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US 8,783,671 B2Granted
Clamp
AssigneeStanley Black & Decker, Inc.
InventorsEric Ranieri, Stephen Rowlay, Robert Christie, Stephen Skeels
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a first connection, a second connection, and an actuator. The first jaw and the second jaw include a first clamp surface and a second clamp surface, respectively. The first connection operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw. The second connection is operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw. The actuator is configured to shorten a length of the second connection to thereby reduce a relative distance between the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface.
Claims32
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- a first connection that operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a second connection operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw, the second connection comprising a flexible member;
- and
- an actuator operably connected with the flexible member, the actuator being configured to pull the flexible member and thereby shorten a length of the flexible member, wherein the pulling of the flexible member reduces a relative distance between the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface.
3 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- a first connection that operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a second connection operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw, the second connection comprising a flexible member;
- and
- an actuator operably connected with the flexible member, the actuator being configured to shorten a length of the second connection to thereby reduce a relative distance between the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface, wherein the flexible member comprises a strap.
3 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- a first connection that operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a second connection operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw, the second connection comprising a flexible member;
- and
- an actuator operably connected with the flexible member, the actuator being configured to shorten a length of the second connection to thereby reduce a relative distance between the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface, wherein the actuator comprises a spool onto which the flexible member is wound.
3 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- the first jaw being arranged for pivotal movement relative to the second jaw;
- a flexible member extending between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a spool rotatable to take up the flexible member to reduce a distance between the first and the second clamp surfaces;
- and
- a lever operable to rotate the spool.
4 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- a first connection that operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a second connection spaced from the first connection and operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- and
- an actuator operably connected with the second connection, the actuator pulling the second connection to thus shorten a length of the second connection to thereby drive the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface towards one another.
3 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- a first connection that operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a second connection operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- and
- an actuator operably connected with the second connection, the actuator being configured to shorten a length of the second connection to thereby reduce a relative distance between the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface, wherein the second connection comprises a flexible member and wherein the flexible member comprises a strap.
3 more elements
A clamp, comprising:
- a first jaw including a first clamp surface;
- a second jaw including a second clamp surface;
- a first connection that operatively connects the first jaw to the second jaw in a manner that permits relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- a second connection operatively connected between the first jaw and the second jaw;
- an actuator operably connected with the second connection, the actuator being configured to shorten a length of the second connection to thereby reduce a relative distance between the first clamp surface and the second clamp surface;
- a jaw spring that biases the first and the second jaws apart;
- and
- an actuator spring that biases the actuator to shorten the length of the second connection, wherein the jaw spring is stronger than the actuator spring.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.