Panel clamping apparatus

• US 5,467,972 A
• Filed: 01/11/1994
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lee Valley Tools Limited
• Original Assignee: Lee Valley Tools Limited
• Inventors: McLean, Francis A., Lee, Leonard G., Sevack, Lloyd, Lynn, John S., Tucker, Edwin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US08/180,031
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 144/286 A, 144/286, 144/287, 269/900, 269/901, 269/139, 269/155, 269/152, 269/283, 269/258, 269/88, 269/91-94, 269/295, 269/222, 269/221, 269/15, 269/16, 269/134, 269/104, 269/111, 269/118, 269/296
• US Class Current: 269/118
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/10 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/145 for plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/90 Supporting structure having work holder receiving apertures or projections

Abstract

A clamping apparatus having a fixed post with a pad and a clamping jaw post with a threaded hole, through which a screw with a handle on one end and a pad on the other passes. The clamping apparatus may be used with rails so that on the bottom rail the fixed post is placed within one hole and the clamping jaw post placed within another hole such that a workpiece may be clamped between the two, and additionally a top rail with holes that the other ends of the fixed and clamping jaw post engage with may be added to prevent the workpiece from buckling when clamping pressure is applied by turning the screw.

Claims

1. A clamping apparatus for use with a rail comprising:

a. a fixed jaw post having two post ends and a pad located intermediate the two fixed jaw post ends,

b. a clamping jaw post having two post ends and a threaded hole through the clamping jaw post intermediate the two clamping jaw post ends,

c. positioned within the threaded hole, a clamping screw having two ends,

d. a clamping pad attached to one of the screw ends, and

e. means for turning the clamping screw attached to the other of the clamping screw ends.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for limiting penetration of at least one of the ends of each of the posts into a rail hole.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for limiting penetration is an O-ring on each post.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for limiting penetration is a nut threaded on each post.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for increasing friction between the posts and the rails.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the friction increasing means comprises a thread formed on the surface of each post.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for turning the clamping screw comprises a section of rod pivotally attached to the clamping screw end.

8. A panel clamping apparatus, comprising:

a. two clamping rails each having at least two holes, each of which holes in one of the rails matches one of the holes in the other clamping rail,

b. a fixed jaw post having two post ends and a pad centrally located on the fixed post, one of which post ends is received in one of the holes in one of the rails and the other of which post ends is received in the matching hole in the other rail, and

c. a clamping jaw assembly comprising a clamping post having two ends and a threaded hole through which a clamping screw is journaled to bear against a clamping pad, one of which clamping post ends is received in another of the holes in the one rail and the other of which clamping post ends is received in the matching hole in the other rail.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for limiting penetration of at least one of the ends of each of the posts into a rail hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for limiting penetration is a nut threaded onto the clamping jaw post.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for increasing friction between the posts and the rails.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the friction increasing means comprises a thread formed on the surface of each post.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a handle pivotally attached to one of the ends of the clamping screw, wherein the handle is a section of rod.

14. An apparatus for holding workpieces, comprising:

a. a member having at least two holes,

b. a fixed jaw post having two post ends and a pad centrally located on the fixed post, one of which post ends is received in one of the holes in the member,

c. a clamping jaw assembly comprising a clamping post having two ends and a threaded hole through which a clamping screw is journaled to bear against a clamping pad, one of which clamping post ends is received in one of the holes in the member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for limiting penetration of at least one of the ends of each of the posts into the member.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for increasing friction between the posts and the rails.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the friction increasing means comprises a thread formed on the surface of each post.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the member having at least two holes is the top of a bench.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the member having at least two holes is a rail.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a handle pivotally attached to one of the ends of the clamping screw, wherein the handle is a section of rod.