BAR CLAMP

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Bar clamps are among the most widely used fixtures by craftsmen and woodworkers. Bar clamps typically include a first ^λλ fixed jaw" secured- in place on a bar or pipe and a second moveable jaw secured to the bar or pipe in opposition to the first jaw. See, e.g. U.S. 1,783,713 (showing a bar clamp) and U.S. 6,338,478 (showing pipe clamp). [0002] Selecting the appropriate bar clamp for a particular job depends upon the size of the work piece to be held. Bar clamps are typically available in lengths ranging from 6 inches to 8 feet, and it is not unusual for a tradesman to have a large number of bar or pipe clamps in varying lengths in order to be prepared for most contingencies. Most hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers, however, are unlikely to own bar clamps in the many varying lengths available, and are thus more likely to encounter situations where a clamp is needed with a larger space between the fixed and moveable jaws than is at hand. [0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bar clamp which can be joined to a similarly configured bar clamp to increase the working distance between the jaw members on the clamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This object, and others which will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, is provided by a clamp that is adapted to be secured to a second substantially identical clamp. The clamp includes a first jaw that is secured to an intermediate member, such as a bar or pipe, and a second jaw that is removably securable to the intermediate member so as to selectively oppose the first jaw. The second jaw includes a surface thereon that is configured to interlock with a complimentarily-shaped surface on a second jaw of the second clamp.

[0005] Preferably, the surface of the second jaw comprises a projection substantially on a first side of a center line of the second jaw and a complimentarily-shaped recess substantially on a second side of the center line. The projection and the recess are configured so that the surface on the second jaw interlocks with an identically- configured second jaw of a second clamp. Preferably, the projection is symmetrical in shape, and has a narrow neck portion with a relatively larger head portion. The recess is also symmetrical in shape with a narrow mouth and a relatively larger interior. The head portion of the projection is larger then the mouth portion of the recess.

The projection and recess may be in any of a number of shapes, such as dove tail-shaped, T-shaped, and ball-shaped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bar clamp in accordance with the present invention.

[0007] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a first bar clamp according to the present invention connected to a second bar clamp according to the present invention, thereby extending the working length of the bar clamp.

[0008] Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the interconnected jaw members of the two bar clamps shown in Fig. 2. [0009] Fig. 4 is a top view of a fixed jaw in accordance with the present invention.

[00010] Fig. 5 is a plan view of a fixed jaw in accordance with the present invention.

[00011] Fig. 6 is a side view of a fixed jaw in accordance with the present invention.

[00012] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fixed jaw in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [00013] Turning to Figs. 1 and 2, there is seen a bar clamp, generally designated 10, that can be joined to a second bar clamp, generally designated 1OA, having a configuration substantially identical to the bar clamp 10 to

permit the user to create a bar clamp adapted for use with larger work pieces, as shown in Fig. 2.

[00014] The clamps 10, 1OA each include a moveable jaw 12 and a fixed jaw 14, both of which are received on a slide bar 16. The moveable jaw 12 is formed integrally with a handle/grip assembly 18 that includes a first operating handle 20 for incrementally advancing the moveable jaw 12 along the slide bar 16 toward the fixed jaw 14, and a second operating handle 22 for releasing the slide bar 16 so that the moveable jaw 12 can freely slide away from the fixed jaw 14, as is well known in the art. An internal mechanism for the handle/grip assembly 18 may be as shown in U.S. patent no. 6,655,670, which is incorporated here and by reference. [00015] The fixed jaw 14 includes a sleeve portion 24 that receives the slide bar 16 so that the fixed jaw 14 may be removably secured to the slide bar 16 by means of a thumb screw 26 and a nut 28. The shank of the screw 26 is received in a hole 30 adjacent the end of the slide bar 18. [00016] The clamp 10 as shown in Fig. 1, is configured for holding a work piece between the two opposed jaw 12, 14. The removeability of the fixed jaw 14 allows the clamp 10 to be reconfigured for use as a spreader. To this end, the fixed jaw 14 is removed from the first end of the slide bar 16, the handle/grip assembly 18 is moved toward the first

end of the slide bar 16, and the fixed jaw 14 is secured to the second end of the slide bar so that its jaw faces away from the jaw 12 on the handle/grip assembly 18. Thus, the slide bar 16 includes a hole 30 adjacent each end to facilitate selectively securing the fixed jaw 14 to either end. In the preferred embodiment, each end of the slide bar also includes a stop 32 that extends transversely beyond the face of the slide bar 16 for keeping the handle/grip 18 assembly associated with the slide bar 16.

[00017] In keeping with the invention, the sleeve 24 of the fixed jaw 14 is formed with a surface, generally designated 34, that is configured to interlock with a similar surface on the fixed jaw of a second bar clamp, thus permitting the user to create an extended bar clamp as shown in Fig. 2.

[00018] As best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, the surface 34 comprises a projection 36 and a complementarily-shaped recess 38. When viewed from above, as soon in Fig. 3, projection 36 is symmetrical in shape and comprises a narrow neck portion 40 and a relatively larger head portion 42. The recess 38 is similarly symmetrical in shape and has a narrow mouth portion 44 with a relatively larger interior 46. As can be appreciated, the head 42 of the projection 36 is larger than the mouth 44 of the recess 38 so that two

interlocked fixed jaws 14 will resist separation when a clamping force is exerted in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the slide bar 16, but can slide apart if a force is exerted perpendicular to the axis of the slide bar. In the illustrated fix jaws, the projections and recesses are dovetail-shaped. However, they can also be T-shaped or ball-shaped without departing from the invention. [00019] Consequently, a pair of bar clamps 10, 1OA of the type described above can be joined together by first removing the fixed jaws 14 from their respective slide bars 16. The fixed jaws 14 are then rotated 180 degrees about the axes of their respective slide bars 16 and then reattached thereto so that the jaw of the fixed jaw 14 is on the opposite side of the slide bar 16 from the jaw on the moveable jaw 12. -The interlocking surfaces 34 of the fixed jaws 14 are joined together in a sliding motion, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, so that the fixed jaws 14 interlock and the moveable jaws 12 of the bar clamps 10, 1OA are in opposition so that a work piece can be secured therebetween .

[00020] Thus, a bar clamp configuration meeting all of the objects of the present invention has been provided. While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, there is no intent to limit it to the same.

Instead, it is intended to cover variations that would be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, while the clamp has been described as having a slide bar to which the moveable and fixed jaws are mounted, other structural members could be used to support the jaws, such as pipes, rods and bars of various cross-sectional shape, without departing from the invention.