Abstract:
A tension rod positioning apparatus and method for C-type clamps and Vises including a shaped threaded rod inserted into a shaped threaded hole on an engagement collar. When the shaped rod and shaped hole are aligned, the rod may be freely positioned within the collar. When the shaped rod is inserted into the collar and turned, the rod engages and turns the engagement collar. The engagement collar includes an external thread sized to fit an internal thread on a clamp base. In this manner, the rod may be inserted and then turned in one direction to both engage the engagement collar and increase the clamping pressure. After clamping, the shaped rod may be turned in the opposite direction to loosen the clamping pressure and disengage the engagement collar. Once the rod and collar have been disengaged by aligning the shaped rod and shaped hole of the engagement collar, the length of the rod may be freely moved within the engagement collar to reposition the clamp for the next operation.

Description:
APPLICATION FOR UNITED STATES LETTERS PATENT 
     This application claims benefit as a continuation-in-part of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/292,999 filed May 23, 2001, entitled “Quick Position Clamp and Vise” which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Be it known that I, Howard Preston Yates, a citizen of United States, residing at 1048 Gwill Road, Mt. Juliet, Tenn. 37122; have invented a new and useful “Quick Position Clamp and Vise”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to clamping systems and more specifically, this invention relates to c-clamps and vises and provides an improved quick position method and apparatus for use of these devices. 
     Several United States Patents describe clamping systems. These include: U.S. Pat. No. 298,704 issued to Norris et al. on May 13, 1884; U.S. Pat. No. 823,748 issued to Walden on Jun. 19, 1906; U.S. Pat. No. 825,151 issued on McLean on Jul. 3, 1906; U.S. Pat. No. 947,619 issued to Orr on Jan. 25, 1910; U.S. Pat. No. 1,140,646 issued to Abernathy on May 25, 1915; U.S. Pat. No. 2,430,458 issued to Farrell on Nov. 11, 1947; U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,698 issued to Flynn on Dec. 12, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,886 issued to Naureckas on Feb. 3, 1970; U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,624 issued to Timmer on Apr. 11, 1978; U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,892 issued to Wu on Apr. 21, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,547 issued to Cox on Aug. 13, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,427 issued to Lodrick, Sr., on Jun. 28, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,169 issued to Lodrick, Sr., on May 15, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,736 issued to Allison on Sep. 7, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,973 issued to Khachatoorian on Aug. 8, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,621 issued to Ping on Jun. 26, 2001; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,241 issued to Harrison on Oct. 2, 2001. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Of particular note in this list of patents is U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,241, issued to Harrison on Oct. 2, 2001, entitled Adjustable C-Clamp. This patent describes an adjustable C-Clamp including a frame which receives a clamp cylinder at the top clamp seat. A slotted cylinder is then secured in the clamp cylinder such that a clamp rod may be moveably disposed in the slotted cylinder for a quick movement in and out of the cylinder. A clamp rod pin is positioned on the clamp rod to engage the slotted cylinder. The clamp rod pin is designed to traverse a pair of parallel, diametrically-opposed a longitudinally cylinder slots in the slotted cylinder to facilitate slideably adjusting the clamp rod in the slotted cylinder. Rotation of the clamp rod in the clamp cylinder seats the pins in a pair of multiple spaced-apart pin slots to provide for threaded extension of the clamp cylinder through the top clamp seat. 
     Also of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 946,619 issued to Orr on Jan. 25, 1910, which discloses a wrench. This patent describes the use of a shank with a flat side including teeth that are adapted to engage a toothed sleeve for positioning the jaws of the wrench. As can be noted by the disclosure of this patent, this teaching is limited in the available positioning of the jaws by the engagement of the teeth. 
     These prior art patents have several disadvantages including the available adjustment of the systems and the control of the pieces in relation to each other in these systems as well as the overall strength of the system provided by their means of connection. What is needed then is an improved positioning system for clamps and vises. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved tension rod positioning apparatus and method for C-type clamps and Vises. The present invention uses at least three teeth on a toothed rod inserted into a toothed hole on an engagement collar. When the rod and hole are aligned, the rod may be freely positioned within the collar. When the rod is inserted into the collar, the three teeth center the rod within the collar to provide an axial alignment of the rod with the hole. When the rod is then turned, the teeth of the rod provide the alignment of the rod and the hole and the turning action engages the rod teeth with the teeth of the engagement collar to turn the engagement collar. The multiple sets of teeth positioned along the rod and collar along with the axial alignment provided by the teeth provide an increased strength connection and an enhanced positioning for the rod to collar engagement. The engagement collar includes an external thread sized to fit an internal thread on the clamp base. In this manner, the rod may be inserted and turned in one direction to both engage and turn the engagement collar in order to increase the clamping pressure. After clamping, the rod may be turned in the opposite direction to both loosen the clamping pressure and disengage the engagement collar. Once the rod and collar have been disengaged by aligning the rod and hole of the engagement collar, the length of the rod may be freely moved within the engagement collar to reposition the clamp for the next operation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 through 7 show the C-type clamp of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8 through 11 show the square bar rod lock assembly. 
     FIGS. 12 through 15 show the vise base assembly. 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 show the moving vise jaw. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19 show the cap for the bottom of the vise jaw. 
     FIG. 20 shows the bottom of the moving vise jaw. 
     FIGS. 21 through 23 show the clamp block for the vise jaw. 
     FIG. 24 shows the assembled vise. 
     FIGS. 25-28 show the threaded insert and the retaining nut. 
     FIGS. 29-32 show the threaded insert and the retaining snap ring washer. 
     FIG. 33 shows a cutaway view of the threaded insert and retaining nut mounted in the body. 
     FIGS. 34A through 34D show the rotation of the square rod aligned with the square broach and rotated to engage the internal threads of the insert. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 through 32 show the quick position C-type clamp  10  of the present invention. The opening and closing of the quick position C clamp  10  is a slide and final screw motion instead of the basic all screw method as taught in the prior art. The quick position “C” Clamp  10  is a time saving, labor saving tool. To open a conventional 6″ “C” clamp requires approximately 1 to 2 minutes. To open and close the Quick position “C” Clamp  10  requires approximately 2 seconds. The arrangement of the present invention also provides advantages over previous attempts of the prior art methods for C clamps. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the U-shaped or “C” clamp frame shown as the body  12  is manufactured of cast steel that is used to hold the pressure applied by the handle  21  through the threaded bar  20 , also known as a rod  20  to the bearing pad  13 . The sliding action consists of a bar lock assembly unit  14  shown in detail in FIGS. 3 through 11 that includes a square threaded bar  20  passing through internal threads  26  on a threaded insert  16  approximately 2¾″ long, 1″ in diameter. The threaded insert  16  includes both internal clamping threads  26  on an inside hole  18  and multiple rotation external clamping threads  29  on the outer diameter of the insert  16 . The external thread  29  of the threaded insert  16  engages a threaded hole  22  housing a multiple rotation clamping thread  23  in the C clamp body  12 . As the threaded insert  16  is screwed into and out of the C clamp body  12 , the rotation provides a rotationally engaged clamping motion similar to the prior art threads on just the bar assembly. However, we should note that the threaded insert  16  only needs to provide a short range of rotational movement to provide clamping pressure. This is because the square threaded rod  20  provides the large movements for adjustment to the location of the object and the actual clamping position. While the present invention is shown as a square rod and square broach, a triangular rod and broach or other alternative shapes may be utilized for the rod and pass through opening. The important characteristics are the centering of the rod and the proper engagement of the rod to the insert to hold the clamping pressures associated with the size of the clamp or vise being used. 
     Rotational control of the threaded insert  16  is provided by the square threaded rod  20 . The pass through opening, shown as hole  18 , in the threaded insert  16  has been broached with a square broach  24  that is slightly smaller than the hole  18  such that it leaves four clamping thread teeth  26  on each un-broached rotation of the internal threads in the hole  18 . The square bar  20  is sized to slide through the square broach  24  and has square grooves  28  sized to engage the remaining internal thread teeth  26 . Thus, if the square of the bar  20  is aligned with the square broach  24  of the hole  18  then the rod  20  may pass easily into and out of the threaded insert  16  without a rotational movement. This allows for large adjustment of the clamping end of the rod  20  to the object being clamped. When the bar  20  is turned, the rod engages the threaded insert  16  and turns the insert  16 . This operates to rotate the insert  16  inside the body  12  and use the external threads  29  of the insert  16  to close the distance inside the clamp  10  and increase the clamping pressure against the object. Thus, this forces the bar  20  against the object, clamping the object securely. 
     To release the object, the rod is simply turned to the left to disengage the threads  28  of the square rod  20  from the thread teeth  26  of the threaded insert  16 . Once the thread teeth  28 ,  26  are disengaged and the square of the rod  20  is aligned with the square broach  24 , the bar  20  may be slid out of the way to an open position to allow for removal of the object. 
     This design provides a further advantage because it allows the bar  20  to be replaced if bent or damaged. This contrasts with the prior art designs where the clamp  10  is scrapped when the bar  20  is bent or damaged. The driving pad  23  end of the bar  20  may be provided with threads to make removal of a driving pad  23  easier than normally associated with a pressed on driving pad  23 . 
     FIGS. 12 through 15 show the quick position vise  50  base assembly  52 , and FIGS. 16 through 23 show components of the moving vise  50  clamp jaw  54 . The Quick position vise  50  was designed to slide open and close instead of the conventional screw in and out action of present day vises on the market. The vise  50  also has a jaw opening of 8″ as compared to 4″ to 5″ of other vises. The vise  50  weighs approximately 20 lbs. Compared to other large vises with a 6″ jaw opening that weight approximately 100 lbs. 
     The vise  50  is manufactured of cast steel, one-piece construction base  52  with a bearing jaw  51  and slide jaw  54  that clamps the object. The vise  50  incorporates a bar-lock assembly unit  14  shown in FIGS. 8 through 11 that consists of a threaded insert  16  1″ in diameter with internal threads that have been broached by a square broach  24  leaving partial thread teeth  26  in which a square bar  20  with square thread teeth  28  will slide in and out. As the bar  20  is rotated by the handle  21 , the edges of the square thread teeth  28  of the bar  20  engage the internal thread teeth  26  of the insert  16 , which causes the insert  16  to rotate to the right, clamping the sliding jaw  54  against the object held in the base  52 . To remove the object, simply make one turn of the handle counterclockwise and pull the clamping jaw  54  back. There is no other vise with these features that is this small that will permit a machinist, tool and die maker, etc. to store the vise  50  in the top of the KENNEDY (trademark), SNAP-ON (Trademark), or other personal tool box. 
     FIGS. 12 through 15 show the vise  50  base assembly  52 . FIG. 12 shows a top view. FIG. 13 shows a side view. FIG. 14 shows a cut-away view along line B—B. FIG. 15 shows an end view from position A—A. The base  52  includes a threaded hole  56  for receiving the threaded insert  16  and a base slot  58  for receiving the bottom extension  60  of the vise jaw  54 . Also shown are U-slots  51  for bolting the vise  50  to a stand. 
     FIGS. 16,  17 , and  20  show the moving vise jaw  54  from the end, side, and bottom views respectively. The moving vise jaw  54  includes a bottom extension which passes through the base slot  58  in the base  52 . The bottom cap  62  is bolted to the bottom extension  60  to hold the vise jaw  54  in the base  52 . The design of a face plate  64  with v-slots  65  is shown in FIGS. 21 through 24. 
     FIG. 24 shows the assembled vise with the base  52  and the upright bearing jaw  51  mounted to the moving vise jaw  54  with the installed face plate  64  and the bottom cap  62  connected to the clamping shaft  20 . The clamping shaft  20  is a triangular shaft with three extensions  28 , previously shown as thread teeth  28 , positioned around the shaft. An insert  16  is positioned on the clamping shaft  20  and defines a pass through opening  18  including extension receptors  26  previous shown as thread teeth  26 . The receptors  26  are adapted to engage the extensions  28  and substantially center the shaft  20  inside the pass through opening  18 . The insert  16  further defines a first clamping thread  29 . The rotation of the clamping shaft  20  in relation to the insert  16  in a first direction engages the first extensions  28  into the receptors  26  to turn the insert  16 , and rotation of the clamping shaft  20  in a second direction disengages the extensions  28  from the receptors  26  such that the clamping shaft  20  may freely slide through the pass through opening  18 . The bearing jaw  51  is connected to the body or base  52  which defines a second clamping thread  23  adapted to engage the first clamping thread  29  to adjust the position of the insert  16  in relation to the body  52 . A driving jaw  54  engages the clamping shaft  20  and is adapted to be driven to provide clamping pressure in relation to the bearing jaw  51 . As previously described, stops  68  are connected to the insert  16  and adapted to limit the movement of the insert  16  in relation to the body  52 . 
     FIGS. 25-28 show the threaded insert  16  with end connection threads  64  for a screw type of attachment for a retaining nut  66  with internal connection threads  67 . The retaining nut  66  is screwed onto the threaded insert  16  to provide an insert stop  68  which is shown as a shoulder  70  on the retaining nut  66 . As shown in FIGS. 29 through 32, this insert stop  68  may also be implemented by using a snap ring  72 , or washer  72 , which extends to form the insert stop  68  when it is placed on the retaining slot  74 , also known as groove  74 , on a snap ring style of threaded insert  16 . Alternatively, a washer may be directly welded to the insert. It is important to remember that the external diameter of the metal snap ring  72  should extend outward past the threads  28  on the insert  16  to provide a shoulder to stop the insert  16  against the frame  12 , also known as the body  12 . Snap rings  72  with outside diameters close to the external diameter of the threads  28  can provide problems when the snap ring  72  contacts the internal body thread as they may try to into the snap ring  72  and create problems with the movement of the insert  16  within the frame  12 . 
     FIG. 33 shows a cutaway view of the threaded insert  16  and retaining nut  66  mounted in the body  12  from which it may be understood how a front shoulder  17  on the insert  16  and the nut shoulder  70  on the retaining nut  66  provide the insert stops  68  for the threaded insert  16 . This allows the design to limit the exposure of the clamping threads on the insert to body connection to protect them over the life of the clamp. As shown in FIGS. 27,  28 , and  33 , the stop  68  may be a hex nut which is attached by internal threads on the hex nut to external threads on the insert to provide a shoulder  70  on the back of the insert  16  to retain the insert  16  within the frame body  12 . In this matter, the insert  16  may be constructed with a front shoulder  17  to retain the insert  16  on one end and utilize the hex nut shoulder  70  on the back end to retain the insert  16 . 
     FIGS. 34A through 34D show the rotation of the square rod  20  in the square broach  24  between the aligned and threadably engaged positions. FIG. 34A shows the points  80  of the square rod  20  aligned with the edges of the square broach  24 . In this position, the square rod  20  may easily slide through the insert  16 . In FIGS. 34B through 34D one may see how the points  80  of the square rod  20  may be rotated to engage the internal threads  26  of the insert  16  while maintaining the alignment of the rod  20  inside the insert  16 . A minimum of three contact areas are necessary to provide the proper alignment, but this may be implemented with a varying number of teeth according to alternative design embodiments. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Quick Position Clamp and Vise, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.