Abstract
A clamp assembly a fixed end support, a movable end support and a handle disposed in one end support or the other. The handle is rotated using an electric tool, such as a drill. A female receiver is disposed within a rearward end of the handle. A male driver is removably held within a chuck of the electric drill and is inserted into the receiver to rotate and then tighten or loosen the support end of the clamp. Alternatively, the clamp assembly has a male portion that is disposed at a rear portion of an end support and a female driver is used to rotate and then tighten or loosen the clamp from the wood pieces. The female receiver and male driver can be used with either a movable end support or a stationary end support of the clamp, as could the male portion and the female driver.
Claims
1. A clamp drive assembly that is actuated using an electric tool, such as a drill having a chuck, the assembly comprising: a clamp, the clamp comprising a bar; a first end support that is fixed at a point along the bar; a second end support that is movable along the bar, a threaded aperture in one of the first end support and the second end support, and the second end support further comprising a like-threaded rotatable screw-like portion received within the threaded aperture; a handle grip for the clamp, the handle grip being made of a polymer and further being part of the rotatable screw-like portion of the second end support, and the handle grip having a rearward end; and a drive device to rotate the handle grip via the electric tool, the drive is device comprising: a female receiver disposed within the rearward end of the handle grip; the female receiver being a metal liner for reinforcing the handle grip, and a male driver adapted to be disposed inside the female receiver, the male driver being adapted to be removably held within the electric tool chuck of the drill to rotate the handle grip via the drill.
2. The clamp drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the male driver is held within the chuck of an electric drill.
3. The clamp drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the female receiver and the male driver are complementary in shape and wherein that shape is square.
4. The clamp drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle grip is removable and the rotatable screw-like portion comprises a male portion that mates with a female s driver.
5. A clamp drive assembly that is actuated using an electric tool, such as a drill having a chuck, the assembly comprising: a clamp, the clamp comprising a bar; a first end support that is fixed at a point along the bar, a threaded aperture in one of the first end support and a second end support, a like-threaded rotatable screw-like portion received within the threaded aperture, and a rearward end portion of the screw-like portion; the second end support being movable along the bar; a removable handle grip for the clamp, the handle grip being removable from the rearward end portion of the rotatable screw-like portion of the first end support; the handle grip having a rearward end; and the handle grip being made of a polymer; a drive device to rotate the rearward end of the screw-like portion via the electric tool, the drive device comprising: a female receiver disposed within the rearward end of the handle grip; the female receiver being a metal liner for reinforcing the handle grip, and a male driver adapted to be disposed inside the female receiver, the male driver being adapted to be removably held within the electric tool chuck of the drill to rotate the handle grip via the drill.
6. The clamp drive assembly of claim 5 wherein the male driver is held within the chuck of an electric drill.
7. The clamp drive assembly of claim 5 wherein the male driver and the female receiver are complementary in shape and wherein that shape is square.
8. The clamp drive assembly of claim 5 wherein the rearward end portion and handle grip are attached via a quick release mechanism.
9. The clamp drive assembly of claim 8 wherein the quick release mechanism comprises a ball and detent structure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a step over clamp which uses the drive assembly in accordance with the present invention, and showing the drive device disengaged from the handle of the movable end support.
[0015] FIG. 2 is the same view as that of FIG. 1 and showing the drive device engaged with the movable end support handle.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectioned view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the engaged portions of the drive device and the handle of the movable end support.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectioned view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and also showing the engaged portions of the drive device and the handle of the movable end support.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a step over clamp having a different handle configuration and which uses the drive assembly in accordance with the present invention and shows the drive device disengaged from the fixed end support handle.
[0019] FIG. 6 is the same view as that of FIG. 5 and showing the drive device engaged with the fixed end support handle.
[0020] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectioned view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and showing the engaged portions of the drive device and the fixed end support handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates a drive assembly, generally identified 10, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, an F-clamp 20 is shown. The clamp 20 comprises a straight and longitudinally-extending rail or bar 22 which terminates at a fixed end portion 24. The fixed end portion 24 comprises a fixed end support 26 to which is attached an end cap or pressure cap 28. The end cap 28 comprises a clamping surface or face 29 against s which the wood boards to be worked (not shown) would be secured from one side. An opposing face 39, which is part of a movable end support 30, provides an opposing clamping surface. Between the clamping surfaces 29, 39 is the throat 12 of the assembly 10, which is where the wood to be worked is placed.
[0022] The movable end support 30 comprises an end support body 32 which can slide along the straight bar 22 of the clamp 20 via an aperture or opening (shown in phantom view in FIG. 1) formed within the support body 32. The movable support end body 32 is also fixable at points along the bar 22 via a clutch (not shown) of the type which is known in the art. Transversely disposed relative to the movable support end body 32 is a threaded screw portion 34 which mates with a like-threaded aperture (also not shown) in the end body 32. This structure also includes the clamping surface 39 of a support end 38 and a fixed handle 36, the handle 36 being “fixed” in relation to the screw portion 34 but rotatable relative to the support body 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 36 also comprises an end face 37. Lastly, an electric drill 42 or other type of rotational tool having a chuck 44 is provided, the chuck 44 being configured to receive a portion of a male driver 45. Together with an aperture 35 of the movable end support handle 36, the drill 42, chuck 44 and driver 45 are considered to be the “drive device” 40 of the assembly 10.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, it shows the drive device 40 engaged with the movable end support handle 36. Specifically, the end face 37 comprises a square-shaped aperture 35. See FIGS. 3 and 4 also. The aperture 35 of the movable end support handle 36 is configured to mate with the contour of the driver 45 such that, upon actuation of the drill 42, the drive device 40 can rotate the handle 36 inwardly or outwardly and in a fashion that is much quicker than can be accomplished by hand. As shown, the aperture 35 may include a liner 33 for purposes of reinforcing the handle 36, which is made of synthetic or natural polymers and plastics, collectively referred to in this disclosure and in the claims as “polymers” or a “polymer”. As alluded to at the outset, this inventive aspect of the present disclosure results in an improved drive assembly 10 that makes tightening and untightening of the movable end support 30 easier for the craftsman and reduces the amount of time it takes to do so, particularly when a plurality of clamps are used.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, they illustrate an alternative embodiment of the drive assembly, generally identified 110, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a bar clamp 120 is shown, although it is to be understood that other clamps could be used as part of either assembly 10, 110. In this second embodiment, the clamp 120 comprises a straight and longitudinally-extending rail or bar 122 having a first end portion 124 along which a movable support body 126 can move longitudinally and be fixed via a clutch (not shown) of the type which is known in the art. The movable support body 126 comprises an end cap or pressure cap 128. The end cap 128 comprises a clamping surface or face 129 against which the wood boards to be worked are secured from one side. An opposing face 139, as with the first embodiment, provides an opposing clamping surface. Between the clamping surfaces 129, 139 is the throat 112 of the assembly 110.
[0025] Further, a second end support 130 is provided which comprises a support body 132 which is fixed to one end of the bar 122 and a movable portion 138 which can limitedly slide along a short portion of the straight bar 122 of the clamp 120 via an opening (not shown) in the support body 132. The movable portion 138 comprises the clamping surface 139 and is attached to one end of a threaded screw portion 134 which mates with a like-threaded aperture (not shown) in the support body 132. This structure also includes a handle 136, the handle 136 being rotatable relative to the support body 132. The handle 136 of this embodiment is a bit different in that the handle 136 lies generally perpendicular to the screw portion 134 which affords this handle 136 a bit more torque capability. The screw portion 134 comprises an end 135, the end 135 being shown as a square structure. As shown in FIG. 5, it is to be understood that the handle 136 can be secured to the screw portion end 135 as well, but can also be is removed from it. That is, the handle 136 is removably secured to the end 135 of the screw portion 134 via a quick release mechanism, such as a ball and detent arrangement that is known in the art. Lastly, an electric drill 142 or other type of rotational tool having a chuck 144 is provided, the chuck 144 being configured to receive a portion of a female driver 145. Together with the end 135 of the screw portion 134, the drill 142, chuck 144 and driver 145 are considered to be the “drive device” 140 of this particular assembly 110.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, it shows the drive device 140 engaged with the screw portion end 135, which is a square-shaped male portion. See also FIG. 7. This male portion 135 is configured to mate with the contour of the driver 145 such that, upon actuation of the drill 142, the drive device 140 can rotate the screw portion 134 inwardly or outwardly and in a fashion that is done more quickly than can be done by hand, even with a handle 136 that is configured to provide more torqueing ability for the craftsman.
[0027] In accordance with the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provided an improved drive assembly 10, 110 that makes tightening and untightening of clamps easier for the craftsman and that reduces the amount of time it takes to do so, particularly when a plurality of clamps, such as the one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, are used. It will also be appreciated that a female receiver and male driver can be used with either the movable end support or the stationary end support of the clamp, as could the male portion and the female driver, all such variations being included within the scope of the present invention.
