Abstract:
Disclosed is a clamp apparatus including a base having a surface, a plurality of holes positioned in a pattern in the surface of the base, and a cam peg including a shaft sized to be rotatably receivable by a selected one of the plurality of holes and a cam portion coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith. The cam portion is adapted to engage an item to be clamped on the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to clamping devices, and more specifically to clamping devices which are infinitely adjustable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Clamps are well known and have long been used in a wide variety of industries and private workshops. A clamp is designed to bind or constrict or to press two or more parts together so as to hold them firmly. Many clamps, such as C-clamps, can clamp two items together or hold an item to a surface to be worked on. One drawback with this type of clamp is that in order to clamp an item on a surface, the surface must have an accessible edge. Thus, while the surface may be large, only the exposed edges can be used for clamping. Furthermore, many clamping devices are large and unwieldy, possibly obstructing work on the clamped item. For example, an item clamped to the surface of a work bench cannot easily be sanded because the clamp most probably projects past the surface to be sanded. Many attempts have been made to incorporate a clamp into a workbench or a tool, such as a drill press or miter box, with little success.  
           [0003]    Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved clamping system.  
           [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved clamping system which is infinitely adjustable.  
           [0005]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a clamping system which can be incorporated into a work bench or tools.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved clamping system which can clamp irregular shaped items.  
           [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved clamping system which allows clamping of an item to a surface.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others are realized in a clamp apparatus including a base having a surface, a plurality of holes positioned in a pattern in the surface of the base, and a cam peg including a shaft sized to be rotatably receivable by a selected one of the plurality of holes and a cam portion coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith. The cam portion is adapted to engage an item to be clamped on the base.  
           [0009]    In more specific embodiments, the cam peg includes a rotation facilitating member which can be a grip or a tool receiving opening in an upper end of the shaft. In addition a locking mechanism can be affixed to the shaft for locking the cam peg within the selected one of the plurality of holes.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a partial view of the clamp apparatus according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cam peg according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the cam peg of FIG. 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cam peg;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cam peg with locking mechanism;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a view of the end of the cam peg of FIG. 5;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the locking mechanism of the cam peg of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a top view of a cam washer;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a top plan of the base of the clamping apparatus illustrating a hole pattern;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged portion of the base of FIG. 9;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a miter box employing the clamping apparatus according to the present invention; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an item clamped in the miter box of FIG. 11, employing the clamping apparatus according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates a clamping system including a base  10 , in which is formed a plurality of holes  12  (not drawn to correct positions), and cam pegs  13  of which only one is illustrated. It will be understood that only a portion of base  10  is illustrated and that base  10  may be substantially any dimensions as desired. Furthermore, the proper positioning of holes  12  is important to the invention and will be described in detail. Base  10  can be incorporated into or onto substantially any surface to provide clamping capability. For example, a work bench can be surfaced with a plurality of interconnecting bases  10  to incorporate the clamping system on a portion of or over the entire surface. The present invention can also be incorporated with tools such as drill presses by replacing or covering the base of the drill press with a base similar to base  10 .  
         [0024]    Turning now to FIG. 2, cam peg  13  is illustrated. Cam peg  13  includes a shaft  14  with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of holes  12  to allow insertion of pegs  13  therein. Shaft  14  includes an end  15  for insertion into holes  12  and an opposing end  17  having a grip  18  for facilitating rotation of cam peg  13  within holes  12 . A cam portion  19  is formed on shaft  14  intermediate ends  15  and  17 . As can be seen with further reference to FIG. 3, cam portion  19  has a diameter greater than the diameter of shaft  14  and holes  12 , and is offset with respect to shaft  14  along line A in FIG. 3. Cam portion  19  is offset so that its outer diameter is flush with shaft  14  on one side and extends outward from shaft  14  on an opposing side. Grip  18  extends outward from shaft  14  along a line B, generally perpendicular to line A. In other areas grip  18  is flush with shaft  14 . While not critical to the invention, the orientation of grip  18  with respect to cam portion  19  facilitates inserting and rotating peg  13  when adjacent an upright surface as will be described presently.  
         [0025]    With reference to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a cam peg, generally designated  30 , is illustrated. Cam peg  30  includes a shaft  32  with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of holes  12  to allow insertion of pegs  30  therein. Shaft  32  includes an end  33  for insertion into holes  12  and an opposing end  34 . A cam portion  35  is formed on shaft  14  proximate end  34 . As with cam portion  19 , cam portion  35  has a diameter greater than the diameter of shaft  32  and holes  12 , and is offset with respect to shaft  32 . Cam portion  35  is offset so that its outer diameter is flush with shaft  32  on one side and extends outward from shaft  32  on an opposing side. End  34  further includes a socket  37  formed therein for receiving a tool such as an allen wrench to facilitate rotation of peg  30  within holes  12 .  
         [0026]    A further embodiment of a cam peg, generally designated  40 , is illustrated in FIGS.  5 - 7 . Peg  40  is generally similar to peg  13 , including a shaft  42  having an end  43  and opposing end  44 , but can be locked into holes  12  by rotating a screw  45  extending the length of shaft  42 . End  43  is split to allow outward expansion thereof as illustrated in FIG. 6. With additional reference to FIG. 7, a tapered expansion member  47  is carried within a tapered chamber  48  formed in end  43  and threadably receives the end of screw  45 . As screw  45  is tightened, tapered expansion member  47  is pulled toward end  44 , forcing end  43  to expand outward. In this manner a peg can be locked into a hole  12 . It should be understood that while a cam peg is illustrated, the locking feature can be used on any peg or accessory. For example a straight peg can also be provided with a locking feature. Also, pegs may vary in length as desired.  
         [0027]    Turning now to FIG. 8, it may be desirable to enlarge the cam of cam pegs  13 ,  30 , and  40  etc. Thus, a cam washer  50  is provided which includes a bore  52  sized and shaped to receive, for example, cam portion  19  of cam peg  13  therein. In this manner a larger cam is provided for purposes which will be discussed presently.  
         [0028]    Turning now to FIG. 9, a top plan of base  10  is illustrated with a portion of holes  12  shown, and a grid of lines. The grid of lines illustrates the positions of holes  12  wherein intersections  65  of the lines designate where the center of each hole  12  is located. For purposes of orientation and to aid in the description, base  10  includes an upper edge  60 , left edge  62  and right edge  63 . Holes  12  are aligned in a plurality of slanted rows  64  which extend at an angle to upper edge  60 . With additional reference to FIG. 10 which illustrates an enlarged portion of base  10  of FIG. 9, slanted rows  64  are formed at approximately a fourteen degree angle with respect to an orientation line such as upper edge  60 . Furthermore, each slanted row  64  is offset with respect to adjacent slanted rows. An example of a method to determine the location of holes  12 , is to draw a line  67  at a fourteen degree angle with respect to upper edge  60 . A mark  68  is made every nine-sixteenths of an inch. As will be discussed below, this distance will vary depending on the diameter of and distance between holes  12 . Then the grid is drawn with lines intersecting marks  68  and being at thirty degree angles with respect to slanted line  67 . In this specific example, holes  12  have a diameter of approximately one-half of an inch and are approximately one-sixteenth of an inch apart. At their closest point, holes  12  are approximately one-sixteenth of an inch apart. Also, the centers of holes  12  in adjacent slanted rows  64  are approximately nine-sixteenths of an inch apart. It will be understood that the size of holes  12  can be increased or decreased as desired, in which case the distance between marks must also be adjusted. It should also be noted, that while fourteen degrees is the preferred angle of slanted rows  64 , other angles can also be employed, such as eleven degrees, sixteen degrees, and nineteen degrees. In each instance holes will align in adjacent rows  64 , but the vertical and horizontal distance between will vary.  
         [0029]    Slanted rows  64  are formed because holes  12  will align vertically and horizontally a given distance apart, as illustrated by the blackened holes. With reference back to FIG. 9, the alignment of holes  12  permits stops  70  and  72  to be secured on base  10  by pegs extending therefrom and received in the aligned holes  12 . These stops can be positioned anywhere on base  10 , and act to anchor an object. To clamp the object, cam pegs  13 ,  30 ,  40 , etc. are used. An item  73  is shown abutting stop  70 . To clamp item  73  into position, the correct holes  12  must be selected, in this case designated  12   a  and  12   b.  Due to the slanted and staggered alignment of holes  12 , there will always be a hole which is completely uncovered and which will receive a peg. By using camming pegs, such as peg  13 , item  73  can be tightened against stop  70  by rotating shaft  14  to bring cam portion  19  against a surface  75  thereof and to tighten as needed. When rotated, peg  13  will remain at the new orientation due to the pressure exerted against cam portion  19 . The pressure between item  73  and cam portion  19  binds shaft  14  within hole  12 . The off-centered nature of cam portion  19  permits holes  12  to be used which are a slight distance from the surface to be contacted. If an individual desires to use a hole further from the surface to be contact, cam washer  50  can be used.  
         [0030]    It should be understood that the possible combinations of holes and pegs are endless in the present invention. For example, straight pegs, camming pegs or multiple peg stops may be used in combination. Typically, these pegs extend upward past the top surface of the item to be held. This may, however pose a problem for certain activities such as sanding the top surface of a board. In this instance cam peg  30  can be employed. End  34  of peg  30  will be below the level of the top surface to permit unobstructed sanding. It should also be understood that irregularly shaped objects can also be clamped to base  10  simply by using different combinations of pegs, and finding the appropriate holes  12 .  
         [0031]    Turning now to FIG. 11, a specific example of a use of the clamping system of the present invention is illustrated. In this specific example, the clamp system is incorporated into a miter box generally designated  80 . Miter box  80  includes a base  82  having a plurality of holes  83  formed therein in an orientation as described previously, upright sidewalls  84  and  85  extending upward from opposing edges of base  82  to define a channel  87  overlying base  82 , and slots  88  formed in sidewalls  84  and  85  for guiding a cutting blade.  
         [0032]    In a conventional miter box, a molding or like article is placed between upright sidewalls, and held firmly against one of the sidewalls by hand to prevent movement of the board during the cutting operation, and to insure that the cut is made at the desired angle. This, however, can be less than satisfactory for safety reasons and quality of cut. With additional reference to FIG. 12, miter box  80  is employed to aid in making a cut having a specific angle on a molding  89 . Miter box  80  avoids the problems of conventional miter boxes by incorporating the novel clamp system of the present invention. Molding  89  is positioned in channel  87  on base  82  with one side abutting sidewall  84 . Cam peg  13  is inserted into one of the plurality of holes  83  which is fully uncovered by molding  89 . Peg  13  is rotated bringing cam portion  19  against a surface of molding  89 . Peg  13  is rotated until molding  89  is clamped against sidewall  84  with the desired force. Peg  13  remains in this orientation due to the force between molding  89  and peg  13  binding shaft  14  to the sides of hole  83 . One or more pegs  13  may be employed, although only one is illustrated. Molding  89  can be cut without any movement. Pegs  13  are easily released by rotating them in the opposite direction.  
         [0033]    Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.