Abstract:
An improved clamp device having interchangeable quick release clamping members, said clamping members being moveable relative to the jaws of the device and being magnetic so as to retain the clamp device to a ferro-metallic work piece. The improvements allow increased flexibility of the device over traditionally configured clamps with regard to use of the device with difficult work pieces and environments. The interchangeable clamping members allow a single device to be used for multiple applications, thereby making the invention a low cost and convenient alternative to multiple special purpose tools, as well as permitting quick and inexpensive replacement of wear elements.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/284,952, filed Nov. 22, 2005 and currently pending, entitled Locking Clamp Device, by Tyler, Terence P., which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application further claims priority to a provisional application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/714,030, filed Sep. 2, 2005, entitled Locking Clamp Device, by Tyler, Terence P., which is hereby incorporated by reference, and 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates generally to the field of hand tools. More specifically, the invention is directed to an improved magnetic clamp device suitable for use with difficult work pieces and environments.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0005]     Clamps are well-known in the art. Vise-Grip™ brand locking pliers are an example. Such clamps include a handle mechanism, a clamping mechanism manipulated by the handle mechanism, and a locking mechanism suitable for retaining the clamping mechanism in a fixed position relative to a work piece. There many different known methods for implementing these basic structures, for which myriad patents have been issued. The great majority of these prior patents involve various improvements or modifications to the locking mechanisms. Others disclose locking pliers with internal springs to provide tension and a thumb catch for locking/unlocking the tool. Other patents disclose mechanisms for adjusting the angle of the jaws of the clamping mechanisms to accommodate different sizes of work pieces to be gripped. Yet other patents involve tools having jaws which move in relation to the handle mechanisms.  
         [0006]     None of the disclosed prior art offers all of the functionality disclosed in the present invention. Moreover, the implementation of similar individual concepts in earlier patents differs significantly with the implementation of the present invention. Thus none of the disclosed prior art anticipates the present invention.  
         [0007]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a useful, improved clamp device with quick release interchangeable clamping members.  
         [0008]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a useful, improved clamp device with clamping members moveable relative to the jaws to better accommodate work pieces.  
         [0009]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a useful, improved clamp device with a magnetic clamping member to hold the device onto a ferro-metallic work piece.  
         [0010]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a useful, improved clamp device with variously shaped clamping members suitable for use with difficultly situated work pieces.  
         [0011]     Other objectives of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description that follows.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is an improved clamp device having a handle assembly, suitable adapted to be held and manipulated by a human hand; a clamping assembly having a first jaw portion and a second jaw portion; a first clamping member removably attached to the first jaw portion and optionally a second clamping member removably attached to the second jaw portion, with the clamping members suitably adapted to engage with a work piece. In this embodiment the clamping members may pivot or swivel relative to a corresponding jaw portion, to provide greater flexibility in gripping difficultly shaped work pieces. At least one clamping member is magnetic to hold the device onto a ferro-metallic work piece. The clamping members also are configurable in any number of shapes, textures, and hardnesses.  
         [0013]     Other features and advantages of the invention are described below  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the clamp device depicting the basic components of the handle assembly, the clamping assembly, and a clamping member.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of one embodiment of the first clamping member and the first attachment component, with the clamping ends of the clamp device cut away to show detail.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of another embodiment of the first clamping member and the first attachment component.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the first clamping member and the first attachment component.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the conductor embodiment of the present invention, with the clamping ends of the clamp device cut away to show detail.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention is directed to an improved clamp device  1 .  
         [0020]     The clamp device  1  comprises a handle assembly  100  and a clamping assembly  200 . See  FIG. 1 . The handle assembly  100  is held by and manipulated by a human hand in order to actuate the clamping assembly  200  between an opened or a closed position, such that the clamping assembly  200  may sufficiently engage a work piece when in the closed position to hold the work piece securely within the clamp device  1  or to hold the clamp device  1  securely to the work piece, and the clamp device  1  may sufficiently disengage the work piece when in the opened position to permit removal of the work piece from the clamp device  1  or to permit removal of the clamp device  1  from the work piece. The clamp device  1  may also have integrated within the handle assembly  100  a locking means  500  adapted to retain the clamp device  1  in the closed position. The locking means  500  may be any appropriate locking means known in the art suitable for accomplishing the stated function, for example the locking means employed by the Vise-Grip™ brand locking pliers.  
         [0021]     The handle assembly  100  has a first handle portion  110  and a second handle portion  112 , said handle portions suitably adapted to be held and manipulated by a human hand. The two handle portions are pivotally in connection with each other. The clamping assembly  200  is attached to and integrated with the handle assembly  100 . It is comprised of a first jaw portion  300  and a second jaw portion  400 . See  FIG. 1 . Manipulation of the handle assembly  100  causes the jaw portions  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200  to move relative to each other, in that moving the first handle portion  110  towards the second handle portion  112  causes the first jaw portion  300  to move towards the second jaw portion  400 , and moving the first handle portion  110  away from the second handle portion  112  causes the first jaw portion  300  to move away from the second jaw portion  400 . There are many different configurations for such a handle assembly/clamping assembly combination which embody the above-described characteristics, all well known in the art, and all applicable to the present invention.  
         [0022]     The present invention requires that the clamping assembly  200  comprises at least one magnetic clamping member. This enables a ferro-metallic work piece to be engaged by the clamping assembly  200  while the clamping assembly  200  is in the opened position, either to hold the work piece or to attach the clamp  1  to the work piece. This permits accurate placement of the clamp  1  in relation to the work piece prior to setting the clamping assembly  200  to the closed position. When multiple clamps  1  are being used on a ferro-metallic work piece, this allows for whatever readjustments are necessary to optimally position all such clamps  1 , before setting them all to the closed position to secure the work piece.  
         [0023]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping assembly  200  comprises a first clamping member  370  and a second clamping member  470 , with each clamping member  370 , 470  suitably adapted to engage with a work piece. See  FIG. 1 . The clamping members  370 , 470  each have a clamping surface  372 , 472  suitably adapted to engage with a work piece and an attachment end  374 , 474  opposite the clamping surface  372 , 472 . The end of each jaw portion  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200  furthest from the handle assembly  100  is designated the clamping end  310 , 410 , and each clamping member  370 , 470  is removably attached to the clamping end  310 , 410  of the respective jaw portion  300 , 400  by an attachment component. The ability to remove the clamping members  370 , 470  from the jaw portions  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200  allows for the interchangeability of clamping members  370 , 470  to suit different purposes.  
         [0024]     In one variation of this embodiment of the present invention one or both of the clamping members  370 , 470  pivots relative to its respective clamping end  310 , 410  of the jaw portions  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200 . The pivoting motion is in one direction only, such as up and down or side to side, as may be achieved by use of an axle configuration. The pivoting motion may also be achieved by any other suitable means known in the art.  
         [0025]     In another variation of this embodiment of the present invention one or both of the clamping members  370 , 470  swivels relative to its respective clamping end  310 , 410  of the jaw portions  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200 . The swiveling motion is multi-directional, such as may be achieved by a ball joint. The swiveling motion may also be achieved by any other suitable means known in the art. When ball joints are used, the ball joints allow the clamping members  370 , 470  to swivel relative to their respective clamping ends  310 , 410  of the jaw portions  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200  when the clamping assembly  200  is in the opened position, but when the clamping assembly  200  is in the closed position the ball joints lock in place causing the clamping members  370 , 470  to be stationary relative to their respective clamping ends  310 , 410  of the jaw portions  300 , 400  of the clamping assembly  200 . This enables the clamp device  1  to be positioned in a multiplicity of directions relative to the work piece when in the closed position for ease of use or to keep the bulk of the tool out of the way. In yet another variation the clamping member  370 , 470  each comprises a pair of knurls integrated with the ball joint to cause the ball joint to lock in place when the clamping assembly  200  is in the closed position.  
         [0026]     In the present invention the first attachment component is suitably adapted to function as a “quick release” mechanism to allow for the removal and attachment of clamping members  370 , 470  quickly and easily without the need to use tools. In one embodiment the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  may comprise lateral flanges  378  suitably adapted to be frictionally secured to the clamping end  310  of the first jaw portion  300  of the clamping assembly  200 . See  FIG. 3 . The attachment component of the second jaw portion  400  and the second clamping member  470  may likewise be similarly configured.  
         [0027]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  comprises a rare-earth-element magnet  379 . See  FIG. 4 . The magnet  379  allows the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  to be magnetically secured to the clamping end  310  of the first jaw portion  300  of the clamping assembly  200 . In a preferred embodiment the rare-earth-element magnet  379  is a nickel-coated neodymium-iron-boron magnet with an energy product of at least 25 BH. This embodiment is employed only where the clamping end  310  of the first jaw portion  300  of the clamping assembly  200  is ferro-metallic and attractive to a magnet  379 .  
         [0028]     In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention the first attachment component comprises an inner cavity  366  formed into the clamping end  310  of the first jaw portion  300  of the clamping assembly  200 . The attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  is inserted into the inner cavity  366  of the clamping end  310  of the first jaw portion  300 . In one embodiment the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  has a shaft  376  having substantially hexagonal sides, and the inner cavity  366  of the first attachment component is also substantially hexagonal and just slightly larger than the shaft  376  of the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370 , such that the shaft  376  of the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  may be snugly accommodated within the inner cavity  366  of the first attachment component. See  FIG. 2 . Other elements known in the art, such as ball detents, o-rings, and the like, may be integrated into the attachment end  374  of the first clamping member  370  to improve the security of the attachment while preserving the quick release functionality of the invention. The attachment component of the second jaw portion  400  and the second clamping member  470  may likewise be similarly configured.  
         [0029]     In another embodiment of the present invention the first clamping member  370  is magnetic and is suitably adapted to attach to a ferro-metallic work piece. This is particularly useful in that when the clamping assembly  200  is in the opened position the work piece can be placed onto and held secure by the first clamping member  370 , or alternatively the clamp device  1  can be securely held to the work piece. This allows the work piece or clamp device  1  to be arranged correctly prior to clamping. Where multiple clamp devices  1  are being used on a single work piece, each can be correctly arranged prior to clamping, then all clamped simultaneously once the correct positioning of all has been achieved. An example of this use in is the auto body repair field, where a body panel that is to be bonded to another body panel must be quickly positioned after application of an adhesive; by magnetically attaching multiple clamp devices  1  set in their open positions in the correct orientations on the first body panel in advance, the second body panel can be quickly clamped in the correct orientation immediately after application of the adhesive. In this embodiment the first clamping member  370  may comprise a rare-earth-element magnet. In another embodiment the rare-earth-element magnet should have holding power to support a load of at least one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the weight of the clamp device  1 . In yet another embodiment the rare-earth-element magnet is a nickel-coated neodymium-iron-boron magnet with an energy product of at least 25 BH.  
         [0030]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention the clamping assembly  200  comprises both a first clamping member  370  and a second clamping member  470 . Both clamping members  370 , 470  are removably attached to the clamping ends  310 , 410  of the respective jaw portions  300 , 400  by attachment components. In this embodiment the clamping members  370 , 470  further comprise a conductor  390  connecting the clamping members  370 , 470 . See  FIG. 5 . The conductor  390  is formed of a length of flexible material suitably adapted to conduct an electrical charge. The first end  392  of the conductor  390  is attached to the first clamping member  370  and the second end  394  of the conductor  390  is attached to the second clamping member  470 . The conductor  390  must be of sufficient length so that when the clamping assembly  200  is in the fully opened position (where the clamping members  370 , 470  are furthest apart from each other) the conductor  390  retains a degree of slackness. This embodiment is useful for performing compression spot welds, where the two pieces of metal to be welded have disposed between them a nonconducting material, such as a laminate. This is typical in the auto body industry. The conductor  390  allows the device  1  to clamp together the two pieces of metal to be welded, and further establishes a ground to permit proper compression welding under the described conditions. In the preferred embodiment the conductor  390  is an insulated wire.  
         [0031]     The clamping members  370 , 470  in this embodiment may have clamping surfaces  372 , 472  of various hardnesses, textures, and shapes. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be made of a hard, inflexible material, such as tempered steel, or a soft, flexible material, such as a polymer plastic. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be magnetic. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be substantially planar. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be substantially concave. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be substantially convex. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be irregularly shaped. The clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be constructed of a non-stick compound to better enable the device  1  to be used with adhesives. The two clamping members  370 , 470  need not have clamping surfaces  372 , 472  with the same hardness, texture, or shape.  
         [0032]     The clamping members  372 , 472  may further comprise removable clamping surfaces  372 , 472 , whereby the clamping surfaces  372 , 472  may be clipped on and off the clamping members  370 , 470 . This embodiment permits reusable clamping surfaces  372 , 472  for applications where they are prone to damage or wear. In one embodiment the removable clamping surface  372  comprises lateral flanges suitably adapted to be frictionally secured to the first clamping member  370 . Other methods for securing the clamping surface  372  to the first clamping member  370  are also contemplated, such as by the use of an adhesive, a set screw, or a magnet. The ability to interchange clamping members  370 , 470  having various hardnesses, textures, and shapes allows the clamp device  1  to be used in a wide range of applications. One such application is for automobile body work, where the various body panels of the automobile have different shapes. Clamping members  370 , 470  may be designed to fit specific body panels from various automobile manufacturers so that the panels may be held securely and without damage.  
         [0033]     The potentially unlimited range of shapes, textures, and hardnesses of the clamping surfaces  372 , 472  of the clamping members  370 , 470  provides virtually unlimited uses for the present invention.  
         [0034]     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the user may be assisted in manipulating the handle assembly  100  by the inclusion of an electro-mechanical or pneumatic device integrated with the handle assembly  100 . Such devices are well-known in the art and are frequently integrated with hand tools used in the automobile repair industry.  
         [0035]     Modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments of the invention without departing from the subject or spirit of the invention.