Patent ID: 6929253
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
1. A quick action clamp including a housing with a housing top, bottom, front and rear, an elongated horizontal bar slidably disposed within the housing, a handle pivotably attached to the housing at a handle pivot, an elongated drive wedge surrounding the bar, the handle linked to the drive wedge where rotating the handle causes the drive wedge to be pressed near one end to bind the bar and to cause the drive wedge to move along with the bar in a first horizontal direction, the drive wedge moving in a second horizontal direction in a return stroke action, an elongated lock wedge surrounding the bar and pivotably pressing the housing at one end of the lock wedge, the lock wedge normally binding against the bar to prevent the bar from moving in the second horizontal direction, a release tab extends from the housing and is exposed on at least one side of the housing, the release tab being linked to the lock wedge such that moving the release tab causes the lock wedge to release from the bar, wherein: the release tab includes an elongated wire form, a lower end of the wire form comprising a pressing end, an upper bent end comprising an actuating end; an intermediate portion of the wire form including a rotation axle that fits within guide ribs of the housing, the rotation axle being between the upper bent end and the lower pressing end; the upper bent end being off-axis with respect to the rotation axle and actuating against a portion of the lock wedge above the bar; the lower pressing end being off-axis with respect to the rotation axle and being below the bar.