Patent ID: 7647676

Claim:
A universal cradle apparatus, comprising: a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising: (i) a drive frame and a cooperating drive shaft coupled to the drive frame in a relatively movable relationship therewith along a common axis, (ii) a fastener coupled between the drive frame and the drive shaft and substantially permanently interlocking the drive shaft in a fixed position relative to the drive frame along the common axis, and (iii) one of the drive frame and the drive shaft being structured for being secured to an external mounting surface; first and second mounting surfaces each positioned on a respective one of the drive frame and the drive shaft; and a first jaw structure coupled to the drive frame and a second jaw structure coupled to the drive shaft, the first and second jaw structures being projected above the respective mounting surfaces of the drive frame and the drive shaft, and each of the jaw structures having a respective clamping surface formed thereon and forming mutually opposing interior clamping surfaces arranged adjacent to the mounting surfaces positioned therebetween.