Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for use in coupling a pair of bar clamps. In one aspect, a coupling member for connecting a first clamp to a second clamp is provided. The coupling member includes a first member and a second member having an end pivotally attached to the first member. The coupling member further includes a connection member for attaching an end of each clamp to the coupling member. In another aspect, a connection member for coupling a pair of bar clamps is provided. In another aspect, a method of connecting a first bar clamp to a second bar clamp is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to clamps. More particularly, the invention relates to bar clamps. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a coupling configured to connect a pair of bar clamps.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Traditional bar clamps are well known in the tool industry for temporarily clamping two workpieces together in order to perform an operation on one or both of the workpieces such as a gluing operation. In recent years, a quick action bar clamp has been introduced to the tool industry. The quick action bar clamp generally includes several clamp components such as a fixed jaw, a slide bar, and a movable jaw. The moveable jaw includes a trigger handle grip assembly for releasably engaging the slide bar to allow the movable jaw to easily move on the slide bar relative to the fixed jaw.  
         [0005]     Typically, the components of the quick action bar clamp are sold in a set rather than being sold separately. For example, most quick action bar clamps are sold in varying standard bar lengths, with the clamp components attached. The quick action bar clamps are generally marketed by the size of the workpiece, such as a clamp capable of clamping a 6″, 12″, 18″, 24″ 30″ or 36″ size workpiece. Among other things, one reason the clamp components are not sold separately from the slide bar is to prevent the users from purchasing one set of clamp members for use with varying slide bar lengths and/or from purchasing replacement clamp members and slide bars.  
         [0006]     The problem associated with the standard quick action bar clamp is the limited range of clamping capability for each individual bar clamp. For instance, a user must purchase a 12″ bar clamp for a workpiece that is 12″ or less and then the user must purchase another bar clamp for workpiece that is longer than 12″. Thus, the user is required to have an individual bar clamp for each different length of workpiece. Another problem associated with the standard quick action bar clamp occurs when the workpiece is an odd length, such as 45″ long. In this instance, the user must locate a nonstandard size quick action bar clamp which may not be readily available in a local hardware store.  
         [0007]     A need therefore exists for a method and an apparatus capable of utilizing standard quick action bar clamps for clamping a variety of different length workpieces. Further, there is a need for a method and an apparatus capable of utilizing standard quick action bar clamps for clamping an odd size workpiece.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for use in coupling a pair of bar clamps. In one aspect, a coupling member for connecting a first clamp to a second clamp is provided. The coupling member includes a first member and a second member having an end pivotally attached to the first member. The coupling member further includes a connection member for attaching an end of each clamp to the coupling member.  
         [0009]     In another aspect, a connection member for coupling a pair of bar clamps is provided. The connection member includes a body movable between an open position and a closed position. The connection member further includes an attachment member on the body for connecting an end of each bar clamp to the connection member. Additionally, the connection member includes a lock member for selectively locking the body in the closed position.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, a method of connecting a first bar clamp to a second bar clamp is provided. Each bar clamp includes a fixed jaw attached to a slide bar and a selectively movable jaw releasably attached to the slide bar. The method includes reversing the orientation of the moveable jaw relative to the fixed jaw on each bar clamp. The method further includes positioning an end of the first bar clamp adjacent an end of a coupling member and positioning an end of the second bar clamp adjacent another end of the coupling member. Additionally, the method includes attaching the end of each bar clamp to the coupling member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member of the present invention with a first bar clamp and a second bar clamp.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the coupling member connecting the first bar clamp to the second bar clamp.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating the coupling member in an open position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the coupling member in a closed position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is another view of the coupling member in the closed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     The present invention is generally directed to a coupling for quick action bar clamps. Various terms as used herein are defined below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term, as reflected in printed publications and issued patents. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings may be, but are not necessarily, to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features described below. One of normal skill in the art of clamps will appreciate that the various embodiments of the invention can and may be used in all types of clamps.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a coupling member  100  of the present invention with a first bar clamp  10  and a second bar clamp  60 . Generally, the coupling member  100  is used to couple or connect the first bar clamp  10  to the second bar clamp  60  to increase the capability of the bar clamps  10 ,  60  to handle any number of different workpiece lengths. For ease of explanation, the invention will be described generally in relation to a standard quick bar clamp. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be employed in any number of bar clamps without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0019]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the coupling member  100  is generally made from a first member  115  and a second member  120 . One side of the first member  115  is connected to the second member  120  by a hinge member  105  to allow the coupling member  100  to move between an open position as shown in  FIG. 3  and a closed position as shown in  FIG. 4 . The coupling member  100  also includes a lock member  110  to secure the first member  115  to the second member  120  when the coupling member is in the closed position. The components of the coupling member  100  will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0020]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the bar clamp  10 ,  60  typically includes several standard components. For instance, the bar clamp  10 ,  60  includes a fixed jaw  20 ,  70  operatively mounted to a slide bar  15 ,  65 . The fixed jaw  20 ,  70  is capable of holding one portion of a workpiece (not shown). The bar clamp  10 ,  60  also includes a selectively movable jaw  25 ,  75  that is capable of moving along the length of the slide bar  15 ,  65 . Further, the movable jaw  25 ,  75  is capable of holding another portion of the workpiece. The movable jaw  25 ,  75  moves relative to the fixed jaw  20 ,  70  to accommodate the length of the workpiece. Typically, the moveable jaw  25 ,  75  includes a trigger handle grip assembly for releasably engaging the slide bar  15 ,  65  to allow the movable jaw  25 ,  75  to easily move on the slide bar  15 ,  65 .  
         [0021]     The bar clamp  10 ,  60  typically includes a stop  30 ,  80  at an end of the slide bar  15 ,  65  to limit the travel of the movable jaw  25 ,  75 . In the embodiment shown, the stop  30 ,  80  is a pin member, such as a metal roll pin or a rubber grommet. In another embodiment, the stop  30 ,  80  may comprise a hole or any other means capable of limiting the travel of the movable jaw  25 ,  75  on the slide bar  15 ,  65 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the coupling member  100  connecting the first bar clamp  10  to the second bar clamp  60 . In comparing  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the orientation of the movable jaw  25 ,  75  has been reversed or repositioned relative to the fixed jaw  20 ,  70 . The repositioning of the movable jaw  25 ,  75  can be done by removing or disengaging the stop  30 ,  80  at an end of the slide bar  15 ,  65  and then sliding the movable jaw  25 ,  75  off the of the slide bar  15 ,  65 , repositioning the movable jaw  25 ,  75  and subsequently sliding the movable jaw  25 ,  75  back on to the slide bar  15 ,  65  in the orientation shown in  FIG. 2 . Once the movable jaw  25 ,  75  is repositioned, the coupling  100  is moved from the closed position to the open position. Next, the end of the slide bar  15  is positioned adjacent an end of the coupling member  100  and the end of slide bar  65  is positioned adjacent another end of the coupling member  100  and subsequently the end of each slide bar  15 ,  65  is secured in the coupling member  100 . Thereafter, the coupling member  100  is moved from the open position to the closed position and secured in the closed position by the lock member  110 . The movable jaw  25 ,  75  is then slideable along the slide bar  15 ,  65  to accommodate various lengths of workpieces.  
         [0023]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the movable jaws  25 ,  75  are utilized to accommodate the length of the workpiece. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, rather it is conceivable that only one movable jaw may be used in conjunction with at least one fixed jaw to accommodate the workpiece without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating the coupling member  100  in the open position. As shown, the coupling member  100  comprises the first member  115  and the second member  120 . The first member  115  is operatively attached to the second member  115  by the hinge member  105  and the first member  115  is attachable to the second member by the lock member  110  when the coupling member  100  is in the closed position. It should be noted that the hinge member and the lock member are shown generally and any number of hinges and locks may be used with the coupling member  100  without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0025]     The second member  120  is typically made from a durable material, such as a plastic, a composite or a metal material. The second member  120  includes a continuous shaped groove  130  formed on a surface thereof. The groove  130  is used to receive the slide bar  15  and the slide bar  65 . In another embodiment, a metal or a plastic insert (not shown) may be placed in the groove  130  to enhance the durability of the coupling member  100 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second member  120  includes a first hole  135  and a second hole  140  formed in the groove  130 . Typically, the holes  135 ,  140  do not extend through the second member  120 , but rather the holes  135 , 140  are drilled to a predetermined depth. The holes  135 ,  140  are generally used to secure the slide bar  15 ,  65  to the coupling member  100 . More specifically, in one embodiment, the holes  135 , 140  accommodate a pin attached to each slide bar  15 ,  65 , such as a roll pin (stops  30 ,  80 ). In another embodiment, the holes  135 ,  140  may accommodate a removable threaded member (not shown), whereby the threaded member acts as a pin to work in conjunction with a hole at an end of each slide bar  15 ,  65  to secure the slide bar  15 ,  65  to the coupling member  100 . In yet another embodiment, the second member  120  may have at least one pin member (not shown) formed on a surface thereof in place of the holes  135 ,  140 . The present invention contemplates any combination of pins, holes, threaded members or any other means capable of securing the slide bar  15 ,  65  to the coupling member  100 .  
         [0027]     The first member  115  is typically made from a similar durable material as the second member  120 , such as a plastic, a composite, or a metal material. The first member  115  includes a plurality of holes  125  that extend through the first member  115 . The holes  125  are used to store the stops  30 ,  80  or extra pins or extra threaded members when the coupling  100  is in operation.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views illustrating the coupling member  100  in the closed position. As clearly shown, the first member  115  is secured to the second member  120  by the lock member  110 . Also shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the overall geometric shape of the coupling member  100  is rectangular. It should be understood, however, that the coupling member  100  may be any geometric shape, such as spherical, without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0029]     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.