Cam action clamp

Abstract

A cam action clamp for use against a fixed clamping surface comprising a threaded shaft extending outwardly from the fixed clamping surface and a movable clamping member having a channel therethrough to allow the clamping member to be mounted on the threaded shaft for slidable movement along the shaft. A thrust plate is affixed to the movable clamping member adjacent the channel. A mounting block is threadably mounted on the threaded shaft and a clamping handle is pivotally mounted to the mounting block. The handle is formed as a cam member that abuts the thrust plate. Pivoting the handle causes the cam member to engage the thrust plate to slidably advance the movable clamping member along the threaded shaft toward the fixed clamping surface in order to clamp an article between the surfaces. The mounting block can be rotated along the threaded shaft to vary the distance between the clamping surfaces. The thrust plate can be formed with stepped surfaces that allow the clamping handle to be repositioned to a more convenient angle while still applying the same clamping force. In addition, a shroud member is provided that encloses the threaded shaft to prevent objects, such as a user' s hand, getting pinched between the shaft and the pivotable clamping handle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.