System, method, and apparatus for clamping

• US 9,759,369 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Gray, Larry B., Friedrich, Thomas A., Sabin, Erik N., Kerwin, John M., Lanigan, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Application Number:
  US13/723,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20130182381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/78 for clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/10 using pivoting jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/12 using sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

A clamp includes a housing, a fixed gripper, a moveable gripper, a driven member, and an actuator. The housing includes first and second tracks. The fixed gripper is coupled to the housing. The driven member is configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing. The moveable gripper is operatively coupled to the driven member. The actuator is configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper. The actuator is further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper.

Claims

1. A clamp, comprising:

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member;

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper, wherein the actuator is a handle pivotally coupled to the housing; and

first and second linkages, wherein the first linkage is coupled to a first side of the handle and to a first side of the driven member, and the second linkage is coupled to a second side of the handle and to a second side of the driven member.

8. The clamp as in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, further comprising a gripper sled slidably coupled to the driven member.

9. The clamp according to claim 8, further comprising a bias member configured to bias the gripper sled within the driven member towards the fixed gripper.

10. The clamp as in any one of claims 1, 5, 2, 3, and 4, according to wherein the bias member is a constant force spring.

11. The clamp as in any one of claims 1, 5, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the bias member is a compression spring.

12. The clamp as in any one of claims 1, 5, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the clamp is configured to allow the gripper sled to stop when abutting against an object while allowing the driven member to continue to move as the actuator is further actuated.

13. The clamp as in any one of claims 1, 5, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the gripper sled is rigidly coupled to the moveable gripper, wherein the clamp further comprises a bias member configured to bias the gripper sled within the driven member towards the fixed gripper.

2. A clamp, comprising:

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member;

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper, wherein the actuator is a handle pivotally coupled to the housing;

a first latching portion on the handle; and

a second latching portion on the housing, wherein the first and second latching portions are configured to cooperate to releasably latch the handle to the housing.

3. A clamp comprising:

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member;

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper, wherein the actuator is a handle pivotally coupled to the housing; and

an over-center linkage configured to bias the handle toward a closed position when the handle is actuated toward the closed position beyond a threshold, wherein the over-center linkage is further configured to bias the handle toward an open position when the handle is actuated toward the open position beyond the threshold.

4. The clamp according to claim 3, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp to a support pole of a rack apparatus, wherein the rack apparatus comprises the support pole and at least one support plate having a mount connector.

5. A clamp, comprising:

a housing including first and second tracks;

a fixed gripper coupled to the housing;

a driven member configured to slide within the first and second tracks of the housing;

a moveable gripper operatively coupled to the driven member;

an actuator configured to move the driven member towards a first position to thereby move the moveable gripper towards the fixed gripper, the actuator further configured to move the driven member towards a second position to thereby move the moveable gripper away from the fixed gripper; and

a gripper sled slidably coupled to the driven member, wherein the driven member includes a stop member configured to prevent movement of the gripper sled relative to the driven member beyond a predetermined location of the driven member.

6. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the moveable gripper is coupled to the gripper sled.

7. The clamp as in any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the actuator is a handle pivotally coupled to the housing.