Patent ID: 8176603

Claim:
A universal cradle apparatus, comprising: a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising a male linear drive member that is slideable relative to a mating female linear drive member, and wherein one of the male linear drive member and the mating female linear drive member is further structured for being secured to an external mounting surface; first and second mounting surfaces each positioned on a respective one of the male linear drive member and the mating female linear drive member; a securing mechanism structured for interlocking the first and second mounting surfaces against relative motion therebetween; and a first substantially rigid jaw structure and a second resiliently flexible jaw structure, each of the first and second jaw structures being coupled to a respective one of the male drive member and the female drive member adjacent to the respective mounting surface thereof, each of the jaw structures having a respective clamping surface projected therefrom and forming mutually opposing interior clamping surfaces arranged adjacent to the mounting surfaces positioned therebetween.