Laboratory clamp

• US 4,787,591 A
• Filed: 08/29/1986
• Issued: 11/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilberto M. Villacorta
• Original Assignee: Gilberto M. Villacorta
• Inventors: Villacorta, Gilberto M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US06/901,813
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 248/540, 248/541, 248/74.2, 248/111, 248/121, 248/125, 248/229, 248/230, 248/231.8, 248/312, 248/313, 248/316.7, 24/335, 24/336, 24/531, 24/556, 24/562, 24/339
• US Class Current: 248/316.7
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/50 Clamping means, tongs in general F16B2/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3444 Circular work engageable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44915 Corrugated or toothed face

Abstract

The present invention relates a simple, inexpensive clamp comprised of a flexible "C"-shaped, fixed-diameter clamping means, a rigid support member, and a "C"-shaped anchoring means whose overall design and construction allows the user to fasten, secure, and release objects quickly and easily with a minimum level of dexterity.

Claims

1. An easy to fasten and release clamp comprising:

(i) one or more resilient fixed-diameter plastic clamping means having a curved circular member with an inner and an outer surface an an open gap such that said clamping means is "C"-shaped when viewed from the top, said curved member having a uniform thickness which allows said curved member to expand and contract in response to lateral pressure directed at said open gap when an object is forced against said open gap, and wherein said inner surface bears a continuous corrugated pattern of vertical cog-like teeth; and

(ii) a rigid cylindrical plastic extension rod having a forward and a rear end, said forward end being joined to said outer surface of said curved member substantially opposite said open gap, and wherein said forward end is tapered and narrowed along vertical planes to match the thickness of said curved member.

2. The clamp of claim 1 which comprises a plurality of clamping means joined to a plurality of support members branching out from said forward end of said extension rod.

3. The clamp of claim 2 which comprises two clamping means oriented side by side along the same horizontal plane.

4. The clamp of claim 2 which comprises two clamping means oriented one above the other along the same vertical plane.

5. The clamp of claim 1 which comprises a multisectional extension rod interconnected by threaded male-female unions.

6. The clamp of claim 1 in which said extension rod further comprises a "C"-shaped, fixed-diameter plastic anchoring means having an open gap, said open gap of said anchoring means oriented substantially at right angles relative to said open gap of said clamping means.

7. An easy to fasten and release clamp comprising:

(i) one or more resilient fixed-diameter plastic clamping means having a curved circular member with an inner and an outer surface and an open gap such that said clamping means is "C"-shaped when viewed from the top, said clamping means further having a tapered shape when viewed from the side, and said curved member having a uniform thickness with allows said curved member to expand and contract in response to lateral pressure directed at said open gap when an object is forced against said open gap, and wherein said inner surface bears a continuous corrugated pattern of vertical cog-like teeth and an extra inner groove cut along a horizontal plane; and

(ii) a rigid cylindrical plastic extension rod having a forward and a rear end, said curved member substantially opposite said open gap, and wherein said forward end is tapered and narrowed along vertical planes to match the thickness of said curved member.

8. The clamp of claim 7 which comprises a plurality of clamping means joined to a plurality of support members branching out from said forward end of said extension rod.

9. The clamp of claim 8 which comprises two clamping means oriented side by side along the same horizontal plane.

10. The clamp of claim 8 which comprises two clamping means oriented one above the other along the same vertical plane.

11. The clamp of claim 7 which comprises a multisectional extension rod interconnected by threaded male-female unions.

12. The clamp of claim 7 in which said extension rod further comprises a "C"-shaped, fixed-diameter plastic anchoring means having an open gap, said open gap of said anchoring means oriented substantially at right angles relative to said open gap if said clamping means.