Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for holding a flat object. The apparatus includes a post, a supporting mechanism movably connected to the post, a clamping mechanism pivotally connected to the post, and a linking element for linking the supporting mechanism and the clamping mechanism together. Thus, the flat object is clamped by the clamping mechanism clamps when the flat object is supported on the supporting mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding a flat object. 
         [0002]    2. Related Prior Art 
         [0003]    The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus for firmly holding a flat object. 
         [0005]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the apparatus includes a post, a supporting mechanism movably connected to the post, a clamping mechanism pivotally connected to the post, and a linking element for linking the supporting mechanism and the clamping mechanism together. Thus, the flat object is clamped by the clamping mechanism clamps when the flat object is supported on the supporting mechanism. 
         [0006]    Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus for holding a flat object according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a surfboard firmly held on the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a skateboard firmly held on the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a snowboard firmly held on the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for holding a flat object according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an apparatus for firmly holding a flat object according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a post  10 , a supporting mechanism  60  for supporting the flat object and a clamping mechanism for synchronously clamping the flat object. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the supporting mechanism  60  includes a ferrule  61 , two longitudinal bars  62 , a crossbar  63  and two rollers  64 . The ferrule  61  and the longitudinal bars  62  are different portions of a single tube that is curved. Each of the longitudinal bars  62  is made with a flat portion. Each of the rollers  64  is supported on a pin that is driven through the flat portions of the longitudinal bars  62 . The longitudinal bars  62  extend in parallel to each other. The rollers  64  extend in parallel to each other. Each of the rollers  64  includes a concave face  65  for contact with the post  10 . The post  10  is located between the rollers  64 . Thus, the supporting mechanism  60  is movable along the post  10 . The crossbar  63  is connected to the longitudinal bars  62  by welding for example. An aperture is defined in the crossbar  63 . 
         [0018]    The clamping mechanism includes two jaws  50  and a connective unit for pivotally connecting the jaws  50  to the post  10 . Each of the jaws  50  includes a flat portion  51 , a bent portion  52 , a connective portion  53 , a contact portion  54  and a security portion  55 . The flat portion  51  includes a slot  56  defined therein. The bent portion  52  includes an aperture defined therein. The weight and length of the connective portion  53  are much larger than the weight and length of the flat portion  51 . The contact portion  54  is transversely connected to the connective portion  53  by welding for example. The security portion  55  extends transversely from the contact portion  54 . 
         [0019]    The connective unit includes a front cover  20 , a rear cover  30 , a clip  32  and a joint  40 . The front cover  20  includes a panel  21  and strips  22 . The panel  21  includes a slot  24  and two apertures defined therein. The slot  24  is located between the apertures of the panel  21 . The strips  22  transversely extend from the panel  21 , leaving two openings  23  between them. 
         [0020]    The rear cover  30  is made corresponding to the front cover  20 . Similarly, the rear cover  30  includes a panel  31  and strips  33 . The panel  31  includes a slot  35  and two apertures defined therein. The slot  35  is located between the apertures of the panel  31 . The strips  33  transversely extend from the panel  31 , leaving two openings  34  between them. 
         [0021]    The clip  32  includes a middle portion between two jaws. The post  10  is located between the jaws of the clip  32 . 
         [0022]    The joint  40  includes a U-shaped element  42  between two L-shaped elements  41 . The U-shaped element  42  includes a middle portion between two lateral portions. A screw is driven in the post  10  through the middle portion of the U-shaped element  42  and the middle portion of the clip  32 . Thus, the joint  40  and the clip  32  are positioned on the post  10 . Each of the L-shaped elements  41  includes a portion connected to a related one of the lateral portions of the U-shaped element  42  by or screws and nuts for example and another portion connected to the panel  31  of the rear cover  30  by welding for example. Thus, the rear cover  30  is firmly connected to joint  40 . The rear cover  30  is positioned on the post  10  by the joint  40  and the clip  32 . 
         [0023]    The flat portion  51  and the bent portion  52  of each of the jaws  50  are located in a shell made of the covers  20  and  30 . The connective portion  53  of each of the jaws  50  extends to the exterior of the shell through a related one of the openings  23  and a related one of the openings  34 . A screw  26  is inserted through a related one of the apertures of the panel  21 , the aperture of the bent portion  52  of a related one of the jaws  50 , and a related one of the apertures of the panel  31  and engaged with nut. Thus, the jaws  50  are pivotally connected to the post  10 . The strips  22  cover the strips  33 . Screws are driven through the strips  22  and  33 . Thus, the front cover  20  is firmly connected to the rear cover  30 . 
         [0024]    There is provided a linking element  70  for connecting the jaws  50  to the cross bar  63 . The linking element  70  includes a rod  71 , a flat head  72  at an end of the rod  71 , and a screw  73  at an opposite end of the rod  71 . The linking element  70  is inserted through an aperture  27  defined in a pin  25  driven through the slot  24  of the panel  21 , the slots  56  of the jaws  50  and the slot  35  of the panel  31 . The flat head  72  keeps the linking element  70  on the pin  25 . The linking element  70  is located between the flat portions  51  of the jaws  50  because the bent portion  52  of one of the jaws  50  is biased towards the front cover  20  while the bent portion  52  of the other jaw  50  is biased towards the rear cover  30 . The screw  73  is inserted through the aperture defined in the crossbar  63  before it is engaged with a nut. 
         [0025]    There is provided a guiding element  74  attached to another clip  76 . The guiding element  74  includes an aperture  75  for receiving the rod  71 . Thus, the rod  71  is guided by the guiding element  74 . The clip  76  includes a middle portion between two jaws. The middle portion of the clip  76  includes an aperture for receiving a screw  77  driven in the post  10 . The screw  77  prevents the clip  76  from moving along the post  10 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the flat portions  51  of the jaws  50  are much shorter and lighter than the connective portions  53  of the jaws  50 . Moreover, each of the jaws  50  is pivotally connected to the panel  31  at the bent portion  52 . Hence, because of gravity, the flat portions  51  of the jaws  50  are lifted while the connective portions  53  of the jaws  50  are lowered. That is, the jaws  50  are opened. Through the linking element  70 , the supporting mechanism  60  is lifted, too. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a surfboard A is firmly held on the apparatus. A lower portion of the surfboard A is circled in and supported on the ferrule  61 . The supporting mechanism  60  is lowered. By the linking element  70 , the flat portions  51  of the jaws  50  are lowered while the connective portions  53  of the jaws  50  are lifted. That is, the jaws  50  are closed. Accordingly, the contact portions  54  of the jaws  50  clamp the surfboard A. The surfboard A is retained between the post  10  and the security portions  55  of the jaws  50 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a skateboard B is firmly held on the apparatus. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a snowboard C is firmly held on the apparatus. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except including a linking element  80  instead of the linking element  70 . The linking element  80  is a cable. An upper end of the linking element  80  is inserted through the aperture  27  of the pin  25  before it is connected to a block  81  abutted against the pin  25 . A lower end of the linking element  80  is inserted through the aperture of the crossbar  63  before it is connected to another block  81  abutted against the crossbar  63 . 
         [0029]    The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.