Patent ID: 7441761

Claim:
An extension fixture for combining the clamping capacity of a first and a second bar clamp, the first and second bar clamps each having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, and a primary bar, each movable jaw having a clamping means configured to provide a clamping force in the direction of the fixed jaw, each primary bar having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first distal end, a second distal end, and an I-beam cross sectional shape, each fixed jaw being affixed to the primary bar at the first distal end, wherein the movable jaw is removed from the first bar clamp, and the movable jaw orientation on the second bar clamp is reversed so that the clamping means is then configured to provide a clamping force away form the second fixed jaw, the extension fixture comprising: a fixture body having a first end, a second end, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side, and a second side; the fixture body further comprising a channel in the upper surface thereof, the channel extending from the fixture first end to the fixture second end, the channel also having a complimentary cross sectional shape for receiving the first and the second primary bar cross sectional shape therein; the channel in the fixture body having a first interior side surface, a second interior side surface, and a bottom surface; the complimentary cross sectional shape of the fixture body having at least one hinge portion proximate to the channel bottom surface; a first pin means for pinning the second distal end of the first primary bar within the fixture body; a second pin means for pinning the second distal end of the second primary bar within the fixture body; a clamping means for clamping the first and second primary bars within the fixture body; and wherein when the first and second primary bars are inserted into the fixture body, and the pin means are applied, the first and second pin means supports the clamping force between the fixed jaw of the first bar clamp and the movable jaw of the second bar clamp, and wherein as the clamping means is applied to the fixture body, the first interior side surface is biased towards the second interior side surface clamping the first and second primary bars within the fixture body, the deflection of the fixture body complimentary cross sectional shape occurring primarily in the at least one hinge portion, the clamping means holding the first primary bar and the second primary bar in substantially parallel alignment.