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US 11,052,512 B1Granted
Adjustable knife sharpener and clamping assembly
OwnerClay A. Allisoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamping apparatus has first and second clamping members extending in an opposed, spaced-apart relation along a central axis from proximal end portions to distal end portions with inside surfaces of the clamping members facing each other. A gap between the proximal end portions is adjustable to releasably secure an object between the distal end portions. A clamp actuator has a handle and a wedge, moving the handle to a first handle position moves the wedge linearly along the clamp central axis in engagement with the inside surfaces of the proximal end portions to increase the gap. Moving the handle to the second handle position moves the wedge in an opposite direction along the central clamp axis, thereby permitting the gap to decrease. In embodiments, the clamping force is adjustable.
Claims24
A sharpening apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a first clamping member extending along a central clamp axis and pivotably supported by the base, the first clamping member having a first inside surface, a first proximal end portion, and a first distal end portion;
- a second clamping member extending along the central clamp axis and pivotably supported by the base, the second clamping member extending in opposed alignment with the first clamping member and having a second inside surface facing and spaced apart from the first inside surface, a second proximal end portion, and a second distal end portion, wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member are capable of pivoting to clamp a cutting implement between the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion;
- a cam assembly attached to the base and comprising:
- a cam shaft extending along a cam axis, the cam shaft rotatable between a first cam position and a second cam position;
- a cam attached to the cam shaft, wherein rotating the cam shaft rotates the cam;
- a follower disposed in operational engagement with the cam;
- a wedge operatively coupled to the follower and disposed in movable engagement with the first proximal end portion of the first clamping member and the second proximal end portion of the second clamping member;
- and
- a spring between the follower and the wedge, wherein compressing the spring reduces a distance between the follower and the wedge;
- wherein rotating the cam to the first cam position moves the wedge generally along the central clamp axis between and in engagement with the first proximal end portion and the second proximal end portion, thereby pivoting the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion towards each other;
- and
- wherein rotating the cam to the second cam position moves the wedge in an opposite direction generally along the central clamp axis, thereby enabling the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion to pivot away from each other.
10 more elements
A clamping apparatus comprising:
- a first clamping member extending along a clamp central axis from a first proximal end portion to a first distal end portion and having a first inside surface;
- a second clamping member extending along the clamp central axis from a second proximal end portion to a second distal end portion in opposed alignment with the first clamping member, the second clamping member having a second inside surface spaced from and facing the first inside surface, wherein the second distal end portion is opposite the first distal end portion and the second proximal end portion is opposite the first proximal end portion, and wherein a gap between the first inside surface of the first proximal end portion and the second inside surface of the second proximal end portion is adjustable to releasably secure a workpiece between the first inside surface of the first distal end portion and the second inside surface of the second distal end portion;
- and
- a clamp actuator with a handle, a spring, and a wedge, the spring between the clamp actuator and the wedge, the wedge movable along the clamp central axis between the first clamping member and the second clamping member in response to the handle moving between a first handle position and a second handle position, wherein compressing the spring reduces a distance between the clamp actuator and the wedge;
- wherein moving the handle to the first handle position moves the wedge along the clamp central axis between and in engagement with the first inside surface of the first proximal end portion and in engagement with the second inside surface of the second proximal end portion, thereby increasing the gap;
- and
- wherein moving the handle to the second handle position moves the wedge in an opposite direction along the central clamp axis, thereby permitting the gap to decrease.
4 more elements
A sharpening apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a first clamping member extending along a central clamp axis and pivotably supported by the base, the first clamping member having a first inside surface, a first proximal end portion, and a first distal end portion;
- a second clamping member extending along the central clamp axis and pivotably supported by the base, the second clamping member extending in opposed alignment with the first clamping member and having a second inside surface facing and spaced apart from the first inside surface, a second proximal end portion, and a second distal end portion, wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member are capable of pivoting to clamp a cutting implement between the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion;
- and
- a cam assembly attached to the base and comprising:
- a cam shaft extending along a cam axis, the cam shaft movable between a first cam position and a second cam position;
- a cam attached to the cam shaft;
- a follower disposed in operational engagement with the cam;
- a wedge operatively coupled to the follower and disposed in movable engagement with the first proximal end portion of the first clamping member and the second proximal end portion of the second clamping member;
- a spring between the follower and the wedge;
- and
- a clamp adjustment assembly configured to selectively move the cam assembly along the central clamp axis;
- wherein moving the cam to the first cam position moves the wedge generally along the central clamp axis between and in engagement with the first proximal end portion and the second proximal end portion, thereby pivoting the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion towards each other;
- and
- wherein moving the cam to the second cam position moves the wedge in an opposite direction generally along the central clamp axis, thereby enabling the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion to pivot away from each other.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.