Lever based clamping device

An apparatus suitable for selectively engaging a plate for imaging equipment and suitable for selectively engaging a Picatinny rail for a firearm, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) said apparatus defining a portion of an upper channel having a first side wall;
• (b) said apparatus defining a portion of said upper channel having a second side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said first side wall suitable to detachably engage a pair of angled edges of said plate;
• (c) said apparatus defining a portion of a lower channel having a third side wall;
• (d) said apparatus defining a portion of said lower channel having a fourth side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said third side wall suitable to detachably engage said Picatinny rail, wherein said upper channel is at a higher elevation than said lower channel;
• (e) a lever suitable to cause said lateral movement of said fourth side wall with respect to said third side wall and said second side wall with respect to said first side wall in such a manner to selectively secure either said Picatinny rail or said plate with said apparatus, wherein a first pair of said upper channel having said first side wall and said lower channel defining said third side wall and a second pair of said upper channel having said second side wall and said lower channel defining said fourth side wall are configured such said first pair and said second pair selectively securely engage either said Picatinny rail or said plate at a same distance between said first pair and said second pair, wherein said third side wall and said fourth side wall are approximately 21 mm apart at said same distance, wherein said first side wall and said second side wall are spaced apart a distance to selectively securely engage an Arca-Swiss compatible said plate when said third side wall and said fourth side wall are said approximately 21 mm apart at said same distance;
• (f) a substantially compressible member that exerts an outwardly directed pressure on said lever;
• (g) at least one of (1) said lever extending beyond a first corner of said apparatus when in an opened positioned while said lever does not extend around said first corner of said apparatus when in said opened position, and (2) said lever extending beyond a second corner of said apparatus when in a closed positioned while said lever does not extend around said second corner of said apparatus when in said closed position.

An apparatus suitable for selectively engaging a plate for imaging equipment, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a body defining a portion of a channel having a first side wall and said body defining an opening therethrough with a tapered upper portion, a body screw with a tapered first end portion engaged in face to face engagement with said tapered upper portion of said body and a second end portion having threads extending below said body when said body screw is engaged with said body, said body defining a pair of generally rectangular body openings on a side thereof;
• (b) an arm defining a portion of said channel having a second side wall capable of lateral movement with respect to said first side wall suitable to detachably engage a pair of angled edges of said plate, said arm defining a pair of elongate generally rectangular arm tabs on a side thereof, the spacing and orientation between said pair of said elongate generally rectangular arm tabs and the spacing and orientation between said generally rectangular body openings arranged such that said pair of elongate generally rectangular arm tabs are slidably engageable within said generally rectangular body openings when said arm is engaged with said body;
• (c) a first spring member maintained within a first of said generally rectangular body openings and a second spring member maintained within a second of said generally rectangular body openings, said first spring member exerts an outwardly directed pressure on a first of said pair of elongate generally rectangular arm tabs when said arm is engaged with said body, said second spring member exerts an outwardly directed pressure on a second of said pair of elongate generally rectangular arm tabs when said arm is engaged with said body;
• (d) said body defining a stud body opening in said side of said body at a location between said pair of generally rectangular body openings on said side thereof,
• (e) said arm defining a stud arm opening in said side of said arm at a location between said pair of generally rectangular arm tabs on said side thereof,
• (f) an elongate stud extending within said stud body opening, said elongate stud supporting a plurality of spacing washers thereon, said elongate stud having a first end portion having threads to secure said elongate stud to said body, said elongate stud extending through said stud arm opening and engaged with a lever capable of causing said lateral movement;
• (g) said lever defining a pair of lever openings therein with a lever pin extending through said lever and said pair of lever openings, said lever pin engaged with said elongate stud in such a manner that said lever is maintained in engagement with said arm;
• (h) said lever arm having a side profile that includes an elongate handle portion that is substantially straight, said lever arm having said side profile that includes a body portion defining said pair of lever openings that is substantially rectangular.