CLAMP WITH CLAMP FORCE SENSOR

• US 20090194924A1
• Filed: 05/30/2005
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tefenplast Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tefentools Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben-Gigi, Zion
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/165
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/205 Vices of the chain or strip type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/06 Arrangements for positively actuating jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/068 with at least one jaw sliding along a bar B25B5/061, B25B5/085, B25B5/102, B25B5/127 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/16 Details, e.g. jaws, jaw attachments

Abstract

A clamp (1) including at least one clamping element (18) (e.g., clamping jaw, clamping strap, etc.) and a hand-operated actuator operative to move the clamping element (18) in a clamping direction, and a clamping force sensor (26) in operative connection with the clamping element (18). The clamping force sensor (26) may be in operative connection with a clamping force indicator (32), which may be mounted on the clamp (1) or in remote communication with the clamp force sensor (26).

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A bar clamp comprising:

a pair of clamping jaws mounted along a bar, and a hand-operated trigger mechanism adapted to cause relative motion between said clamping jaws in a clamping direction along said bar, each of said clamping jaws have a clamping face arranged to face and press against a work piece;

a clamping force sensor mounted flush on the clamping face of at least one of said clamping jaws;

a battery disposed on said bar clamp and in operative connection with said clamping force sensor; and

a clamping force indicator disposed on said bar clamp and in operative connection with said clamping force sensor for indicating a clamping force as sensed by said clamping force sensor.

19. The clamp according to claim 18, wherein said clamping force sensor comprises at least one of a load cell, a pressure sensor, an accelerometer, and a strain gauge.

20. The clamp according to claim 18, wherein said clamping force indicator comprises a visual indicator.

21. The clamp according to claim 18, wherein said clamping force indicator comprises an audible indicator.

22. The clamp according to claim 20, wherein said clamping force indicator comprises a variable color indicator.

23. The clamp according to claim 20, wherein said clamping force indicator comprises a displayed graphic object that changes as a function of a clamping force sensed by said clamping force sensor.

24. The clamp according to claim 23, wherein said displayed graphic object comprises a character with a face, wherein when the clamping force is not great the face is not contorted, and when the clamping force increases the face grimaces.