Patent Publication Number: US-10773362-B2

Title: Pivotable vise, clamping attachments for the vise, and related methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/295,372 filed on 15 Feb. 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Various devices and mechanisms may be used for securing workpieces in a manner that facilitates fabrication of various parts therefrom. For example, a vise or a clamp may be used to secure a workpiece while a user machines, carves, shapes, or otherwise manufactures a part or product from the workpiece. More specifically, securing workpieces in vises and/or clamps allows a manufacturer to perform various operations on the workpiece, while maintaining the workpiece in a selected position. 
     Accordingly, users and manufacturers of vises and clamps continue to seek improvements thereto. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a pivotable clamp or vise. For example, the vise may clamp or secure a workpiece at a suitable position and/or orientation. Moreover, one or more portions of the vise may be reconfigured (e.g., pivoted) to reorient and/or reposition the workpiece to one or more suitable angles and/or positions (e.g., relative to a support or a user). In particular, for example, the vise may be pivoted to a selected angle relative to a horizontal plane and may be selectively secured in the pivoted position, such that the workpiece secured in the vise is oriented at a selected or suitable orientation (e.g., relative to the user). For example, reorienting the pivoting portion(s) of the vise may lift or remove the workpiece that is secured in the vise from one or more support surfaces (e.g., in a first orientation of the vise, one or more surfaces of the workpiece may be at least partially supported by or lie on at least one support surface, and in a second orientation of the vise, the workpiece may be distanced from the support surfaces). 
     Embodiments include a pivotable vise that includes a mounting bracket and a clamping assembly pivotably secured to the mounting bracket and configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a mounting plate sized and configured to be secured to a support and a guide plate secured to the mounting plate. The clamping assembly includes an elongated bar pivotably secured to the mounting bracket, a movable jaw operably connected to the elongated bar, a back jaw operably connected to the elongated bar, and a locking mechanism configured to secure the elongated bar at a selected angle relative to the guide plate of the mounting bracket. 
     Embodiments also include a clamping system that includes a support and the vise according to one or more embodiments described herein secured to the support. 
     Features from any of the disclosed embodiments may be used in combination with one another, without limitation. In addition, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate several embodiments, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements or features in different views or embodiments shown in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1A  is a front, isometric view of a vise according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  securing a workpiece according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  securing a workpiece according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  securing a workpiece according to yet another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  with clamping attachments according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 4A  securing a workpiece according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4C  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 4A  securing a workpiece according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  with clamping attachments according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  with clamping attachments according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7A  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 1A  with clamping attachments according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7B  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 7  with a fixture secured between clamping attachments according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front, isometric view of the vise of  FIG. 7  with a fixture secured between clamping attachments according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a pivotable clamp or vise. For example, the vise may clamp or secure a workpiece at a suitable position and/or orientation. Moreover, one or more portions of the vise may be reconfigured (e.g., pivoted) to reorient and/or reposition the workpiece to one or more suitable angles and/or positions (e.g., relative to a support or a user). In particular, for example, the vise may be pivoted to a selected angle relative to a horizontal plane and may be selectively secured in the pivoted position, such that the workpiece secured in the vise is oriented at a selected or suitable orientation (e.g., relative to the user). For example, reorienting the pivoting portion(s) of the vise may lift or remove the workpiece that is secured in the vise from one or more support surfaces (e.g., in a first orientation of the vise, one or more surfaces of the workpiece may be at least partially supported by or lie on at least one support surface, and in a second orientation of the vise, the workpiece may be distanced from the support surfaces). 
     Embodiments also include vise jaws configured to secure workpieces that may have various non-uniform surfaces and/or shapes. For example, at least one of the vise jaws may be configured to pivot in a manner that at least partially aligns or orients the surface of the vise jaw with the surface of the workpiece. In some embodiments, the workpiece may be secured to a pivotable holder that may be clamped by and between the vise jaws. For example, the pivotable holder may be oriented at any suitable orientation (e.g., relative to a support surface or user) in three-dimensional space, as described below in more detail. 
     Generally, in one or more embodiments, a vise  100  is attachable to a support (e.g., a table), as shown in  FIG. 1A . In the illustrated embodiment, the vise  100  includes a clamping assembly  101  pivotably connected to a mounting bracket  102 . More specifically, for example, the clamping assembly  101  may secure or clamp a workpiece (e.g., workpiece  2 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ). In an embodiment, the clamping assembly  101  together with the secured workpiece  2  may be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket  102  and/or may be secured in a selected pivoted orientation. As described below in more detail, the mounting bracket  102  may include one or more elements or components that may be sized and configured to be secured to one or more supports (e.g., the mounting bracket shown in  FIG. 1A  includes a mounting plate  200  that may be attached to a support, such as a table  20 ). For example, the mounting bracket  102  may include one or more openings or holes; one or more corresponding fasteners may pass through the holes in the bracket  102  and fasten the bracket to the support (e.g., the fasteners may include screws that may screw into a side of a table). 
     The clamping assembly  101  may include any number of suitable clamping and/or fastening mechanisms that may vary from one embodiment to the next. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping assembly includes a bar  110 , a back jaw  120  operably connected to the bar  110 , and a repositionable head  130  that may be integrated with the back jaw  120 . The clamping assembly  101  also may include a vise screw  140  and a movable jaw  150  operably connected to the vise screw  140 . In an embodiment, the vise screw  140  may be operably connected to a stationary head  160 . For example, the stationary head  160  may include a threaded hole or a nut that may accept the vise screw  140 , such that rotation of the vise screw  140  inside the threaded hole produces linear movement of the vise screw relative to the stationary head  160  together with the movable jaw  150 . The stationary head  160  may be connected to or integrated with the bar  110 , such that the stationary head  160  may remain substantially fixed relative to the bar  110  as the vise screw  140  rotates and moves the movable jaw  150  relative to the stationary head  160  and relative to the bar  110 . 
     Under some operating conditions, rotation of the vise screw  140  may move the movable jaw  150  toward the back jaw  120  to clamp a workpiece and may move away from the back jaw  120  to unclamp the workpiece. In any event, the movable jaw  150  may be operated to selectively clamp (or secure) a workpiece in the clamping assembly  101  and unclamp (or release) the workpiece from the clamping assembly  101 . Moreover, it should be appreciated that the clamping assembly  101  may include any suitable clamping mechanism, such as a toggle clamp, spring clamp, etc., which may secure a workpiece thereto. 
     The repositionable head  130  may be positioned and secured at a selected location along the bar  110  (e.g., along the length of the bar  110 ). In particular, selecting a position for the repositionable head  130  along the bar  110  may also select the distance between the back jaw  120  and the movable jaw  150  (e.g., to accommodate a workpiece). In an embodiment, a locking element  131  may secure the repositionable head  130  to the bar  110 . For example, the locking element  131  may be spring-loaded and may press against the bar  110 , such that the friction between the locking element and the bar retains the repositionable head  130  substantially fixed relative to the bar  110 . Additionally or alternatively, the bar  110  may include one or more notches, cavities, or holes, and the locking element  131  may be selectively positioned inside a notch, cavity, or hole on the bar  110  in the manner that would lock or secure the repositionable head  130  to the bar  110  and prevent relative movement thereof. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element  131  may be pivoted such as to reduce the friction between the bar  110  and the locking element  131  (e.g., such that the locking element no longer contacts the bar  110 ) to allow the repositionable head  130  to move along the bar  110  and to be positioned at a selected location thereon. Additionally or alternatively, the locking element may be a fastener, a snap ring, a pin (that may fit into an opening in the bar), etc. In any event, the repositionable head  130  and the back jaw  120  may be substantially fixed or stationary relative to the bar  110  (e.g., when secured at the selected location), such that a workpiece may be secured between the back jaw  120  and the movable jaw  150  by advancing the movable jaw  150  toward the back jaw  120  and clamping the workpiece between the back jaw  120  and the movable jaw  150 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping assembly  101  includes a handle  170  operably connected to the vise screw  140  or integrated therewith. Specifically, rotating the handle  170  may correspondingly rotate the vise screw  140  and produce a linear movement of the movable jaw  150  toward or away from the back jaw  120 . For example, the vise screw  140  may have a right-handed thread, and clockwise rotation of the handle  170  and vise screw  140  may advance the movable jaw  150  toward the back jaw  120  (e.g., to clamp a workpiece), while counterclockwise rotation of the handle  170  and vise screw  140  may move the movable jaw  150  away from the back jaw  120  (e.g., to unclamp the workpiece). 
     As described above, the clamping assembly  101  may pivot relative to the mounting bracket  102 . In an embodiment, the vise may include a pivoting mechanism securing the clamping assembly  101  to the mounting bracket  102 , such that the clamping assembly  101  may pivot relative to the mounting bracket  102  and/or may be fixed at a selected angle relative thereto. For example, the clamping assembly  101  may pivot relative to the mounting bracket about a pivot axis  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot axis  10  is oriented generally horizontally (e.g., leveled relative to a horizontal plane that is oriented perpendicularly to the gravitational vector), and the bar  110  extends lengthwise along the pivot axis  10 . It should be appreciated, however, that the pivot axis  10  may have any number of suitable orientations that may vary from one embodiment to another. 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , the pivoting mechanism may include a pivot arm  180  of the clamping assembly  101  pivotably connected to a guide plate  190  of the mounting bracket  102 . The pivot arm  180  may be connected to or integrated with the stationary head  160  and/or with the bar  110 . The guide plate  190  may be connected to and/or integrated with the mounting plate  200  of the mounting bracket  102 . Hence, for example, pivoting the pivoting arm  180  relative to the guide plate  190  may pivot the bar  110 , the back jaw  120 , and the movable jaw  150  (and the workpiece secured thereby) relative to the mounting plate  200 . 
     In an embodiment, at least one pivot member  210  (e.g., a shaft, a fastener, such as a threaded shaft or a bolt, a dowel, etc.) may form a pivot axis about which the clamping assembly  101  may pivot relative to the mounting bracket  102 . Moreover, the pivot member  210  may pivotably secure the clamping assembly  101  to the mounting bracket  102 . For example, the bar  110  and/or the pivot arm  180  (of the clamping assembly  101 ) and the guide plate  190  (of the mounting bracket  102 ) may include openings and the pivot member may extend through the openings, pivotably securing the clamping assembly  101  to the mounting bracket  102 . 
     Generally, the clamping assembly  101  and the mounting bracket  102  may extend from proximal ends (e.g., near the handle  170 ) to opposing distal ends. For example, the proximal and distal ends of the clamping assembly  101  may be pivotably connected to the respective proximal and distal ends of the mounting bracket  102 . In some embodiments, pivot members (e.g., similar to or the same as the pivot member  210 ) may connect the respective proximal and distal ends of the clamping assembly  101  and the mounting bracket  102 , such that the clamping assembly  101  may pivot relative to the mounting bracket  102  about the pivot axis  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the pivot member  210  may secure or fix the clamping assembly  101  at a selected orientation relative to the mounting bracket  102 . For example, as mentioned above, the pivot member  210  may be a fastener (e.g., a threaded fastener, such as a screw, a shoulder screw, etc.) and the bar  110 , the stationary head  160 , the pivot arm  180 , or combinations thereof may include a threaded hole or a nut that may accept the threaded pivot member  210 , such as a screw. In an embodiment, the pivot member  210  that has a threaded portion may be tightened of fastened to the mounting bracket  102  (e.g., to secure together the bar  110 , the stationary head  160 , the pivot arm  180 , or combinations thereof to the guide plate  190 , thereby securing the clamping assembly  101  at a selected orientation or angle relative to the mounting bracket  102 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the guide plate  190  includes a channel  220  and the vise  100  includes a nut and bolt assembly  215  that is at least partially positioned inside the channel  220  and secures together the guide plate  190  and the pivot arm  180 . For example, the channel  220  may extend through the guide plate  190  and may have a generally arcuate or semi-circular shape (e.g., the semi-circular channel may be centered about the pivot axis  10 ). The nut and bolt assembly  215  may include a bolt that extends through the channel  220  and is fastened with the nut, such that tightening together the nut and bolt secures or fixes together the guide plate  190  and the pivot arm  180 , thereby securing together the clamping assembly  101  and the mounting bracket  102 . Hence, for example, tightening the nut and bolt may secure together the pivot arm  180  and the guide plate  190 , and loosening the nut and bolt may release the pivot arm  180  from the guide plate  190 , thereby allowing the clamping assembly to pivot relative to the guide plate and relative to the mounting bracket. 
     Generally, however, it should be appreciated that the vise  100  may include any number of suitable locking mechanisms that may secure the clamping assembly  101  to the mounting bracket  102  (e.g., at selected relative orientations) in a manner that permits selective pivoting of the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mounting bracket  102 , and which may vary from one embodiment to another. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the channel  220  may be replaced by a plurality of through holes located along a selected path (e.g., along an arcuate path), and the nut and bolt assembly  215  may be replaced by a spring-loaded pin that serves as a detent mechanism that can be selectively inserted in the corresponding hole to adjust the pivot angle of the clamping assembly  101 . 
     In an embodiment, the channel  220  may limit the pivot angle to any suitable angle. The limiting angle or the angle that the clamping assembly  101  may pivot relative to the mounting bracket  102  may, generally, vary from one embodiment to the next. For example, the channel  220  may limit pivoting of the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mount bracket  102  to 45 degree pivot angle, 90 degree pivot angle (e.g., as in the illustrated embodiment), 180 degree pivot angle, etc. In some embodiments, the channel  220  may permit indexing or pivoting the clamping assembly  101  between two selected positions relative to the mounting bracket  102 . 
     In an embodiment, the nut and bolt assembly  215  may be offset from the pivot axis  10 . For example, affixing together the nut and bolt and securing together the pivot arm  180  and the guide plate  190  at the location offset from the pivot axis  10  may provide leverage to resist pivoting of the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mounting bracket  102  (e.g., compared with securing the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mounting bracket  102  at or near the pivot axis  10 ). Hence, for example, the vise  100  may secure a suitably weighted workpiece at a selected angular orientation relative, such that the workpiece remains suitably fixed or stationary relative to the mounting bracket  102 . 
     Generally, the various elements and components of the vise  100  may be fabricated from any number of suitable materials that may vary from one embodiment to the next. Moreover, where suitable, the elements and/or components of the vise  100  may be machined from solid blocks or billets or may be cast, molded, or extruded. For example, the repositionable head  130  and/or the stationary head  160  may be cast (e.g., from iron, zinc, etc.) and the bar  110  may be extruded or rolled (e.g., rolled steel), and the pivot arm  180  and the guide plate  190  may be machined. Furthermore, materials suitable for the various elements and components of the vise, generally, include steel, iron, aluminum, brass, wood, plastic, etc., and may vary from one embodiment to the next (e.g., depending on the applications or uses intended for the vise). 
     In an embodiment, the vise  100  may be attached or secured to a support. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the vise  100  is attached to a table  20 . Specifically, the mounting bracket  102  is attached to the table  20  and secures the vise  100  thereto. Hence, for example, pivoting the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mounting bracket  102  pivots the clamping assembly  101  relative to the table  20 . As mentioned above, however, the vise  100  may be mounted to and/or placed on any suitable support (or on no support) and may be oriented at any suitable orientation. 
     Moreover, as described above the clamping assembly  101  may be pivotably attached to the mounting bracket  102 . For example, the mounting bracket  102  may include the guide plate  190  and an opposing back plate  191  connected to the mounting plate  200 , and the bar  110  of the clamping assembly  101  may be pivotable secured to and between the guide plate  190  and the back plate  191 . In the illustrated embodiment, the guide plate  190  and the back plate  191  are removably fastened to the mounting plate  200 . For example, the guide plate  190  and the back plate  191  may have the same fastening connections (e.g., the same or suitably similar bolt patterns), such that the back plate  191  and the guide plate  190  may be interchangeably mounted or fastened to the mounting plate  200 . In particular, for example, swapping mounting locations of the back plate  191  and the guide plate  190  (e.g., as compared to the example shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B ) facilitates securing the vise  100  on an opposite side of the table or a similar support structure. That is, the vise  100  may have a mirrored configuration as compared to the illustrated embodiment. 
     Again, pivoting the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mounting bracket  102  may pivot the workpiece secured by the clamping assembly  101  relative to the mounting bracket  102 . As described above,  FIG. 2  illustrates the workpiece  2  (a pipe) secured by the clamping assembly  101 . In particular, the workpiece  2  is clamped by and between the back jaw  120  and the movable jaw  150 . In some operating conditions, the workpiece  2  may be placed on the surface of the support (e.g., on the top surface of the table  20 ) and positioned such as to extend between the back jaw  120  and the movable jaw  150 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the clamping assembly  101  may clamp the workpiece  2  between the back jaw and the movable jaw  150 , while the workpiece  2  is at least partially supported by the top surface of the table  20 . It should be appreciated that the surface of the support (supporting the workpiece  2 ) may vary from one embodiment to the next and may have any suitable shape, size, and configuration (e.g., may be planar, arcuate, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the clamping assembly  101  together with the workpiece  2  may be pivoted relative to the mounting bracket  102  and relative to the table  20 . Moreover, the workpiece  2  may be pivoted together with the clamping assembly  101  to any suitable angle and secured at such angle (as described above). Hence, for example, the workpiece  2  may be first placed or positioned on a support surface (e.g., on a generally horizontal surface, such as the top surface of the table  20 ), as shown in  FIG. 2  and may be secured in the vise  100  and lift or pivoted away from the support surface together with the clamping assembly  101 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , such that the workpiece is distanced or spaced away from the support surface. 
     Generally, the back jaw  120  and/or the movable jaw  150  of the vise  100  may have any suitable size and/or configuration, which may vary from one embodiment to another. For example, the clamping surface of the back jaw  120  and of the movable jaw  150  may be generally planar and/or generally parallel to each other. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, the clamping surfaces of the back jaw  120  and/or the movable jaw  150  may be generally perpendicular to the support surface and/or perpendicular to the pivot axis  10 . In some embodiments, the vise may include removable clamping attachments and/or fixtures that may change the size of the jaw(s), shape of the jaw(s), operation or movement of the jaw(s), etc. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate removable clamping attachments  300  that may be removably secured to the back jaw  120  and/or to the movable jaw  150 . For example, the clamping attachments  300  may have one or more slots defined by a lip  310 , which may be fitted over the back jaw  120  and/or the movable jaw  150 . In an embodiment, the clamping surface of the back jaw  120  and/or the movable jaw  150  may be defined or formed by jaw plates, and the clamping attachments  300  may be fitted over the jaw plates, such that the jaw plates fit into the slots in the clamping attachments  300 . 
     For example, the clamping attachments  300  may have clamping surfaces that have larger area than the clamping surfaces of the back jaw  120  and/or movable jaw  150 , thereby applying a more distributed pressure on the workpiece, such as to limit or avoid damaging the workpiece. Moreover, the clamping surface of the clamping attachments  300  may include or may be formed from any suitable material. For example, the clamping surface of the clamping attachments  300  may include material that is softer than the material of the clamping surfaces of the back jaw  120  and/or movable jaw  150  (e.g., the clamping surface of the back jaw  120  and/or movable jaw  150  may be formed by metal plates, such as steel plates, and the clamping surfaces of the clamping attachments  300  may be formed by polymer plates or blocks, such as wood plates, plastic plates, etc.). 
     Also, as described below in more detail, the vise  100  may include any number of suitable and/or removable jaw or clamping attachments. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping attachments include stabilizers  311  that may extend under the bar  110 , such as to prevent or limit tipping or tilting (relative to the axis of the bar  110 ) of the attachments when pressure is applied thereto. Hence, for example, the stabilizers  311  may facilitate maintaining the clamping surfaces of the clamping attachments  300  at approximately parallel orientation relative to each other. 
     Additionally or alternatively, according to at least one embodiment, the vise may include at least one pivotable clamping attachment that may include one or more pivotable jaws that are configured to pivot relative to a stationary portion of the clamping assembly.  FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a vise that includes a pivotable clamping attachment  300   a  removably secured to the movable jaw  150 , according to an embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the vise  100  has the clamping attachment  300  secured to the back jaw  120 . It should be appreciated that, as described below in more detail, the pivotable clamping attachment  300   a  may be removably secured to the back jaw  120 . 
     The pivotable clamping attachment  300   a  may include a jaw that may pivot about a jaw axis  20 . In some embodiments, the jaw axis  30  may be substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis  10  of the clamping assembly and/or substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the bar  110  and/or relative to the movement of the movable jaw  150 . The pivotable clamping attachment  300   a  may include a base  320   a  that may be removably attached to a jaw of the clamping assembly (e.g., to the movable jaw  150 ) and a pivotable jaw  330   a  pivotably secured to the base  320   a.    
     In some embodiments, the pivotable clamping attachment  300   a  may include a standoff  340   a  that may be secured to the base  320   a , and the pivotable jaw  330   a  may be pivotably secured to the standoff  340   a  (e.g., such as to pivot about the jaw axis  20 ). For example, the standoff  340   a  may define a space between the base  320   a  and the pivotable jaw  330   a  that may facilitate pivoting of the pivotable jaw  330   a  to a selected pivot angle relative to the base  320   a  and to the opposing clamping surface of the clamping assembly, such as the clamping surface of the back jaw  120  and/or of the clamping attachment  300  of the clamping assembly and/or relative the movable jaw  150 . For example, pivoting the pivotable jaw  330   a  may allow the clamping surface of the pivotable jaw  300   a  better conform to one or more contour of the surfaces of the workpiece and to accommodate clamping of the workpiece. 
     Generally, the pivotable jaw  330   a  may pivot to any suitable angle relative to the opposing jaw (or clamping surface of the opposing jaw) and to the longitudinal axis of the clamping assembly (e.g., relative to the axis that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis  10 ). For example, the pivotable jaw  330   a  may pivot in a manner that facilitates clamping a workpiece that has non-parallel opposing sides and/or sides that have irregular shapes. In the illustrated example, workpiece  2   a  is clamped by pressing against two opposing surface thereof that have non-parallel relative orientation. Pivoting the pivotable jaw  330   a , orients the clamping surface of the pivotable jaw  330   a  to be more parallel to the corresponding surface of the workpiece engaged thereby to facilitate better clamping (compared to a non-pivoting jaw). 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the vise may include opposing pivotable jaws, such as the pivotable jaw  330   a  and pivotable jaw  330   a ′. Specifically, the pivotable jaw  330   a  may pivot about the jaw axis  30  and the pivotable jaw  330   a  may pivot about jaw axis  20 ′. For example, the jaw axis  30  may be generally parallel to the jaw axis  30 ′. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the jaw axis  30  may be aligned with the jaw axis  30 ′ (e.g., such that both jaw axis  30 ,  30 ′ intersect pivot axis  10 , an axis parallel to the pivot axis, or an axis parallel to the movement of the movable jaw  150 ). Alternatively, the jaw axes  20 ,  20 ′ may be offset from each other (e.g., may intersect two different axes that are parallel to the pivot axis  10 , an axis parallel to the pivot axis, or an axis parallel to the movement of the movable jaw  150 ). 
     According to an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7B , the vise may include ball-joint clamping attachments  300   b  that are configured to secure a work piece in any orientation. In particular, the ball-joint clamping attachments  300   b  may include opposing cup-shaped jaws  330   b  that are configured to be secured to the movable jaw  150  and/or to the back jaw  120 . The cup-shaped jaws include cups that are sized and configured to clamp and secure a spherical portion or semi-spherical portion  340   b  of a fixture  350   b.    
     In an embodiment, the fixture  350   b  may include a base  360   b , and the semi-spherical portion  340   b  may extend outward from the base  360   b . For example, the fixture  350  may include a shaft  341   b  operably connected to the base  360   b , and the semi-spherical portion  350   b  may be connected to and/or integrated with the shaft  341   b ). Hence, securing the semi-spherical portion  340   b  of the fixture  350   b  in the clamping assembly of the vise also may secure the fixture  350  relative to the clamping assembly. 
     Generally, the base  360   b  may secure or may be secure to one or more portions of a workpiece. In the illustrated example, the base  360   b  is attached directly to the workpiece (e.g., the base  360   b  may be attached with fasteners). Additionally or alternatively, the base  360   b  may include one or more vise or clamps secured thereto, which may clamp the workpiece, thereby securing the workpiece to the fixture  350   b.    
     The fixture  350   b  may be oriented or pivoted to any angle in three-dimensional space or multiple/compound angles relative to the back jaw  120  and/or movable jaw  150  and to the pivot axis  10  or any other reference surface or reference axis. Hence, the fixture  350   b  and the workpiece may be clamped at any selected orientation, thereby positioning the workpiece at a suitable orientation. In addition, the fixture may be partially unclamped, such that the clamping assembly at least partially secures the spherical portion of the fixture  350   b  and supports the workpiece, and the fixture  350   b  may be pivoted relative to the back jaw  120  and movable jaw  150 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 8 , cup jaws  330   b  may secure an elongated member  340   b  (e.g., a pipe, a rod, etc.) with opposing semispherical or ball-like ends, which may be included or integrated into one or more additional or alternative fixtures. For example, the elongated member  340   b  may be operably connected to a fixture  350   b . Generally, the elongated member  340   b  may be connected to the fixture  350   b  with any number of suitable connectors or connection mechanisms. For example, the elongated member  340   b  may be welded, fastened, or otherwise secured together with the fixture  350 . 
     Moreover, the fixture  350   b  may vary from one embodiment to the next. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixture  350   b  includes an extension member  351   b . For example, the extension member  351   b  may provide additional support to one or more workpiece secured in or to the fixture  350   b . In an embodiment, the extension member  351   b  may be extended downward to a support surface (e.g., to the floor (as shown in the illustrated embodiment)). Additionally or alternatively, the extension member  351   b  may extend to any number of other support surface, such as a support surface on a table or bench, etc., in a manner that provides additional support to the fixture and/or to the workpiece secured therein. 
     The fixture  350   b  may include a fixture plate  352   b  that may be sized and configured for securing one or more workpiece thereto. Generally, the fixture plate  352   b  may have any number of suitable orientations relative to the vise  100  and/or relative to the one or more other portions of the fixture  350   b  (e.g., relative to the elongated member  340   b ). Hence, for example, the workpiece may be secured to the fixture  350   b  in a manner that any number of suitable surfaces or center of gravity of the workpiece has suitable orientations relative to the support surface (e.g., relative to the floor, support surface of the bench, etc.) that can provide addition support to the workpiece (in addition to the support provided by the vise  100 ). 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.