Patent ID: 8230794

Claim:
A holding system for a workbench equipped with a clamping device having a moveable element for applying clamping force to a workpiece, comprising: a top adapted to be disposed upon said workbench proximate said clamping device, said top including a fibrous or pierceable material; and at least one block having a working face and a connecting face, said at least one block being adapted to be placed on said top adjacent the workpiece with said working face being orientable in a direction toward said moveable element in order to receive clamping force applied to said workpiece by said moveable element, said block having on its connecting face at least one connector for securing said block in place on said top against clamping forces from said clamping device, said connector including: a first hub and a second hub rotatably mounted on said connecting face, each of said hubs having on one side thereof a plurality of spiral prongs, the spiral prongs on said first hub spiraling in a direction opposite that of the spiral prongs on said second hub; and a manually operable link connected between said first and said second hub for applying to them a reversible torque for relatively rotating them in opposite directions and causing the spiral prongs of the first hub and the second hub to reversibly penetrate said fibrous or pierceable material of said top in opposite directions, one penetrating clockwise and the other penetrating counterclockwise, in order to reversibly connect to said fibrous or pierceable material of said top and avoid movement of said at least one block over said top in response to clamping force from said moveable element.