Three-way spring clamp

• US 5,765,820 A
• Filed: 08/17/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank Marusiak
• Original Assignee: Adjustable Clamp Company
• Inventors: Marusiak, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US08/516,424
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 24/501, 24/508, 24/510, 24/511, 269/3, 269/156, 269/237, 269/274, 269/238, 269/41, 269/43, 269/254 R, 269/6
• US Class Current: 269/6
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/003 Combinations of clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/06 Arrangements for positively actuating jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/00 Pliers; Other hand-held gripping tools with jaws on pivoted limbs; Details applicable generally to pivoted-limb hand tools implements for fastening, connecting, or tensioning wire or strip B25B25/00; adapted for other fitting or separating purposes B25B27/00; for marking animals A01K11/00; dentists' forceps A61C3/00; bending wire eyes B21F1/06; hand-held metal-shearing or metal-cutting devices B23D29/00; hand cutting tools B26B; for punching or perforating B26F1/36; devices for securing ends of binding material in bundling machines B65B13/24; specially designed for watch-making or comparable work G04D1/00

Abstract

A three-way spring clamp is provided that is useable as an edge clamp for applying clamping forces to workpieces in three directions. The clamp includes two lever arms, each having a jaw end and a handle end. The lever arms are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between the jaw ends and the handle ends such that the lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which the jaw ends are proximate to each other, and an opened position in which the jaw ends are spaced apart. A coil spring is provided for biasing the lever arms toward the closed gripping position. A spring engagement member is mounted between the lever arms. The engagement member includes a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped. The body portion is positioned between the pivot point and the jaw ends and may have a generally concave configuration from the perspective of the pivot point when the lever arms are in the closed gripping position. The engagement member may be configured to snap into place between the lever arms. The engagement member provides spring pressure in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of clamping forces applied by the jaws of the clamp, making the clamp suitable for use as a three-way edge clamp.

Claims

1. A three-way clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw end and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

a biasing spring for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position providing a clamping force applied by said jaw ends; and

a resilient engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said resilient engagement member includes a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, said resilient engagement member comprises two end portions each on an opposite side of said central body portion, wherein each said end portion engages a different one of said lever arms and said resilient engagement member provides spring pressure in a direction generally perpendicular to said clamping force.

2. The three-way spring clamp of claim 1, wherein said resilient engagement member comprises a flat type spring.

4. The three-way spring clamp of claim 1, wherein each lever arm includes a projection therein, and each end portion engages one of said projections.

5. The three-way spring clamp of claim 1, wherein each end portion is riveted to one of said lever arms.

7. The three-way spring clamp of claim 1, wherein said biasing spring comprises a coil spring.

8. The three-way spring clamp of claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric cover covering said central body portion to inhibit marring of said surface of said article to be clamped.

9. The three-way spring clamp of claim 1, further comprising elastomeric covers covering said jaw ends and said handle ends of said lever arms.

3. A three-way spring clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw ends and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

a biasing spring for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position; and

a resilient engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said resilient engagement member including a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, wherein said resilient engagement member comprises two end portions each on an opposite side of said central body portion, wherein each said end portion engages a different one of said lever arms and each said end portion has an undulated shape.

6. A three-way spring clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw ends and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

a biasing spring for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position; and

a resilient engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said resilient engagement member including a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, wherein said resilient engagement member is configured to snap into position between said lever arms.

10. A three-way spring clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw ends and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

biasing means for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position providing a clamping force applied by said jaw ends; and

a spring engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said spring engagement member including a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, said body portion also having a generally concave configuration from the perspective of said pivot point when said lever arms are in the closed gripping position, wherein said spring engagement member provides spring pressure in a direction generally perpendicular to said clamping force.

11. The three-way spring clamp of claim 10, wherein said spring engagement member comprises a normally flat type spring.

12. The three-way spring clamp of claim 10, wherein said spring engagement member comprises two end portions each on an opposite side of said central body portion, wherein each said end portion engages a different one of said lever arms.

14. The three-way spring clamp of claim 12, wherein each lever arm includes a projection therein, and each end portion engages one of said projections.

15. The three-way spring clamp of claim 12, wherein each end portion is riveted to one of said lever arms.

17. The three-way spring clamp of claim 10, further comprising an elastomeric cover covering said central body portion to inhibit marring of said surface of said article to be clamped.

18. The three-way spring clamp of claim 10, further comprising elastomeric covers covering said jaw ends and said handle ends of said lever arms.

13. A three-way spring clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw ends and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

biasing means for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position; and

a spring engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said spring engagement member including a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, said body portion also having a generally concave configuration from the perspective of said pivot point when said lever arms are in the closed gripping position, wherein said spring engagement member comprises two end portions each on an opposite side of said central body portion, wherein each said end portion engages a different one of said lever arms and each said end portion has an undulated shape.

16. A three-way spring clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw ends and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

biasing means for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position; and

a spring engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said spring engagement member including a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, said body portion also having a generally concave configuration from the perspective of said pivot point when said lever arms are in the closed gripping position, said spring engagement member is configured to snap into place between said lever arms.

19. A three-way spring clamp comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw end and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

a biasing spring for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position providing a clamping force applied by said jaw ends; and

,

an engagement member comprises a collapsible member and said engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said engagement member includes a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, wherein said engagement member provides spring pressure in a direction generally perpendicular to said clamping force.

22. The three-way spring clamp of claim 19, wherein said biasing spring comprises a coil spring.

23. The three-way spring clamp of claim 19, further comprising an elastomeric cover covering said central body portion to inhibit marring of said surface of said article to be clamped.

24. The three-way spring clamp of claim 19, further comprising elastomeric covers covering said jaw ends and said handle ends of said lever arms.

20. A three-way spring clamp, comprising:

two lever arms, each including a jaw end and a handle end, said lever arms being pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point located between said jaw ends and said handle ends such that said lever arms can be moved between a closed gripping position in which said jaw ends are proximate each other and an opened position in which said jaw ends are spaced apart;

a biasing spring for biasing said lever arms toward the closed gripping position; and

an engagement member mounted between said lever arms, said engagement member including a central body portion engageable with a surface of an article to be clamped, said body portion positioned between said pivot point and said jaw ends, wherein said engagement member comprises a collapsible member, said collapsible member includes a folding hinge-type mechanism.

21. The three-way spring clamp of claim 20, wherein said folding hinge-type mechanism comprises a center bar and two outer bars, wherein forward ends of said outer bars are each pivotally connected to an opposite end of said center bar, and rear ends of said outer bars are each pivotally connected to a different one of said lever arms.