Automatic release clamp
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorJulio GIL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects herein are directed to a clamp having a linkage coupled to a first end of a first and second clamp member. Based on applying a first directional force to the linkage, the linkage generates a force that moves the second ends of the first and second clamp member towards one another, thereby biasing the clamp to the closed position. The clamp secures a strap when the clamp is in the closed position and releases the strap when the clamp is in an open position.
Claims20
A linkage system for moving a clamp from an open position to a closed position, the linkage system comprising:
- a first linkage member and a second linkage member, wherein:
- a first end of the first linkage member is pivotally coupled to a first end of a first clamp member of the clamp;
- a first end of the second linkage member is pivotally coupled to a first end of a second clamp member of the clamp;
- a second end of the first linkage member is pivotally coupled to a second end of the second linkage member;
- and
- upon a first directional force being applied to the linkage system, the linkage system is configured to generate a second directional force that biases the clamp from the open position to the closed position by moving a second end of the first clamp member towards a second end of the second clamp member.
A linkage system, the linkage system comprising:
- a first linkage, that when a directional force is applied to the first linkage, is configured to generate a first clamping force that moves a first clamp from an open position to a closed position;
- and
- a second linkage, that when the directional force is applied to the second linkage, is configured to generate a second clamping force that moves a second clamp from an open position to a closed position, wherein the first linkage is coupled to the second linkage so as to simultaneously move in response to the directional force.
A method for transporting an item, the method comprising:
- securing a strap around the item using a clamp, the strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strap mounted to the clamp and the second end of the strap secured by the clamp when the clamp is in a closed position;
- and
- suspending the item to generate a clamping force that is proportional to a weight of the item, the clamping force biasing the clamp to the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.