 252, whose operating arms, 253 (left) and 254 (right) can be used to clamp, and independently release, cables or other objects, within pairs of line grippers, 255, 256 (left) and 257, 258 (right) in the same manner as has already been described for earlier clamps.
  • the clamping force at the line grippers, 255, 256, 257 and 258, can be created by arranging for the central section, 250CU, of upper part, 252, to be made so that it has to be brought towards central section 250CL, of lower part, 251, against the restraining force offered by half-spring loops, 259 and 260.
  • the central section can be held together in a number of different ways, e.g. by use of snap-fit joints created in the central regions, 250CU and 250CL. It is pointed out that the central regions of the clamp, 250, are shown in their contact state so that it is to be assumed that the clamping force mentioned, is operating.
  • a clamping system, 260 is similar to clamping system, 250, already described, with the exception of the altered shape of the base part, 261, which corresponds with part, 251, in clamping system, 250.
  • Base part, 261 has a male, dovetail shape to its base, which is designed to slide into a female, dovetail shaped socket, on a part, 262, which is either a self-contained unit which can be fixed to an appliance or other object, e.g. a television set, or which is moulded as an integral part of that object.
  • the male/female joint be suitably tight to prevent slippage or that other means for ensuring that the engaged parts stay in place, be utilised, e.g. releasable snap-fit methods, etc.
  • 263 A has an upper part, 264, which has a central, dovetail shaped, male part, 263AU, which slides into a female dovetail shaped part, 265.
  • Line grippers, 263ALG and 263ARG, and spring arms, 263 ASL and 263 ASR, perform the functions already described with reference to earlier Figures.
  • a double-ended clamp, 263B, resembling clamp, 263A already described, has central section, 263BU, resembling section, 263 AU, but the spring arms, 263BSL and 263BSR, are longer, thereby allowing rods, or other objects, to be supported under the line grippers at different distances from the central section, 263BU, and hence, one another.
  • the use of different designs of the parts containing the spring arms, i.e. part, 263 A or 263B allows objects of varying dimensions to be held on the supporting rods, because these can be positioned at different distances from one another. This facility is particularly useful in packaging and transportation applications.
  • a combination consisting of a double-ended clamp mounted on a flexible or rigid rod, which latter rod, is itself adjustably fixed, by means of its own clamp, e.g. in an approximately vertical orientation, to an adjustable support, e.g. the arm of a lamp, can conveniently be used to hold a sheet of paper containing information which is to be transferred by sight- reading into a computer.
  • the clamp can be mounted directly on the arm of the lamp by means of one pair of its jaws, whilst allowing the other pair of jaws to be used to hold the sheet of paper.
  • Collections of double-ended clamps can be fixed at different heights on a rod, as already described, so that each clamp holds a different piece of paper or the like, with each clamp staggered with respect to the other, like the steps of a spiral staircase. This feature will allow a collection of papers or the like, to be arranged in a readily alterable configuration, with, for instance, papers of highest priority placed at the front of the set.
  • a double-ended clamp, 266 consists of two similar parts, 267 (upper) and 268 (lower) where the lower part, 268, can be assumed to represent part, 267, after it has been rotated through 180 degrees about an axis parallel with the long axis of the clamp, which is itself assumed to be horizontal.
  • the two parts can thus be interlocked with one another, in order to produce a double-ended clamping arrangement.
  • the resulting arrangement gives rise to compressive forces at the jaws in the same way as already described with reference to double-ended clamp, 19, shown in Figure 9.
  • operating arms, 269, 270 are joined by means of horizontal crosspiece, 266U, and arms, 271, 272, are joined by similar cross- piece, 266L.
  • Upper part, 267 has spring loops, 273 and 274 and lower part, 268, has spring loops, 275 and 276.
  • Central interlocking regions, 267C and 268C each contain barbed legs which engage with stepped regions in the respective parts of each other, thereby preventing movement of the two parts in relation to one another along the Z- axis, as defined by the Cartesian system of Rectangular Coordinates, and, further design features, based on the use of keyed channels, ensure that the upper part, 267, cannot move along either the X- or the Y- axis, in relation to lower part, 268, when the two parts are interlocked with one-another.
  • Figure 56B which represents a collection of perspective views
  • a view which can be taken to represent that of the underside of either part 267, or 268, is shown, and below this, double-ended clamp, 266, is shown again but in an orientation different from that shown in Figure 56A, and with the two parts, 267 and 268, shown closer together, about to be snap-fitted together via their interlocking snap-fit joints.
  • double-ended clamp, 266 is shown in its fully interlocked, working, configuration, with cored out regions, CO, shown.
  • double-ended clamp, 266 already described with reference to Figures 56A and 56B, is shown with its central interlocking region enlarged and it can be readily seen how barb, 281, interlocks with recessed section, 282 and how barb, 284, interlocks with recessed section, 283.
  • the lower part of the diagram shows double-ended clamp, 266, rotated into an alternative orientation, so that the whole diagram demonstrates how the two parts will be prevented from moving apart once they are interlocked with one another.
  • a clamp, 285, resembling clamp, 159 already described with reference to Figure 39 has additional central elements, 285CU and 285CL, which when brought together and clamped to one another, as already described with reference to earlier diagrams, give rise to a clamping force at the jaws. Curved elements meet along fulcrum line, 285CF, and resemble elements, 147 and 148, of clamp, 146, already described with reference to Figure 33 A.
  • a clamp, 286, resembling clamp, 170, shown in Figure 42 has base element, 287, and a similar clamp, 288, has base element, 289.
  • clamps can be joined by various means, e.g. adhesive, double-sided tape, etc., to form combined unit, 290, shown in the lower part of the diagram, or alternatively, the whole unit can, of course, also be manufactured in one piece by making base elements 287 and 289 an integral part of the structure.
  • Clamp, 290 thus allows two separate objects to be held in place between the clamp arms, 291 and 292, and the central element, 293, or the clamp itself can be clamped to a clipboard, etc., via clamp arm, 291, or clamp arm 292, and element, 293, whilst other objects, e.g. paper, etc., can be clamped between one of the clamp arms, and the central element, 293.
  • a clamp, 291 has clamp arms, 292 and 293, operating arms, 294 and 295, and curved elements, 296, 297, which make contact in the clamped unit (see later) along fulcrum lines, 291FU and 291FL.
  • Spring loops, 291SLU, and 291SLL are joined by central section, 291 SC, and the arrangement is such that when arms, 294 and 295 are pressed towards one another, elements, 296 and 297, respectively, flip past the ends of elements, 298 and 299, respectively, and lock behind them, thereby ensuring that contact is retained along the fulcrum lines, 291FU and 291FL, whilst clamping pressure is retained at the jaws, 292 and 293.
  • the dimensions of the curved elements, 296 and 297, and of the central section, 291 SC, and of other relevant parts, can be adjusted so that there is adequate room for movement when the arrangement is "flipped" into the "derived clamping pressure" configuration.
  • a double- ended clamp, 300 resembles those already described earlier in the patent specification but has flat contoured jaws, e.g. 301 and 302, at the left hand end of the clamp, 300, which facilitate clamping of generally flat and thin objects such as paper.
  • the jaws at the right hand end can be similar, or of any desired shape.
  • the upper and lower jaws of the set at each end of a double-ended clamp having two pairs of flat jaws, as shown, are inclined at an angle with respect to one another such that the separation between the flat jaws at one end, increases towards the centre of the clamp. This ensures that objects held within the jaws until the jaws are inclined in the opposite direction, are forced into the centre of the clamp and not outwards, which latter would be unsuitable.
  • a double- ended clamp, 303 resembles those already described in the foregoing, but has additional features which facilitate certain types of application.
  • one of the operating arms has a curved element, 304, and a continuation, 305, of the general shape of the adjacent operating arm. This allows the clamp, 303, to be attached to rod, 306. Arm, 305, allows the jaws at the opposite end of the clamp to be opened by squeezing it towards the adjacent arm.
  • One of the operating arms, 307, at the other end of the clamp, 303 is also curved, but has no straight element.
  • clamp, 303 can be suspended from rods, cables, or the like, or from a picture rail.
  • the provision of the parts of a double-ended clamp in the form of half-pieces provides for implementation of a range of different double-ended clamps through different combinations of half-pieces.
  • a double- ended clamp, 308 is similar to those already described in the foregoing, but has operating arms, 308CE, at one end, whose ends are cylindrical in shape. This allows such clamps to be attached to one another or to other clamps, by inserting the cylindrical ends, 308CE, into the line grippers of the clamps. Such cylindrical ends also provide better grip for the user. This modification to the operating arms has been mentioned earlier, with reference to Figure 51.
  • the operating arms, 308RE, at the other end of clamp, 308, are rounded and the cored out elements, 308E, together with the general curved shapes of the arms, give the clamp the appearance of a dolphin. It can thus be seen how the design of the single-, and double-, ended clamp, can be arranged to represent many alternative, real-life or even imaginary, objects. Another alternative design is to create a representation of a crocodile, interestingly, giving the option of creating a "crocodile" clip.
  • clamp, 309 has cylindrically shaped sockets, 310 and 311, formed on the cross- pieces which join its operating arms, and adjacent clamp, 312, has cylindrically shaped protrusions, 313 and 314, formed in similar locations.
  • Another clamp, 315 has one cylindrically shaped socket, 316, and one cylindrically shaped protrusion, 317, formed similarly, and adjacent clamp, 318, has hollow, cylindrically shaped protrusions, 319 and 320, on each cross-piece.
  • the remainder of the diagram shows how two clamps, 315, can be interconnected with one another to form a clamp, 316, having four pairs of jaws, each independently operable. It can thus be readily seen how a framework of multi-jawed clamps can be constructed using the clamps already described. Furthermore, the facility for joining half-pieces, once again offers an advantage in that flat-bottomed halves can be joined with others, so that any arrangement can always be terminated with a flat-bottomed half-piece, which can be placed on flat surface or adjacent to one. Other variants can have interconnecting elements formed in any desired orientation so that, individual double-ended clamps can be staggered at any desired angle with respect to adjacent clamps.
  • a double-ended clamp, 321 resembling those already described in the foregoing, has snap-fitting protrusions, 323 and 324, formed on the cross-pieces which join its operating arms. These can be utilised for interconnecting clamps with one another, as already described with reference to Figure 63. Whilst the diagrams show a one-piece construction, it can be assumed that the incorporation of the snap-fitting arrangement described with reference to Figures 56A, 56B and 57, will allow interconnection of half-pieces so that they cannot move in any direction in relation to one another once they are clamped together. It can be readily seen that the same reasoning which was applied with reference to Figure 63, where various combinations of pieces could be clamped together, is possible with this alternative means of interconnection.
  • operating arms, 269, 270, 271, and 272 have a hollowed-out design, referred to in engineering terms as a "cored out” design, with a central wall, thereby retaining strength but ensuring that the weight of the clamp is minimised.
  • These "cored out” regions are shown as item, CO, in the lower part of Figure 56B and as item, 308E, in Figure 62.
  • another variant of double- endedness can involve two pairs of jaws which are opened by sliding the respective pair of jaws of the two available pairs, over an object which is to be clamped to another object.
  • the flat surface on the underside of each operating arm acts like an inclined plane, giving a resultant mechanical advantage.
  • the arms need only be long enough to guide the object into the jaws.
  • the single-, and double-, ended clamps referred to are made from appropriate plastic having the required electrical insulation properties, they can be used to hold cables or other objects which may or may not all be carrying electric current.
  • the same reasoning can be applied to the use of the clamps for holding objects which are hot, where the plastic or other material utilised for manufacture of the clamps, is heat resisting.
  • the use of conducting plastics or other material e.g. metal, for manufacture of the clamps will allow them to be used for conducting electric current or heat, between objects, thereby, for instance, offering the facility of a single-, or double-, ended, crocodile clip.
  • campers For camping purposes, where a range of objects used by campers can be usefully clamped in various locations and in various ways and similarly for climbing purposes.
  • the double-ended clamp provides a simple means of attachment of one end of the clamp to the coat hanger whilst the other end of the double-ended clamp is attached to the clothing or object to be gripped and where the clamping strength at the "object clamping end" can be attained, in a one-piece variant, as a consequence of the opening of the double-ended clamp at the coat hanger end due to the diameter of the supporting rod of the hanger.
  • Double-ended clamps can be clipped or stuck together to form collections which form a stable base into which card/cards, photographs, rods, tubes, or the like, can be inserted utilising the various permanently enclosed spaces, within the clamps or those created by the jaws.
  • currency notes in banking or the like.

Abstract

L'invention concerne des pinces de préhension permettant la création d'une gamme de différentes pinces à élasticité élevée et pouvant être fabriquées soit à partir d'une pièce, soit à partir de deux pièces similaires manufacturées à partir du même moulage par injection. Les diverses combinaisons d'éléments élastiques permettent la création d'une large gamme de pinces présentant soit une, soit deux extrémités préhensiles offrant un certain nombre d'avantages par rapport aux pinces classiques, des pinces à linge, par exemple, dans la manipulation de vêtements ou autre, et comportant un grand nombre d'applications dans des domaines électrique, électronique, automobile, aérien, médical, domestique et industriel, et servant également pour le jardinage et le bureau. Les ressorts en métal ne sont plus du tout nécessaires, mais certaines variantes de ces pinces peuvent utiliser des ressorts en métal de façon différente. Les variantes des pinces de préhension de base peuvent être conçues pour se fixer à d'autres objets, ou à d'autres structures fixes.
PCT/GB2000/002454 1999-06-28 2000-06-26 Pince de prehension WO2001000919A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00940620A EP1175526A1 (fr) 1999-06-28 2000-06-26 Pince de prehension
AU55531/00A AU5553100A (en) 1999-06-28 2000-06-26 Clamping system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9914988.2A GB9914988D0 (en) 1999-06-28 1999-06-28 Clamping system
GB9914988.2 1999-06-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001000919A1 true WO2001000919A1 (fr) 2001-01-04

Family

ID=10856130

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2000/002454 WO2001000919A1 (fr) 1999-06-28 2000-06-26 Pince de prehension

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1175526A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5553100A (fr)
GB (2) GB9914988D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001000919A1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1614450A1 (fr) * 2004-07-07 2006-01-11 Overseas Trade Limited Système de poids et dispositif de blocage
EP1614449A1 (fr) * 2004-07-07 2006-01-11 Overseas Trade Limited Dispositif de blocage
WO2007141765A2 (fr) * 2006-06-08 2007-12-13 Garth Pieter Van Reenen Fiche
EP1941825A2 (fr) * 2007-01-08 2008-07-09 Carl Freudenberg KG Elément de fixation
ITRM20080653A1 (it) * 2008-12-05 2010-06-06 Mario Martella Dispositivo a leggio applicabile ad un bastone da golf
DE102011078373A1 (de) * 2011-06-30 2013-01-03 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Halteeinrichtung zum Zusammenführen von kabelartigen Elementen
IT201800010434A1 (it) * 2018-11-19 2020-05-19 Francesco Maria Orioli Morsetto

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2432879B (en) * 2005-12-02 2008-07-16 Trevor Neil Martin Clamping device
CN109083896A (zh) * 2018-08-09 2018-12-25 徐州杰瑞钢结构有限公司 一种膜结构连接夹具
DE102019118217A1 (de) * 2019-07-05 2021-01-07 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Gehäuse, insbesondere für eine Sensorvorrichtung

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2931086A (en) * 1955-11-03 1960-04-05 Rose Martin Synthetic resin clothes pin
US3521332A (en) * 1968-03-04 1970-07-21 Roy G Kramer Double ended clip
US3733656A (en) * 1971-04-08 1973-05-22 F Stadler Clothes-peg
EP0345429A1 (fr) * 1988-04-13 1989-12-13 Vaughn L. Durham Collier pour fixer des tuyaux ou des câbles flexibles à usage médical
DE4303378A1 (de) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-11 Wolfgang Schulte Einteilige Wäscheklammer
EP0641882A1 (fr) * 1993-09-06 1995-03-08 Trippe & Co. Holz- und Kunststoffverarbeitung Pince à linge
WO1999028635A1 (fr) * 1997-11-27 1999-06-10 Marke John David Elements prehenseurs

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH400987A (de) * 1960-12-30 1965-10-31 Rob Roman Zweiseitige Wäscheklammer
CH448953A (de) * 1967-05-10 1967-12-31 Tuflex Ag Klammer
US3921640A (en) * 1974-03-22 1975-11-25 Int Paper Co Disposable surgical instruments
GB1599947A (en) * 1978-03-30 1981-10-07 Blything F Clip fastening
ATA526879A (de) * 1979-08-01 1982-07-15 Brandauer Gerwin Dr Einstueckige klammer aus kunststoff
FR2555620B1 (fr) * 1983-11-25 1987-04-10 Jouve Jean Louis Pince a linge symetrique
FR2564493A1 (fr) * 1984-05-16 1985-11-22 Quenderff Jean Philippe Dispositif pour maintenir le linge ou tout autre objet a secher, generalement tendu sur un fil
ES1023599Y (es) * 1993-02-09 1994-03-01 Inter C S A Pinza de doble boca perfeccionada.
GB2327975B (en) * 1997-07-30 2001-10-24 Ivor Barrie Langford Holding device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2931086A (en) * 1955-11-03 1960-04-05 Rose Martin Synthetic resin clothes pin
US3521332A (en) * 1968-03-04 1970-07-21 Roy G Kramer Double ended clip
US3733656A (en) * 1971-04-08 1973-05-22 F Stadler Clothes-peg
EP0345429A1 (fr) * 1988-04-13 1989-12-13 Vaughn L. Durham Collier pour fixer des tuyaux ou des câbles flexibles à usage médical
DE4303378A1 (de) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-11 Wolfgang Schulte Einteilige Wäscheklammer
EP0641882A1 (fr) * 1993-09-06 1995-03-08 Trippe & Co. Holz- und Kunststoffverarbeitung Pince à linge
WO1999028635A1 (fr) * 1997-11-27 1999-06-10 Marke John David Elements prehenseurs

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1614450A1 (fr) * 2004-07-07 2006-01-11 Overseas Trade Limited Système de poids et dispositif de blocage
EP1614449A1 (fr) * 2004-07-07 2006-01-11 Overseas Trade Limited Dispositif de blocage
WO2007141765A2 (fr) * 2006-06-08 2007-12-13 Garth Pieter Van Reenen Fiche
WO2007141765A3 (fr) * 2006-06-08 2008-02-14 Reenen Garth Pieter Van Fiche
EP1941825A2 (fr) * 2007-01-08 2008-07-09 Carl Freudenberg KG Elément de fixation
EP1941825A3 (fr) * 2007-01-08 2009-04-29 Carl Freudenberg KG Elément de fixation
ITRM20080653A1 (it) * 2008-12-05 2010-06-06 Mario Martella Dispositivo a leggio applicabile ad un bastone da golf
DE102011078373A1 (de) * 2011-06-30 2013-01-03 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Halteeinrichtung zum Zusammenführen von kabelartigen Elementen
WO2013000775A3 (fr) * 2011-06-30 2013-08-15 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Dispositif de retenue pour réunir des éléments de type câbles
IT201800010434A1 (it) * 2018-11-19 2020-05-19 Francesco Maria Orioli Morsetto

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1175526A1 (fr) 2002-01-30
GB9914988D0 (en) 1999-08-25
GB0015442D0 (en) 2000-08-16
GB2352269A (en) 2001-01-24
AU5553100A (en) 2001-01-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2069550C (fr) Raccord pour l'assemblage d'objets plans
US4878586A (en) Rack and tube member for organizing electrical cords
WO2001000919A1 (fr) Pince de prehension
US2937758A (en) Holder for clothing and like
US3350045A (en) Article holder
US3045961A (en) Display and support fixture and clip
US4456125A (en) Hangable, stackable basket
US6330949B1 (en) Hanger storage system
US6302365B1 (en) Apparatus for supporting an ornamental article relative to an object
GB2105582A (en) Stackable shelf unit
US5318174A (en) Textile hanger
US4632285A (en) Convertible necktie and belt hanger apparatus
GB2181635A (en) Modular rack organizer
US20050247837A1 (en) Hanger assembly
EP0360839A1 (fr) Dispositif de fixation
US5228654A (en) Bag holder
US6886793B2 (en) Suction cup assembly with magnetic tether
US5112177A (en) Flexible fastener
US3691596A (en) Fabric clip
CA2539949C (fr) Dispositif et methode permettant de suspendre des photographies ou des cartes
CN2233709Y (zh) 改良结构的可调整衣架
KR101588214B1 (ko) 다용도 선반 커버를 구비한 조립식 행거
WO1999017642A2 (fr) Systeme de support et de presentation multifonctionnel
GB2063066A (en) A device for holding articles
US5857278A (en) Image support apparatus

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2000940620

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 2000940620

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2000940620

Country of ref document: EP

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP