Abstract:
A vise used for holding and stabilizing a wide variety of work object shapes by means of conformable spring action jaw faces. The jaw faces are designed to be interchangeable to accommodate delicate or heavy-duty work. Dual ratchet mechanisms and a cam-driven piston provide both a quick and convenient method of closure that maintains precise and significant levels of clamping force. If desired, lockout features are included that defeat the spring action of the jaws and allows the vise to act more like a traditional vise. In addition, interchangeable smooth faced jaws allow the vise to function as a traditional vise.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This disclosure relates generally to vises and, in particular, to a device that stabilizes and holds a wide variety of irregular shaped objects by means of conformable spring action jaws. 
   2. Background 
   Woodworking vises and machinist vises are very common and useful tools. Conventional vises rely on a slow and cumbersome method of closure, a non-ergonomic cranking action in a plane parallel to the body of the user. Additionally, they are limited to applications entailing work objects with two parallel sides. Certain specialized jaws are available, such as, notched jaws for holding pipes, or rubber jaws, but for the most part, specialized holding jigs must be built in order to hold irregular objects, which can take considerable time and expense. This device was invented to address both of those shortfalls, which is to say, providing a generalized and flexible holding capability, suitable for a wide range of irregular objects, while providing, a quick and ergonomic method of closure with equivalent or better mechanical advantage. 
   A wide variety of specialized holding and clamping devices have been developed in an attempt to accommodate irregularly shaped objects. Examples of such devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,460,064, 5,806,385, 6,098,507, 6,092,443, and 6,138,534. While these and other devices represent and improvement in the art of holding irregularly shaped objects, they suffer from several drawbacks that have prevented widespread application in the machining arts. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 626,427 to E. H. Jones, issued Jun. 6, 1899 is directed to a vise in which an article is placed between two jaws provided with adjustable projections (or between a single jaw and a plane jaw) and the jaws are moved together, so that the article displaces the projections opposite to it and their ends bear on the different portions of its form and hold it up approximately as a mold would do. The projections are then clamped securely in the projections to which they have adjusted themselves and the jaw is tightened upon the article by a vise screw. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,499,989 to F. Lehmann, issued Jul. 1, 1924 discloses a vise for use with machine tools that includes a base plate adapted to be secured to the sliding carriage of a planing machine, or the like, and having two housings mounted oppositely on the base plate. The two housings are adapted such that at least one will slide toward the other and a series of spring controlled clamping jaws are so arranged in each of the housings that projecting parts of the workpiece causes part of the jaws to be pressed back into the housings until all of the spring controlled jaws are in contact with and firmly grip the workpiece on all sides. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,754,708 to C. R. Peterson, issued Jul. 17, 1956 shows a vise for handling irregular shaped object that includes a base having a stationary jaw projecting upwardly from one end and a movable jaw slidable on the base. Included in each of the jaws is a hollow block having facing openings with a plurality of movable work engaging members slidably carried in the block. A movable pressure plate in each block adjacent one side wall thereof is clampable against the work engaging members to lock each of them into work engaging position. Springs are used to urge each work-engaging member into working position. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,063 to Bela Nagy, issued Jun. 21, 1988 is directed to a vise attachment for use on a vise assembly for holding objects having irregularly shaped surfaces and includes a small compact housing having a plurality of blade elements disposed adjacent to each other and slidably mounted within a rectangular opening on one side of the housing and movable between and extended position and a retracted position. Each element preferably comprises a plate member having smooth planar surfaces and a concave curved back edge and stop means disposed on upper and lower edges for setting a limit for extension of the blade from the housing. A self-distributing non-resilient medium is positioned within the housing and has a predetermined volume for filing the housing when the blades are in a retracted position. A distribution and reset means causes the blades to reposition themselves to extend fully through the rectangular opening when not holding an object. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,940 to Ingo E. Wolfe, issued Mar. 7, 2000 discloses a universal vise that has a movable and a fixed jaw that can be indexed at 90° increments to provide for four separate work clamping surfaces on each jaw. The vise includes a vise screw driving a nut that drives the movable jaw in each of four indexed positions of the movable jaw. The indexable jaws permit the vise to be adapted to hold four different types of work pieces. 
   U.S. Des. Pat. No. D/439,879 to Reinhard Renner, issued Mar. 27, 2001 discloses a gripping clamp that utilizes a linear slider bar, a moveable jaw and a fixed jaw that can be tilted by means of a ratchet cam. 
   While the above-described vise devices are effective for their intended purpose, there is nevertheless a continuing need, and a consumer desire, for an improved vise that opens and closes quickly and easily with a high degree of mechanical advantage is usable for clamping and holding a wide variety of work object shapes. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, a Flexi-vise is disclosed comprising a stationary and movable jaw that can be easily opened and closed primarily with a linear ratchet shaft and secondarily with a rotary ratchet cam. The jaws are designed, with each jaw having upstanding portions to accommodate a variety of interchangeable jaw faces including a jaw face containing an array of spring loaded pins. The spring-loaded pins enable the vise to grasp objects of widely varying shapes. The vise is designed to easily accommodate a variety of such jaw faces with differing force-displacement characteristics, such as, but not limited to light, medium and heavy duty, with respect to clamping force capability. Various spring-pin excursion lengths can be used to accommodate more different shapes and different spring rate characteristics. Additionally, a flat face can be installed to provide a more typical vise configuration. The linear ratchet slide mechanism that is employed allows the jaws to be brought quickly to a point where the load is engaged. Teeth on the linear ratchet ensure that the initial load on a work object is maintained. This initial load can be released by means of a spring-loaded dog attached to the movable jaw. A ratchet-loading cam is provided to significantly amplify the final clamping load by incrementally translating the movable jaw in the load direction. Teeth on this cam are finer than those on the linear ratchet. This allows the user to precisely set the holding force on a work object, one click at a time. A spring-loaded dog can be provided to release the cam load at any time. A spring-action lockout plate can also be used to defeat the spring action, which causes the vise to behave more like a rigid, traditional vise. A jaw cover and spring action lockout member is also disclosed as another means to allow the vise to function like a traditional vise. 
   These and other features and advantages are described in or apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the exemplary embodiments will be apparent and easily understood from a further reading of the specification, claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a Flexi-vise apparatus; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the Flexi-vise of  FIG. 1  showing the Flexi-vise loaded with a work piece of a non-standard shape; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic end view of the stationary jaw of the Flexi-vise shown in  FIG. 1  showing the linear ratchet release mechanism; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of the linear ratchet bar assembly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic plan view of the linear ratchet bar assembly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view detail of the ratchet cam and piston arrangement; 
       FIG. 7A  is a front view of a typical spring-loaded pin array jaw face of the Flexi-vise of  FIG. 1  showing the loading pin ends and the quick-release mounting pins; 
       FIG. 7B  is a side view of the spring-loaded pin array jaw face shown in FIG.  7 A. 
       FIG. 8A  is a front view of a flat jaw face of the Flexi-vise of  FIG. 1  showing the quick release mounting pins; 
       FIG. 8B  is a side view of the flat jaw face of FIG.  8 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of the Flexi-vise of  FIG. 1  showing a standard vise conversion feature; and 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the Flexi-vise of  FIG. 1  with the flat jaw face of  FIG. 8  installed in each jaw. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While preferred embodiments will be described hereinafter, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
   For a general understanding of the features of the exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to identify identical elements.  FIGS. 1-10  schematically depict various views illustrating an improved vise incorporating the features of the present invention therein. It will become evident from the following discussion that the disclosed vise may be employed in a wide variety of applications for holding irregular objects and is not specifically limited in its application to the particular apparatus and method specifically mentioned herein. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-10 , various views are shown illustrating the Flexi-vise  10 . In  FIG. 1 , a base  12  supports a pair of opposing, parallel jaws  14  and  16 . One jaw  14 , is fixed, while the other  16 , is moveable. The jaws are designed to accommodate a variety of quick-release jaw faces that can be used for a variety applications. In the preferred embodiment, a removable jaw face assembly  20  containing a dense array of spring loaded-pins  27  is installed. Each pin passes through a compression spring  29  within which it has a loose sliding fit. The pin-spring arrangement passes through clearance holes in face plate  24  in movable jaw  16  and  26  of stationary jaw  14  and is held there by an end cap  28 . Upstanding extensions  21  and  22  are also provided on jaws  16  and  14  respectively, with clearance holes for the end caps  28 . Flexi-vise  10  is opened and closed, by a combination of a linear ratchet mechanism  30  and a ratchet cam mechanism  40 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , as the vise closes, pins  27  conform around a work object  11 , providing an increasingly secure grasp as first, the movable jaw  16  is pushed toward stationary jaw  14  along the ratchet shaft  31 , then, it is further secured by means of the ratchet cam  41  which displaces the moveable jaw  16 , as a cam lever  42  is depressed. This dual action provides a secure grasp of the work object  11  by the pins  27  between the jaws. 
   Each pin  27  is retractable independently from the others, allowing the work object to imprint its shape into the bed of pins. This will occur on both jaws. The amount of deflection will depend on the shape of the object, the stiffness of the springs and the degree to which the jaws are closed. 
   A variety of jaw face assemblies can be made with various pin and spring combinations that can extend the range of Flexi-vise  10  to not only multiple shapes, but also to a broad range of holding force requirements. For example, very light springs and pins can be used to securely hold delicate objects, for light tasks, such as, painting, light assembly or adjustment. Heavier holding forces can be provided using heavier springs and pins for tasks entailing higher loads such as cutting, drilling, filing or heavy assembly. Medium duty jaw face assemblies can be used for general assembly work for complex object shapes, such as, the assembly of wire harnesses. In addition, the tips  25  of the holding pins  27  can be constructed differently for the different applications. Rubber tips might be used for the light duty version. Hard plastic tips can be used for the medium duty version and steel tips for the heavy-duty version. 
   It should be understood that a Flexi-vise  10  with a set of easily interchangeable jaw face assemblies is contemplated, although a single-purpose Flexi-vise could also be constructed with any one of the jaw face assemblies described above or one of a similar nature. 
   The length of the retractable pins will determine the degree of non-uniformity of the work object to be held, since as soon as any pin “bottoms out”, the vise can close no further. 
   The forces on the object will be non-uniform, to the degree that the object is non-uniform. However, given the large number of pins, the distributed holding forces on the work object will generally be quite substantial. To the extent that the work object is non-uniform, pins  27  will provide lateral support only achieved in an ordinary clamping vise by means of high, and potentially destructive clamping forces. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , Flexi-vise  10  is also unique by the means provided for opening and closing the vise. Instead of the traditional threaded shaft that is generally used to drive a vise closed, a dual ratchet system is employed. The major advantage of the threaded drive is its mechanical advantage. The disadvantage is the amount of time it can take to open or close the jaws. The required motion, which describes a circle parallel to the user&#39;s body, is also awkward. The arms can generate far more power in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the body. 
   In the dual ratchet system, the main drive is achieved by a linear ratchet mechanism  30  that includes the ratchet shaft  31 , which takes the place of the conventional threaded drive shaft. As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , shaft  31 , which has approximately the same diameter as the typical vise screw, has flats on the sides to prevent rotation, and a series of parallel slots that intersperse a series of raised surfaces  33  that act as teeth. Teeth  33  have a ratchet profile, which is to say, a gentle slope in the direction that motion is being permitted (closing the jaws) and a steep profile in the direction that motion is being suppressed (opening the jaws). Movable jaw  16  is engaged on this linear ratchet shaft and moves with the shaft  31  as the entire linear ratchet mechanism  30  is slid forward. A spring-loaded dog  32 , shown in  FIG. 3  mounted on fixed jaw  14 , is used to engage teeth  33 , thus avoiding back slip as the jaws begin to engage the load. This is necessary, since the spring-loaded jaws will present a resisting force once the load is engaged. This drive action is significantly faster than a traditional vise, though it lacks the mechanical advantage of the traditional screw drive. The ratchet cam mechanism  40  of the dual ratchet mechanisms includes a rotary ratchet cam  41  that more than compensates for this. The ratchet cam  41  has a limited throw (typically less than one inch depending on the specific cam profile). It is intended to be deployed after the movable jaw  16 , riding on the linear ratchet shaft  31  has engaged work piece  11  and it either closes to the final load point, or, as far as the user is able to push it shut against the resisting force of the springs  29 . However far Flexi-vise  10  is closed at this point, it will remain closed by virtue of linear ratchet  31 , and spring-loaded dog  32  engaging the ratchet teeth  33 . Once deployed, the ratchet cam  41 , also remains loaded by virtue of the ratchet dog  52  interacting with ratchet teeth on the inner surface of the ratchet cam mounting plates  51  as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIGS. 4-6  show the details of the dual cam system. The movable jaw  16  is pinned to a piston  47  that rides inside ratchet shaft  31  by means of the drive pin  45 . The drive pin  45  passes through a slot  48  in the ratchet shaft rather than a hole. This allows the movable jaw to translate with respect to the shaft, a distance that is comparable to the linear “throw” of the ratchet cam  41 , and independently of the linear ratchet shaft position, This is important since it does not disturb that “locked” state achieved by the linear ratchet mechanism. The ratchet cam  41  sits inside a cutout in linear ratchet shaft  31 . A compression spring  49  maintains a biasing force against the piston  47 . 
   The ratchet cam  41 , can be deployed by manipulating cam lever  42  to increase the loading of the jaws by means of a cam action with a mechanical advantage, exceeding that of a traditional screw drive. Ratchet cam  41 , which has a finer click-stop ratchet action than the linear ratchet slide  30 , provides for a very precise administration of clamping force. 
   The ratchet cam mechanism  40  utilizes a rotary ratchet mechanism, to capture and hold any forward progress made by the user as a clamping force is exerted with cam lever  42 . The ratchet action is produced by the interaction of retractable ratchet tooth  52  located on one or both of the side faces of ratchet cam  41 , and a grooved inner surface of the cam mounting plates  51 . The ratchet cam mechanism  40  is oriented in a vertical plane so that the user can put body weight into it as cam lever  42  is pressed down. Cam pivot shaft  44  is affixed to the linear ratchet shaft  31  by means of the two cam mounting plates  51 . The cam  41 , when rotated, pushes against the piston  47 , which slides inside the ratchet shaft  31 . The piston  47  drives the moveable jaw  16  forward by means of the drive pin  45 , which is free to move forward through the slot  48  in the ratchet shaft. There is also a slot  53  in the piston  47  that retains it and aligns it to the ratchet shaft  31  by means of the two piston engagement pins  46 . The slot  53  allows it to slide forward in response to the cam  41  action. The cam ratchet release button  43 , located under the cam lever  42 , retracts the cam ratchet tooth  52 , to allow the ratchet cam  41  to release. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , The slot  53  in the piston  47  is used to capture and align it with respect to the ratchet shaft  31 . 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B  show the front and side views, respectively, of spring-loaded jaw face  24 . In these views, pins  17  that are used to mount the jaw face onto moveable jaw  16  can be seen. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B  show front and side views, respectively, of an optional flat jaw face  23 , which essentially gives this vise the same capability as a traditional vise. 
   A hole  13  can be seen in each of the mounting pins  17  of  FIGS. 7B and 8B . These holes accommodate jaw face engagement pins  19  as shown in  FIG. 1 , that secure the quick-release jaws while in operation. 
   An accessory is shown in  FIG. 9  for Flexi-vise  10  that can change the behavior of the vise, to more in keeping with that of a traditional vise. In  FIG. 9 , a “U” shaped jaw face cover  60  made of a material, such as, sheet metal, is shown inserted between upstanding members  20 ,  22  and  24 ,  26  of jaws  16  and  14 , respectively, and in front of the pin heads  25 . The jaw cover is located in the slot formed by the back of the spring-pin array of the jaw face assembly  20  in its unloaded position and the Jaw upstanding members  21  and  22  that have an array of holes therein which align with the spring-pin array and are large enough to accommodate the pin end caps  28 . These holes allow the spring-pin end caps to pass through under conditions of ordinary operation. However, the spacing between upstanding members  21 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  provides a slot into which the back end of jaw cover  60  can be placed to provide a spring-action lock-out feature. With jaw cover  60  in place, the spring pins  27  cannot move, thus providing a rigid jaw, more like that of a standard vise, as well as, provide a pair of smooth, parallel faces  61  when placed over upstanding members  24  and  26 . This essentially emulates a traditional vise, allowing this tool, in many cases, to become a full replacement of a traditional vise. 
   In  FIG. 10 , a Flexi-vise configuration is shown utilizing the flat jaw face  23  of FIG.  8 A. This is another way of providing behavior equivalent to a traditional vise jaw. No additional upstanding members are required in this case. 
   In recapitulation, a Flexi-vise having a unique means of rapidly and conveniently closing vise jaws to grasp and secure an object that utilizes a linear ratchet shaft, a secondary securing step utilizing a ratchet cam to provide, a very powerful clamping action, a flexible system of quick release jaw face assemblies including one with spring loaded pins, capable of accommodating a variety of application-specific requirements. The spring-loaded pins enable the vise to grasp objects of widely varying shapes. The vise can accommodate a variety of jaws with differing force-displacement characteristics, such as, but not limited to light, medium and heavy duty, with respect to clamping force capability. Various spring-pin excursion lengths can also be provided, to accommodate more different shapes and different spring rate characteristics. Flat face jaws can also be used. A simple arrangement such as a set of tight fitting pins with a cross-locking engagement pin can be used to mount the jaws. A linear ratchet slide mechanism is employed that allows the jaws to be brought quickly to a point where the load is engaged. The ratchet teeth ensure that the initial load on the object is maintained. This initial load can be released by means of a spring-loaded dog attached to the movable jaw. A ratchet-loading cam is provided to significantly amplify the final clamping load. The teeth on this cam are finer than those on the linear ratchet. This allows the user to precisely set the holding force on a work object, one click at a time. A spring-loaded dog is provided to release the cam load at any time. A selectable spring-action lockout jaw cover feature is included which defeats the spring action, causing the vise to behave exactly like a traditional vise. 
   While the invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein.