Patent ID: 7373862
Filing Date: 2008-05-20
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
1. A clamp device, comprising a handle assembly, having a first handle portion and a second handle portion, said handle portions suitably adapted to be held and manipulated by a human hand; and a clamping assembly attached to and actuated by the handle assembly to an opened position or a closed position, said clamping assembly having wherein the first clamping member comprises a ball joint which allows the first clamping member to swivel in multiple directions relative to the clamping end of the first jaw portion of the clamping assembly when the clamping assembly is in the opened position, and the first clamping member comprises a pair of knurls integrated with the ball joint to cause the ball joint to lock in place when the clamping assembly is in the closed position, such that the first clamping member remains stationary relative to the clamping end of the first jaw portion of the clamping assembly when the clamping assembly is in the closed position; whereby the closed position of the clamping assembly comprises a relative orientation of the first clamping member with the clamping end of the second jaw portion in which said clamping member and clamping end of the second jaw portion are sufficiently engaged with a work piece to hold the work piece securely within the clamp device or to hold the clamp device securely to the work piece, and the opened position of the clamping assembly comprises a relative orientation of the first clamping member with the clamping end of the second jaw portion in which said clamping member and clamping end of the second jaw portion are sufficiently disengaged from a work piece to permit removal of the work piece from the clamp device or to permit removal of the clamp device from the work piece.