Convertible C-clamp

• US 7,891,618 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): King; Anita M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, NKEISHA
• Application Number:
  US12/070,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 248/229.15, 248/229.25, 248/228.6, 248/230.6, 248/229.14, 248/229.24, 248/228.5, 248/230.5, 248/231.61, 269/143, 269/249, 292/76
• US Class Current: 248/228.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction

Abstract

A convertible clamp device including a C-shaped frame having first and second substantially opposing interconnected arms; a clamping rod carried by the first arm for longitudinal movement in a first clamping direction toward an internal face of the second arm and in a second opposite direction away from the second arm; different first and second movable clamping jaws removably coupleable to a portion of the clamping rod between the arms of the frame; and different first and second stationary clamping anvils being disposable on the internal face of the second arm.

Claims

1. A clamp device, comprising:

a C-shaped frame comprising first and second substantially opposing interconnected arms;

a clamping rod carried by the first arm for longitudinal movement in a first clamping direction toward an internal face of the second arm and in a second opposite direction away from the second arm;

different first and second movable clamping jaws removably coupleable to a portion of the clamping rod between the arms of the frame; and

different first and second stationary clamping anvils being disposable on the internal face of the second arm, wherein the internal face of the second arm further comprises the first stationary clamping anvil being formed continuously therewith, the first stationary clamping anvil further comprising a concavely arched clamping anvil, and

the second stationary clamping anvil further comprises a complementary base shaped to be received into the arched clamping anvil; and

a removable fastener releasably coupleable between the second arm and the second stationary clamping anvil.

2. The clamp device of claim 1 wherein the wherein the first movable clamping jaw further comprises an arched clamping jaw, and the second movable clamping jaw further comprises a substantially planar clamping jaw.

3. The clamp device of claim 2 wherein the arched clamping jaw further comprises an extruded arch comprising a concave shape oriented toward the first arm and nominally transversely of the clamping rod.

4. The clamp device of claim 1 further comprising a part-spherical coupler projected from an external portion of the frame.

5. The clamp device of claim 1 wherein the different first and second stationary clamping anvils are further disposable in substantially alignment with the longitudinal movement of the clamping rod.

6. A clamp device, comprising:

a substantially rigid C-shaped frame comprising first and second substantially opposing interconnected arms forming a throat between respective free ends thereof;

a threaded clamping rod carried in a threaded bore through the free end of the first arm for longitudinal movement in a first clamping direction toward the free end of the second arm and in a second opposite direction away from the second arm;

a drive head coupled adjacent to a first end of the clamping rod positioned external of the frame;

a movable clamping jaw reconfigurable between an arched movable clamping jaw that is removably coupleable adjacent to a second end of the clamping rod between the arms of the frame, and a substantially planar movable clamping jaw that is alternatively removably coupleable adjacent to the second end of the clamping rod, wherein the arched movable clamping jaw further comprises a concavely arched shape formed on forward face thereof, and the substantially planar movable clamping jaw further comprises one or more substantially coplanar forward clamping surfaces formed on forward face thereof;

a disengageable rotatable coupling between the threaded clamping rod and each of the arched and planar movable clamping jaws;

a stationary clamping anvil formed on the internal face of the second arm, the stationary clamping anvil being reconfigurable between an arched stationary clamping anvil and a substantially planar stationary clamping anvil; and

a part-spherical coupler projected from an external portion of the frame; and

wherein the disengageable rotatable coupling between the threaded clamping rod and each of the arched and planar movable clamping jaws further comprises;

a convexly rounded swivel head formed on the threaded clamping rod,

a first complementary mating socket formed in the arched movable clamping jaw with an opening thereinto opposite from the concavely arched shape formed on the forward face thereof, and

a second complementary mating socket formed in the substantially planar movable clamping jaw with an opening thereinto opposite from the one or more substantially coplanar forward clamping surfaces formed on the forward face thereof.

7. The clamp device of claim 6 wherein the stationary clamping anvil further comprises the arched stationary clamping anvil having a concavely arched shape formed on the internal face of the second arm.

8. The clamp device of claim 7 wherein the substantially planar stationary clamping anvil further comprises a discrete member comprising one or more substantially coplanar clamping surfaces and a base opposite therefrom and comprising a convexly arched shape complementary of the concavely arched shape of the arched stationary clamping anvil and removably insertable therein.

9. A clamp device, comprising:

(a) a generally C-shaped frame having first and second substantially opposing arm portions each further comprising a free end, wherein;

(i) the free end of the first arm portion further comprises a threaded bore, and

(ii) the free end of the second arm portion further comprises a first permanent stationary clamping anvil continuous therewith and comprising a concavely arched clamping surface facing substantially toward the free end of the first arm portion, and a bore positioned substantially central thereof and substantially aligned with the threaded bore of the free end of the first arm portion;

(b) a threaded rod comprising a first outboard end and a second inboard end with an external thread therebetween that is complementary of the threaded bore of the free end of the first arm portion of the frame, the threaded rod being receivable within the threaded bore of the frame for movement of the second inboard end between a first retracted position relative to a free end of the second arm, and a second extended position relative thereto, the second inboard end of the threaded rod further comprising a convex swivel head;

(c) a control member coupled to the first outboard end of the threaded rod for controlling movement of the threaded rod between the first retracted position and the second extended position;

(d) a first planar movable clamping jaw comprising a substantially planar forward clamping surface and an aperture rearward thereof communicating with a complementary concave socket formed therein, the aperture being sized to releasably receive the convex swivel head of the threaded rod therethrough into the complementary concave socket, and the complementary concave socket being formed to freely rotate and swivel about the swivel head;

(e) a second arched movable clamping jaw that is interchangeable with the first planar movable clamping jaw on the convex swivel head of the threaded rod, the second arched movable clamping jaw further comprising an arched forward clamping surface and an aperture rearward thereof communicating with a complementary concave socket formed therein, the aperture being sized to releasably receive the convex swivel head of the threaded rod therethrough into the complementary concave socket, and the complementary concave socket being formed to freely rotate and swivel about the convex swivel head;

(f) a second removable stationary clamping anvil comprising a substantially planar clamping surface opposite from a convexly arched base that is complementary to the concavely arched clamping surface of the first permanent stationary clamping anvil, the second removable stationary clamping anvil further comprising a clearance bore positioned substantially central of the clamping surface and formed with a seat recessed relative to the clamping surface;

(g) a removable fastener comprising a threaded shank portion sized to pass through the clearance bore of the second removable stationary clamping anvil, and a head portion that is enlarged relative to thereto; and

(h) a complementary threaded retainer substantially aligned with the threaded bore of the free end of the first arm portion of the frame, the complementary threaded retainer being threaded to mate with threads formed on the threaded shank portion of the fastener.

10. The clamp device of claim 9, further comprising a part-spherical coupler projected from an external portion of the frame.

11. The clamp device of claim 10 wherein the concavely arched clamping surface of the first permanent stationary clamping anvil further comprises an inside wall surface extended substantially transversely of the threaded bore portion of the free end of the first arm portion of the frame;

and

the complementary convexly arched base of the second removable stationary clamping anvil further comprises an outside wall surface extended substantially transversely of the substantially planar clamping surface opposite therefrom.

12. The clamp device of claim 11 wherein the arched forward clamping surface of the second arched movable clamping jaw further comprises an inside wall surface extended substantially transversely of the aperture thereof communicating with the complementary concave socket formed therein.

13. The clamp device of claim 12 wherein the bore in the free end of the second arm portion further comprises a substantially smooth clearance bore extended substantially therethrough, and a recessed nut pocket positioned opposite of the concavely arched clamping surface and substantially aligned with the clearance bore;

and

the complementary threaded retainer further comprises a nut threaded to mate with threads formed on the threaded shank portion of the fastener and sized to be at least partially received into the recessed nut pocket.