# US 4,395,030 A · Quick action vise

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- Number: US 4,395,030 A
- Document ID: US4395030A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/345,196
- Filed: 1982-02-02
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1982-02-02
- Assignees: Leonard G. Eskuchen; Raymond F. Eskuchen; Wayne R. Lindholm
- Inventors: Frank G. Eskuchen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395030A

## CPC

- B25B 1/125: {with one screw perpendicular to the jaw faces}
- Y10T 74/18648: Carriage surrounding, guided by, and primarily supported by member other than screw [e.g., linear guide, etc.]
- Y10T 74/19735: Nut disengageable from screw
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An improved vise includes a base, a journal housing, and fixed and movable clamping jaws. The housing includes passageways for a worm gear and a clutch means. By appropriate manipulation of a control for moving the movable jaw, an actuator within the housing may be rotated so as to effect the engagement and disengagement of the clutch means with the worm gear. When the clutch is engaged, the vise may be tightened in the usual manner of rotating the control. When the clutch is disengaged, the movable jaw may be moved quickly by the longitudinal movement of the control without rotation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A quick action vise comprising:
a base defining a longitudinal axis and including a generally upstanding portion;
a first clamping jaw fixedly secured to said base in spaced relation to said upstanding portion;
a second clamping jaw;
means cooperative with said base for supporting said second clamping jaw for movement along a predetermined path relative to said first clamping jaw between a position spaced therefrom and a position cooperative with said first clamping jaw to facilitate support of a work piece therebetween;
said generally upstanding portion of said base having a first bore therethrough the axis of which is substantially parallel to said predetermined path, and having a second bore therein transverse to and intersecting said first bore:
a control rod extending through said first bore and being rotatable relative to said base, said control rod being operatively connected to said second clamping jaw so as to effect movement of said second clamping jaw relative to said first clamping jaw upon longitudinal movement of said control rod;
a clutch member disposed within said second bore and longitudinally moveable therein to a first position engaging said control rod so as to effect positive longitudinal movement of said control rod in a first direction relative to said base upon rotation of said control rod in a first rotational direction, said clutch member being movable to a second position in response to rotation of said control rod in an opposite rotational direction such that said clutch member enables longitudinal movement of said control rod in a direction opposite to said first longitudinal direction while maintained in relatively fixed rotational relation to said base; and
a sleeve-like actuator frictionally cooperative with said control rod and operatively associated with said clutch member so as to effect longitudinal movement of said clutch member between its said first and second positions in response to selective rotational movement of said control rod in said first and second rotational directions, movement of said clutch member to its said second position enabling rapid movement of said second jaw relative to said first jaw without rotating said actuator rod.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A quick action vise as defined in claim 1 wherein said control rod has a worm gear formed thereon, said clutch member having a thread segment formed thereon cooperative with said worm gear so as to effect threaded engagement between said control rod and said clutch member when in its said first position, said clutch member when in its said second position being disengaged from said worm gear in a manner to enable said reverse longitudinal movement of said control rod relative to said base without rotating said control rod.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A quick action vise as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises an arcuate shaped member disposed within said first bore in concentric relation with said control rod, said clutch member having a recess therein defining ledge surfaces, said actuator having a detent extending within said recess and adapted for engagement with said ledge surfaces during rotation of said control rod in a manner to effect movement of said clutch member between its said first and second positions upon selective rotation of said control rod.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A quick action vise as defined in claim 1 wherein said second bore has a substantially cylindrical configuration, said clutch member having a substantially cylindrical configuration and being longitudinally slidable within said second bore.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A quick action vise as defined in claim 3 wherein said second bore is cooperative with said clutch member so as to limit movement thereof to its said second second position upon rotation of said control rod in its said opposite rotational direction.

### Claim 6

A quick action vise comprising:
a base having front and rear longitudinal ends;
a fixed jaw attached to said front end and extending upwardly therefrom;
a journal housing attached to said rear end, said housing extending upwardly from said base to a top of said housing, said housing having a substantially longitudinal passageway extending completely therethrough and a substantially vertical passageway extending to said top of said housing and communicating with said longitudinal passageway;
a movable jaw movably situated between said fixed jaw and said journal housing;
guide rods for guiding and supporting said movable jaw, said rods extending through said movable jaw and from said housing to said fixed jaw;
a control, including a grip and a worm gear, said control extending through said longitudinal passageway of said housing, said work end of said control being adjacent said movable jaw, said worm gear having threads oriented so that clockwise rotation of said control moves said control toward said fixed jaw when said worm gear is engaged;
attachment means for attaching said control to said movable jaw so that said movable jaw can respond to longitudinal movement of said control, said attachment means permitting rotational movement of said control relative to said movable jaw;
a clutch situated within said vertical passageway of said housing, said clutch having a depression therein with an upper and a lower ledge, said clutch being vertically displaceable between an engaged position and a disengaged position within said vertical passageway, said clutch when in said engaged position being engaged with said worm gear so that rotation of the control results in longitudinal movement of said movable jaw, said clutch when in said disengaged position being disengaged from said worm gear so that said movable jaw may be moved longitudinally by the longitudinal movement of said control without rotation of said control; and
an actuator in the form of a sleeve with a detent for controlling the position of said clutch, said actuator being in frictional engagement with said worm gear, said actuator having an engaging and a disengaging position, said upper ledge cooperating with said detent to urge said clutch into its disengaged position as said actuator achieves its disengaging position, said lower ledge cooperating with said detent to urge said clutch into its engaged position as said actuator achieves its engaging position and also to limit the rotation of said actuator to said engaging position when said control is rotated clockwise, whereby, when said control is rotated in clockwise, said actuator is urged to its engaging position and said clutch to its engaging position so that said movable jaw moves toward said fixed jaw, and when said control is rotated counterclockwise said actuator is urged to its disengaging position and said clutch to its disengaged position so that said movable jaw may be moved by the longitudinal movement of said control without rotation of said control.