Patent ID: 6983930
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B25B,F16M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for clamping an object, comprising: an arm; a cable disposed within the arm; a first handle attached to a first end of the arm, wherein the first handle receives a first end of the cable and the first handle includes a first gripping element; a second handle; a second gripping element; a pivot mechanism for mounting the first handle, the second handle and the second gripping element in a pivoting relationship relative to one another, wherein the second handle is configured to pivot relative to the first handle independently of the second gripping element for a first portion of a pivot distance that the second handle can move relative to the first handle and the second handle is configured to cause the second gripping element to pivot relative to the first handle along with the second handle for a second portion of the pivot distance that the second handle can move relative to the first handle; a first spring for biasing the cable received by the first handle in tension; and an actuating mechanism for applying force to the first spring to reduce the bias thereof and to reduce the tension in the cable; wherein movement of the second handle towards the first handle within the first portion of the pivot distance that the second handle can move relative to the first handle actuates the actuating mechanism to reduce the bias of the first spring and to reduce the tension in the cable without substantially changing the position of the second gripping element.