MAGNETIC CLAMP
First Claim
1. A clamp adapted to ride on and travel along a suspended track having a flat, horizontal support surface and a central, upstanding flange extending from the surface, said clamp comprising:
- a. a base member defining an edge, there being a hole having an inner surface and extending through said base member, and there being a slot extending from said hole to the edge whereby said device may be suspended from the track with the inner surface of said hole resting on the horizontal surface of the track and with the flange of the track extending through said slot;
b. a body member overlying said base member and having opposed portions, one of said portions being connected to said base member; and
c. magnetic means carried by said members for releasably holding the other of said portions to said base member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A clamp for releasably holding sheet material includes a rigid base of nonmagnetic material and an elongated strip of flexible material. The base carries a permanent magnet at one end, and the elongated strip is attached to the other end of the base and carries a second permanent magnet overlying the permanent magnet in the base. A recess is formed in the base underlying the central portion of the strip in such a manner that, by depressing that portion of the strip, the magnets are caused to part permitting insertion or removal of a piece of sheet material.
28 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A clamp adapted to ride on and travel along a suspended track having a flat, horizontal support surface and a central, upstanding flange extending from the surface, said clamp comprising:
- a. a base member defining an edge, there being a hole having an inner surface and extending through said base member, and there being a slot extending from said hole to the edge whereby said device may be suspended from the track with the inner surface of said hole resting on the horizontal surface of the track and with the flange of the track extending through said slot;
b. a body member overlying said base member and having opposed portions, one of said portions being connected to said base member; and
c. magnetic means carried by said members for releasably holding the other of said portions to said base member.
- a. a base member defining an edge, there being a hole having an inner surface and extending through said base member, and there being a slot extending from said hole to the edge whereby said device may be suspended from the track with the inner surface of said hole resting on the horizontal surface of the track and with the flange of the track extending through said slot;
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2. a slot defined by said base member and extending from said hole to the edge of said base member, whereby said clamp may be suspended from the track with the inner surface of said hole resting on the surface of the track and with the flange of the track extending through said slot.
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3. A clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said hole has an arcuate shape, whereby said clamp is suspended from said track with minimum frictional contact.
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4. A clamp for releasably retaining a workpiece, said clamp comprising:
- a base member;
a body member at least partially formed of flexible material, and overlying said base member and having opposed portions, one of said portions being connected to said base member; and
magnetic means carried by said base and body members for releasably holding the other of said portions to said base member to releasably retain a workpiece between said other portion and said base member;
wherein said base and body members define a space between said one portion and said magnetic means into which said body member can be flexed, and a fulcrum about which said other portion is pivotable in response to the flexing of said base member for separating said other portion from said base member to release a retained workpiece.
- a base member;
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5. A clamp as defined in claim 4 wherein:
- a. said body member is a flat strip which can be flexed into said space;
b. said space is a recess located in said base member between said one portion and said magnetic means and adjacent said body member; and
c. said magnetic means includes a permanent magneT carried by said other portion of said body member, said magnet having an edge which defines said fulcrum, whereby said body member can be flexed into said recess to cause said other portion to pivot about said fulcrum to separate said other portion from said base.
- a. said body member is a flat strip which can be flexed into said space;
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6. A clamp for releasably retaining a workpiece, said clamp comprising:
- a. a base member;
b. a movable body member resiliently coupled to said base member; and
c. means carried by said members for exerting a magnetic force urging said body member in a first direction against said base member for releasably retaining the workpiece between said body member and said base member, d. said body member being movable against the force of said magnetic means in a second direction substantially opposite to said first direction to separate at least a portion of said body member from said base member.
- a. a base member;
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7. A clamp as defined in claim 6 wherein:
- a. said body member has opposed portions;
b. said magnetic means releasably holds one of said portions against said base member; and
c. one of said members includes a fulcrum about which at least a section of said body member is adapted to pivot to move said one portion from said base member in said second direction against the force of said magnetic means.
- a. said body member has opposed portions;
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8. A clamp as defined in claim 6 wherein:
- a. said body member is at least partially formed of resilient material and has opposed portions;
b. said magnetic means releasably holds one of said portions to said base member; and
c. one of said members includes a fulcrum about which at least a section of said body member is adapted to pivot to move said one portion from said base member in said second direction against the force of said magnetic means.
- a. said body member is at least partially formed of resilient material and has opposed portions;
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9. A clamp as defined in claim 6 wherein:
- a. said body member has opposed portions;
b. said magnetic means releasably holds one of said portions against said base member;
c. one of said members includes a fulcrum about which at least a section of said body member is adapted to pivot to move said one portion from said base member against the force of said magnetic means; and
d. said base member has an edge and is adapted to ride on and travel along a suspended track having a flat, horizontal clamp-supporting surface and a central, upstanding flange extending from the surface, said clamp further comprising;
- a. said body member has opposed portions;
Specification