Clamping device

A quick-acting bar clamp comprising:

• a slide bar having a first end and a second end;
• a first jaw positioned on said slide bar;
• a second jaw positioned on said slide bar in opposing relationship to said first jaw;
• said first jaw having a normally-engaged braking lever disposed thereon, said braking lever allowing the first jaw to move along the slide bar toward the second jaw when the braking lever is disengaged from said slide bar, but preventing the first jaw from moving away from the second jaw when the braking lever is engaged with the slide bar;
• and
• a setting unit for advancing the first jaw towards the second jaw, said setting unit removably mountable to said first jaw such that the first jaw is between the second jaw and the setting unit on the slide bar.

A jaw for a bar clamp having a slide bar, said jaw comprising:

• a body portion, bent along the length thereof at an obtuse angle on a first side thereof, said obtuse angle dividing the body portion into an upper portion and a lower portion;
• a protective pad attached to the upper portion near the end thereof on the same side of the body portion as the obtuse angle;
• a slot passing through the lower portion so that the body portion has a normal position on the slide bar with the side of the upper portion having the protective pad theron forming an angle relative to the slide bar that is slightly less than a right angle, said body portion being slidable on the slide bar when the body portion is in said normal position;
• a biasing means attached to the lower portion on the opposite side of the body portion from the obtuse angle to bias the body portion against the slide bar into the normal position;
• said slot sized to firmly engage the slide bar and to prevent movement of the body portion along the slide bar when the protective pad engages a workpiece, said engagement increasing the angle between the side of the upper portion having the protective pad and the slide bar.

An improvement for a quick-acting bar clamp having a first jaw;

• a second jaw for opposing the first jaw, said first jaw having a threaded stem therethrough to engage said second jaw;
• and a slide bar, said second jaw being positioned along the slide bar, said first jaw being movable on the slide bar toward and away from the second jaw;
• said first jaw having a braking lever normally engaging the slide bar, the braking lever when engaging the slide bar preventing motion of the first jaw away from the second jaw, and when disengaging said slide bar allowing movement of the first jaw toward or away from the second jaw;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• a setting unit for pushing the first jaw towards the second jaw, said setting unit removably mountable to the first jaw such that the first jaw is between the second jaw and the setting unit on the slide bar.

An improvement for a quick-acting bar clamp having a first jaw;

• a second jaw for opposing the first jaw;
• and a slide bar, said second jaw being positioned along the slide bar, said first jaw being movable on the slide bar toward and away from the second jaw;
• said first jaw having a braking lever normally engaging the slide bar, the braking lever when engaging the slide bar preventing motion of the first jaw away from the second jaw, and when disengaging said slide bar allowing movement of the first jaw toward or away from the second jaw;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• a setting unit for pushing the first jaw towards the second jaw, said setting unit removably mountable to the first jaw such that the first jaw is between the second jaw and the setting unit on the slide bar.