Patent ID: 8109494

Claim:
A workholding apparatus, comprising: a base, comprising: a support portion comprising a longitudinal axis, first longitudinal side, and a second longitudinal side; a first longitudinal rack movably mounted to said support portion along said first longitudinal side; a second longitudinal rack movably mounted to said support portion along said second longitudinal side; and a crossbar engaged with said first longitudinal rack and said second longitudinal rack; a drive member operably engaged with said crossbar, wherein said drive member is configured to move said crossbar along said longitudinal axis; a first jaw member; and a second jaw member slidably engaged with said base and supported by said support portion, wherein said crossbar is engaged with said second jaw member, said second jaw member comprising: a first lateral claw movable between a disengaged position in which said first lateral claw is operatively disengaged from said first longitudinal rack and an engaged position in which said first lateral claw is engaged with said first longitudinal rack; a second lateral claw movable between a disengaged position in which said second lateral claw is operatively disengaged from said second longitudinal rack and an engaged position in which said second lateral claw is engaged with said second longitudinal rack, wherein said drive member is configured to move said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member when at least one of said first lateral claw is engaged with said first longitudinal rack and said second lateral claw is engaged with said second longitudinal rack, and wherein said second jaw member is movable relative to said first jaw member and said drive member when said first lateral claw is in said second position disengaged from said first longitudinal rack and said second lateral claw is disengaged from said second longitudinal rack.