Clamping apparatus

• US 8,328,170 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wasinger, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, GEORGE BINH MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/488,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 269/8, 269/90, 269/216, 269/3, 269/6, 292/68, 292/70, 292/44, 814/09, 813/67, 81418-424, 81368-371
• US Class Current: 269/8
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/02 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/123 with self-locking toggle levers
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/14 Locking means B25B7/123 takes precedence

Abstract

A clamping apparatus is disclosed including a first handle defining a hole, a magnet affixed to the first handle, and a movable jaw coupled to the first handle and a second handle, the jaw comprising two clamp segments. The apparatus further includes a magnet contacting element disposed on a release lever on the second handle, wherein pressure is applied to release the release lever from contacting the magnet in an open position.

Claims

1. A clamping apparatus comprising:

a first handle defining a hole;

a magnet affixed to the first handle;

a movable jaw coupled to the first handle and a second handle, the jaw comprising two clamp segments; and

a magnet contacting element disposed on a release lever on the second handle, wherein pressure is applied to the release lever to disengage contact between the magnet contacting element and the magnet, allowing the clamping apparatus to return to an open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the two clamp segments comprise an end portion with a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet contacting element is disposed on a protruding element on the release lever.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an end portion of each of the two clamp segments is affixed to the movable jaw via a hinge.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the hinge is capable of pivoting each of the two clamp segments from a first position to a second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a linking element connecting the first handle to the second handle, the linking element to enable locking of the movable jaw.

7. A clamping apparatus comprising:

a first handle defining a hole;

a magnet affixed to the first handle to secure the clamping apparatus in a clamping position;

a movable jaw coupled to the first handle, the jaw comprising two clamp segments, wherein each of the two clamp segments comprise an end portion with a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional surface; and

a release lever coupled to the movable jaw, the release lever in contact with the magnet via a magnet contacting element in the clamping position and wherein pressure is applied to the release lever to disengage the magnet contacting element from contacting the magnet when the clamping apparatus is in an open position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a second handle coupled to the release lever and the movable jaw, wherein movement of the second handle causes the opening or closing of the movable jaw.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the two clamp segments comprise an end portion with a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a magnet contacting element is disposed on the release lever.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a magnet contacting element is disposed on a protruding element on the release lever.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an end portion of each of the two lamp segments is affixed to the movable jaw via a hinge.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the hinge is capable of pivoting each of the two clamp segments from a first position to a second position.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a linking element connecting the first handle to the second handle, the linking element to enable locking of the movable jaw.

15. A clamping apparatus comprising:

a first handle defining a hole;

a magnet affixed to the first handle;

a movable jaw coupled to the first handle and a second handle, the jaw comprising two clamp segments; and

a magnet contacting element disposed on a release lever on the second handle, wherein the magnet contacting element is engaged with the magnet to secure the clamping apparatus in a clamping position, the release lever used to disengage the magnet contacting element from the magnet to return the clamping apparatus to an open position.

16. The clamping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the release lever disengages the magnet from the magnet contacting element upon pressure applied to the release lever.

17. The clamping apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the two clamp segments comprise an end portion with a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the magnet contacting element is disposed on a protruding element on the release lever.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an end portion of each of the two clamp segments is affixed to the movable jaw via a hinge, the hinge is capable of pivoting each of the two clamp segments from a first position to a second position.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a linking element connecting the first handle to the second handle, the linking element to enable locking of the movable jaw.