# US 5,685,770 A · Clamping mechanism

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- Number: US 5,685,770 A
- Document ID: US5685770A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/614,973
- Filed: 1996-03-11
- Granted: 1997-11-11
- Earliest claimed: 1996-03-11
- Inventors: Jackie L. Wood, Sr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5685770A

## CPC

- A22B 5/161: {Methods or means for pulling the hide from carcasses}
- A22B 5/06: Slaughtering stands or spreaders for cattle
- A22B: SLAUGHTERING

## Abstract

A clamping mechanism for holding, among other possible things, a squirrel or other animal during skinning. The mechanism includes a rigid band under which a tail of the animal is gripped. The band is pivoted between an open and closed position by a foot-operated treadle which is connected to the band by an elongated rigid link.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clamping mechanism adapted to skinning a squirrel comprising a rigid strap with first and second ends, a pivot attached proximate the first end of the strap, said pivot configured to attach to a horizontal support and to allow the strap to move between an open position wherein the second end of the strap is spaced from the horizontal support a distance adapted so that a tail of a squirrel can be inserted between the strap and the horizontal support and a closed position wherein the second end of the band is brought proximate the horizontal support and adapted to compressing the tail of a squirrel inserted between the strap and the horizontal support,
an elongated rod with first and second ends, said strap attached proximate its second end to proximate the first end of the rod,
a treadle with first and second ends and a longitudinal axis and a fulcrum with a longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the treadle about which the treadle can be rocked, said fulcrum closer to the second end of the treadle than the first, said treadle attached proximate the first end of the treadle to proximate the second end of the rod, said treadle configured to be rocked about the fulcrum with a user's foot whereby the rod is alternately pushed and pulled and the rigid strap moved between the open and closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clamping mechanism of claim 1 wherein the strap has a top and bottom face and is U-shaped in cross-section opening towards the bottom face.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The clamping mechanism of claim 2 wherein the treadle is about twice as long as the rigid band.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The clamping mechanism of claim 3 wherein the fulcrum divides the treadle into a longer and a shorter arm, said longer arm being about five times longer than the shorter arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The clamping mechanism of claim 2 wherein the second end of the strap has an aperture through which the first end of the rod is passed, said strap attached to the rod with a pair of cotter keys through the rod proximate the top and bottom face of the strap.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The clamping mechanism of claim 5 wherein the treadle has a top and bottom face and the first end of the treadle has an aperture through which the second end of the rod is passed, said treadle attached to the rod with a pair of cotter keys through the rod proximate the top and bottom face of the treadle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The clamping mechanism of claim 6 wherein a first washer is provided on the rod between the top face of the strap and one of the cotter keys and a second washer is provided between the bottom face of the treadle and one of the cotter keys.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The clamping mechanism of claim 6 wherein the pivot for the strap is a screw.

### Claim 9

A clamping mechanism adapted for skinning a squirrel comprising a rigid strap with first and second ends, a pivot attached proximate the first end of the strap, said pivot configured to attach to a horizontal support and to allow the strap to move between an open position wherein the second end of the strap is spaced from the horizontal support a distance adapted so that a tail of a squirrel can be inserted between the strap and the horizontal support and a closed position wherein the second end of the band is brought proximate the horizontal support and adapted to compressing the tail of a squirrel inserted between the strap and the horizontal support,
an elongated rod with first and second ends and with three or more holes proximate the first and second ends, said strap attached proximate its second end to proximate the first end of the rod by means of two pins through a selected pair of said holes whereby the length of the rod between the band and the treadle can be adjusted,
a treadle with first and second ends and a longitudinal axis and a fulcrum with a longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the treadle about which the treadle can be rocked, said fulcrum closer to the second end of the treadle than the first, said treadle attached proximate the first end of the treadle to proximate the second end of the rod by means of two pins through a selected pair of said holes whereby the length of the rod between the band the treadle can be adjusted, said treadle configured to be rocked about the fulcrum with a user's foot whereby the rod is alternately pushed and pulled and the rigid strap moved between the open and closed position.