Patent ID: 7163247

Claim:
A substantially C-shaped tool holder comprising: first and second shank portions, each with a free shank end, and an intervening construction port ion, said shank portions and said construction portion lying substantially in a common plane, each free shank end having a respective connection surface facing the other free shank end, the connection surfaces of the free shank ends, in the absence of a load therebetween, being in a first angular orientation relative to each other, said tool holder further comprising: an inner C-shaped frame, having a first inner shank portion and a second inner shank portion and an inner construction portion therebetween; an outer C-shaped frame, having a first outer shank portion, a second outer shank portion; a third outer shank portion, and a fourth outer shank portion wherein the third and fourth shank portions are located between the first and second shank portions; wherein the frames are made from components each frame having a defined center line, the tool holder further comprising: a plurality of brackets including a first bracket and a second bracket, each bracket having a respective first end and a respective second end, each bracket connecting the inner C-shaped frame to the outer C-shaped frame, thereby defining for each bracket a respective first point of attachment between the first end of the bracket and the inner C-shaped frame and a respective second point of attachment between the second end of each bracket and the outer C-shaped frame, the first bracket having a defined center line, wherein the center lines of the first bracket, the first outer shank portion, and the third outer shank portion define a moment arm between: the center line of the first outer shank portion of the outer C-shaped frame; and an intersection of the center line of the first bracket and the center line of the third outer shank portion of the outer C-shaped frame; wherein the first inner shank portion interconnects with the first outer shank portion at the first free shank end, and the second inner shank portion interconnects with the second outer shank portion at the second free shank end, and wherein the center lines of the components of the first inner shank portion and the first outer shank portion, and a load line extending between the free shank ends under load, do not all intersect at a single common intersection point, and wherein the load line intersects with the center line of said first outer shank portion at an intersection point located closer to a central portion of the tool holder, along the center line of said first outer shank portion, than the intersection point at which the center line of the first inner shank portion and the center line of the first outer shank portion intersect; whereby in the event of a load urging the free shank ends apart, a moment is introduced by the load, forcing the connection surfaces of the free shank ends apart only essentially along the extension of the load line, thereby preserving the first angular orientation.