T-Channel Speed Clamp
AssigneeRadius Tools Inc.
InventorEric Berube
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A t-channel speed clamp has a jaw assembly that moves inclined linearly relative to the base. A clamping knob is used transversely to secure the base to the work surface and advance the jaw toward the workpiece. The mechanism is comprised of (a) one or more springs to sequence the clamping force of the base to the work surface prior to initiating the clamping force of the jaw on the workpiece and (b) the jaw engages the workpiece either perpendicular or parallel to the work surface, exerting both vertical and horizontal force components on the workpiece.
Claims2
A clamp apparatus for use with an elongated structural channel having a uniform
- cross-section that has a longitudinal slot comprising an opening along the outer affixing surface and a widened opening internally to create an internal affixing surface, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a jaw assembly and a base, wherein the jaw may move toward the workpiece slidably mounted to the base along an inclined planer surface,
- (b) a manually operable threaded element simultaneously affixes the base to the work surface and advances the jaw toward the workpiece,
- (c) a spring, or plurality of springs, provides resistance to the jaw movement toward the workpiece, initiating the base-to-work surface affixing prior to the jaw-to-workpiece affixing.
A clamp apparatus wherein the jaw comprises two gripping surfaces permanently
- configured to engage the workpiece either:
- (a) with a primary compressive gripping force acting parallel to the work surface and a secondary frictional gripping force acting perpendicularly to the work surface,
- (b) or with a primary compressive gripping force acting perpendicularly to the work surface and a secondary frictional gripping force acting parallel to the work surface, wherein:
- i. the gripping surface perpendicular to the work surface remains perpendicular throughout the entire clamp actuation range, and in all longitudinal and rotational positions along the structural channel;
- and
- ii. the gripping surface parallel to the work surface remains parallel throughout the entire clamp actuation range and in all longitudinal and rotational positions along the structural channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.