Universal cradle apparatus
First Claim
1. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:
- a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprisinga male linear drive member that is slideable relative to a mating female linear drive member, andwherein one of the drive member and the drive member is further structured for being secured to an external mounting surface;
first and second mounting surfaces each positioned on a respective one of the drive member and the drive member;
a securing mechanism structured for constraining relative motion between the first and second mounting surfaces; and
a first substantially rigid jaw structure and a second resiliently flexible jaw structure, each of the first and second jaw structures being coupled to a respective one of the drive shaft and drive channel adjacent to the respective mounting surface thereof, each of the jaw structures having a respective clamping surface projected therefrom and forming mutually opposing interior clamping surfaces arranged adjacent to the mounting surfaces positioned therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal cradle apparatus having a pair of substantially rigid jaw structures each configured with a flange structure having a substantially planar mounting surface adapted for being secured to respective cooperating male and female portions of a clamping mechanism formed of telescoping male linear drive shall and mating female linear drive channel. One of the two jaw structures is configured with an inclined interior clamping surface that is projected above the respective flange structure and in resiliently flexible relationship therewith. The jaw structures are mounted on the respective drive shaft and drive channel each having its respective interior clamping surface facing toward the clamping surface of the other jaw. A threaded fastener secures the male drive shaft in the mating female drive channel of the clamping mechanism, thereby permitting linear adjustment of the two jaw structures along a linear drive axis of the clamping mechanism.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:
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a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising a male linear drive member that is slideable relative to a mating female linear drive member, and wherein one of the drive member and the drive member is further structured for being secured to an external mounting surface; first and second mounting surfaces each positioned on a respective one of the drive member and the drive member; a securing mechanism structured for constraining relative motion between the first and second mounting surfaces; and a first substantially rigid jaw structure and a second resiliently flexible jaw structure, each of the first and second jaw structures being coupled to a respective one of the drive shaft and drive channel adjacent to the respective mounting surface thereof, each of the jaw structures having a respective clamping surface projected therefrom and forming mutually opposing interior clamping surfaces arranged adjacent to the mounting surfaces positioned therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:
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a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising; (i) a female linear drive frame comprising a channel having an opening thereinto aligned along a common longitudinal drive axis, (ii) a male linear drive member comprising a device mounting surface and a tongue that is structured to cooperate with the channel of the female linear drive frame for moving the male drive member toward and away from the mating female drive frame along the common longitudinal drive axis, and (iii) a securing mechanism for interlocking the male linear drive member with the female linear drive frame; a first device mounting surface formed on an external surface of the female linear drive channel and a first jaw structure being positioned adjacent to a second end thereof opposite from the opening into the channel thereof; a second jaw structure having a second device mounting surface formed thereon and an interior clamping surface projected above the second device mounting surface and inclined there toward and being resiliently flexible relative to the second device mounting surface, the second jaw structure being positioned on the male drive shall adjacent to the first end thereof with the second device mounting surface arranged substantially parallel with the first device mounting surface and the inclined interior clamping surface being arranged to cooperate with the first jaw; and a substantially rigid base plate positioned on the clamping mechanism, the base plate being structured for being coupled to an external surface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:
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first and second jaw structures each having a base flange formed with a substantially planar device mounting surface and an interior clamping surface projected above the device mounting surface, the interior clamping surface of one of the first and second jaw structures being resiliently flexible relative to the device mounting surface and further being inclined toward the device mounting surface at an angle between about forty-five degrees and about ninety degrees; a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising; (i) a frame member forming a substantially rigid channel having an opening thereinto formed at a first end thereof; (ii) a substantially rigid male drive member having an elongated drive shaft extending from a first end thereof, the elongated drive shaft being structured to be slidingly received into the channel through the opening thereinto, and (iii) a securing mechanism structured to interlock the drive shaft of the male drive member with the channel of the frame member the base flange of the first jaw structure coupled to the drive shaft of the male drive member adjacent to the first end thereof; and the base flange of the second jaw structure coupled to the frame member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification