Clamping apparatus and method

A clamping apparatus comprising:

• a first upper jaw having a hinge end and a clamp end;
• a second upper jaw having a hinge end and a clamp end, the second upper jaw fixedly coupled to the first upper jaw such that the second upper jaw is spaced apart from the first upper jaw;
• a first lower jaw having a hinge end and a clamp end;
• a second lower jaw having a hinge end and a clamp end, the second lower jaw fixedly coupled to the first lower jaw such that the second lower jaw is spaced apart from the first lower jaw;
• a hinge located at the hinge ends of the first and second upper jaws and the first and second lower jaws, the hinge providing for rotation of the first and second upper jaws with respect to the first and second lower jaws;
• an elongated element threadably attached to the first and second upper jaws between the hinge end and the clamp end of each of the first and second upper jaws, the elongated element threadably attached to the first and second lower jaws between the hinge end and the clamp end of each of the first and second lower jaws, wherein rotation of the elongated element in a first direction causes the clamp ends of the first and second upper jaws to move closer to the clamp ends of the first and second lower jaws;
• and
• a first upper internal plate and a first lower internal plate, wherein the first upper internal plate is located between and attached to each of the first upper jaw and the second upper jaw, and extends substantially along a distance that is selected from the distance between the hinge end and the elongated element and the distance between the elongated element and the clamp end, and wherein the first lower internal plate is located between and attached to each of the first lower jaw and the second lower jaw, and extends substantially along a distance that is selected from the distance between the hinge end and the elongated element and the distance between the elongated element and the clamp end.

A clamping apparatus comprising:

• an upper jaw structure having a hinge end and a clamp end;
• a lower jaw structure having a hinge end and a clamp end;
• a hinge located at the hinge ends of the upper and lower jaw structures, the hinge providing for rotation of the upper jaw structure with respect to the lower jaw structure;
• an elongated element threadably attached to the upper jaw structure between the hinge end and the clamp end of the upper jaw structure, wherein rotation of the elongated element in a first direction causes the clamp end of the upper jaw structure to move closer to the clamp end of the lower jaw structure,
• wherein at least one of the upper jaw structure and the lower jaw structure includes a C-shaped profile that widens in a middle, wherein if the C-shaped profile is included in the upper jaw structure:
• a curved inner edge of the C-shaped profile smoothly transitions from a first concave portion to a convex portion and then to a second concave portion, and the convex portion includes a center of curvature located farther from the lower jaw structure than the curved inner edge of the C-shaped profile,
• and wherein if the C-shaped profile is included in the lower jaw structure:
• a curved inner edge of the C-shaped profile smoothly transitions from a first concave portion to a convex portion and then to a second concave portion, and wherein the convex portion includes a center of curvature located farther from the upper jaw structure than the curved inner edge of the C-shaped profile.