Clamp locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12551985-B2
Application number	US-202418672967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2024
Priority date	Nov 18, 2020
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A clamp release mechanism is provided. The clamp includes a body, a shaft slideably coupled to the body, a fixed jaw, and a moveable jaw coupled to the shaft. A locking component actuates between a locked position and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the locking component biases the shaft to remain stationary with respect to the body. The clamp includes a securing component pivotally coupled to the locking component, and a biasing element that biases the securing components towards the shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A laser level system, comprising:
a clamp, comprising:
a body;
a shaft coupled to the body, the shaft configured to move along a first axis with respect to the body;
a first jaw extending from the body;
a second jaw coupled to an end of the shaft;
a groove formed in the body, the groove comprising a first end spaced a first distance from the first axis and a second end opposite the first end and spaced a second distance from the first axis, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and
a locking component configured to interface with the shaft, the locking component comprising a projection movable along the groove between the first end and the second end; and
a laser level coupled to the body of the clamp and configured to emit a laser at a predetermined orientation with respect to gravity; wherein the locking component is configured to actuate between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein, when the projection is moved towards the first end of the groove, the locking component is actuated into the locked position such that the locking component interfaces with the shaft to bias the shaft to remain stationary with respect to the body; and wherein, when the projection is moved towards the second end of the groove, the locking component is actuated to the unlocked position such that the locking component does not interface with the shaft.

2 . The laser level system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a securing component coupled to the locking component, the securing component interfacing against the shaft; and a biasing element that biases the securing component towards the shaft.

3 . The laser level system of claim 2 , wherein the securing component is configured to actuate circumferentially around the shaft.

4 . The laser level system of claim 2 , wherein the locking component pivots with respect to the securing component about a second axis parallel to the first axis.

5 . The laser level system of claim 1 , wherein the laser level is rotatably coupled to the clamp, and wherein the laser level is configured to rotate with respect to the body about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

6 . A laser level supporting clamp, comprising:
a body defining a groove including a first portion and a second portion distinct from the first portion; a coupling interface coupled to the body, the coupling interface configured to couple to a laser level; a shaft slidably coupled to the body, the shaft extending along a first axis and configured to slide along the first axis with respect to the body; a first jaw extending from the body; a second jaw coupled to the shaft; and a locking component configured to interface with the shaft, the locking component configured to actuate between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking component comprising a projection, wherein the locking component is in the locked position when the projection is in the first portion of the groove and the locking component is in the unlocked position when the projection is in the second portion of the groove; wherein, when the shaft moves along the first axis in a first direction, the shaft actuates the locking component into the locked position and the locking component interfaces with the shaft to bias the shaft to remain stationary with respect to the body; and wherein, when the shaft moves along the first axis in a second direction opposite the first direction, the shaft actuates the locking component into the unlocked position and the locking component does not interface with the shaft.

7 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 6 , further comprising a securing component pivotally coupled to the locking component, wherein the securing component interfaces with the shaft.

8 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 7 , wherein the locking component pivots with respect to the securing component about a second axis parallel to the first axis.

9 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 7 , further comprising a biasing element that biases the securing component towards the shaft.

10 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element comprises a magnet.

11 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 7 , wherein the shaft comprises a helical thread that interfaces against an inner surface of the securing component.

12 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the securing component comprises a flat surface.

13 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 6 , wherein the shaft comprises a threaded outer surface and the locking component comprises a threaded inner surface that interfaces with the threaded outer surface of the shaft.

14 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 13 , wherein the threaded outer surface of the shaft and the threaded inner surface of the locking component are each helical.

15 . The laser level supporting clamp of claim 6 , wherein the first jaw is positioned along the body such that the first jaw is spaced from the coupling interface in a direction parallel to the first axis.

16 . A clamp, comprising:
a body; a coupling interface coupled to the body, the coupling interface configured to couple to a laser level projection tool; a shaft extending along a first axis, the shaft slidably coupled to the body and configured to slide along the first axis with respect to the body; a first jaw coupled to the body; a second jaw coupled to the shaft, the second jaw configured to slide along the first axis; a securing component interfacing against the shaft; and a locking component coupled to the securing component, the locking component configured to pivot around a second axis with respect to the securing component, the locking component comprising a projection; wherein, when the shaft moves along the first axis, the shaft actuates the locking component between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the shaft rotates about the first axis with respect to the first body, the projection interfaces with the body to vary a distance of the projection from the first axis, which results in the locking component actuating between the locked position and the unlocked position; wherein, when the locking component is in the locked position, the locking component interfaces with the shaft to bias the shaft to remain stationary with respect to the body and secure the shaft in a first position along the first axis with respect to the body; and wherein, when the locking component is transitioned between the unlocked position and the locked position, the securing component actuates circumferentially with respect to the shaft.

17 . The clamp of claim 16 , wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axis.

18 . The clamp of claim 16 , wherein the securing component is configured to actuate circumferentially in a first direction when the locking component is transitioning from the locked position to the unlocked position, and wherein the securing component is configured to actuate circumferentially in a second direction opposite the first direction when the locking component is transitioning from the unlocked position to the locked position.

19 . The clamp of claim 16 , wherein the shaft comprises a helical threaded outer surface and the locking component comprises a helical threaded inner surface that interfaces with the helical threaded outer surface of the shaft.

20 . The clamp of claim 16 , wherein the shaft comprises

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Janosch Daniel R
• Williams Ryan C

Classifications

• B25B1/02

  with sliding jaws · CPC title

• Y10T74/19805

  Less than 360 degrees of contact between nut and screw · CPC title

• F16H25/2025

  with means to disengage the nut or screw from their counterpart; Means for connecting screw and nut for stopping reciprocating movement (F16H25/2015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25B5/10

  using screws · CPC title

• Y10T74/1974

  Nut segments hinged parallel to shaft [e.g., clam shell-type, etc.] · CPC title