Patent ID: 8038135

Claim:
A clamp assembly for a sliding clamp, said sliding clamp having an elongated bar, a sliding jaw assembly, a stationary jaw assembly, said bar having a first end and a first end distal tip, said sliding jaw assembly slidably disposed on said bar, said stationary jaw assembly coupled to said bar adjacent said first end, said clamp assembly comprising: a substantially spherical ball coupled to said bar first end distal tip; a cam member having a ball shaped socket, said cam member structured to shift said stationary jaw assembly toward said sliding jaw assembly; said cam member coupled to said ball, thereby forming a rotatable and pivotal ball-and-socket coupling; said cam member has a generally cylindrical body with a first axial surface, a sidewall, and a second axial surface; said first axial surface being a first flat surface; said sidewall having a flat portion that is a second flat surface; a transition surface extending between said first flat surface and said second flat surface; and wherein said cam member is structured to move between a first operational position, wherein said first flat surface engages said stationary jaw assembly, and a second operation position, wherein said second flat surface engages said stationary jaw assembly.