Patent ID: 6079703
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: B25B,B25H

Abstract:
A clamping apparatus, comprising:a housing having a horizontal aperture extending completely through the housing from a first end surface to a second end surface, a pair of parallel vertical apertures extending completely through the housing from a top surface to a bottom surface, an additional aperture extending into the housing, and a first horizontal threaded aperture extending into the housing and communicating with one of the vertical apertures;an apertured plate extending into said additional aperture, wherein the apertured plate is movable between a first position, in which the apertured plate extends generally vertically, and a second position, in which the apertured plate is canted relative to vertical;a horizontal bar slidingly engaged within said horizontal aperture and extending through the aperture of the apertured plate;a spring located within said additional aperture, wherein the spring biases said apertured plate into said second position at which portions of said apertured plate defining an upper and lower edge of the aperture of said plate, respectively, abut against upper and lower surfaces of said horizontal bar, respectively, such that said horizontal bar is locked in position relative to said housing, and wherein when said plate is moved into said first position the portions of the apertured plate become spaced relative to the upper and lower surfaces of said horizontal bar, such that said horizontal bar becomes unlocked and freely slidable within said horizontal aperture relative to said housing;a vertical bar slidingly engaged within each of said vertical apertures, respectively;a cap connected to an upper end of each of said vertical bars, whereby the cap interconnects said vertical bars to one another, and wherein the cap has a second horizontal threaded aperture extending completely through the cap from a first end surface to a second end surface;a thumbscrew threadably received within said first horizontal threaded aperture, wherein the thumbscrew is threadably advanceable to a first location at which the thumbscrew abuts a side surface of the vertical bar slidingly engaged within the vertical aperture with which the first horizontal threaded aperture communicates, such that the interconnected vertical bars are locked in position relative to said housing, and wherein the thumbscrew is threadably retractable to a second location at which the thumbscrew is spaced from the side surface of the vertical bar, such that the interconnected vertical bars become unlocked and freely slidable within said vertical apertures relative to said housing; anda screw rod threadably received within and extending completely through said second horizontal threaded aperture, wherein the screw rod has a clamp face connected to one end thereof and a handle connected to an opposite end thereof.