Back to results
US 12,350,783 B2Granted
Clamping assembly for a blade sharpener
OwnerClay A. Allisoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamping assembly includes a base defining a spring well. A spring piston assembly is received in the spring well and includes a spring and a piston body. First and second jaws are supported over the base on opposite sides of a central clamp axis that extends vertically through the spring piston and between the jaws, where the jaws are pivotable between an open position and a closed position. A wedge is movable along the central clamp axis between an end of the jaws. A lever has an elongated lever body extending to an end portion defining an L-shape with a toe and a heel, the end portion positioned between the wedge and the spring piston with the toe pivotably connected to the wedge and the heel coupled to the piston body via a linkage. The lever is operable to move the wedge along the central clamp axis.
Claims20
A clamping assembly comprising:
- a base defining a spring well;
- a spring piston received in the spring well and including a spring and a piston body;
- first and second jaws supported in opposed, spaced-apart alignment on opposite sides of a central clamp axis that extends through the spring piston and between the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws each having a proximal end portion adjacent the base and having a distal end portion, wherein the first and second jaws are pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
- a wedge movable along the central clamp axis between the proximal end portions of the first and second jaws;
- a lever having an elongated lever body extending to a proximal lever end portion defining an L-shape with a toe and a heel, the toe pivotably connected to the wedge, the lever operable between a first lever position and a second lever position to move the wedge along the central clamp axis;
- and
- a linkage coupling the piston body to the heel of the proximal lever end portion;
- wherein moving the lever between the first lever position to the second lever position moves the wedge along the central clamp axis and wherein compressing the spring increases an axial distance between the piston body and the wedge;
- and
- wherein a top of the piston body defines a domed cam surface configured to engage the heel of the lever when the lever moves between the first lever position and the second lever position.
7 more elements
A blade sharpener comprising:
- a base defining a spring well;
- a spring piston received in the spring well and including a spring and a piston body;
- first and second jaws supported over the base in opposed, spaced-apart alignment on opposite sides of a central clamp axis that extends vertically through the spring piston and between the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
- a wedge movable along the central clamp axis between the first and second jaws;
- a lever having an elongated lever body extending to a proximal lever end portion defining an L-shape with a toe and a heel, the proximal lever end portion positioned between the wedge and the spring piston with the toe pivotably connected to the wedge and the heel coupled to the piston body via a linkage, the lever operable between a first lever position and a second lever position to move the wedge along the central clamp axis, wherein compressing the spring increases an axial distance between the piston body and the wedge;
- wherein a top of the piston body defines a domed cam surface configured to engage the heel of the lever during movement of the lever between the first lever position and the second lever position.
3 more elements
A blade sharpener comprising:
- a base defining a spring well;
- a spring piston received in the spring well and including a spring and a piston body;
- first and second jaws supported over the base in opposed, spaced-apart alignment on opposite sides of a central clamp axis that extends vertically through the spring piston and between the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
- a wedge movable along the central clamp axis between the first and second jaws;
- a lever having an elongated lever body extending to a proximal lever end portion defining an L-shape with a toe and a heel, the proximal lever end portion positioned between the wedge and the spring piston with the toe pivotably connected to the wedge and the heel coupled to the piston body via a linkage, the lever operable between a first lever position and a second lever position to move the wedge along the central clamp axis, wherein compressing the spring increases an axial distance between the piston body and the wedge;
- wherein one or both of the first and second jaws defines three or more tines extending upward, the tines configured to engage and retain a blade to be sharpened when the jaws are in the closed position;
- and
- wherein some of the three or more tines define a gripping surface that protrudes towards a median plane of the blade sharpener to a greater extent than a gripping surface of another of the three or more tines.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.