Patent ID: 9283658
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: B25B

Claim Text:
1. A self-centering clamping device comprising: a pair of jaws disposed on a first coverplate, each jaw positioned within a separate lateral slot formed along a portion of a top, surface of the first coverplate, the jaws disposed such that clamping surfaces are aligned; a first upright attached to a first jaw of the pair of jaws and extending in a direction perpendicular to the associated lateral slot and in the plane of the first coverplate: a second upright attached to a second jaw of the pair of jaws and extending in the direction perpendicular to the associated lateral slot and in the plane of the first coverplate; an upper linkage coupled between upper end terminations of the first and second uprights; a lower linkage coupled between lower end terminations of the first and second uprights and a second coverplate disposed over, the pair of jaws, the first and second uprights and the upper and lower linkages in a manner parallel with the first coverplate, with an aperture formed through the first and second coverplates in a central area between the clamping surfaces of the pair of jaws, wherein the application of a lateral force to either one or both of the jaws causes the upper and lower linkages to rotate through a same angle and provide a like movement of each jaw, providing a repeatable, precision self-centering clamping action to a workpiece disposed within the aperture.