Method of operating a quick-action bar clamp
AssigneePetersen Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsJoseph A. Sorensen, Dwight L. Gatzemeyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bar clamp, which is operable with one hand, includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw connects at one end to a movable slide bar. One-way drive means, by operation of a trigger handle grip, releasably engages the slide bar and advances the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw. Return motion of the movable jaw is accomplished manually when the one-way drive means is disengaged. A braking lever, biased to bind against the slide bar, prevents reverse motion of the movable jaw except when disengaged from the slide bar. The trigger handle advances the slide bar by driving a second lever which binds against a slide bar surface. The second lever returns by spring force to its original position after each stroke of the trigger handle.
Claims11
A method of operation of a clamp, said clamp comprising:
- a slide bar, a movable jaw being mounted to said slide bar, and a fixed jaw opposing said movable jaw,
- support means for supporting said slide bar;
- said fixed jaw and a handgrip extending outwardly from said support means in opposite directions, said fixed jaw having at least a forward portion facing said movable jaw,
- receiving means situated at the junction between said forward portion of the fixed jaw and said support means, a braking lever pivotable at said receiving means and having an engaging portion extending outwardly from said support means,
- one-way drive means for releasably engaging and, when engaged, for advancing said slide bar and movable jaw, and
- a trigger handle pivotably mounted to said support means, said engaging portion of said braking lever is positioned forwardly of said trigger handle in the direction of the movable jaw, wherein said method comprises the following steps:
- (a) positioning said clamp within one hand of a user so that said handgrip is received by a palm of said one hand;
- (b) placing a workpiece between said fixed and movable jaws when said jaws are spread apart;
- (c) advancing said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw by pressing and releasing said trigger handle by at least one finger of the hand thereby clamping said workpiece between said movable and fixed jaws;
- and
- (d) releasing said workpiece from said jaws by pressing said engaging portion of said braking lever by at least one finger of the hand other than a thumb;
- whereby said braking lever and the trigger handle are selectively operable by the same hand in such a manner that said at least one finger is positioned on the engaging portion of the braking lever to actuate the braking lever, while the other fingers of the same hand encircle and contain the trigger handle and the handgrip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.