Apparatus and methods for securing products

Apparatus for securing a planar product having a polygonal shape, the apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a pair of rotatable retaining members with clips telescopically engaged at second ends of the respective retaining members for engaging with two corners of the product, first ends of the retaining members being securable to the base to prevent relative motion of the rotatable retaining members relative to the base;
• and
• a slideable stop member engaged at a second end of the base for engaging with an edge of the product opposite the two corners, the slideable stop member being adjustable towards the pair of rotatable retaining members and securable to the base to prevent relative motion of the slideable stop member relative to the base.

A method for securing a product using an apparatus having a base, a pair of retaining members, each retaining member pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the base, a pair of carriages, each carriage movable along a corresponding one of the retaining members and fixable to the corresponding one of the retaining members at a plurality of locations, each carriage having a clip for capturing a projecting portion of the product, and a stop member movable toward the clips in a single degree of freedom and fixable to the base at a plurality of locations along the degree of freedom, the stop member comprising a portion for engaging a portion of the product which is spaced apart from the projecting portions captured by the clips, the method comprising:

• capturing projecting portions of the product in the clips;
• fixing the positions of the carriages relative to the retaining members;
• engaging the spaced apart portion of the product with the portion of the stop member for engaging the spaced apart portion of the product;
• developing tension in the retaining members by urging the product toward the clips with the stop member;
• and
• when the retaining members are under tension fixing the position of the stop member relative to the base.