CLAMP ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A clamp assembly having a clamp, a handle, and a clip. The handle is shaped so as to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus to hold shoes to a golf bag. The topline of the shoe is securely held by the clamp. The handle is attached to the clamp. And the clip is attached to the handle and can clip to a golf bag. The clip may be a carabiner clip.

Claims

1. A clamp assembly (10), comprising: a first clamp member (26A) having a first handle portion (30A), a first jaw portion (34A), and a first jaw pivot portion (38A) defining a first aperture (46A) said first jaw portion (34A) extending rightwardly of said first pivot portion (38A); said first handle portion (30A) extending leftwardly from said first pivot portion (38A); a second clamp member (26B) having a second handle portion (30B), a second jaw portion (34B), and a second pivot portion (38B) defining a second aperture (46B) said second jaw portion (34B) extending rightwardly of said second pivot portion (38B) and said second handle portion (30B) extending leftwardly from said second pivot portion (38A); a pin (66) extending through the first aperture (46A) and second aperture (46B) such that the first clamp member (26A) and second clamp member (26B) are rotatable about an axis (82) that extends through the pin (66); a compression spring (112) between the first handle portion (30A) and the second handle portions (30B) away from one another; a handle (18) extending downwardly from said pin (66); and a clip (22) removably secured to said handle (18).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first jaw portion (34A) has a plurality of Teeth (58); wherein the second jaw portion (34B) has a plurality of teeth (58); wherein the first clamp member (26A) is rotatable with respect to the second clamp member (26B) about the axis (82) such that when the handle portions (30A, 30B) are moved towards one another, the jaw portions (34A, and 34B) move away from each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a substantially rigid handle (18) that is secured to the pin and that is rotatable relative to the first clamp member (26A) and the second clamp member (26B) about the said axis (82).

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the handle (18) is curved such that a handle segment (104) of the handle (18) is generally perpendicular to a segment (100) of the handle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first clamp member (26A) is substantially identical to the second clamp member (26B).

6. A clamp assembly (10), consisting of: a first clamp member (26A) having a first handle portion (30A), a first jaw portion (34A), and a first jaw pivot portion (38A) defining a first aperture (46A); a second clamp member (26B) having a second handle portion (30B), a second jaw portion (34B), and a second pivot portion (38B) defining a second aperture (46B); a pin (66) extending through the first aperture (46A) and second aperture (46B) such that the first clamp member (26A) and second clamp member (26B) are rotatable about an axis (82) that extends through the pin (66); a compression spring (112) between the first handle portion (30A) and the second handle portions (30B) away from one another; a handle (18) extending downwardly from said pin (66); and a clip (22) removably secured to said handle (18).

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first jaw portion (34A) has a plurality of Teeth (58); wherein the second jaw portion (34B) has a plurality of teeth (58); wherein the first clamp member (26A) is rotatable with respect to the second clamp member (26B) about the axis (82) such that when the handle portions (30A, 30B) are moved towards one another, the jaw portions (34A, and 34B) move away from each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a substantially rigid handle (18) that is secured to the pin and that is rotatable relative to the first clamp member (26A) and the second clamp member (26B) about the said axis (82).

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the handle (18) is curved such that a handle segment (104) of the handle (18) is generally perpendicular to a segment (100) of the handle.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first clamp member (26A) is substantially identical to the second clamp member (26B).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is another pictorial view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is another pictorial view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a view of one of the clamp members of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 5 is another view of one of the clamp members of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a view of the two clamp members;

[0014] FIG. 7 is another pictorial view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of a pin of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of an embodiment of the present; and

[0017] FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of the present invention on a golf bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference Numerals

[0018] 10 clamp assembly [0019] 14 clamp [0020] 18 handle [0021] 22 clip [0022] 26A first clamp members [0023] 26B second clamp members [0024] 30A first handle portion [0025] 30B second handle portion [0026] 34A first jaw portion [0027] 34B second jaw portion [0028] 38A first pivot portion [0029] 38B second pivot portion [0030] 42A surface [0031] 42B surface [0032] 46A first aperture [0033] 46B second aperture [0034] 50A concavity [0035] 50B concavity [0036] 54A flat surface [0037] 54B flat surface [0038] 58 plurality of teeth [0039] 62A cylindrical protuberance [0040] 62B cylindrical protuberance [0041] 66 pin [0042] 70 body [0043] 74 head [0044] 78 pin hole [0045] 82 axis [0046] 86 cylindrical hole [0047] 90 handle hole [0048] 96 curved segment [0049] 100 segment [0050] 104 handle segment [0051] 108 clip hole [0052] 112 spring [0053] 120 jaw aperture [0054] 130 open position [0055] 140 length of the body

[0056] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0057] Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words upwardly, downwardly, rightwardly, and leftwardly will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words inwardly and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words. Also, connected to, secured to, or similar language includes the definitions indirectly connected to, directly connected to, indirectly secured to, and directly secured to.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components, a clamp assembly 10 includes a clamp 14, a handle 18, and a clip 22. The clamp 14 includes first and second clamp members 26A, 26B. In the embodiment depicted, clamp members 26A and 26B may be identical to one another. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from FIGS. 1-3, clamp member 26A is schematically depicted. As noted clamp members 26A and 26B may be identical to one another, and thus clamp member 26A may be representative of clamp member 26B. FIG. 1 also illustrates a jaw aperture 120 defined by a concavity 50A and concavity 50B of each respective first clamp member 26A and second clamp member 26B.

[0059] FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the clamp member 26a includes a first handle portion 30A and a second jaw portion 34A. Interconnecting the first handle portion 30A and the first jaw portion 34A is a first pivot portion 38A. The first pivot portion 38A may freely pivot about the pin 66. In the embodiment depicted, the first pivot portion 38A forms a portion of an annulus, with a surface 42A forming an arc that is more than half of the circumference of a circle. The first pivot portion 38A also defines a first aperture 46A (as seen in FIG. 6) having the same center point as the arc formed by surface 42A.

[0060] FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate jaw portion 34A is characterized by a curvature, i.e., jaw portion 34A is bowed to at least partially define a concavity 50A. In the embodiment depicted, surface 42A cooperates with the jaw portion 34A to define concavity 50A. The jaw portion 34A also includes a flat surface 54A characterized by a plurality of teeth 58 protruding therefrom as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. As illustrated in FIG. 1, handle portion 30A includes a cylindrical protuberance 62A and handle portion 30B has a cylindrical protuberance 62B. A spring 112 may have two ends and each end of the spring 112 may fit over each cylindrical protuberance 62A, 62B which may then bias handle portion 30A away from handle portion 30B, which bias the first clamp member 26A toward second clamp member 26B.

[0061] Clamp member 26B is identified to clamp member 26A, and thus includes corresponding elements and features. More specifically, and with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from FIGS. 1-5, second clamp member 26B includes a second handle portion 30B and a second jaw portion 34B. As illustrated the second handle portion 30B may be on one side of the first aperture 46A, and the second jaw portion 34B may be on the other side of the first aperture 46A. For example, the second handle portion 30B may be rightwardly (in FIG. 6) of the first aperture 46A, and second the jaw portion 34B may be leftwardly of the first aperture 46A. Interconnecting the second handle portion 30B and the second jaw portion 34B is a second pivot portion 38B.

[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a second pivot portion 38B forms a portion of an annulus, with surface 42B forming an arc that is more than half of the circumference of a circle. The second pivot portion 38B also defines an aperture 46B having the same center point as the arc formed by surface 42B. FIG. 6 also illustrates that the first jaw portion 34A and second jaw portion 34B may be in the closed position 130. When in the closed position 130, the first and second jaw portions 34A and 34B define a jaw aperture 120. When the first handle portion 30A and second handle portion 30B are biased toward each other, then the first and second jaw portion 34A and 34B are biased away from each other. When in the open position, something can be placed between the first and second jaw portion 34A and 34B, then the spring 112 biases the first and second jaw portion 34A and 34B toward each other so as to hold and retain items placed in between the first jaw portion 34A and second jaw portion 34B, as seen in FIG. 10 where the present invention 10 is illustrated holding shoes by clamping the inside topline of a shoe. The portions of a shoe can be seen and disclosed at Source: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/.

[0063] As illustrated on FIG. 6, second jaw portion 34B is characterized by a curvature, i.e., second jaw portion 34B is bowed to at least partially define a concavity 50B. In the embodiment depicted, surface 42B cooperates with the second jaw portion 34B to define concavity 50B. When in the closed position 130, the concavity 50B 50A define a jaw aperture 120. The second jaw portion 34B also includes a flat surface 54B characterized by a plurality of teeth 58 protruding therefrom. Second handle portion 30B includes a cylindrical protuberance 62B as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0064] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, first clamp member 26A and second clamp member 26B are positioned with respect to one another such that first pivot portions 38A and second pivot portion 38B are in contact with one another and first aperture of 46A is aligned with second aperture 46B.

[0065] The assembly 10 also includes a pin 66, as shown in FIGS. 8-10. With reference to FIGS. 8-10, the pin 66 includes a cylindrical body 70 and a head 74. The outer diameter of the body 70 is slightly less than the inner diameter of first aperture 46A and second aperture 46B, whereas the head 74 has a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the first aperture 46A and the second aperture 46B. The body 70 defines a pin hole 78 that extends through the body 70 perpendicular to the body's longitudinal axis. The pin 66 may be

[0066] FIG. 8 illustrates a body 70 of the pin 66 extends through both the first apertures 46A and the second aperture 46B, the apertures are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 thereby forming a joint such that the first clamp member 26A and second clamp member 26B are rotatable with respect to one another about an axis 82. The axis is illustrated in FIG. 2. Axis 82 is coextensive with the axis of symmetry of the body 70 and the center points of first and second apertures 46A, 46B (FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0067] FIGS. 1 and 9 illustrate the assembly 10 also includes a handle 18.

[0068] FIG. 9 illustrates at one end of the handle 18, the handle 18 defines a cylindrical hole 86 having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body 70 of the pin 66. The depth or length of the hole 86 is slightly longer than the length 140 of the pin body 70.

[0069] A handle hole 90 extends through the handle 18. Handle hole 90 may be substantially perpendicular to axis 82. The body 70 of the pin 66 extends into hole 86 and handle hole 90 is aligned with the pin hole 78 formed in the pin 66 so that a cotter pin (not shown) extends through handle hole 90 and pin hole 78, thereby securing the handle 18 to the pin 66. Alternatively, the pin 66 may be secured into hole 86 by glue or any other form of adhesion, rather than the cotter pin.

[0070] Accordingly, the body 70 of the pin 66 extends through first aperture 46A and second aperture 46B and into hole 86. The handle 18 is thus rotatable relative to the clamp members 26A, 26B about axis 82. The handle 18 is made from generally rigid material, such as a rigid polymer or metal. The handle 18 includes a curved segment 96, which results in the handle segment 100 distal from the hole 86 being generally perpendicular to the handle segment 104 proximate to the hole 86. Segment 100 provides a segment 100 that a human user can grip with a hand and carry whatever is clamped within the jaws of clamp 14. In the embodiment depicted, handle segment 104 has a clip hole 108 (FIG. 9) through which the clip 22 may be secured. The clip 22 may be a carabiner clip 22 and may be able to open and close.

[0071] FIGS. 1 and 6 illustrate the clamp 14 shown in its closed, clamping position in which the teeth 58 of clamp member 26A contact the teeth 58 of clamp member 26B. To move the clamp 14 to its open position, a force is applied to one or both of the handle portions 30A, 30B, such that handle portion 30A is urged toward handle portion 30B. Relative motion between the clamp members 26A, 26B is substantially limited to rotation about axis 82 and as first handle portion 30A and second handle portion 30B move closer to each other, first jaw portions 34A and second jaw portion 34B move farther apart from one another, creating a space between the teeth 58 of first jaw portion 34A and the teeth 58 of second jaw portion 34B.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the clamp 14 is in its open position, an object may be placed between the teeth 58 of the jaw portions 34A, 34B. When the clamp 14 is moved back to its closed position, the teeth 58 will grasp whatever is between them and retain it. FIG. 10 illustrates the clip 22 connected to a portion of a golf bag, and a pair of shoes biasly secured between first jaw portion 34A and second jaw portion 34B.

[0073] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 19, the assembly 10 includes a helical compression spring 112 that extends between first handle portion 30A and second handle portion 30B. The spring 112 urges first handle portion 30A and second handle portion 30B apart from one another, and thus biases the clamp 14 into its closed, clamping position.

[0074] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, each protuberance 62A, 62B extends into a respective end of the spring 112 thereby to retain the spring 112 in place between the first handle portion 30A and second handle portion 30B. It should be noted that no portion of the spring 112 is in the region near the pin 66, thereby allowing this design to be used for any number of uses.

[0075] Although the clamp assembly 10 may have many uses within the scope of this disclosure, one beneficial use is as a golf shoe carrier, as illustrated in FIG. 10. A pair of golf shoes may be secured in the clamp 14 and carried by handle 18 so that any dirt from the golf shoes remains away from a user's hands. The assembly 10 with golf shoes secured may then be attached to a golf bag by clip 22.

[0076] The clamp assembly 10 is more compact and easier to handle than the prior art. Opening and closing the clamp 14 may be performed with one hand (pressing the first and second handle portions 30A, 30B together), and the spring 112 automatically closes the clamp 14 when a user removes any force on the handle portions 30A and 30B. The attachment of the handle 18 at the pin 66 permits rotation of the handle 18 relative to the clamp 14, which enhances ease of carrying the shoes.

[0077] FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention 10 on a golf bag, as it would normally be used.

[0078] While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.