Patent ID: 10882161

Abstract:
An improved floating jaw assembly to a machinist vise assembly capable of holding a plurality of individual workpieces, the vise assembly generally including a base with a way or ways, a fixed jaw mounted on the ways, at least one movable jaw slidably mounted on the ways to move toward and away from the fixed jaw on a longitudinal axis in such a manner that at least one workpiece can be securely held between the fixed jaw and the at least one movable jaw, and a mechanism for moving the movable jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw to clamp and unclamp workpieces. The floating jaw assembly includes at least one floating jaw plate attached to the vise assembly with means for adjustable movement of the floating jaw plate(s) along the longitudinal axis of the vise assembly and for articulated movement of the floating jaw plate(s) in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the vise assembly and about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vise assembly so that the floating jaw plates can, in cooperation with adjoining jaws or plates, adjust to and securely hold workpieces. In addition, the floating jaw assembly includes a means of forcing the at least one floating jaw plate downward and securely against the ways of the vise assembly.