Motorized clamp

A bar clamp, including a bar; a first jaw movably coupled to the bar; a second jaw being movably coupled to the bar; and a motor configured to move the second jaw toward the first jaw. One of the first and second jaws including a drive lever that engages the bar and a trigger to move the drive lever and move the bar relative to the one of the first and second jaws.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clamp that is adjustable and to a method of using a clamp that is adjustable. More specifically, the present application illustrates embodiments of the present invention, including those relating to a motorized clamp.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a bar clamp, comprising a bar; a first jaw movably coupled to the bar; a second jaw being movably coupled to the bar; and a motor configured to move the second jaw toward the first jaw, one of the first and second jaws including a drive lever that engages the bar and a trigger to move the drive lever and move the bar relative to the one of the first and second jaws.

Another aspect of the invention includes a bar clamp, comprising a bar; a first jaw movably coupled to the bar; a second jaw coupled to the bar; and a motor attached to the first jaw and attached to the bar and configured to move the bar toward the first jaw, one of the first and second jaws including a drive lever that engages the bar and a trigger to move the drive lever and move the bar relative to the one of the first and second jaws.

Another aspect of the invention includes a bar clamp, comprising a first jaw; a bar being movably coupled to the first jaw; a second jaw being coupled to the bar; and a motor coupled to the first jaw and having a rotatable element, the motor moving the bar relative to the first jaw, the first jaw including a drive lever coupled to the bar and a trigger to move the drive lever and to move the bar relative to the first jaw.

Another aspect of the invention includes a method of using a bar clamp, comprising positioning a first jaw and a second jaw on opposite sides of an item to be clamped, the first and second jaws being positioned on a bar; activating a rotating element of a motor to move the second jaw closer to the first jaw until the first and second jaws contact opposite sides of the item to be clamped; and activating a trigger to provide increased clamping of the first and second jaws against the sides of the item to be clamped.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, which illustrate an adjustable clamp10having a bar12, a moving jaw14, and a fixed jaw16. In one embodiment, clamp10may be used by positioning jaws14and16on opposite sides of a member18to be clamped. The fixed jaw16is then activated to pull the bar12through the fixed jaw16, thus bringing moving jaw14closer to fixed jaw16. The fixed jaw16may be selectively activated so that the fixed jaw may move the bar12rapidly and easily through the fixed jaw16prior to the clamping of the member18and then, once the clamping on member18begins, the activation of fixed jaw16may advance the bar12through the fixed jaw16at a slower rate but with a higher mechanical advantage so that greater force can be applied in the easiest manner for the user applying the pressure to the fixed jaw16by hand.

Bar12is preferably a solid bar formed of sufficiently rigid material, such as metal or plastic. The bar12may have an inserting end30and a stop32to permit the jaws14and16to be inserted on the bar and removed from the same end, that is, via the inserting end30. Alternatively, as discussed with other embodiments, the bar12may be formed without a stop32and the jaws14and16may be placed on and taken off the bar12at either end.

Although the moving jaw14may be any of the various moving-type jaws known in the prior art, moving jaw14is illustrated as having a braking lever40that permits the bar12to pass through moving jaw housing42. The braking lever40is pivoted within the moving jaw housing42within a groove44and is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring46. The spring46biases the braking lever40against the bar12to lock the housing42and the moving jaw14in a selected position on the bar12. The figures illustrate the spring46as being sufficiently compressed to maintain a force against the braking lever40towards the locked position. When it is desired to move the moving jaw14along the bar12, a slide release button48is slid along a track to move the braking lever40from an inclined orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis50of the bar12to a more perpendicular orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis50of bar12, thus freeing the braking lever40from the bar12and permitting the moving jaw14to move along the bar12. Preferably, the moving jaw14would be moved to a selected position on the bar12and then clamped against member18upon activation of the fixed jaw16. The moving jaw has a clamping face52for engaging member18.

Member18is any member or members needed clamping. For example, member18may be two elements that are being joined together by adhesive and require a clamping force to ensure a tight connection while the adhesive cures.

Fixed jaw16, as illustrated in the figures, has a main section that is structured and arranged to permit the bar12to pass there-through. As illustrated, the main section comprises a housing60having an opening extending completely therethrough for the passage of bar12. The fixed jaw16also has a clamping face62extending from the housing60. A drive lever64is positioned within the housing60and is structured and arranged to couple the bar12. That is, the illustrated drive lever64has an opening66extending therethrough for the passage of bar12. The drive lever64is movable within the housing60and may be maintained within its area of movement within the housing60by the housing60itself. Drive lever64is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring68in a direction away from handle70, which extends from housing60for grasping by a user. InFIGS. 1,2,6,7and9-11, spring68is compressed sufficiently to apply a force against the respective drive lever64(and264with respect toFIG. 11) to bias the drive lever64to the left as shown in the figures and away from the rear86of the housing42. The handle has a lug71to which a trigger72is pivoted to the handle70. The trigger72may pivot about a pin74extending through lug71. The trigger72pivots at a position on the handle70that is the furthestmost position on the handle70from the bar12. As illustrated in the figures, trigger72is pivoted to the bottommost section of the handle70. The upper section76of the trigger72is free to move within the housing60and is maintained by the outer limits of housing60from pivoting outside the housing60.

The trigger72is hollow with three sides and trigger72is open in the side facing handle70. The inner contact surface80is the interior side of the trigger72that is most remote from the handle70and adjacent to the drive lever64. The inner contact surface80provides the points of contact of the trigger72with the drive lever64. As evident herein, as the trigger72is pulled toward the handle70the contact point with the drive lever changes position.

The trigger is shown in the nonactuated position inFIGS. 1-3. When the trigger72is in the nonactuated position, the trigger72is biased to pivot away from the handle70by the force of the drive lever64via the biasing of spring68. In this nonactuated position, the trigger72has an initial contact point82on the contact surface80that is in contact with the drive lever64. The initial contact point82may be in the form of a projection82, as illustrated.

FIGS. 2-5illustrate the pivoting of trigger72and the changing of the contact point between the trigger72and the drive lever64. InFIGS. 2 and 3, the trigger72is in the nonactuated position as biased by spring68. The trigger72contacts the driving lever64at initial contact point82, which is at the remote end84of drive lever64, which is the furthest extent of the drive lever64from the bar12. As seen in the figures, the contact point82is at the bottom of the drive lever64. Therefore, when the trigger72initially is pulled by a hand of the user and pivots about pin74toward the handle70out of the nonactuated position, the contact point84with the drive lever64is such that a high mechanical advantage is produced for forcing the drive lever64to move the bar12toward the rear end86of housing60. This is because the force applied by the user on the trigger72is directed against the drive lever64at the furthest point on the drive lever64from the connection between the drive lever64and bar12. Since the size of the opening66in drive lever64is slightly larger than the width of the bar12, when the angle of drive lever64is inclined with respect to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis50of the bar12, as shown inFIGS. 3-5, a tight, slip-free fit is created between the bar12and the drive lever64so that when the drive lever64is moved, the bar12moves along with the drive lever64.

As seen inFIG. 4, as the trigger72is pivoted toward handle70, the contact point84between the trigger72and the drive lever64does not necessarily change, but the pivoting of the trigger72moves the protrusion that forms the contact point84closer toward the handle70and, thus, forces movement to the drive lever64toward the rear86of housing60while continuing to provide a high mechanical advantage since the contact point between the trigger72and the drive lever64remains at the remote end84of the drive lever64.FIG. 3shows the positional movement change of the drive lever64from the nonactuated position ofFIG. 2(shown with drive lever64in solid lines) to the position ofFIG. 4(shown with the drive lever64′ (primed) in dashed lines).

As the trigger72is pulled further, as seen inFIG. 5, the trigger72pivots further about pin74and the contact point between the trigger72and the drive lever64shifts from the initial contact point82to the final contact point88, which is substantially closer to the bar12. Thus, the mechanical advantage is reduced to a low mechanical advantage. This is because the force applied by the user to the trigger72is now being applied at contact point88, which is very close to the bar12. However, since the trigger72is pivoted at the end of handle70that is remote from the bar12, the final contact point88moves a great distance compared to the movement of the initial contact point82. Therefore, although the mechanical advantage shown inFIG. 5using final contact point88is low, the amount that the bar12travels to toward the rear86of the housing60increases.FIG. 3shows the positional movement change of the drive lever64from the position ofFIG. 4(shown with drive lever64′ (prime) in dashed lines) to the position ofFIG. 5(shown with the drive lever64″ (double prime) in dashed lines).

Therefore, if, for example, the fixed jaw16is not in contact with the member18a user can quickly and easily pull the trigger72to its fullest extent and rapidly repeat the full trigger pulls to quickly and easily move the bar12toward the rear86of housing60since the final contact point88is employed. Then, when, for example, the jaws14and16are in contact with the member18and it is desired to clamp the member16with a large force requiring little movement of the bar12, the initial contact point82will be employed since only slight movement of the bar12by the drive lever64will be possible and a high mechanical advantage will be produced making it relatively easier for the use to apply a higher clamping force against the bar12and the member18.

Although, the illustrated embodiment only shows two contact points82and88, the contact surface80of trigger72may be designed so that there is any number of contact points. For example, the contact surface80could provide an entirely gradual change of position for the contact point between the trigger72and the drive lever64. Thus, the contact point could gradually move up the drive lever64as the trigger72is pulled toward the housing60.

When it is desired to release the clamping force and the bar12, fixed jaw16also has a breaking lever90that permits the bar12to pass therethrough. The braking lever90is pivoted within the housing60within a groove92and is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring94. The spring94biases the braking lever90against the bar12to lock the housing60and the fixed jaw16in a selected position on the bar12. So that when the trigger72is pulled and the bar12moves toward the rear86of housing60, the breaking lever90is biased by spring94to permit movement in that direction but to prohibit movement in the opposite direction. Throughout the figures, spring94(as well as braking springs294and494) is illustrated as being sufficiently compressed to apply a constant biasing force against its respective braking lever90(as well as braking levers290and490springs) toward the braking or locking position. The principles of locking are similar to those of the breaking lever40of the moving jaw14and of the drive lever64of the fixed jaw16. When it is desired to move the bar12through the fixed jaw16toward the clamping face62, a release button96is used to move the bottom of breaking lever90toward the rear86of housing60and release the bar12to move in the forward direction. The release button96is pivoted to the housing at pivot98and has a mid-portion99that captures the bottom of breaking lever90to move the lever90when the release button96is pivoted.

FIGS. 6-8show another embodiment of the invention, wherein two moving jaws14and114are used to clamp member18.FIG. 6shows an adjustable clamp110having a bar112, a first moving jaw14, a second moving jaw114, and a fixed jaw16. Clamp110is substantially identical to clamp10described above, except for the inclusion of a second moving jaw114. Also, moving jaw114is substantially identical to moving jaw14, except that moving jaw114is oriented in an opposite direction and, thus, may move freely toward moving jaw14, but it will only move away from moving jaw14if the release button48is used. Bar112is substantially identical to bar12except that bar112does not have a stop32.

As can be seen inFIG. 6, the moving jaw114is positioned between the fixed jaw16and the moving jaw14so that when the fixed jaw16is actuated to pull the bar112through fixed jaw16toward the rear86of housing60, the moving jaw14will clamp the member18along with second moving jaw114instead of fixed jaw16as seen inFIG. 7. Then, once the first and second moving jaws14and114clamp member18, the fixed jaw16can be removed from the bar112while the clamp on member18is maintained and be used in other adjustable clamps, such as in clamps similar to clamp10or in clamps similar to clamp110. Fixed jaw16can be removed from bar12by pushing the release button96and pulling the fixed jaw16away from the moving jaw114and off the bar12. When it is desired to release the clamping of member18, the release buttons48are activated.

FIG. 9shows yet another embodiment of the invention.FIG. 9shows an adjustable clamp210that is substantially identical to clamp110disclosed above inFIGS. 6-8except that clamp210does not use fixed jaw16. Instead, clamp210uses a mechanical motor unit216that does not have a clamping surface. That is, mechanical motor unit216is substantially identical to fixed jaw16except that mechanical motor unit216does not have the clamping surface62that projects from the housing60of fixed jaw16. Instead, the housing260has no projections. The mechanical motor unit216may be employed as a force applying mechanism for moving jaws such as14and114and can be use to clamp numerous devices that are being clamped with, for example, two moving jaws as seen inFIG. 8.

Additionally, the ability to remove the fixed jaw16or the motor unit216in addition to the moving jaws14and114permit different length bars to be employed with the same clamping devices, such as,14,114, and16. Thus, a user can have one set of clamping devices (jaws/motor units), such as14and16or14,114, and16, and bars of different lengths for different applications. This concept of using different length bars is equally applicable in all of the embodiments disclosed herein.

FIGS. 11-13illustrate an adjustable clamp210in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Clamp210has many elements that are substantially identical to clamp10described above and those elements are shown inFIGS. 11-13with the use of reference numbers similar to those identified above with respect to clamp10.

Clamp210includes the bar12, a moving jaw214, and a fixed jaw216. In one embodiment, clamp210may be used by positioning jaws214and216on opposite sides of a member18to be clamped. The fixed jaw216is then activated to pull the bar12through the fixed jaw216, thus bringing moving jaw214closer to fixed jaw216. The fixed jaw216may be automatically activated so that the fixed jaw216may move the bar12rapidly and easily through the fixed jaw216prior to the clamping of the member18and then, once the clamping on member18begins, the activation of fixed jaw216may advance the bar12through the fixed jaw216at a slower rate but with a higher mechanical advantage so that greater force can be applied in the easiest manner for the user applying the pressure to the fixed jaw216by hand.

Although the moving jaw214may be any of the various moving-type jaws known in the prior art, moving jaw214is illustrated as having a braking lever240positioned within the moving jaw housing242. The moving jaw housing242includes an opening253for permitting the bar12to pass therethrough. Also, the braking lever240includes an aperture256for permitting the bar12to pass therethough. As seen inFIG. 11, the opening253permits a first clearance gap254between the bar12and a first surface257of the housing242, and a second clearance gap255between the bar12and a second surface258of the housing242. The principle of adjustment of moving jaw214is based on the ability of moving jaw214to rotate relative to bar12in order to move the braking lever240between a free position wherein the braking lever240is substantially normal to axis50of bar12to allow movement of moving jaw214in both directions along the bar12, as desired, and a locked position (shown inFIG. 11) wherein the breaking lever240is no longer normal to the axis50of the bar12and engages the bar12. The opening253through jaw housing242receiving bar12has sufficient clearance with respect to the bar12, including with first and second clearance gaps254and255, to enable sufficient rotation of moving jaw214relative to the bar12to both enable release and locking of braking lever240. Thus, the moving jaw214may be moved to a selected position on the bar12in either direction along the bar and then be clamped against member18upon activation of the fixed jaw216. When the moving jaw214is clamped against a member18, the clamping force rotates the moving jaw214(in a counter-clockwise direction with respect toFIG. 11) to the locked position illustrated inFIG. 11so that the braking lever240engages the bar12. The moving jaw214has a clamping face252for engaging member18. When the moving jaw214is clamped against the member18, the moving jaw214is in the locked position with respect to the bar12. When the clamping force is released, the moving jaw214may be pivoted back to the free position (in a clockwise direction with respect toFIG. 11). Of course, the moving jaw14described with respect to clamp10above, or other appropriate moving jaws, may be employed in clamp210in place of or in addition to moving jaw214. As described herein, the moving jaw214and the fixed jaw216may also be removed from the bar12and used as described above.

Fixed jaw216, as illustrated inFIGS. 11-13, has a main section that is structured and arranged to permit the bar12to pass there-through. As illustrated, the main section comprises a housing260having an opening extending completely therethrough for the passage of bar12. The fixed jaw216also has a clamping face262extending from the housing260. A drive lever264is positioned within the housing260and is structured and arranged to couple the bar12. That is, the illustrated drive lever264has an opening266extending therethrough for the passage of bar12. The drive lever264is movable within the housing260and may be maintained within its area of movement within the housing260by the housing260itself. Drive lever264is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring268in a direction away from handle270, which extends from housing260for grasping by a user. InFIGS. 11 and 13, the spring268is show as being sufficiently compressed to apply a constant force against the drive lever264in a direction away from the rear286of the housing242. Meanwhile inFIG. 12, the spring268is substantially compressed by the drive lever264.

A trigger272is pivoted to the main section housing260. The trigger272may pivot, for example, about a rounded lug273extending from a main body portion275of the trigger. The lug273may pivot and be secured within a recess261in housing260of the main section that has a complementary shape, which substantially mirrors the shape of the lug273. As illustrated inFIGS. 11-13, trigger272is pivoted to the housing260toward an upper section276of the trigger272. The lower section277of the trigger272remains unattached and moves corresponding to the pivoting of the trigger272.

The trigger272may be hollow with three sides while open in the side facing handle270. The trigger272is shown in the nonactuated position inFIG. 11, in which the drive lever264is substantially normal to bar12to ensure freedom of movement of the drive lever264with respect to the bar12. When the trigger272is in the nonactuated position, the trigger272is biased to pivot away from the handle270by the force of biasing spring268against the drive lever264and the force of biasing spring279, which is positioned between the drive lever264and the inner contact surface280of the trigger272. Although various apparatus may be employed to provide the connection between the trigger272and the drive lever264, the connection may be made by a resilient member as illustrated and described herein. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 11-13, the connection includes a projection302that extends from the inner contact surface280to support one end304of compression spring279. The other end306of spring279may be securely attached to drive lever264at a point308on drive lever264that is remote from the bar12. In the illustrated embodiment, the end306of spring279may be inserted through an opening310in drive lever264to complete the connection. Thus, in the nonactuated position ofFIG. 11, the trigger272is biased away from the handle270by the force of the compression spring279, while the drive lever264is biased away from the handle270by spring268. Meanwhile, an upper end of the trigger272includes an upper force applying member300for applying a high mechanical advantage as described below. InFIGS. 11 and 12, the spring279is in a substantially neutral, substantially uncompressed state. InFIG. 13, the spring279is in a compressed state.

The interconnection between the bar12and the drive lever264is substantially identical to the relationship between bar12and drive lever64described above. Since the size of the opening266in drive lever264is slightly larger than the width of the bar12, when the angle of drive lever264is inclined with respect to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis50of the bar12, a tight, slip-free fit is created between the bar12and the drive lever264so that when the drive lever264is moved, the bar12moves along with the drive lever264.

FIGS. 11-13illustrate the pivoting of trigger272and the changing of the contact point between the trigger272and the drive lever264. InFIG. 11, the trigger272is in the nonactuated position as biased by springs268and279. The trigger272contacts the driving lever264via spring279at the initial contact point308, which is at the remote end284of drive lever264from the bar12. Therefore, when the trigger272initially is pulled by a hand of the user and pivots about lug273toward the handle270out of the nonactuated position, the contact point308between the trigger272and the drive lever64is such that a low mechanical advantage is produced for forcing the drive lever264to move the bar12toward the rear end286of housing260. This movement produces a relatively large displacement of the bar12through the housing260as a relatively light force is applied by the user on the trigger272at the remote point308. Generally, the use of only the low mechanical advantage will be employed prior to the engagement of clamp210with clamped members18. Thus, at this time, the force necessary to move the bar12relative to the housing260is generally a force that is able to move merely the bar12and the moving jaw214. Therefore, the spring279or other resilient member may be designed so that it will not compress to undesired levels while acting against the force of the bar12and moving jaw214to move the bar12relative to the housing, prior to the jaws214and216engaging the members18, as illustrated inFIG. 12. In other words, during low force applications, the spring279is designed to provide a sufficient force against the drive lever264to move the drive lever264while a user pulls on the trigger272while keeping the drive lever264from engaging the upper force applying mechanism300of the trigger272, which produces a high mechanical advantage with smaller, incremental movements of the bar12relative to the housing260.

When the clamp210requires greater force than that for which the spring279is designed, the upper force applying mechanism300of the trigger272provides a high mechanical advantage. The mechanism300extends as a projection from the inner contact surface280toward the handle and provides a point of contact with drive lever264at a point314on drive lever264that is closer to the bar12than the point308. The projection300may directly contact drive lever264and provide a greater application of force to the drive lever264to move the bar12relative to the housing260when more force is needed. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 13, when the jaws214and216are engaged with the members18and a tight connection between the members18is desired, as greater force is applied by the jaws214and216and that force overcomes the force applied by spring279. When this happens, the spring279compresses and permits contact between the drive lever264and the projection300as illustrated inFIG. 13. Then, as the trigger272is pulled further toward the handle260a higher mechanical advantage and larger force are applied to bar12to move the bar12relative to housing260and to increase the force applied by the jaws214and216. The shape of the trigger272may be configured to increase the mechanical advantage applied by the projection300. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 13, the mechanical advantage of the projection300is increased by the downward and curved shaping of the trigger272and its primary gripping area.

Therefore, if, for example, the fixed jaw216is not in contact with the member18a user can quickly and easily pull the trigger272to its fullest extent and rapidly repeat the full trigger pulls to quickly and easily move the drive lever264and the bar12toward the rear286of housing260since the contact point308is being moved by the resilient member, spring279. Then, when, for example, the jaws214and216are in contact with the member18and it is desired to clamp the member18with a larger force requiring little movement of the bar12, the force required to move the drive lever264increases to the extent that as the trigger272is moved toward the handle270, the spring279compresses and permits the projection300to contact the drive lever264. Thus, the projection300now provides the force necessary to move the drive lever264and bar12and to increase the force applied by the jaws214and216on members18.

Although, the illustrated embodiment only shows two contact points308and314, the contact surface280of trigger272may be designed so that there is any number of contact points between the trigger272and the drive lever264to provide various levels of mechanical advantage.

When it is desired to release the clamping force and the bar12, fixed jaw216includes a breaking lever290that permits the bar12to pass therethrough. The braking lever290is pivoted within the housing260within a groove292and is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring294. The operation of the braking lever290is substantially identical to the operation of braking lever90described above.

The clamp210includes a removable end stop320that may be removed to permit the jaws214and216to be removed from bar12and used in the variety of ways described above with respect to the other embodiments of the invention disclosed therein, including, but not limited to, use as a spreader and the use of two movable jaws214.

FIGS. 14-20illustrate an adjustable clamp410in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Clamp410has many elements that are substantially identical to clamp10described above and those elements are shown inFIGS. 14-20with the use of reference numbers similar to those identified above with respect to clamp10.

Clamp410includes the bar412, a moving jaw414, and a fixed jaw416. In one embodiment, clamp410may be used by positioning jaws414and416on opposite sides of a member18to be clamped. The fixed jaw416is then activated to pull the bar412through the fixed jaw416, thus bringing moving jaw414closer to fixed jaw416. Through the use of motor600, the fixed jaw416may be automatically activated so that the fixed jaw416may move the bar412rapidly and easily through the fixed jaw416prior to the clamping of the member18and then, once the clamping on member18begins, the activation of fixed jaw416may advance the bar412through the fixed jaw416at a slower rate but with a high mechanical advantage so that a tight clamping force can be applied to the member18to be clamped.

Moving jaw414may be any of the various moving-type jaws known in the prior art and may be substantially identical to moving jaw214described above. The moving jaw housing442includes an opening453for permitting the bar412to pass therethrough. Also, the braking lever440includes an aperture456for permitting the bar412to pass therethough. As seen inFIG. 16, the opening453permits a first clearance gap459between the bar412and a first surface457of the housing442, and a second clearance gap455between the bar412and a second surface458of the housing442. The principle of adjustment of moving jaw414is based on the ability of moving jaw414to rotate relative to bar412in order to move the braking lever440between a free position wherein the braking lever440is substantially normal to axis50of bar412to allow movement of moving jaw414in both directions along the bar412, as desired, and a locked position (shown inFIG. 16) wherein the breaking lever440is no longer normal to the axis50of the bar412and engages the bar412. The opening453through jaw housing442receiving bar412has sufficient clearance with respect to the bar412, including with first and second clearance gaps459and455, to enable sufficient rotation of moving jaw414relative to the bar412to both enable release and locking of braking lever440. Thus, the moving jaw414may be moved to a selected position on the bar412in either direction along the bar412and then be clamped against member18(as seen inFIG. 19) upon activation of the fixed jaw416. When the moving jaw414is clamped against a member18, the clamping force acts to rotate the moving jaw414(in a counter-clockwise direction with respect toFIG. 16) to the locked position illustrated inFIG. 16so that the braking lever440engages the bar412. The moving jaw414has a clamping face452for engaging member18. When the moving jaw414is clamped against the member18, the moving jaw414is in the locked position with respect to the bar412. When the clamping force is released, the moving jaw414may be pivoted back to the free position (in a clockwise direction with respect toFIG. 16). Of course, the moving jaw14described with respect to clamp10above, or other appropriate moving jaws, may be employed in clamp410in place of or in addition to moving jaw414. As described herein, the moving jaw414and the fixed jaw416may also be removed from the bar412and used as described above. In use, the moving jaw414may be movable by hand by the user in two directions with respect to bar412, both toward and away from the fixed jaw416(as indicated by the “Push” instructions on the cover449of the moving jaw414). To provide some frictional engagement between the bar412and the moving jaw414, the moving jaw414may include a pressure device441, which may be positioned within the housing442and include a surface443, which applies a slight pressure on the bar412due to the resilient force applying member445, which is illustrated as a spring. The spring445sits in a recess447in the device441and applies a force on the device441since the spring445is compressed by the housing cover445, which may be attached to the housing442in any appropriate manner, such as by fasteners454. InFIGS. 15 and 17, the spring445is illustrated as being sufficiently compressed to apply a desired force against the pressure device441and against the bar412.FIG. 20illustrates one alternative embodiment to the device441.

FIG. 20illustrates a pressure device541, which is normally biased against a bar512(but in the opposite direction than that in the device441) by a resilient force applying member, such as springs545. The device541includes a button551, which passes through an opening553in housing cover549, which is secured to the housing542by, for example, fasteners555. Thus, the spring-loaded device541applies friction to the bar412and maintains the moving jaw514in a secured position on the bar412. Once the button551is depressed to counteract the springs545and release the device541from the bar412, the moving jaw514is freely and easily movable along the bar412. Of course, the devices441and541can take various forms and apply various levels of force against the bar. For example, the devices441and541may apply a force that still permits a user to move the moving jaws414and514by hand or may apply a force that prohibits a user from moving the jaws414and514by hand.

Thus, the moving jaw414may be moved to a selected position on the bar412and then be clamped against member18upon activation of the fixed jaw416. The moving jaw414has clamping face452for engaging member18. Of course, the moving jaw14described with respect to clamp10above, or other appropriate moving jaws, may be employed in clamp410in place of or in addition to moving jaw414. As described herein, the moving jaw414and the fixed jaws may also be removed from the bar412and used as described above in various configurations and with various bars.

Fixed jaw416, as illustrated inFIGS. 14-19, has a main section that is structured and arranged to permit the bar412to pass therethrough. As illustrated, the main section comprises a housing460having an opening extending completely therethrough for the passage of bar412. The fixed jaw416also has a clamping face462extending from the housing460. A drive lever464is positioned within the housing460and is structured and arranged to couple the bar412. In the illustrated embodiment, drive lever464is formed of two levers that work together to provide the necessary clamping and release functions, as generally known in the art. For the purposes of this description, both drive levers will be discussed as forming the drive lever464. The illustrated drive lever464has an opening466extending therethrough for the passage of bar412. The drive lever464is movable within the housing460and may be maintained within its area of movement within the housing460by the housing460itself. Drive lever464is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring468in a direction away from handle470, which extends from housing460for grasping by a user. InFIGS. 14-16, and19, the spring468is shown as being sufficiently compressed to provide a force against the drive lever464away from the rear486of the housing460. (Of course, in the exploded views ofFIGS. 18 and 20, all of the illustrated springs are shown in their neutral, relaxed state.)

A trigger472is pivoted to the main section housing460in any appropriate manner. For example, the trigger472may pivot about pivot pins or lugs that are formed on the housing460and which are positioned within holes473in the upper portion of the trigger472. The lower section477of the trigger472remains unattached and moves corresponding to the pivoting of the trigger472.

The trigger472may be hollow with three sides while open in the side facing handle470. The trigger472is shown in the nonactuated position inFIG. 14. When the trigger472is in the nonactuated position, the trigger472is biased to pivot away from the handle470by the force of biasing spring468against the drive lever464. Although various apparatus may be employed to provide the connection between the trigger472and the drive lever464, such as those described herein, the connection is illustrated as employing a fulcrum475. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 16, the connection includes the fulcrum475contacting against a lower portion of the drive lever464.

The interconnection between the bar412and the drive lever464is substantially identical to the relationship between bar12and drive lever64described above. Since the size of the opening466in drive lever464is slightly larger than the width of the bar412, when the angle of bar412is inclined with respect to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis50of the bar412, a tight, slip-free fit is created between the bar412and the drive lever464so that when the drive lever464is moved by the movement of the trigger472and the pressing of the fulcrum475against the lower end of the drive lever464, the bar412moves along with the drive lever464. A breaking lever490then maintains the bar412in its new position relative to the fixed jaw416as further described below. Repeating the pressing of the trigger472and, thereby, forcing the fulcrum475against the drive lever464, repeatedly moves the bar412through the fixed jaw416and brings the movable jaw414closer to the fixed jaw416.

To release the clamping force on the bar412, fixed jaw416includes the breaking lever490, which, upon being appropriately moved, permits the bar412to pass freely therethrough. The braking lever490is pivoted within the housing460within a groove492and is biased by a resilient element, such as a spring494. The operation of the braking lever490is substantially identical to the operation of braking lever90described above. Basically, the breaking lever490prohibits movement of the bar412through the housing in the direction toward the moving jaw414unless the release496is activated to move the breaking lever490to its free position with respect to the bar412.

The fixed jaw416further includes the motor600, which provides for the automatic and relatively quick movement of the bar412through the fixed jaw416and for the movement of the moving bar414toward the fixed jaw416to close onto the member18to be clamped. Motor600can take a variety of forms, but is illustrated as including a freely-rotatable spool601, which has a cylindrical main body603, two circular end flanges605, and two pivot pins607. The pins607are pivotally secured within the fixed jaw housing460and positioned within respective recesses609, which secure the spool601, but permit the spool601to rotate about an axis extending through the pins607. A motor element in the form of a constant-force coil spring611that has one end connected to and wound around the main body603of the spool601while the other, extended end613is rigidly secured to the bar412via any appropriate device, such as a fastener615. Fastener615is shown as extending though openings617and619in the spring601and the bar412, respectively. (As illustrated, the housing442of the moving jaw414and the breaking lever440may include recesses621and623, respectively, to permit the passage through of the fastener615so that the moving jaw414may be completely removed from the bar412.) In the figures, spring611is shown as being constantly biased to form a wound configuration. When additional portions of the spring611are moved toward the fixed jaw416, as when clamping occurs as seen inFIG. 19, the portions of the spring611automatically wind around the other portions of the spring611and the spool601. The spring611may take various forms and configurations and be formed of various materials, for example, stainless steel. Additionally, although the end613of the spring611is illustrated as being attached to the bar412to permit the easy removal of the moving jaw414, spring611may be rigidly attached to the moving jaw414in addition to or instead of being attached to the bar412. The housing460may enclose the spool601, including having a housing cover461secured to the housing460by, for example, fasteners such as screws463. The covers449and461may be made of transparent material so that the inner workings of the jaws may be viewed by a user.

The fastener615also provides an abutting surface for a stopper625, which may be positioned on the end627of the bar412. The illustrated stopper625is formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, so that it can be fitted over the end627of the bar412and over the fastener615. The stopper625includes an aperture629in which the fastener615fits. Then, if the moving jaw414is moved toward the end627of the bar412, although the moving jaw414has a recess621for the fastener615, the side of the moving jaw414will abut the stopper625and the moving jaw414will remain positioned on the bar412. Upon removing the stopper625from the bar412, the moving jaw414may be removed from the bar412as well and used in the variety of ways as described herein. A stopper625may also be applied to the opposite end631of the bar412.

The bar412may include a recess633extending along the entire length of the bar412for receiving the extended portion635of the spring611. Thus, the combination of the bar412and the spring611may be formed to take up no more space than previously taken up by a single bar with a rectangular cross-section. Additionally, the recess633permits the spring611to extend any length of the bar412without interfering with the user of the clamp410or with the member18to be clamped.

The spring611is preferably formed so that it is normally contracting into a coil or forcing itself around the spool601and, thus, normally forcing the end627of the bar toward the fixed jaw416. Due to the locking of the breaking lever490, the fixed jaw416remains stationary with respect to the bar412even though spring611is applying such a force against the bar412. However, if the release496is moved to free the breaking lever490from the bar412, the force of the spring611automatically moves the bar412through the fixed jaw416as the end613of the spring611moves toward the spool601. The moving jaw414may continue to move quickly in this manner until the moving jaw414contacts the fixed jaw416, the moving jaw414contacts the member18to be clamped, or the release496is released and the breaking lever490locks further movement of the bar412. If the release496is permitted to return to its normal position, the breaking lever490will return to its normal position and the movement of the bar412though the fixed jaw416will be stopped. Thus, by holding the handle470of the fixed jaw416and toggling the release696, a user can quickly and automatically move the moving jaw414toward the fixed jaw416, and the movement can continue until the jaws414and416contact the member18to be clamped, until the jaws414and416contact each other, or until the release496is toggled or released and permitted to return to its original lock position. Accordingly, the motor600provides a very efficient, quick, and automatic way to move the jaws414and416into contact with the member18to be clamped. Then, the clamping force on the member18may be increased by pulling the trigger472to further move the jaws414and416together, but with a mechanical advantage. The clamp410enables the user to only need to pull the trigger472a limited number of times or even just once to clamp the member18with a sufficient force. Upon moving the release496, most or all of the clamping force on the member18may be automatically released. Then, a user may additionally grasp the moving jaw414and pull the moving jaw414, along with bar412, away from the fixed jaw416. If the release696is then permitted to return to its original position, the moving jaw414and the bar412will be automatically locked relative to the fixed jaw416once again.

Of course, the motor600may take various forms and configurations. For example, instead of using a spring611the motor may use a nonresilient, flexible material that can be wound on the spool601. The spool601may form part of a powered motor, such as an electric motor, to wind the material to create the force to moves the bar412through the fixed jaw416. Other options include using a rotating ratchet wheel having teeth that grip the bar412. Movement of such a ratchet wheel can provide the movement of the bar412through the fixed jaw416. Such a ratchet wheel could be powered in a variety of ways, including by an electrical motor.

The foregoing embodiments have been provided to illustrate the structural and functional principles of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to encompass all modifications, alterations, and substitutions within the scope of the appended claims.