Integrally-molded unitary supporting member for wood clamp

• US 4,662,618 A
• Filed: 02/20/1985
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CB & W Tools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C B & W Tools Incorporated
• Inventors: Willis, Gregory H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schmidt, Frederick R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schad, Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US06/690,203
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 269/43, 269/156, 269/254 R, 269/287, 269/277, 248/214, 248/219.1, 248/219.3, 248/218.4, 248/219.4
• US Class Current: 269/43
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/00 Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00

Abstract

A unitary supporting member (integrally molded of urethane) is carried by a vise bar and is lodged between the vise bar and a wooden workpiece, thereby protecting the workpiece from being marred or scratched. The member is substantially homogeneous, is substantially devoid of internal reinforcements, and has a central recess having a plan outline corresponding substantially to a cross-section of the vise bar.

Claims

1. In a clamp including an elongated bar having a substantially uniform cross-section, wherein the clamp is adapted to engage and exert pressure against the respective outer portions of a plurality of workpieces, and wherein the workpeices have respective inner portions abutting one another, the improvement comprising at least one unitary supporting member integrally molded from a plastic material and adapted to be lodged between the bar and one of the workpieces, the supporting member having a central recess provided with a plan outline corresponding substantially to the cross-section of the bar, such that the supporting member is substantially infinitely slidably adjustable along the length of the elongated bar, the supporting member gripping the bar and being carried thereon, the supporting member being relatively flexible for easy mounting and demounting on the bar, and the supporting member having a substantially flat portion adapted to engage the surface of the one workpiece, wherein the supporting member provides a substantially soft, flexible cushion between the bar and the workpiece and substantially prevents the bar from touching the workpiece, thereby preventing the bar from marring the workpiece, and wherein the supporting member tends to preclude bowing of the workpieces, further including a slot formed in the supporting member opposite to the flat edge and communicating with the central recess therein, thereby forming a pair of bifurcated resilient legs in the supporting member, wherein the legs may be spread apart to mount the member on the bar, whereby the member has inherent resiliency, so that the legs spring back to grip the bar.

2. In combination with a clamp having a clamp bar and further having respective jaw means for clamping at least one workpiece therebetween, an integrally-molded unitary supporting member carried by the clamp bar, lodged between the clamp bar and the workpiece, and having a surface engageable with the workpiece, the member being substantially homogeneous and devoid of internal reinforcements, the member being relatively soft and substnatially flexible, such that the member may be easily mounted on the bar and demounted therefrom, and such that the member provides a cushion between the bar and the workpiece, and the member including a central recess having a plan outline corresponding substantially to a cross-section of the vise bar, wherein the member substantially embraces the clamp bar, wherein the clamp bar is substantially elongated and has a uniform cross-section, and wherein the member is substantially infinitely slidably adjustable along the length of the clamp bar, wherein the member has a flat top surface and is substantially semi-circular;

wherein the flat surface engages the workpiece and has a length substantially equal to the greatest width of the member, wherein the central recess is slotted, thereby forming a pair of resilient legs in the member;

wherein the legs may be spread apart to mount the member on the clamp bar, whereby the plastic member has inherent resiliency, so that the legs spring back to grip the clamp bar; and

wherein the plan outline of the central recess in the member is substantially T-shaped to conform to the cross-section of the clamp bar.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the T-shaped recess includes an elongated stem portion, and wherein the stem portion has concave inner surfaces confronting one another.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the member has a flat top surface and is substantially semi-circular;

wherein the flat surface engages the workpiece and has a length substantially equal to the greatest width of the member, wherein the central recess is slotted, thereby forming a pair of resilient legs in the member;

wherein the legs may be spread apart to mount the member on the clamp bar, whereby the plastic member has inherent resiliency, so that the legs spring back to grip the clamp bar; and

wherein the plan outline of the central recess in the member is substantially rectangular to conform to the cross-section of the clamp bar.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein the member has a flat top surface and is substantially semi-circular;

wherein the flat surface engages the workpiece and has a length substantially equal to the greatest width of the member, wherein the central recess is slotted, thereby forming a pair of resilient legs in the member;

wherein the legs may be spread apart to mount the member on the clamp bar, whereby the plastic member has inherent resiliency, so that the legs spring back to grip the clamp bar; and

wherein the plan outline of the central recess in the member is substantially circular to conform to the cross-section of the vise bar.