Clamps

{
  "publication_number": "US2003101550A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Clamps",
  "abstract": "A clamp for clamping sheets and like material has opposed clongate clamping jaws (2, 4) mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws (2, 4). The latch device comprises a member (12) of channel section within which an upper part of the jaws (2, 4) is mounted whereby opposite sides of the member (12) cooperate with the two jaws (2, 4), and latch levers (26) pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position. The latch levers (26) are linked to the jaws (2, 4) by a screw mechanism (22) and co-operate with the member (12) such that movement of the latch levers (26) to their released positions effects relative movement between the jaws (2, 4) and member (12) to enable opening of the jaws (2, 4). Adjustment of the clamping and open condition of the jaws (2, 4) is effected by rotation of the latch levers (26) about the axis of the screw mechanism (22).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released, condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws, said latch device comprising a member of channel section within which an upper part of the jaws is mounted whereby opposite sides of the member co-operate with the two jaws, and a latch lever pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position, said latch lever being linked to the jaws and co-operating with the member of channel section such that movement of the latch lever to its released position effects relative movement between the jaws and said member to enable opening of the jaws, said latch device also having means enabling adjustment of the clamped and open conditions of the jaws. 2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the jaws are subject to a spring bias to move the jaws in an opening direction when the latch lever is moved out of its latched position. 3. A clamp according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein there are two such latch devices spaced along the length of the jaws, with the member of channel section being common to both latch devices and extending along substantially the entire length of the clamp. 4. A clamp according to claim 3, wherein the member of channel section also provides a slidable mounting for components associated with the clamp to enable ready adjustment of the mounting positions of such components along the clamp. 5. A clamp according to claim 4, wherein a head section of the member is of a profile adapted for slidable engagement with a corresponding profile of a mounting art of a component to be engaged therewith. 6. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the latch lever is linked to the jaws by means of a bolt with which a part of the latch lever is in threaded engagement, whereby when in its released position, rotation of the latch lever about the axis of the bolt will result in adjustment of the position of the bolt and thereby in the relative position between the jaws and the member of channel section, the pivotal movement of the latch lever between its latched and released positions being about an axis at right angles to the axis of the bolt. 7. A clamp according to claim 6, wherein the released position of the latch lever is also a stable position of the lever, with the latch lever moving through an over-centre position during passage between its latched and released positions. 8. A clamp according to clam 7, wherein when the latch lever is in its latched position it is capable of rotation about the axis of the bolt to effect final tightening of the jaws. 9. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising means for positively locking the latch lever against accidental release when in its latched position. 10. A clamp according to claim 9, wherein said positive locking means comprises locking formations on the lath lever and a mounting for the latch lever and which are in interlocking engagement upon rotation of the latch lever into at least one predetermined angular position relative to the mounting when the latch lever is in its latched position. 11. A clamp according to claim 6 or any claim dependent on claim 6, wherein the latch lever includes an internally-threaded sleeve with which the shank of the bolt is engaged, the sleeve being pivotally mounted to a body of the latch lever for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of the threaded sleeve whereby the latch lever is able to pivot about said transverse axis for movement between its latched and released positions. 12. A clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released, condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws, the latch device comprising a member of camel section within which an upper part of the jaws is mounted whereby opposite sides of the member co-operate with the two jaws, and latch levers each pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position, the latch lever each being linked to the jaws by a respective screw mechanism and co-operating with the member of channel section such that movement of the latch levers to their released positions effects relative movement between the jaws and said member to enable opening of the jaws, the clamped and open conditions of the jaws being adjustable by rotation of the latch levers to cause adjustment of the respective screw mechanisms. 13. A clamp for clamping sheets and like material, said clamp comprising opposed elongate clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between a clamping condition and a relatively open, released, condition, and a latch device for effecting movement of the jaws, said latch device comprising a latch lever pivotal between a stable latched position and a released position, said latch lever being linked to the jaws such that relatively small pivotal movement of the latch lever is amplified into larger movement of the jaws, said latch device being adjustable to accommodate variation in the thickness of material to be clamped and to permit variation of clamping pressure."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to clamps and more particularly to clamps for releasably holding the edge portions of articles of sheet-like form, such as plans and drawings, for convenient storage and ready access. [0001]\n\nClamps for storing engineering or architectural plans and drawings and other sheet-like particles such as samples of fabric or carpet, typically comprise two elongate opposed jaws pivotally mounted to grip and release the edge portions of the sheet material by operation of screw devices comprising bolts and wing nuts. In use, the clamp extends horizontally and is removably mounted on associated support structure, for example horizontally extending suspension bars, so that the sheet material held by the clamp hangs downwardly from the clamp, the clamp being removable from the support structure to provide access to the stored material when required. The clamp may include a handle to facilitate placement and removal of the clamp relative to the support structure. [0002]\n\nThe use of screw devices comprising screws and wing nuts to open and close the jaws of the clamp is not particularly convenient as several turns of each wing nut may be required to achieve the requisite opening or closing movement of the jaws. In addition, certain previously proposed forms of clamp incorporating a handle do not always provide a convenient means of mounting the handle or of readily adjusting the position of the handle to suit different forms of support system.",
  "cpc": [
    "B42F 9/00",
    "A47F 5/0884",
    "A47F 7/163",
    "Y10T 24/201",
    "Y10T 24/44692"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47F 5/08",
    "A47F 7/16",
    "B42F 9/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Roger Henry"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2001-01-15",
  "publication_date": "2003-06-05",
  "priority_date": "2000-01-17",
  "application_number": "US-18168002-A",
  "family_id": "34228950",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
  "citations": [
    "US1397930A",
    "US1911277A",
    "US2990961A",
    "US3014258A",
    "US3364528A",
    "US3308831A",
    "US4147257A"
  ]
}