Patent Publication Number: US-2017348829-A1

Title: Drive assembly for use with the handle grip of a clamping device

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/855,588 filed Sep. 16, 2015, which claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/129,619 filed Mar. 6, 2015. The subject matter of each application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to devices and assemblies that are used to hold or “clamp” pieces of wood or other materials together (collectively, a “piece” or “pieces”). It also relates generally to bar clamps or other clamping devices (collectively, a “clamp”) having a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface, the first and second clamping surfaces forming a “throat” between them. In use, the piece is placed within the throat of the clamp such that the piece or pieces can be firmly held within the clamp. Further, the first and second clamping surfaces can be fixed and/or movable toward or away from one another with one of the clamping surfaces being movable via a rotatable handle for hand or manual clamp tightening and loosening of the piece or pieces that are placed within the throat of the clamp. 
     More specifically, the present invention relates to a drive assembly that can be built into such a clamp whereby the clamp can be tightened or loosened relative to the piece or pieces by using the drive assembly of the present invention. Such a drive assembly would complement manual or hand tightening and loosening of the clamp, rather than replace it. When used, the drive assembly would allow the clamp to be tightened or loosened more quickly and tighter thereby reducing the time necessary to apply the clamp, or more typically a plurality of clamps, to the piece or pieces being s worked, and applying more pressure to the wood piece being worked. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the craft of woodworking, it is often necessary to hold two or more pieces of wood together, such as when adjacent surfaces of the pieces are glued together. Using a clamp serves to maintain the relative positions of the pieces until the glue has dried, at which point the clamp is removed. In some instances, it is necessary to retain a plurality of such wood pieces together and the wood pieces are relatively long such that a number of clamps are required. In such cases, it is not at all unusual for the craftsman to use multiple clamps in multiple locations or positions such that the clamps are spaced apart by only a few inches. This allows the craftsman to apply somewhat equal pressure to the wood pieces along their full lengths. 
     As to the specific structure or type of clamp with which the assembly of the present invention can be used or incorporated, the clamp must have several essential elements. For purposes of this portion of the disclosure, it will be assumed that the type of clamp used is a bar clamp, sometimes configured as an “F-clamp” or as a “step over” clamp, the former of which will be discussed further in the detailed description of this disclosure. That is, the F-clamp and the bar clamp will be discussed here for purposes of presenting the concept behind the present invention. The F-clamp has a first end that is fixed in position and is disposed transversely at the end of a longitudinally-extending bar. In short, this is a fixed end support. Disposed along the bar is a movable end support, which is transversely-disposed relative to the bar and is movable along the bar, and typically includes a clutch mechanism for fixing the position of the movable end support along the bar. The two supports and the bar are configured as a structure that is formed in somewhat of an “F” shape—hence the name “F-clamp.” 
     The words “clamp,” “bar clamp,” “F-clamp,” “step over clamp” and “pipe clamp” may be used interchangeably but are to be understood to mean the same or similar device, or type of device, with which the assembly of the present invention can be used. In the preferred assembly, the fixed end support and the movable end support include protective pressure caps or pads, which pads prevent any unwanted pressure indentations or impressions being imparted into the final wood product by either end support. 
     That portion of the clamp between the end supports is sometimes referred to as the “throat” of the clamp. It is within this throat that the wood pieces are placed. Once placed within the throat of the clamp, the movable end support is advanced toward the wood pieces to roughly position the movable end support adjacent the wood pieces. The movable end support is further configured with a threaded member which includes a rotatable screw-like portion having a handle. The handle is permanently attached to the movable end support and typically disposed parallel to the bar of the clamp. Manual rotation of the handle serves to advance the screw-like portion of the movable end support toward the wood pieces and tighten them between the clamp end supports, all within the throat of the clamp. It is to be understood, however, that this is not the only type of clamp with which the assembly of the present invention can be used, as will be apparent later in the detailed description. It is also to be understood that use of the device and assembly of the present invention is not limited to “pieces” that are made of wood. Other materials may be placed within such clamps and such applications are fully within the scope of this invention. 
     By way of specific example, and supposing that a craftsman is creating a table top which has a dozen or so pieces of hardwood board in it, the boards will need to be placed side-by-side with glue placed between the adjacent faces of each board. The number of boards used would depend on the width of each board and the desired width of the table top. If the table top is designed to be four feet long, the boards would need to be at least four feet long—to allow for end trimming to square the end surface of the table later on in the crafting fabrication process. The only practical way of accomplishing this placement and gluing with a dozen or so boards, and to maintain the relative position of the boards as the glue between them dries, is to use a number of bar clamps. Each bar clamp would be positioned transversely relative to the boards and then secured in position. This would be repeated with a number of bar clamps placed at other points along the table top. The handle of each bar clamp would then be tightened, by hand, to secure the wood pieces within all of the bar clamps. It may also be necessary to place a number of clamps in an inverted position. Each bar clamp would then be secured in succession, and using the hand-tightening method, until all handles of the bar clamps are manually tightened to a desired pressure. 
     In this example, it can be appreciated that manual tightening, followed by manual untightening, of the bar clamp handle is both laborious and time consuming, particularly when a plurality of such clamps are used for a given wood crafting project. 
     In the view of this inventor, there is a need to provide an improved drive assembly that makes tightening and untightening of the clamps easier for the craftsman and that reduces the amount of time it takes to do so, particularly when a plurality of clamps are used. There is also a need for such a drive assembly whereby manual labor is reduced, which can result in a safer approach to wood clamping by, among other things, reducing carpal tunnel syndrome by overuse of the user&#39;s wrists which typically bear the brunt of efforts to tighten and loosen the clamp. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The drive assembly of the present invention meets this need. It provides a lo first preferred embodiment for a modified clamp such that the handle of the clamp can be rotated using an electric tool, such as a drill—which can be referred to as the “drive device” of the drive assembly. Disposed within the rearward end of the handle is a female receiver. A male driver, which is removably held within the chuck of the electric drill, would be inserted into the receiver such that the electric tool can be used to rotate and then tighten or loosen the movable end support of the clamp from the wood pieces. 
     In a second preferred embodiment, the modified clamp includes a male portion that is disposed on a rear portion of the fixed end support and a female driver may be used with the male portion to rotate and then tighten or loosen the clamp from the wood pieces. Of course, the female receiver and male driver can be used with either the movable end support or the stationary end support of the clamp, as could the male portion and the female driver, all in accordance with the present invention. 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial side view of a step over clamp which uses the drive assembly in accordance with the present invention, and showing the drive device disengaged from the handle of the movable end support. 
         FIG. 2  is the same view as that of  FIG. 1  and showing the drive device engaged with the movable end support handle. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectioned view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  and showing the engaged portions of the drive device and the handle of the movable end support. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectioned view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and also showing the engaged portions of the drive device and the handle of the movable end support. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side view of a step over clamp having a different handle configuration and which uses the drive assembly in accordance with the present invention and shows the drive device disengaged from the fixed end support handle. 
         FIG. 6  is the same view as that of  FIG. 5  and showing the drive device engaged with the fixed end support handle. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectioned view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  and showing the engaged portions of the drive device and the fixed end support handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates a drive assembly, generally identified  10 , that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, an F-clamp  20  is shown. The clamp  20  comprises a straight and longitudinally-extending rail or bar  22  which terminates at a fixed end portion  24 . The fixed end portion  24  comprises a fixed end support  26  to which is attached an end cap or pressure cap  28 . The end cap  28  comprises a clamping surface or face  29  against s which the wood boards to be worked (not shown) would be secured from one side. An opposing face  39 , which is part of a movable end support  30 , provides an opposing clamping surface. Between the clamping surfaces  29 ,  39  is the throat  12  of the assembly  10 , which is where the wood to be worked is placed. 
     The movable end support  30  comprises an end support body  32  which can slide along the straight bar  22  of the clamp  20  via an aperture or opening (shown in phantom view in  FIG. 1 ) formed within the support body  32 . The movable support end body  32  is also fixable at points along the bar  22  via a clutch (not shown) of the type which is known in the art. Transversely disposed relative to the movable support end body  32  is a threaded screw portion  34  which mates with a like-threaded aperture (also not shown) in the end body  32 . This structure also includes the clamping surface  39  of a support end  38  and a fixed handle  36 , the handle  36  being “fixed” in relation to the screw portion  34  but rotatable relative to the support body  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  36  also comprises an end face  37 . Lastly, an electric drill  42  or other type of rotational tool having a chuck  44  is provided, the chuck  44  being configured to receive a portion of a male driver  45 . Together with an aperture  35  of the movable end support handle  36 , the drill  42 , chuck  44  and driver  45  are considered to be the “drive device”  40  of the assembly  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , it shows the drive device  40  engaged with the movable end support handle  36 . Specifically, the end face  37  comprises a square-shaped aperture  35 . See  FIGS. 3 and 4  also. The aperture  35  of the movable end support handle  36  is configured to mate with the contour of the driver  45  such that, upon actuation of the drill  42 , the drive device  40  can rotate the handle  36  inwardly or outwardly and in a fashion that is much quicker than can be accomplished by hand. As shown, the aperture  35  may include a liner  33  for purposes of reinforcing the handle  36 , which is made of synthetic or natural polymers and plastics, collectively referred to in this disclosure and in the claims as “polymers” or a “polymer”. As alluded to at the outset, this inventive aspect of the present disclosure results in an improved drive assembly  10  that makes tightening and untightening of the movable end support  30  easier for the craftsman and reduces the amount of time it takes to do so, particularly when a plurality of clamps are used. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , they illustrate an alternative embodiment of the drive assembly, generally identified  110 , that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a bar clamp  120  is shown, although it is to be understood that other clamps could be used as part of either assembly  10 ,  110 . In this second embodiment, the clamp  120  comprises a straight and longitudinally-extending rail or bar  122  having a first end portion  124  along which a movable support body  126  can move longitudinally and be fixed via a clutch (not shown) of the type which is known in the art. The movable support body  126  comprises an end cap or pressure cap  128 . The end cap  128  comprises a clamping surface or face  129  against which the wood boards to be worked are secured from one side. An opposing face  139 , as with the first embodiment, provides an opposing clamping surface. Between the clamping surfaces  129 ,  139  is the throat  112  of the assembly  110 . 
     Further, a second end support  130  is provided which comprises a support body  132  which is fixed to one end of the bar  122  and a movable portion  138  which can limitedly slide along a short portion of the straight bar  122  of the clamp  120  via an opening (not shown) in the support body  132 . The movable portion  138  comprises the clamping surface  139  and is attached to one end of a threaded screw portion  134  which mates with a like-threaded aperture (not shown) in the support body  132 . This structure also includes a handle  136 , the handle  136  being rotatable relative to the support body  132 . The handle  136  of this embodiment is a bit different in that the handle  136  lies generally perpendicular to the screw portion  134  which affords this handle  136  a bit more torque capability. The screw portion  134  comprises an end  135 , the end  135  being shown as a square structure. As shown in  FIG. 5 , it is to be understood that the handle  136  can be secured to the screw portion end  135  as well, but can also be is removed from it. That is, the handle  136  is removably secured to the end  135  of the screw portion  134  via a quick release mechanism, such as a ball and detent arrangement that is known in the art. Lastly, an electric drill  142  or other type of rotational tool having a chuck  144  is provided, the chuck  144  being configured to receive a portion of a female driver  145 . Together with the end  135  of the screw portion  134 , the drill  142 , chuck  144  and driver  145  are considered to be the “drive device”  140  of this particular assembly  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , it shows the drive device  140  engaged with the screw portion end  135 , which is a square-shaped male portion. See also  FIG. 7 . This male portion  135  is configured to mate with the contour of the driver  145  such that, upon actuation of the drill  142 , the drive device  140  can rotate the screw portion  134  inwardly or outwardly and in a fashion that is done more quickly than can be done by hand, even with a handle  136  that is configured to provide more torqueing ability for the craftsman. 
     In accordance with the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provided an improved drive assembly  10 ,  110  that makes tightening and untightening of clamps easier for the craftsman and that reduces the amount of time it takes to do so, particularly when a plurality of clamps, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , are used. It will also be appreciated that a female receiver and male driver can be used with either the movable end support or the stationary end support of the clamp, as could the male portion and the female driver, all such variations being included within the scope of the present invention.