Universal handle attachment for C-clamps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10384337-B2
Application number	US-201715598086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	May 17, 2017
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A universal handle attachment for C-clamps. The handle attachment includes a rigid body having a first side to engage a C-clamp, and a second side opposite to engage a rotation tool. In the first side, a first channel and a second channel which are perpendicular with one another each are configured to receive a T-bar of the C-clamp. A center space in the first side at the intersection of the first channel and the second channel is configured to receive a top end of the screw. Each channel includes clip spaces on both sides of the center, and clips situated in the clip spaces. The clips each have an opening to secure the T-bar within the channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a handle attachment configured to attach to a C-clamp with a screw and a T-bar perpendicular to the screw, the handle attachment comprising:
a rigid body having a first side configured to engage the C-clamp, and a second side opposite to the first side configured to engage a rotation tool;
a first channel extending across the first side that is configured to receive the T-bar;
a second channel extending across the first side perpendicularly with the first channel that is configured to receive the T-bar;
a center space in the first side at an intersection of the first channel and the second channel that is configured to receive a top end of the screw;
first clip spaces in the first channel on both sides of the center space;
second clip spaces in the second channel on both sides of the center space;
first clips situated in the first clip spaces; and
second clips situated in the second clip spaces;

wherein the first clips and the second clips each include an opening to secure the T-bar within the first channel and the second channel, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the opening in each of the first clips and the second clips is sized smaller than the first channel and the second channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
each of the first clips and the second clips are removable from the first clip spaces and the second clip spaces, respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
each of the first clips and the second clips include a flexible top portion above the opening that is configured to receive a range of sizes of the T-bar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the handle attachment further comprising:
curved inner walls surrounding the center space;
chambers in the curved inner walls that face the center space; and
spring loaded members situated within the chambers, each spring loaded member having a compressible head which protrudes from a curved inner wall into the center space, the compressible head configured to retract from the center space into the curved inner wall from contact with the top end of the screw.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the opening in each of the first clips and the second clips is a different shape than the first channel and the second channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the opening in each of the first clips and the second clips is outlined with a different material than a material of the first channel and the second channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the first clips and the second clips are integrally formed with the rigid body of the handle attachment.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the rigid body of the handle attachment is a circular disc with a plurality of indentations around a perimeter of the circular disc.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the rigid body of the handle attachment is defined by a perimeter that is cross-shaped to outline the first channel and the second channel; and
the perimeter is open at ends of the first channel and the second channel to accommodate a range of lengths of the T-bar.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
the second side of the rigid body includes:
a drive located at a center rotational axis of the rigid body opposite to the center space of the first side, the drive configured to receive the rotational tool; and
grip holes located a distance from the center proximate to the open ends of the first channel and the second channel.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a handle attachment configured to attach to a clamp with a screw and a bar attached through a screw collar near a top end of the screw, the handle attachment comprising:
a body having a first side configured to engage the screw collar and the bar of the clamp, and a second side opposite to the first side;
a plurality of channels formed in the first side sized to receive the bar of the clamp, wherein the channels cross one another to form an intersection at a center of the first side;
a plurality of walls spaced around the intersection of the channels to define a center space sized to receive the screw collar of the clamp, each wall located at a corner of the intersection and facing the center; and
flexible members extending from the walls toward the center, the flexible members configured to retract away from the center toward the walls from contact with the screw collar of the clamp.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:
the flexible members are integrally formed with the walls to form an attached base and are spaced a distance from the walls in an area above the attached base.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:
the flexible members include spring loaded bullet pins in the walls, wherein each spring loaded bullet pin includes a compressible head extending from the wall into the corner of the intersection.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:
the handle attachment further comprising:
clip spaces in the channels; and
removable clips inserted in the clip spaces, the removable clips comprising a structure with a passage that aligns with a longitudinal axis of one of the channels, the passage being a different size than the one of the channels to secure the bar of the clamp.

16. An apparatus comprising:
a handle attachment configured to attach to a clamp with a screw and a bar attached through a screw collar near a top end of the screw, the handle attachment comprising:
a body with a cross-shaped perimeter to form a plurality of handle members, a first side with a first top surface, and a second side opposite to the first side with a second top surface, wherein the cross-shaped perimeter defines a thickness of the body and connects the first top surface with the second top surface, and wherein the first top surface and the second top surface are substantially flat and parallel with one another;
channels formed along the first side to receive the bar, the channels centered inside the cross-shaped perimeter and having a depth into the first top surface that is smaller than the thickness of the cross-shaped perimeter, the channels intersecting one another near a center of the first side and extending through ends of the handle members to form openings in the cross-shaped perimeter;
a circular space at the center of the first side to receive the screw collar, the circular space having the depth into the first side;
clip spaces crossing longitudinal axes of the channels sized to receive removable clips and having the depth into the first side, wherein the removable clips having passages that align with the longitudinal axes of the channels, and wherein the
passages are sized smaller than the channels to secure the bar;
curved inner walls surrounding the circular space;
chambers in the curved inner walls that face the center; and
spring loaded members situated within the chambers, each spring loaded member having a compressible head which protrudes from the curved inner wall into the circular space, the compressible head configured to retract from the circular space into the curved inner wall from contact with the screw collar.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:
the second side of the body includes:
a drive that forms a non-circular hollow space extending into the second top surface and through the body of the handle attachment, the drive being aligned with the circular space of the first side.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein:
the second side of the body further includes:
a grip hole in each of the handle members,

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Ashmead Andrew Ray

Classifications

• B25G3/32

  in association with, or including, tang, bolt, or other member passing axially through whole length of handle · CPC title

• B25B13/5091

  for operating on wing nuts, hooks, eye hooks or the like · CPC title

• B25G3/10 Primary

  with elastic, taper, or other self-grip socket or tang (B25G3/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25B5/101

  C-clamps · CPC title