Patent Publication Number: US-2023158641-A1

Title: Modular vise

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/397,451, filed Aug. 9, 2021, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to adjustable vises. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tools, such as, for example, vises or bench vises, are commonly used to securely hold an item or object, while work is performed on the object. For example, conventional vises are cast tools and include a screw type mechanism used to adjust a distance between opposing first and second jaws (also referred to as jaw opening) to clap or hold the object between the first and second jaws. However, this screw type mechanism can cause adjusting of the jaw opening to be slow when working with objects of different sizes or orientations. 
     Some conventional vises provide replaceable grippers on the jaws. However, these grippers are affixed to the respective jaws with screws or other fasteners that often become damaged or corrode, making replacement of the grippers difficult. Due to the cast nature of conventional vises, the conventional vises also tend to be large and heavy, which makes moving or manipulation of the vises cumbersome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates broadly to a vise having a modular construction that allows for ease of manufacture, assembly, and ease of changeover or replacement of wear items, such as gripping surfaces of jaws of the vise. The modular construction also provides for reduced weight of the vise, compared to conventional cast type vises. The vise also incorporates quick adjustment features allowing for the vise to be easily rotated, a position and size of an opening of the jaws to be rapidly adjusted, and a clamping force applied with ease. For example, the vise may include a quick adjustment mechanism that allows the jaws to clamp an object therebetween by actuating a cam that drives a gear face laterally, where the gear face engages and pulls a gear rack attached to a clamping face assembly. Further, the vise may include a rotation mechanism that allows the vise to be quickly and easily rotated. 
     In an embodiment, the present invention relates broadly to a vise having a body including first and second side portions. A slide extends into the body between the first and second side portions, and a toothed portion is coupled to the slide and faces in a first direction towards the first side portion. A first jaw portion is coupled to the body, and a second jaw portion is coupled to an end of the slide, wherein the slide is movable with respect to the body to adjust a distance between the first and second jaw portions. A cam and tooth block are disposed in the first side portion, wherein the tooth block faces in a second direction towards the toothed portion and engages the toothed portion, and wherein rotation of the cam in a first rotational direction cases movement of the tooth block linearly laterally with respect to the first side portion, and the movement of the tooth block causes movement of the slide into the body. 
     In an embodiment, the present invention relates broadly to a vise having a base plate, a cover plate coupled to the base plate, a gear ring disposed between the base plate and the cover plate, wherein the gear ring includes gear teeth extending inwardly from an inner surface of the gear ring. A lever including a gear stop with stop teeth is adapted to engage the gear teeth. An attachment portion is coupled to the gear ring and extends through the cover plate. 
     The vise also includes a body having first and second side portions respectively coupled to opposing sides of the attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion, gear ring, and body are rotatable together with respect to the base plate when the stop teeth are disengaged from the gear teeth. A slide extends into the body between the first and second side portions. A first jaw portion is coupled to the body, and a second jaw portion is coupled to an end of the slide, wherein the slide is movable with respect to the body to adjust a distance between the first and second jaw portions. 
     In an embodiment, the present invention relates broadly to a vise having a body including first and second side portions, and first and second rollers coupled to and extending between the first and second side portions. A slide extends into the body between the first and second side portions and between the first and second rollers. A first jaw portion is coupled to the body, and a second jaw portion is coupled to an end of the slide, wherein the slide is movable with respect to the body to adjust a distance between the first and second jaw portions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an exemplary vise, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the vise of  FIG.  1    with a side cover plate removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of an adjusting mechanism of the vise of  FIG.  1   , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the vise of  FIG.  1    with a side plate removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of an optional tray that can be incorporated into the vise of  FIG.  1   , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of jaw arms of the vise, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of jaw plates and jaw gripping members of the vise, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a base of the vise, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the base of the vise with a cover plate removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  10 - 12    are perspective views of components of a rotation mechanism of the vise, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any one or more embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is instead used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only. 
     The present invention relates broadly to a vise having a modular construction that allows for ease of manufacture, assembly, and changeover or replacement of wear items, such as gripping surfaces of jaws of the vise. The modular construction also provides for reduced weight of the vise, compared to conventional cast type vises. The vise also incorporates quick adjustment features allowing the vise to be easily rotated, positioned and sizing of an opening between the jaws to be rapidly adjusted, and a clamping force applied with ease. For example, the vise may include a quick adjustment mechanism that allows the jaws to clamp an object therebetween by actuating a cam that drives a gear face laterally, where the gear face engages and pulls a gear rack attached to a clamping face assembly. Further, the vise may include a rotation mechanism that allows the vise to be quickly and easily rotated. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , a vise  100  includes a body portion  102  with a first jaw portion  104 , a slide  106  having a second jaw portion  108 , and a base portion  110 . The slide  106  is received in the body portion  102 , and movable with respect to the body portion  102  to adjust a distance or opening between the first and second jaw portions  104 ,  108 . This allows a user to adjust the opening between the first and second jaw portions  104 ,  108  to clamp an object between the first and second jaw portions  104 ,  108 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  4   , the body portion  102  includes first and second side portions  112 ,  114 , and a top portion  116 . The first and second side portions  112 ,  114  are coupled to the base  110 . For example, the first and second side portions  112 ,  114  are respectively coupled to opposing sides of an attachment portion  118  of the base  110  that projects upwardly from the base  110  (as described in further detail below). In an embodiment, the first and second side portions  112 ,  114  are respectively coupled to the attachment portion  118  via removable fasteners, such as, for example, screws, bolds, rivets, etc. This allows the base  110 , and first and second side portions  112 ,  114 , to be disassembled, and replacement of damaged or worn components. 
     The first and second side portions  112 ,  114  may also be coupled together via one or more rollers and/or bushings. For example, referring to  FIG.  4   , first, second, third, and fourth rollers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  are disposed between the first and second side portions  112 ,  114 . The first and second rollers  120 ,  122  may be disposed proximal to an upper side of the first and second side portions  112 ,  114 , and the third and fourth rollers  124 ,  126  may be disposed proximal to a lower side of the first and second side portions  112 ,  114  (proximal to the base  110 ). In another embodiment, the rollers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  may instead be bushings, such as, for example, rectilinear bushings. 
     The first and second side portions  112 ,  114  may also be coupled to the top portion  116  via removable fasteners, such as, for example, screws, bolds, rivets, etc. This allows the top portion  116  to be removed and replaced. For example, the top portion  116  may be a flat plate, a tray type portion, or other functional portion (as described in further detail below). The first and second side portions  112 ,  114  may also include first jaw mounting portions  128 . The first jaw mounting portions  128  may include notches adapted to receive, position, and couple to modular jaws, brackets, or clamps (as described in further detail below). 
     The slide  106  may be received in the body  102 , and disposed between the first and second side portions  112 ,  114 . The slide  106  may also be disposed between the first and third rollers  124 ,  124  and between the second and fourth rollers  122 ,  126 . The first, second, third, and fourth rollers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  provide for smooth and easy movement of the slide  106  into and out of the body  102 . 
     Second jaw mounting portions  130  may be coupled to an end of the slide  106 . Similar to the first jaw mounting portions  128 , the second jaw mounting portions  130  may include notches adapted to receive, position, and couple to modular jaws, brackets, or clamps (as described in further detail below). A stop  132  may also be coupled to another end of the slide  106  (opposite the end coupled to the second jaw mounting portions  130 ). The stop  132  may include a protrusion, hook, or other feature that restricts movement of the slide  106  out of the body  102 . For example, when the slide  106  is moved in a direction out of the body  102 , the stop  132  may contact or abut the fourth roller  126  to restrict movement of the slide  106  out of the body  102 . The stop  132  may also be removable from the slide  106 , to allow for removal of the slide  106  from the body  102  and/or replacement of the stop  132 . 
     The slide  106  also includes a toothed portion  134  (such as a toothed plate) coupled to the slide  106  and facing in a direction towards the first side portion  112 . The toothed portion  134  is coupled to the slide  106  via removable fasteners, such as, for example, screws, bolds, rivets, etc. This allows the toothed portion  134  to be removed and replaced, should teeth of the toothed portion  134  become damaged or worn. 
     The first side portion  112  may include a recess or pocket  136  adapted to receive one or more components of an adjustment mechanism of the vise  100 . For example, the adjustment mechanism may include a housing  138  disposed in the recess or pocket  136  and a cover  140  disposed on the housing  138 . However, the housing  138  may be integral (or a single monolithic piece) with the first side portion  112 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the housing  138  includes a recess  142  adapted to receive a tooth block  144  and cam  146 . The tooth block  144  and the toothed portion  134  coupled to the slide  106 , each include teeth that meshingly mate with one another. The teeth on the tooth block  144  and the toothed portion  134  have, in an embodiment, a backdraft (i.e., are angled). The backdraft (i.e., angle) of the teeth allows the teeth to remain engaged when the cam  146  rotates and pushes the tooth block  144 . The tooth block  144  may also be biased, such as via a spring, in a direction towards the toothed portion  134  coupled to the slide  106 , and depression of a button may operatively cause the tooth block  144  to move in a direction away from the toothed portion  134 . This allows the position of the slide  106  to be changed with respect to the body  102  (i.e., the slide  106  may be moved into or out of the body  102 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the cam  146  includes a protrusion or shaft  148  adapted to mate with a handle or other tool to assist a user when rotating the cam  146 . The shaft  148  extends from a radially extending shaped protrusion  150 . The protrusion  150  includes a larger radially extending portion that reduces to a smaller radially extending portion, such that the tooth block  144  contacts the smaller radially extending portion, and as the cam  146  is rotated in a first rotational direction (such as in a clockwise direction shown in  FIG.  3   ), the larger radially extending portion moves into contact with the tooth block  144  to gradually push the tooth block  144  in a direction laterally away from the cam  146  and into engagement with the toothed portion  134  coupled to the slide  106 . Due to the engagement between the teeth of the tooth block  144  and the teeth of the toothed portion  134  coupled to the slide  106 , rotation of the cam  146  in the first rotational direction also causes the tooth block  144  to move the slide  106  laterally and provide a clamping force between the first and second jaw portions  104 ,  108 . Similarly, rotation of the cam  146  in a second rotational direction (such as in a counter-clockwise direction shown in  FIG.  3   ), releases the tooth block  144  and slide  106 , thereby reducing the clamping force between the first and second jaw portions  104 ,  108 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  6  and  7   , the first jaw portion  104  may include a first jaw plate  152  and a first jaw gripper  154 . Similarly, the second jaw portion  108  may include a second jaw plate  156  and a second jaw gripper  158 . Each of the first jaw mounting portions  128  and second jaw mounting portions  130  may include a notch  160  adapted to receive the respective first and second jaw plates  152 ,  156 . Each of the first and second jaw plates  152 ,  156  may also include one or more slots  162 , and each of the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158  may include corresponding one or more protrusions  164  adapted to mate with the one or more slots  162  and removably couple the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158  to the respective first and second jaw plates  152 ,  156 . As shown, the slots  162  are dovetail type slots, and the protrusions  164  are dovetail type protrusions. However, other types of mating engagement can be used that allow for easy removal and replacement of the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 . 
     Each of the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158  may include gripping teeth  166 . However, each of the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158  may have other shapes and geometries of teeth or grippers. For example, each of the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158  may include round or arcuate slots to hold bar stock, or other features adapted to hold various other shaped objects. 
     During operation, the slide  106  may be moved into or out of the body  102  to provide a desired distance between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 . For example, an object may be disposed between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 , and the slide  106  moved into the body  102  to reduce a distance between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 , and thereby hold or clamp the object between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 . To move the slide  106 , the button described above may be depressed to cause the tooth block  144  to move in a direction away from the toothed portion  134 , and allow the slide  106  to move with respect to the body  102 . When the object is held or clamped between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 , the button may be released to cause the tooth block  144  to move into engagement with the toothed portion  134 . 
     To more securely hold or clamp the object between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 , the cam  146  is rotated in the first rotational direction (such as in the clockwise direction) to cause the cam  146  to push the tooth block  144  in a direction laterally away from the cam  146 . This lateral movement of the tooth block  144  also causes the slide  106  to move laterally into the body  102 , and provide an increased clamping force between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 . Similarly, rotation of the cam  146  in the second rotational direction (such as in a counter-clockwise direction), releases the tooth block  144  and slide  106 , thereby allowing the slide  106  to move laterally out the body  102  and reduce the clamping force between the first and second jaw grippers  154 ,  158 . 
     In addition to causing lateral movement of the tooth block  144 , rotation of the cam  146  in the first rotational direction may cause movement of the tooth block  144  in a direction towards the toothed portion  134 . In this example, the button described above may be removed, as rotation of the cam  146  in the first rotational direction moves of the tooth block  144  towards and into engagement with the toothed portion  134 , and laterally away from the cam  146 . Similarly, rotation of the cam  146  in the second rotational direction moves of the tooth block  144  away from and out of engagement with the toothed portion  134 , and laterally towards from the cam  146 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  5   , the top portion  116  coupled to the body  102  above the slide  106  may be removable and replaceable. For example, the top portion  116  may be a flat plate, a tray type portion, or other functional portion. As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  5   , the top portion  116  can be constructed of multiple components, such as a tray portion  168  disposed on a tray base portion  170 . The tray portion  168  may be removable from the tray base portion  170 , and include a recess  172  adapted to hold parts and other objects. The tray portion  168  may have locations adapted to affix attachment parts such as one or more posts  174  and an electrical socket  176 . The top portion  116  may also include a light with a switch  175 , and the tray base portion  170  may include a cavity  178  adapted to house a magnet and/or a battery. The tray base portion  170  may also have routing grooves or spaces  180  for electrical wiring or to receive magnets. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8 - 12   , the base portion  110  includes the attachment portion  118  coupled to the first and second side portions  112 ,  114  to couple the body  102  to the base portion  110 . The base portion  110  also includes a cover plate  182  and a base plate  184 . The cover plate  182  includes an aperture  186  through which the attachment portion  118  extends, and is coupled to the base plate  184  via fasteners at fastener locations  188 . The base plate  184  may be coupled to a substrate or work surface, for example a work bench or floor. In this regard, the base plate  184  may include taps  190  with apertures  192  adapted to receive fasteners, such as lag bolts or other type of fasteners adapted to couple the base plate  184  to the work surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  9 - 12   , the base portion  110  may also include a rotation mechanism  200  that allows the attachment portion  118  and the body  102  coupled to the attachment portion  118  to rotate relative to the base plate  184 . The rotation mechanism  200  may be disposed between the cover plate  182  and the base plate  184 . Referring to  FIG.  9    (with the cover plate  182  removed), the rotation mechanism  200  includes an attachment plate  202 , a gear ring  204 , and a release lever  206 . The attachment plate  202  is coupled to the gear ring  204  via one or more fasteners  208 , and coupled to the attachment portion  118  via one or more fasteners that are received in fastener apertures  210 . This allows the attachment plate  202 , gear ring  204 , and attachment portion  118  to rotate together. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  10  and  11   , the gear ring  204  includes teeth  212  extending radially inwardly and disposed circumferentially around an inner surface of the gear ring  204 . The release lever  206  is coupled to or includes a gear stop  214  with teeth  216  that mate with the teeth  212  of the gear ring  204 . The gear stop  214  is disposed proximal to the inner surface of the gear ring  204 , and the teeth  216  of the gear stop  214  protrude in a direction towards the teeth  212  of the gear ring  204 . The release lever  206  also extends below the gear ring  204  and external to the base portion  110 . 
     The gear stop  214  is also disposed in a recess  218  in the base plate  184 , which allows for movement of the release lever  206  inwardly, thereby moving the teeth  216  of the gear stop  214  out of engagement with the teeth  212  of the gear ring  204 . For example, the release lever  206  can be pushed inwardly with respect to the base plate  184  to disengage the teeth  216  of the gear stop  214  from the teeth  212  of the gear ring  204 . In this disengaged position, the body  102  is allowed to rotate freely with respect to the base plate  184 . When the body  102  is in a desired position, the user can pull the release lever  206  outwardly with respect to the base plate  184  to engage the teeth  216  of the gear stop  214  with the teeth  212  of the gear ring  204 . In this engaged position, the body  102  is disallowed to rotate or locked in position with respect to the base plate  184 . 
     The multicomponent or modular construction of the vise  100  allows the components to be disassembled, and removed/replaced if one or more of the components is damaged, worn, or otherwise fails. This modular construction also provides a vise  100  that is light weight compared to convention cast type vises, which allows for easier portability and manipulation. 
     As used herein, the term “coupled” can mean any physical, electrical, magnetic, or other connection, either direct or indirect, between two parties. The term “coupled” is not limited to a fixed direct coupling between two entities. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.