Self-adjusting bar clamp

A self-adjusting bar clamp comprising:

• a body having a rear end defining a rear aperture and a front end defining a front aperture, the body defining an elongated channel extending between the rear end and the front end;
• an actuating lever having a first end pivotally coupled to the body at a pivot point proximate the front end and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a second end extending rearwardly from the first end;
• an elongated bar positioned in the elongated channel of the body, the elongated bar having a rearward end extending rearwardly from the rear aperture and a forward end extending forwardly from the front aperture and terminating in a pressure foot, the elongated bar carried by the body for reciprocal sliding movement therethrough;
• a jaw member coupled to the front end of the body and aligned with the pressure foot;
• a self-adjusting toggle mechanism including:
• a locking element carried by the elongated bar within the elongated channel for reciprocal and canting movement;
• an element pivotally coupled to the actuating lever intermediate the first end and the second end, forward of the locking element;
• and
• a cam element pivotally coupled to the element and pivotally coupled to the locking element, the cam element movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the elongated bar and a second condition bearing against the elongated bar and canting the locking element into frictional engagement with the elongated bar, preventing reciprocating movement along the elongated bar;
• a biasing member captured between the rear end of the body and the locking element, biasing the locking element in a forward direction;
• wherein the locking member in the opened position of the actuating lever being positioned for sliding movement in relation to the elongated bar, the locking member in the closed position of the actuating lever, moves the elongated bar incrementally through the body in a rearward direction;
• and
• a secondary locking element carried by the elongated bar proximate the forward end of the body and movable between an engaged position and a released position, the secondary locking element biased by a biasing member into frictional engagement with the elongated bar in the engaged position, preventing movement of the elongated bar in the forward direction, and selectively movable to disengage the elongated bar in the release position against the bias of the biasing member, permitting movement of the elongated bar in the forward direction.

A self-adjusting bar clamp comprising:

• a body having a rear end defining a rear aperture and a front end defining a front aperture, the body defining an elongated channel extending between the rear end and the front end;
• an actuating lever having a first end pivotally coupled to the body at a pivot point proximate the rear end and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a second end extending forwardly from the first end;
• an elongated bar positioned in the elongated channel of the body, the elongated bar having a rearward end extending rearwardly from the rear aperture and a forward end extending forwardly from the front aperture and terminating in a pressure foot, the elongated bar carried by the body for reciprocal sliding movement therethrough;
• a self-adjusting toggle mechanism including:
• a locking element carried by the elongated bar within the elongated channel for reciprocal and canting movement;
• an element pivotally coupled to the actuating lever intermediate the first end and the second end, rearward of the locking element;
• and
• a cam element pivotally coupled to the element and pivotally coupled to the locking element, the cam element movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the elongated bar and a second condition bearing against the elongated bar and canting the locking element into frictional engagement with the elongated bar;
• and
• a biasing member captured between the front end of the body, and the locking element, biasing the locking element in a rearward direction.