Device for fixing an object to the edge of a flat support

• US 5,988,615 A
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virax Co.
• Original Assignee: Virax Co.
• Inventors: Churoux, Patrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US09/036,837
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 269/236, 269/239, 269/166, 269/169, 269/167, 269/164, 269/196, 269/3, 269/6, 269/47, 269/147-149, 269/97, 269/98, 269/50, 269/254 R, 269/254 CS, 269/221
• US Class Current: 269/3
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/068 with at least one jaw sliding along a bar B25B5/061, B25B5/085, B25B5/102, B25B5/127 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/085 with at least one jaw sliding along a bar
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/163 Jaws or jaw attachments
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A device for fixing an object to the edge of a flat support, the support having a top face on which the object is to be fixed and a lower face. A vertical section piece, positionable close to the edge of the support, is perpendicular to the plane of the support. The upper end of the section piece has an element which engages and holds the object on the top face of the support, e.g. rods projecting into a cavity in the object. An arm extending perpendicular to the section piece supports at one end thereof a cam for being selectively moved to press against and released from pressing against the lower face of the support. The section piece passes through an opening in the arm and the arm with the cam thereon is tiltable with reference to the section piece for locking the arm along the section piece. A lever then rotates the cam to press against the lower face of the support.

Claims

1. A device for fixing an object to the edge of a support, the support having an upper face on which the object is to be positioned and having a lower face;

the device comprising;

a section piece for being positioned near to the edge of the support to which an object is to be fixed and the section piece being oriented at least generally perpendicular to the general plane of the support;

securing means on the section piece above the support and shaped and positioned for engaging the object to be fixed on the support;

an arm extending from the section piece transverse to the section piece, the arm is generally parallel to, spaced below and faces toward the lower face of the support;

the arm being tiltable with respect to the section piece to selectively lock the arm against moving along the section piece or to be free to move along the section piece;

the arm has an opening therein, the section piece passes through the opening in the arm, the opening being sized such that the arm can move along the section piece and such that the section piece engages the arm upon the arm being tilted;

a cam rotatably supported on the arm, the cam including a periphery shaped so that as the cam is rotated on the arm, the cam presses selectively increasingly or decreasingly against the lower face of the support, the arm is movable selectively to press the cam against the lower face of the support and to move the cam off the lower face of the support;

a swingable lever connected with the cam, the lever being swingable for selectively rotating the cam on the arm to increasingly press the cam against the lower face of the support or to decrease the pressing against the lower face of the support;

a spring for normally biasing the arm upward along the section piece and toward the lower face of the support.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the securing means for fixing an object at the support comprises a component extending from the section piece toward the object for engaging the object.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the securing means further comprises the object having a cavity therein of a shape complementary to the shape of the component extending from the section piece, so that the component may fit into the cavity to engage and secure the object of the support.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the component extends at a right angle from the section piece to the object.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises:

a flat coil spring in the section piece and a spindle on the section piece on which the coil spring is wound, the spring spindle being oriented so that the coil spring retracts to draw the arm upwardly along the section piece;

the coil spring having an end which is secured to the arm, such that retraction of the coil spring moves the arm upwardly toward the top of the section piece.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the end of the spring is secured to the arm inside the opening through the arm.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising the lever extending from the cam located at the lower face of the support to a part of the lever beyond the section piece, whereby the lever is operable at the part of the lever not under the lower face of the support.

7. A device for fixing an object to the edge of a support, the support having an upper face on which the object is to be positioned and having a lower face;

the device comprising;

a section piece for being positioned near to the edge of the support to which an object is to be fixed and the section piece being oriented at least generally perpendicular to the general plane of the support;

securing means on the section piece above the support and shaped and positioned for engaging the object to be fixed on the support;

an arm extending from the section piece transverse to the section piece, the arm is generally parallel to, spaced below and faces toward the lower face of the support;

the arm being tiltable with respect to the section piece to selectively lock the arm against moving along the section piece or to be free to move along the section piece;

the arm has an opening therein, the section piece passes through the opening in the arm, the opening being sized such that the arm can move along the section piece and such that the section piece engages the arm upon the arm being tilted;

a cam on the arm, the arm is movable selectively to press the cam against the lower face of the support and to move the cam off the lower face of the support;

the cam having a periphery, a roller around the periphery of the cam that can turn freely on the cam and the roller being the part of the cam for engaging the lower face of the support.

8. A device for fixing an object to the edge of a support, the support having an upper face on which the object is to be positioned and having a lower face;

the device comprising;

a section piece for being positioned near to the edge of the support to which an object is to be fixed and the section piece being oriented at least generally perpendicular to the general plane of the support;

securing means on the section piece above the support and shaped and positioned for engaging the object to be fixed on the support;

an arm extending from the section piece transverse to the section piece, the arm is generally parallel to, spaced below and faces toward the lower face of the support;

the arm being tiltable with respect to the section piece to selectively lock the arm against moving along the section piece or to be free to move along the section piece;

the arm has an opening therein, the section piece passes through the opening in the arm, the opening being sized such that the arm can move along the section piece and such that the section piece engages the arm upon the arm being tilted;

a cam on the arm, a pivot on the arm about which the cam pivots;

the arm is movable selectively to pivot the cam and press the cam against the lower face of the support and to move the cam off the lower face of the support;

a generally stirrup shaped component including legs that straddle the cam and the cam pivot, with the stirrup shaped component including an opening at the cam spindle for permitting radial translation of the component with respect to the cam pivot perpendicular to the arm;

the stirrup shaped component having a flat part with an outer face that rests against the lower face of the support, and the cam engaging the opposite surface of the flat part of the component for urging the outer face thereof against the lower face of the support.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the upper face of the flat part of the component is coated with a non-slip material.

11. A device for fixing an object to the edge of a support, the support having an upper face on which the object is to be positioned and having a lower face;

the device comprising;

a section piece for being positioned near to the edge of the support to which an object is to be fixed and the section piece being oriented at least generally perpendicular to the general plane of the support;

securing means on the section piece above the support and shaped and positioned for engaging the object to be fixed on the support;

an arm extending from the section piece transverse to the section piece, the arm is generally parallel to, spaced below and faces toward the lower face of the support;

the arm being tiltable with respect to the section piece to selectively lock the arm against moving along the section piece or to be free to move along the section piece;

the arm has an opening therein, the section piece passes through the opening in the arm, the opening being sized such that the arm can move along the section piece and such that the section piece engages the arm upon the arm being tilted;

a cam on the arm, the arm is movable selectively to press the cam against the lower face of the support and to move the cam off the lower face of the support;

a swingable lever connected with the cam, the lever extending from the cam located at the lower face of the support to a part of the lever beyond the section piece, whereby the lever is operable at the part of the lever not under the lower face of the support, the lever being swingable for selectively moving the cam to press against the lower face of the support or away from pressing against the lower face of the support;

a spring for normally biasing the arm upward along the section piece and toward the lower face of the support.