Clamping apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10744579-B2
Application number	US-201615151353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	Apr 11, 2016
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A clamping apparatus includes a shaft; a base body that is adjustable to different positions, e.g., heights, along the shaft; a clamping leg arranged to pivot into a first clamping position and a second clamping position; an arm that includes, and extends between, a first end portion connected to the base body and a second end portion connected to the clamping leg; and a handle configured to be moved (a) into a first position that locks the position of the base body relative to the shaft and provides a clamping force to the clamping leg, and (b) into a second position in which the base body is free to be shifted into different positions along the shaft, where moving the handle into the second position releases the clamping force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamping apparatus comprising:
a shaft;
a base body that is adjustable to different positions along the shaft;
a clamping leg arranged to pivot into a first damping position and a second clamping position;
an arm that includes, and extends between, a first end portion connected to the base body and a second end portion connected to the clamping leg; and
a handle pivotally connected to the base body, the handle being movable between a first position and a second position;
wherein:
when the handle is in the first position, the handle is configured to lock a position of the base body relative to the shaft and provide a clamping force to the clamping leg;
when the handle is in the second position, the base body is freely slidable along the shaft;
the clamping leg is configured to (a) extend in a first direction when in the first clamping position and (b) extend in a second direction when in the second clamping position; and
the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

2. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamping leg is configured to be alternatively locked into each of the first and second clamping positions.

3. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first clamping foot connected to the clamping leg; and
a second clamping foot connected to the clamping leg, the second clamping foot being spaced apart from the first clamping foot along the clamping leg.

4. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base body is configured to slide along a non-threaded portion of the shaft.

5. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamping apparatus is arranged for the clamping force to be released when the handle is shifted from the first position into the second position.

6. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle is a part of an over-center toggle mechanism by which the handle is at an over-center lock point when the handle is in the first position.

7. The damping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base body includes an abutment surface that prevents the handle from rotating beyond an over-center lock point.

8. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm is structured to receive and house the clamping leg when the clamping leg is in the first position.

9. The clamping apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a link providing a pivot point at the handle and another pivot point at the arm, wherein the link is configured to move in connection with the handle relative to the arm.

10. A clamping apparatus comprising:
a shaft;
a base body that is adjustable to different positions along the shaft;
a clamping leg configured to pivot into a first clamping position and a second clamping position; and
a handle pivotally connected to the base body, the handle being movable (a) into a first position that locks the position of the base body relative to the shaft and provides a clamping force to the clamping leg, and (b) into a second position in which the base body is free to be shifted into the different positions along the shaft,
wherein
the clamping leg is configured to extend in a first direction when in the first clamping position and extend in a second direction when in the second clamping position,
the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and
the handle is prevented from rotating beyond an over-center lock point by an abutment surface of the base body.

11. The clamping apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
an arm that includes, and extends between, a first end portion proximal to the base body and a second end portion connected to the clamping leg.

12. The clamping apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the handle is a part of an over-center-toggle mechanism by which the handle is at the over-center lock point when the handle is in the first position.

13. The clamping apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the clamping leg is configured to be alternatively locked into each, of the first and second clamping positions.

14. The clamping apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first clamping foot connected to the clamping leg; and
a second clamping foot connected to the clamping leg, the second clamping foot being spaced apart from the first clamping foot along the clamping leg.

15. A power tool apparatus comprising:
a power tool; and
a clamping apparatus including:
a shaft;
a base body that is adjustable to different positions along the shaft;
a clamping leg arranged to pivot into a first clamping position and a second clamping position;
an arm that includes, and extends between, a first end portion connected to the base body and a second end portion connected to the clamping leg; and
a handle pivotally connected to the base body, the handle being movable between a first position and a second position;
wherein:
when the handle is in the first position, the handle is configured to lock a position of the base body relative to the shaft and provide a clamping force to the clamping leg;
when the handle is in the second position, the base body is freely slidable along the shaft;
the clamping leg is configured to extend in (a) a first direction when in the first clamping position and (b) a second direction when in the second clamping position; and
the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

16. The power tool apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the power tool is a saw.

17. The power tool apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the clamping leg is configured to be alternatively locked into each of the first and second clamping positions.

18. The power tool apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the clamping apparatus further comprises:
a first clamping foot connected to the clamping leg; and
a second clamping foot connected to the clamping leg, the second clamping foot being spaced apart from the first clamping foot along the clamping leg.

19. The power tool apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the clamping apparatus is arranged for the clamping force to be released when the handle is shifted from the first position into the second position.

20. The power tool apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the handle is a part of an over-center toggle mechanism by which the handle is at an over-center lock point when the handle is in the first position.

21. The power tool apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the base body includes an abutment surface that prevents the handle from rotating beyond an over-center lock point.

Assignees

• Bosch Tool Corp
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Drake Jr John H

Classifications

• B25B5/068

  with at least one jaw sliding along a bar (B25B5/061, B25B5/085, B25B5/102, B25B5/127 take precedence) · CPC title

• B25B5/163

  Jaws or jaw attachments · CPC title

• B25B5/145

  for plates · CPC title

• B25B5/127

  with at least one jaw sliding along a bar · CPC title

• B23D47/04 Primary

  of devices for feeding, positioning, clamping, or rotating work · CPC title