Patent ID: 6892994
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: F16M

Abstract:
1. A holder for selectively grasping and immobilizing an object, comprising: a housing having a base, a side, an interior, and a top having a peripheral edge and a center, said top having at least two sockets extending fully therethrough outward of the center; at least two selectively movable opposable fingers each having a fingertip, each of said fingers partially extending through one of the at least two sockets with the fingertip above the top of the housing, each of said fingers partially sheathed within the interior of the housing and mounted to the base by pivot brackets for allowing the fingers to pivot radially toward and away from the center; an additional socket; a central finger having a fingertip, wherein the central finger is partially sheathed within the housing, and partially extends through said additional socket, said central finger for allowing the holder to more firmly grasp an object, said central finger extending through said socket in proximity to the peripheral edge of the top of the housing at a position which is between the sockets from which the two opposable fingers extend, but is at substantially the same radial distance from the center; and a clamping mechanism substantially contained within the housing, for selectively bringing the fingertips together in order to firmly grasp an object between the fingertips, said mechanism in mechanical contact with said fingers, said mechanism biased toward a closed position wherein the fingertips are positioned in proximity to one another, said mechanism also having an open position wherein the fingertips are substantially separated from one another, and having a plurality of partially closed positions wherein the fingertips have been partially moved towards one another, in order that the holder may be used to immobilize objects having a variety of sizes, wherein the clamping mechanism has a selectively vertically movable circular yoke having a central opening and a top surface, said yoke contained within the housing, wherein the fingers are mounted to the base within the circular yoke, said mechanism further comprising a horizontal thumb lever in mechanical contact with said yoke and capable of selectively vertically moving said yoke, at least one coiled spring extending between the top surface of the yoke and the top of the housing for biasing the yoke upward, and at least one guide rod extending between the base and the top of the housing, wherein the yoke is slidably mounted upon the at least one rod, said thumb lever having a first end located within the housing, and a second end external to the housing, wherein the side of the housing has a vertical lever slot extending fully therethrough, wherein the second end of the lever extends outwardly from the housing through the vertical lever slot, wherein the user selectively slides the lever vertically downward within the slot to cause the yoke to move vertically downward and thereby moves the fingers apart, and wherein when the user releases the lever, the at least one spring moves the yoke vertically upward and thereby causes the fingers to move together.