Abstract:
A toggle clamp has a base with a support portion and a securement portion. A handle mechanism is connected to the base support portion. A clamping arm is movably supported by a pivot pin on the base support portion. The clamping arm is coupled with the handle mechanism. The clamping arm includes a clamping element that moves transverse to the workpiece. The handle is moved between a first and second position. The clamp arm pivots about the pivot pin on the base until reaching a stop position. The handle continues to a clamping second position as the clamping element moves linearly transverse toward the workpiece into a clamped position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/280,753, filed on Jan. 20, 2016. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to toggle clamps and, more particularly, to toggle clamps with a clamping mechanism that moves in a direction transverse to the workpiece. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In current toggle clamps, the clamping arm contacts the workpiece at an angle. Current clamping arms rotate about a pivot pin so that the portion of the clamping arm, when it contacts a workpiece, is at an angle with respect to the workpiece. Thus, due to the angle, the workpiece may move as it is clamped by the clamping arm. In order to compensate for the angle of the clamping arm, various types of shims have been utilized to offset the angle of the clamping arm so that the clamping arm clamps transverse to the workpiece without moving the workpiece. 
         [0004]    It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a toggle clamp with clamping element that moves in a direction transverse to the workpiece. The toggle clamping arm moves with respect to a base which, in turn, moves the clamping element along a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the workpiece. Thus, the clamping element contacts the workpiece along a zero angle line. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
         [0006]    According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a toggle clamp that provides travel of a clamping element in a direction transverse to a workpiece comprises a base having a support portion and a securement portion. A handle mechanism is connected to the base support portion. A clamping arm is movably supported by a pivot pin on the support portion of the base. The clamping arm is coupled with the handle mechanism. The clamping arm includes a biased clamping element moving transverse to the workpiece. Thus, as the handle is moved between an open and clamped position, the clamping arm pivots about the pivot pin on the base support portion until reaching a stop position. The handle continues to its clamped position as the clamping element moves, linearly transverse to the workpiece, into a clamped position. The handle mechanism includes a linkage. The clamping arm further comprises a clamp plate and a support for the biased clamping element. The clamp plate contacts the clamping element to move the clamping element transverse to the workpiece. The biasing clamping element includes a plunger, a helical spring surrounding the plunger, a stationary plunger body to receive the plunger and a workpiece contact movably coupled with the plunger. A support member is coupled with the base and the plunger body. A linkage between the handle and the base locks the handle in an overcenter arrangement in the second position. 
         [0007]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the toggle clamp. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a front plan view of the toggle clamp of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-section view along line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2A  in a top vertical travel position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a view like  FIG. 2A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-section view along line  3 B- 3 B in a clamped position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a front plan view, in an open position, of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-section view along line  4 B- 4 B with the toggle clamp in an opened position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the toggle clamp of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0018]    Turning to the figures, a toggle clamp is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The toggle clamp  10  includes a base  12 , a handle mechanism  14  and a clamping element  16 . The base  12  includes a securement portion  18  and a support portion  20 . The securement portion  18  includes a plurality of apertures  22  to enable the toggle clamp  10  to be secured to a surface. 
         [0019]    Generally, the base  12  includes a pair of stamped members  24  that are mirror images of one another. Each member  24  includes a securement portion  18  and a support portion  20 . The support portion  20 , in side plan view (see  FIG. 5 ), extends generally transverse to the securement portion  18 . The support portion  20  has an overall L-shape and includes a plurality of apertures  26  that receive different pins, as will be explained herein, to secure the handle mechanism  14  and clamping element  16  with the base  12 . 
         [0020]    The handle mechanism  14  includes a handle assembly  28  and a clamp plate  30 . The handle assembly  28  includes a handle  32  with a pair of bifurcated members  34  that project from the handle  32 . The bifurcated members  34  are plate-like and have triangular configuration with a rounded apex as seen in  FIG. 1 . Apertures  36 ,  44  are formed in the members  34 . Pins  40 ,  46  pass through the apertures  36 ,  44  to connect with the base and the clamp plate  30 . A pair of links  38  connects with the handle aperture  36 , via pin  40 , to secure the handle mechanism  14  with the support portion  20  of the base  12 . An additional pin  42  passes through a second link aperture to secure the links through an aperture of the support portion  20  of the base  12 . 
         [0021]    The second apertures  44  of the plate elements  34  receive a pin  46  that secures the clamp plate  30  with the handle bifurcated members  34 . Thus, the pin  46  enables the clamp plate  30  to rotate or pivot with respect to the handle assembly  28 . The clamp plate  30  includes a pair of plates  46  secured together by rivets  48 . The clamp plates  30  have an overall U-shape with a longer leg  50  and a shorter leg  52  defining a channel  54 . Also, the web  56  is enlarged and includes a pair of apertures  58 ,  60 . The aperture  60  receives the pin  46  to secure the handle portion  28  with the clamp plate  30 . The aperture  58  receive pin  62  that project through the aperture  26  on the support portion  20  of the base  12 . The pin  62  pivotally supports the clamp plate  30  with respect to the base  12 . 
         [0022]    The clamping element  16  is supported via bars  64 . The bars  64  secure with the base support portion  20  via pin  62 . A pair of bushings  66  is secured on the base support portion  20  by the pin  68 . The bushings  66  support the bars  64  in a first position. The bars  64  include apertures  70  that receive the pivot pin  62  to secure the bars  64  with the base  12 . The pivot pin  62  also enables the bars  64  to rotate with respect to the base  12 . The bars  64  also include an aperture  72  that receives a roll pin  74 . The roll pin  74  is secured within the channel  54  as will be described herein. Additionally, the second end of the bar includes a plurality of apertures  76 . The apertures  76  receive pins  78  that secure the plunger block  80  between the bars  64 . 
         [0023]    The plunger block  80  includes a central bore  82  that receives a plunger  84 . A helical spring  86  surrounds the plunger  84 . Additionally, the plunger block  80  includes bores  88  that are transverse to the central bore  82 . The bores  88  receive the pins  78 . The central bore  82  includes a countersink  90  that seats the helical spring  86 . 
         [0024]    The plunger  84  includes a cylindrical plunger body  92  and a spherical head  94 . The spherical head  94  is contacted by the longer leg  50  of the clamp plate  30  to move the plunger  84  along an axis. Additionally, the axis is transverse to the workpiece. 
         [0025]    The cylindrical plunger body  92  includes a threaded bore  96  that receives a spindle element  98 . The spindle  98  includes a shaft  100  with a threaded portion  102  and a stopper or contact  104 . Generally, the stopper  104  is of a polymeric material connected to a head  106  of the spindle  98 . Additionally, a jam nut  108  assists in securing the spindle member  98  to the plunger body  92 . The plunger body  92  includes a cutout portion  110 . The cutout portion  110  rides against a pin  112 . The pin  112  is secured in the plunger block  80 . The pin  112  provides a stop to prohibit rotation of the plunger  84  due to the contact of the cutout  110  with the pin  112 . 
         [0026]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , the toggle clamp  10  is moved from an opened to a clamped position. As the handle  32  is moved downward, the clamp plate  30  as well as the plunger element  16  are moved toward the workpiece  112 . As this occurs, the bars  64  contact the bushings  66  at a stop position. The links  38  are in a vertical position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The channel  54  is positioned around the roll pin  74  with the smaller leg  52  in contact with the pin  74 . As the handle  32  is continued to be pushed downward into a locking position, the plunger  84  moves transverse to the workpiece  112 . The stopper  104  compresses to provide a tight clamping lock on the surface of the workpiece  112 . 
         [0027]    The clamp plate  30  and support bars  64 , with the clamping element  16 , will move together during the rotational clamp stroke. The support bars  64  will contact the two bushings  66  at a stop position to position the plunger  84  perpendicular to the workpiece  112 . The clamp plate  30  will continue on an arc, compressing the spring  86 , and moving the plunger  84  through the bore  82  of the plunger block  80 . The plunger  84  can only move axially and will therefore clamp perpendicular to the workpiece  112 . 
         [0028]    During unclamping, the clamp plates  30  will move on an arc to open. The spring  86  will hold the support bars  64  against the bushings  66  and also preload the plunger  84  against the clamp plates and move the plunger  84  away from the workpiece  112  to unclamp. After approximately 0.21″ of straight unclamp stroke, the short leg  52  in the clamp plate will contact the roll pin  74  in the support bars  64  moving both the clamp plates  30  and support bars  64 , with the clamping element  16 , together and into an “open” position so that the workpiece  112  and be loaded and unloaded. 
         [0029]    Additionally, the links  38  move to an overcenter position retaining the handle  32  in a locked clamped position. The end  55  of the long arm  50  of the clamp plate  30  exerts a force onto the spherical head  94  of the plunger  84 . This force maintains the workpiece  112  in a locked condition. When the toggle clamp  10  is to be unlocked, the handle  32  is moved upward away from the workpiece  112  into the open position as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The biasing spring  86  holds the plunger in an up position away from the plunger block  80 . Thus, the spring  86  keeps the clamp plates  30  separated from plunger element  16 . The roll pin  74  maintains the clamp plate  30  and plunger element  16  in a known position during the rotation clamp stroke. 
         [0030]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.