Patent Publication Number: US-2011068590-A1

Title: Safety device for toggle clamps

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention generally relates to a safety device for toggle clamps. More particularly, the invention relates to a safety device that can secure the fixing or retaining of the relevant components of a toggle clamp to avoid hazards and bodily injuries. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As of now, a connective piece is usually used in the toggle clamps for clamping. Hinges are usually used to connect components, such as the pull portion, insertion ends and position-limiting portion. Therefore, the components are not completely affixed; especially, when the connective piece is used vertically, some of the components can still move. In addition, the toggle clamps of the prior art are structurally complicated and have a higher cost of production. These drawbacks need to be improved. 
     From the above, we can see that the toggle clamps of the prior art have disadvantages and need to be improved. 
     To eliminate the disadvantages of the toggle clamps of the prior art, the inventor has put a lot of effort into the subject and has successfully come up with the safety device of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a safety device that can secure the fixing of the relevant components of a toggle clamp to avoid hazards and bodily injuries. Therefore, safety may be assured. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety device that is structurally simple and easy to use and has a low cost of production. 
     To reach these objects, the safety device of the present invention is disclosed. The safety device of the present invention comprises a seat portion, a fixing portion, a position-limiting portion, a pull portion and a retaining piece. The fixing portion and the pull portion are connected with the seat portion. The position-limiting portion connects the fixing portion with the pull portion. A positioning hole is provided by either connective juncture of the position-limiting portion, and another positioning hole is provided by either protrusion. To affix the pull portion, we can insert the two insertion ends of the retaining piece into the two positioning holes of the pull portion and the two positioning holes of the position-limiting portion. In addition, a positioning piece may affix an object so that a user may work on the object. 
     These features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the accompanying Drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the safety device of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are two views illustrating how the retaining device of the present invention is used. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a perspective view illustrating the safety device of the present invention. The safety device of the present invention comprises a seat portion  1 , a fixing portion  2 , a position-limiting portion  3 , a pull portion  4  and a retaining piece  5 . The seat portion  1  has several holes  11  and several screws or bolts (not shown in the drawing) may be used to fasten it to a flat surface. The seat portion  1  may be placed on top of any flat surface. A slot  21  is formed in the fixing portion  2 . A positioning piece  22  passing through the slot  21  is provided. The rear portion of the fixing portion  2  is connected to the rear portion of the seat portion  1 . One end of the position-limiting portion  3  is connected with the fixing portion  2 , and the other end is connected with the two arms  41 . A positioning hole  31  (only one hole  31  is shown in the drawing) is provided by either connective juncture of the position-limiting portion  3 . An insertion end  51  is provided on each end of the retaining piece  5 . Either insertion end  51  is inserted into the positioning hole  412  of the pull portion  4  and the corresponding positioning hole  31  of the position-limiting portion  3 . Two arms  41  extend downwards from the pull portion  4 . The lower end of each arm  41  is connected with the seat portion  1 . The middle portion of each arm  41  is connected with the position-limiting portion  3 . A hemispherical protrusion  411  is formed at either juncture of each arm  41  and the corresponding position-limiting portion  3 . A positioning hole  412  (only one hole  412  is shown in the drawing) is provided by either protrusion  411 . Either positioning hole  412  may be aligned with the corresponding positioning hole  31 . 
     Please see  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which are two views illustrating how the retaining device of the present invention is used. When a toggle clamp is used, either insertion end  51  is inserted into the positioning hole  412  of one of the two arms  41  and the positioning hole  31  of the corresponding position-limiting portion  3 ; therefore, the fixing portion  2  and pull portion  4  are affixed and are perpendicular to each other. In addition, the positioning piece  22  may retain or affix an object so that a user may work on the object. If the user wants to loosen the fixing portion  2  and pull portion  4 , he may push the retaining piece  5  upwards; now, either insertion end  51  would press against a protrusion  411  located at each side of the pull portion  4 . When the two insertion ends  51  move to the top portion of each protrusion  411 , the two insertion ends  51  would move out of the two positioning holes  31 . Now, the fixing portion  2  and pull portion  4  are loosened. 
     Therefore, the safety device of the present invention is structurally simple, easy to use and very safe. In addition, the goal of swift clamping may be reached. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  (which are views illustrate other three embodiments of the present invention), the retaining piece  5  may be disposed in a different location as according to the requirement or specification of a user. In such case, the positioning holes and protrusions  411  may be relocated accordingly so that the safety device of the present invention may be used in various types of toggle clamps  6 ,  7  and  8 . 
     In comparison to the prior art, the safety device of the present invention has the following advantages: 
     1. In the safety device of the present invention, a retaining piece is used to secure the fixing or retaining of the relevant components of a toggle clamp to avoid hazards and bodily injuries. Therefore, safety may be assured. 
     2. The safety device of the present invention is structurally simple and easy to use and has a low cost of production. 
     3. The safety device of the present invention may be used for various types of toggle clamps. 
     Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.