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US 5,096,150 AGranted
Clamp device
OwnerSamuel M. Westwoodinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerSamuel M. Westwoodinventor
Estimating the term…
A clamp device adapted to clampingly engage items for support or connection of such items to another device or to clampingly engage a support or item for connection therewith having the clamping component constructed of plastic material capable of being injection molded and utilizing a "living hinge" connecting the pivotal clamp components to a main body portion of the clamp device with the plastic material optionally incorporating memory characteristics so that the clamping components or jaws will flex back to their originally molded open or closed positions. The clamp device also may be provided with interchangeable jaws or clamp components to enable effective size variation in the area to be embraced or encompassed by the clamping components or jaws. The clamp device also may be a vibration proof clamp associated with a thumb nut type actuating nut in the form of a ratchet arrangement to secure the clamping nut in adjusted position to prevent it from loosening due to vibration. Another variation of the clamp device includes a clamp structure that does not utilize the memory characteristics of the plastic but is provided with a separate spring to cause the jaws or clamping component to move to a desired position when not actuated by the clamping nut.
A clamp device for interconnecting two entities comprising a longitudinally extending stem, a pair of jaws connected to one end of the stem with at least one of the jaws being movable in relation to the stem and the other of the jaws, means on the stem movable into engagement with the jaws to position the jaws in connecting engagement with one of the entities, and means on the stem for connection with the other of the entities, said means engaging the jaws including an internally threaded nut mounted on an externally threaded portion of the stem and being independent of the means on the stem for connection with the other of the entities, said movable jaw including a surface extending laterally of the pivot axis of the jaw engageable by the nut to exert rotational force thereon for pivoting the movable jaw toward the other jaw, said nut having a diameter whereby the periphery of the nut is disposed outwardly at least sufficiently to be substantially in alignment with the outer edge of the laterally extending surface at its maximum lever arm relationship to the pivot axis for moving the movable jaw toward engagement with one of the entities to apply maximum torque and clamping force to the movable jaw and apply maximum locking force to the movable jaw when in clamped position, said stem and jaws being of unitary plastic construction with the movable jaw being connected to the stem by a living hinge.
A clamp device for interconnecting two entities comprising a longitudinally extending stem, a pair of jaws connected to one end of the stem with at least one of the jaws being movable in relation to the stem and the other of the jaws, means on the stem movable into engagement with the jaws to position the jaws in connecting engagement with one of the entities, and means on the stem for connection with the other of the entities, said movable jaw being mounted on the stem with a pivot pin to enable pivotal movement of the movable jaw, said means engaging the jaws including an internally threaded nut mounted on an externally threaded portion of the stem and being independent of the means on the stem for connection with the other of the entities, said pivotal jaw including a surface extending laterally of the pivot axis of the jaw engageable by the nut to exert rotational force thereon for pivoting the movable jaw toward the other jaw, said nut having a diameter whereby the periphery of the nut is disposed outwardly at least sufficiently to be substantially in alignment with the outer edge of the laterally extending surface at its maximum lever arm relationship to said pivot pin for moving the movable jaw toward engagement with one of the entities to apply maximum torque and clamping force to the movable jaw and apply maximum locking force to the movable jaw when in clamped position, and spring means associated with the pivot pin and the jaws and stem to bias the jaws toward open position when the nut is loosened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.