System, Method, and Apparatus for Clamping

• US 20130182381A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Gray, Larry B., Kerwin, John M., Friedrich, Thomas A., Sabin, Erik N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,759,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/78 for clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/10 using pivoting jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/12 using sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

A clamp includes a housing, a fixed gripper, a moveable gripper, a driven member, and an actuator. The housing includes first and second tracks. The fixed gripper is coupled to the housing. The driven member is configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing. The moveable gripper is operatively coupled to the driven member. The actuator is configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper. The actuator is further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper.

Claims

1. A clamp, comprising:

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member; and

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a handle pivotally coupled to the housing.

3. The clamp according to claim 2, further comprising first and second linkages, wherein the first linkage is coupled to a first side of the handle and to a first side of the driven member, and the second linkage is coupled to a second side of the handle and to a second side of the driven member.

4. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising a gripper sled slidably coupled to the driven member.

5. The clamp according to claim 4, further comprising a bias member configured to bias the gripper sled within the driven member towards the fixed gripper.

6. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the driven member includes a stop member configured to prevent movement of the gripper sled relative to the driven member beyond a predetermined location of the driven member.

7. The clamp according to claim 6, wherein the moveable gripper is coupled to the gripper sled.

8. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the bias member is a constant force spring.

9. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the bias member is a compression spring.

10. The clamp according to claim 4, wherein the clamp is configured to allow the gripper sled to stop when abutting against an object while allowing the driven member to continue to move as the actuator is further actuated.

11. The clamp according to claim 4, wherein the gripper sled is rigidly coupled to the moveable gripper, wherein the clamp further comprises a bias member configured to bias the gripper sled within the driven member towards the fixed gripper.

13. The clamp according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first latching portion on the handle; and

a second latching portion on the housing, wherein the first and second latching portions are configured to cooperate to releasably latch the handle to the housing.

14. The clamp according to claim 2, further comprising an over-center linkage configured to bias the handle toward a closed position when the handle is actuated toward the closed position beyond a threshold, wherein the over-center linkage is further configured to bias the handle toward an open position when the handle is actuated toward the open position beyond the threshold.

15. The clamp according to claim 14, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp to a support pole of a rack apparatus, wherein the rack apparatus comprises a support pole and at least one support plate having a mount connector.

12. A clamp comprising:

a housing;

a fixed gripping means for rigidly being coupled to the housing; and

a moveable gripping means for gripping the clamp onto an object.

16. A rack apparatus, comprising:

at least support pole having a first end portion and a second end portion;

a clamp assembly attached to the first end portion of the support pole;

at least one joint member operatively coupled to the support pole;

at least one support plate operatively coupled to the at least one joint member; and

a base member attached to the second end portion of the support pole.

17. The rack apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one support plate comprises a substantially planar surface having a first end portion and a second end portion.

18. The rack apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first end portion of the at least one support plate comprises a coupling mechanism having at least one projection for interfacing with the at least one joint member.

19. The rack apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second end portion of the at least one support plate comprises a flange.

20. The rack apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one joint member comprises a clamping mechanism for clamping to the at least one support pole.

21. The rack apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least one joint member further comprises at least one projection for interfacing with the at least one support plate.

22. The rack apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the operative coupling between the at least one support plate and the at least one joint member comprises a hinged joint.

23. The rack apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one support plate comprises a mount connector configured to align with a connector on a medical device.

24. The rack apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the base member comprises:

a power connector;

a power supply;

a main power cable electrically connecting the power connector and the power supply; and

at least one transmission cable connecting the power supply and the mount connector.

25. The rack apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a second support pole having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is attached to the clamp assembly.

26. The rack apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second support pole is configured to accept a clamp, the clamp comprising:

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member; and

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper.

27. A system comprising:

a rack apparatus, comprising;

at least one support pole having a first end portion and a second end portion;

a clamp assembly attached to the first end portion of the support pole;

at least one joint member operatively coupled to the support pole;

at least one support plate operatively coupled to the at least one joint member; and

a base member attached to the second end portion of the support pole; and

a clamp configured to clamp to the at least one support pole, the clamp comprising;

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member; and

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper.