Patent ID: 7478970

Claim:
A shaft clamping mechanism, comprising: a housing having a first opening for accepting a shaft and a second opening adjacent the first, defining a contiguous clamping portion of the housing; at least two first hinge points formed as narrowed body portions connecting the clamping portion to the housing, each first hinge point formed by a slot extending from the first opening of the housing; and at least one second hinge point formed as a narrowed portion of the clamping portion between the at least two first hinge points and on the same side of the first opening as the narrowed body portions of the at least two first hinge points, each second hinge point formed by a slot extending from the second opening; wherein, when pressure is applied to the clamping portion by a force exerted from the second opening, the clamping portion of the housing hinges along the at least two first hinge points and at least one second hinge point to apply radial pressure to a shaft to clamp the housing to a shaft.