Patent ID: 8613433

Claim:
A self adjusting toggle clamp comprising: a mounting body; mounting apparatus carried by the mounting body; a clamping link movably attached to the mounting body and a pressure foot movably engaged on the clamping link; an actuating lever having a link element pivotally coupled to the clamping link and movably coupled to the mounting body by a self adjusting toggle mechanism, the self adjusting toggle mechanism comprising: a guide carried by the mounting body; a locking element carried by the guide for reciprocal and canting movement; an element pivotally coupled to the link element; a cam element pivotally coupled to the element and pivotally coupled to the locking element, the cam element movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement with the guide; and the cam element disposed angularly relative to the guide, further including an attached adjustment element for adjusting the angular disposition of the cam element relative to the guide, wherein the adjustment element is directly carried by one of the element and the cam element; and wherein the actuating lever is movable between a clamping position in which the locking element is in frictional engagement with the guide and an unclamping position in which the locking element is movable along the guide.