BACKGROUND ART Clamping devices have been in use for many years. The existing clamping devices generally have a substantially C-shaped body. One end of the C-shaped body functions as a fixed clamping jaw and the other end of the body has a threaded opening. A threaded spindle with a clamping jaw is arranged in the threaded member so that a work piece can be inserted between the two jaws and the spindle is turned in to clamp the work piece.

Each of the existing clamping devices has a maximum opening between the clamping jaws. Accordingly they cannot be used for clamping work pieces with a dimension larger than the maximum opening.

These clamping devices are also relatively slow to get to a clamping position especially for small work pieces as the spindles must be wound for many times in order to position the clamping jaw on the spindle at said clamping position.

The existing clamping devices cannot be adapted for use with work pieces with dimensions larger than the fixed maximum opening. Accordingly people must purchase clamping devices of different sizes for work pieces of different dimensions.

The existing clamping devices cannot be used in situations where obstacles are between the clamping jaws.

Building frames are sometimes out of square and brute force must be used to square the frames. This process is also time and labour intensive as at least two building works must go to opposite corners of the frames to check whether the frames are square. This process may be repeated a number of times until the

frames are square.

Timbers such as floor boards may be bowed and are normally discarded by builders as they cannot be straightened easily.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or to reduce to a certain degree one or more of the above prior disadvantages.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of the invention.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention resides in a device for clamping/ shaping one or more work pieces. The device compares a threaded elongate member, a first clamping/shaping member located on the elongate member and a second clamping/shaping member also located on the elongate member. The first member is arranged so that its position relative to the second member is continuously variable. The first member includes a thread engagement means movable between an engaged position for cooperatively engaging the elongate member and a released position for releasing from said engaged position. At said released position the first member is slidable along the elongate member for positioning it to or away from one or more work pieces and at said engaged position the engagement means prevents sliding movement of the first clamping/shaping member and the engagement means is rotatable about the elongate member for continuously varying the position of the first member relative to the second member.

It is preferred that each of the first and second members have a clamping/shaping plate for contacting the one or more work pieces. Desirably at least the clamping/shaping plate of the first member is rotatable or swivelable independent of the engagement means so that it does not rotate or swivel which the engagement means is in rotation.

It is also preferred that the first clamping/shaping member includes a hollow tube and the clamping/shaping plate is positioned at or adjacent to one end of the tube. The plate has an opening in substantial alignment with the tube and, in use, the elongate member extends within the tube and the opening.

Conveniently the first clamping/shaping member is fixed to a sleeve which is rotatably arranged about the tube at or adjacent the one end of the tube.

Limiting means may advantageously be provided on the tube for limiting axial movement of the first clamping/shaping member or the sleeve along the tube.

Typically the limiting means has a ring fixed to said one end of the tube for preventing the first clamping/shaping member from moving out of the tube.

A further ring spaced from said ring may also be fixed on the tube so that the first clamping/shaping member is retained within the space between the two rings.

Hand grip means can be provided at or adjacent to the other end of the tube for gripping when rotating or moving the first clamping/shaping member.

The tube may also include a turning member to which a hand tool can be applied for rotating this first clamping/shaping member.

The tube may have an aperture through which the engagement means can move between the engaged position and the released position. A lever may be provided for moving the engagement means between the engaged position and the released position.

It is preferred that the engagement means has a toothed section arranged for threadably engaging the threaded elongate member.

The toothed section is adapted to move into the aperture to the engaged position and out of the aperture to the released position.

In one form of the present invention the engagement means is biased to the engaged position. In an alternate form of the present invention the engagement means is biased to the released position. A spring can be used for biasing the engagement means.

Position maintaining means can be arranged for selectively maintaining the engagement means in the engaged position or the released position.

The position maintain means may include a first part which is fixed to the engagement means and a second part fixed to the tube. The first part is movable relative to the second part between the engaged position and the released position. A locking member is advantageously provided for locking the first part in said engaged position. The locking member may be in form of a locking nut or a cam body.

The second clamping/shaping member may be the same or similar to the first clamping/shaping member. Typically, however, the second clamping/shaping member has a clamping/shaping plate fixed to a sleeve and is arranged as described earlier. But in this case the sleeve is threaded or fixed to a threaded member so that the second clamping/shaping member is rotatably movable along the elongate member.

The device of the present invention may be extended by joining two or more threaded elongate members. Joining means in the form of an internal threaded member may be used to join adjacent elongate members.

The elongate member(s) can be in the form of a cyclone rod(s) of any diameter, but typically 12mm.

The clamping/shaping plates may be of any shape such as circular, rectangular or other polygonal shape.

The device of the present invention can be used for clamping one or more work pieces such as for laminating timber together for a table top, for straightening beams, joints, rafters, bearers, wall studs and floor boards and the like.

The device can also be adapted as a vice on a work bench.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In order that the present invention can be readily understood and put into practical effect the description will now be made in reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, and wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the device for clamping/shaping according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first clamping/shaping member of the device shown in Figure 1 with the engagement means in a released position; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first clamping/shaping member shown in Figure 2 when the engagement means is an engaged position; Figure 4 is a front view of the clamping/shaping plate of the first member shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the plate shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front view of the second clamping/shaping plate of the second clamping/shaping member shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second member shown in Figure 6; - Figure 8 is a exploded view of the engagement means of the first member shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 9 shows the device shown in Figure 1 being applied for squaring a building wall frame; Figure 10 shows an application of the device shown in Figure 1 for clamping floor boards; Figure 11 shows an application of the device shown in Figure 1 for straightening a bowed roof support beam; Figure 12 an application of the device shown in Figure 1 for straightening floor joist timber; and Figure 1 3 shows adaptation of the device shown in Figure 1 as a vice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to Figure 1 there is shown a clamping/shaping device 10 according to the present invention. The device 10 comprises a threaded elongate rod 12 which in this case is a 12mm cyclone rod, a first clamping/shaping member 14 arranged on the rod 12 and a second clamping/shaping member 16 also arranged on the rod 12. The members 14 and 16 are in facing relationship.

As can be seen in details in Figures 2 to 8 the first member 14 has a tubular member 1 8 with an internal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rod 12 so that the member 14 can slide along the rod 12. A clamping/shaping plate 20 for clamping/shaping a work piece is rotatably arranged at an end of the tubular member 1 8. The plate 20 is fixed to a sleeve member 22 which is fitted on the tubular member 18. The internal diameter of the sleeve-member 22 is such that it can rotate about the tubular member 1 8 spaced ring members 24, 26 are fixed on the tubular member 1 8 for retaining the plate 20 and the sleeve member 22 in position on the tubular member 18.

A gripping means 28 in the form of a handle is provided at the other end of the tubular member 18 to facilitate moving the member 14.

A nut member 30 is also fixed to said other end of the tubular member so that a hand tool such as a wrench can be fitted on the nut member 30 for turning the member 14. The second member 16 also has a clamping/shaping plate 32 fixed to a sleeve member 34 which is internally threaded.

Turning back to Figure 1, the clamping/shaping member -14 is locked in that position as shown because its engagement means 40 (to be described in reference to Figure 2 and 3) is placed in an engaged position. Tension applied to a work piece (not shown) between the members 14 and 16 can be continuously adjusted by rotating the member 14.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 8 the engagement means 40 has an L-shaped plate 42 which is fixed in position over an aperture 38 in the tubular member 18, a U-shaped member 44 guided for movement between two spaced plates 46, 48 and housing a compression spring 50, and a toothed section 42 positioned for moving to an engaged position (see Figure 3) through the aperture 38 or to a released position (see Figure 2). The toothed section 52 is connected to the U- shaped member 44 by a bolt 54. A cam member 56 is located between arms of the U-shaped member 44. The cam member 56 is fixed to a lever 58 which facilitates rotational movement of the cam member 57.

When the lever 58 is rotated to the position as shown in Figure 2 the section 52 is in the released position in which the tubular member 18 can slide along the rod 12.

By rotating the lever 58 towards the tubular member 18, the U-shaped member 44 and the threaded section 52 move towards the rod 1 2. When the lever 58 is at the position shown in Figure 3 the section 52 is in meshing engagement with the threaded rod 12. In this position the member 14 cannot slide along the rod 1 2. The cam member 56 maintains the U-shaped member 44 and the section 52 in the engaged position.

A compression spring 60 is used to biase the section 52 in the engaged position.

The tubular member 1 8 can however be rotated for advancing or retreating the member 14. This is used to adjust tension on the work piece.

In Figure 9, the device 10 is applied to square a building wall frame. In this regard the clamping/shaping members 14 and 1 6 are positioned at opposite corners of the wall frame and tension is applied to the corners by rotating the member 14 until the frame is square.

In Figure t0, two devices 10 of the present invention are used to clamp floor boards of a decking.

Figure 11 shows a roof support structure which has a slightly bowed beam 70. To straighten the beam 70 the device 10 of the present invention is positioned so that its clamping/shaping member 14 is in contact with the bowed beam 70 and its clamping/shaping member 1 6 is in contact with another beam 72. By rotating the member 14 toward the member 1 6 the bowed beam 70 can be straightened.

Figure 12 shows the application of the device 10 in straightening a bowed floor joist.

In Figure 1 3 there are shown different adaptations of the device for use as a clamp or vice on a work bench.

Whilst the above have been given by way of illustrative examples of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.