Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKG~OUND OF TI~E INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatus for supporting
a workpiece. The invention relates more particularly to an im-
proved vise for supporting a workpiece which is subjected to rela-
tively moderate to light working operations.
Description of the Prior Art
_
Bench top vises are known for ~ripping and supporting a
workpiece during a working operation on the workpiece. These vise
generally include a vise body having a pair of gripping ~aw mem-
bers which are forced intoenya~m~nt with, and sandwich, a work-
piece therebetween. Relative motion between the jaw members for
gripping or releasing a workpiece is provided by the rotary motion
of a lever actuated screw which engages internally threaded seg-
ments of the jaw members. A means is provided for mounting the
vise body to a table surface or bench top for rigidly securing
the vise during a working operation. Typical mounting means
comprise bolts, lag screws and clamps.
At times a working operation is facilitated by rotating
the vise body and the gripped workpiece in order to present the
workpiece at a more convenient attitude. To this end, a means has
been provided for rotating the vise about various axes. In addi-
tion, a vise is also often required to grip an elongated workpiece
such as a pipe. ~oth thè construction of the vise and its mount-
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to a workbench can interfere with such use. These limitations
have been circumvented by off center gripping of the workpiece
and mounting of the vise. The jaw actuating screw is generally
positioned at a centrally located position beneath the jaws thus
necessitating positioning of an elongated workpiece at an off
center location between the jaws so as to by-pass the trans-
versely extending screw. The vise body must also be mounted to
provide bench overhang for enabling a non-interferring extension
of an elongated workpiece.
The working operations to which a vise supported workpiece
are subjected include, for example, forming and shaping by pound-
ing, hammering, filing, grinding, shearing, heating, welding, sol-
dering, etc. In order to sustain the various working operations,
some of which impose relatively large and severe impact forces on
the vise, the bench top vise is ruggedly constructed, it is formed
of solid metal, it has considerable weight and is
relatively costly. Although the aforementioned vise provides
satisfactory gripping~of workpieces at a workbench, their size,
weight and configuration do not lend to ready portability of the
vise and such a vise is considered to be stationary and not con-
venient to movement from work place to work place.
In providing a vise suitable for relatively moderate to
light working operations and hobby activities and which can
~e used free standing or can be readily mounted and demounted,
the aforementioned vise arrangement has been scaled down in size.
~ile portability is imparted to the latter type of vise, none-
theless this form of vise is fabricated of metal, is still rela-
tively heavy and costly, has a substantially limited jaw opening
and does not provide a desired angularity control between the
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ise jaws, a feature which is often desirable in various working
applications.
SU~ ~RY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide
an improved vise.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
vise for supporting a workpiece during relatively moderate to
light working operations.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
vise for stationary or portable use, which is of relatively light
weight and which can be economically fabricated.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable
vise for supporting a workpiece during relatively moderate to
light working operations and which has an enhanced gripping jaw
spacing for supporting relatively large workpieces.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a
portable vise for supporting an elongated workpiece during rela-
tively moderate to light working operations and having an improved
arrangement for providing clearance of a vertically supported
elongated workpiece.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
portable vise having means for varying an angle between gripping
jaw members of the vise.
Another object of the invention is ~o provide a portable
vise which can be used free standing and which is readily mounted
to and demounted from a worktable.
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Accordingly one form of the invention provides
a compact lightweight portable vise suitable for use by
model makers and hobbyists. It includes a frame having a pair
of substantially flat coplanar top surfaces spaced from one
another with a pair of elongated clamping jaws supported
longitudinally on top of the frame and transversely of the
coplanar surfaces. One of the jaws is fixed to the frame and
the other jaw is mounted on the frame for parallel or non-
parallel movement toward and away from the fixed jaw to permit
tapered objects to be clamped between the jaws. The top of
- the frame has a central aperture disposed between the coplanar
surfaces and the clamping jaws. The aperture preferably extends
substantially to the maximum extended opening betwen the
clamping jaws. A member is secured to the frame and depends
below the aperture, such member being substantially coterminous
with the aperture so that an odd-shaped enlarged workpiece may
be received within the member and yet may be clamped between
the jaws. The member has a lowermost convex portion. A base
is provided having a complementary concave portion for receiving
the convex portion therein to support the member thereon so
that the frame and hence the clamping jaws may be swivel
adjusted with respect to the base. Means for clamping the
member to the base in a desired adjusted position are provided
these preferably being in the form of a cam actuated quick-
release means.
The abo~e noted member thus provides for a
limited extension of an elongated workpiece through the frame
aperture and into the interior of the member. This member is
preferably bowl-shaped. The workpiece being gripped can thus
be centrally oriented on the vise.
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A preferred arrangement according to the
invention enables the jaw members to be relatively widely
spaced along a length of the frame member for supporting a
relatively large workpiece. The means for varying the spacing
between the jaws preferably includes a pair of screw threaded
rods mounted in the frame with respective pivot members
carried by the moving jaw for engaging the rods.
As noted above, the support member is preferably
bowl-shaped. The above-noted quick-release clamping means
between the member and the base preferably includes a first
clamping element received within the member adjacent to the
opening therein, the concave portion of the base also having
an opening therein. The first clamping element includes a
portion extending through the opening in the base and keyed
thereto. A second clamping element is disposed within the
base and has a manually manipulatable lever portion extending
through an opening in the side wall of the base. Cam means
are formed between the second clamping element and the under-
side of the concave portion of the base, respectively. Notch
means are provided in the opening in the side wall of the
base for retaining the lever portion of the second clamping
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of the
invention will become apparent with reference to the following
specification and to the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a vise
constructed in accordance with the features of this invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the vise of Figure l;
3~ Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of a support
body of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the support
~ody of Figure 3;
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Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the vise of Figure 1
illustrating a frame member of the vise at alternate orien~ations;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken along lines 6-6 of
Figure l;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary view taken along lines 7-7 of
Figure l;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary view taken along lines 8-8 of
Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a fragmentary view tàken along lines 9-9 of
Figure 8;
Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a locking
lever utilized with the vise of Figure l;
Figure 11 is a view of the vise of Figure 1 in a pre-
selected orientation and partly broken away to illustrate a
restraining means;
Figure 12 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of
a locking means of the invention;
. Figure 13 is a view along 13-13 of Figure 12 illustrating
non-interference engagement between surfaces;
Figure 14 is a side elevation view of the locking means
of Figure 12 illustrating an interference between surfaces;
Figure 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a means for
mounting the vise of Figure 1 to a support surface; and,
Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of a
swivel mounting arrangement.
Figure 17 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 16,
but showing the swivel in side elevation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTlO~
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures
1-4, a vise 16 of the invention is shown supported on a surface 17
of a workbench or a support ta~le. The vise 16 includes first and
second workpiece gripping jaw members 18 and 20 and a means for
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supporting these members. The vise support means comprises a
sup~ort body 22 and a base body 24. Support body 22 comprises an
integrally formed frame member 26 and an integrally formed bowl
shaped member 28. The jaw members 18 and 20, the support body 22
amd the base body 24 are fabricated of a relatively]ightweight
economical material. One such material is a polymer plastic. A
preferable polymer plastic material is a structural foam.
The frame member 26 includes a surface segment 29, a
peripheral skirt segment 30 and has a length 31 and a width 32.
The surface segment 29 includes parallelaligned segments 36 and
38 each having elongated slots 40 and 42 formed therein. An
aperture 52 (Fig.2) is provided in the surface and extends in
the direction of a plane defined by the mutually ~erpendicular
axes 56 and 57 (Fig. 2). The first jaw member 18 is stationary
and is mounted to the surfac~s 36 and 38 as indicated in more de-
tail hereinafter. The second jaw member 20 extends between
the surfaces36 and 38, and, as indicated hereinafter, is advanced
toward and retracted f~om the stationary member 18 for respectively
gripping and releasing a workpiece 60 as shown in Fig. S or a
workpiece 61 as shown in Fig. 6.
The bowl member 28 communicates with the aperture 52 of
the frame member. The bowl ~ember 28 which has a longitudinal
axis 62 extends from the aperture 52 of the frame member in
the direction of its longitudinal axis. The bowl member 28
includes a curved spherical segment 64 (Fig. 4) shown to be a
thin walled hollow hemisphere and having a curved surface
segment 66 located at a bottom section 67 of the member. The
bowl member 28 has a depth extending in the direction of its
onglt~dina1 axis 62 which enables extension of an elongated
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workpiece into an interior of the member. The bowl member can
comprise a hollow hemispherical body ox it includes an extension
segment such as the integral cylindrical segment 69 (Fig. 4)
which is positioned between the spherical segment 64 and the
aperture 52. A cut-out 70 is formed in the spherical segment
through which a component of a restraining means extends, as
is indicated in greater detail hereinafter.
The base body 24 includes a plurality of upstanding wall
segments 74, 76, 78 tFig. 1) and 80 (Fig. 7) which ~rovide
an elevated platform surface 82 in which a depending cavity 84
is formed. The cavity 84 includes a curved surface 86 which
conforms with the curvature of the surface 66 of the bowl
segment 64. Cavity 84 is thus adapted to receive and seat the
bowl member 28 for sliding engagement between the bowl and base
body surfaces. A plurality of feet 89 are mounted to the bottom
surface for spacing the base body from the table surface 17.
These feet made of a polymer for example provide against movement
and slippage of the vise and avoid scratching of a finished
surface 17.
A restraining means is provided for captivating the bowl
member 28 in the cavity 84 and for alternatively enabling
sliding movement between the surfaces ~6 and 86 or maintaining
the bowl member 28 at a preselected orientation. The re-
straining means includes a lock body 120 (Fig 7) ~haped
as a spherical segment which is positioned in the bowl member 28.
A spherically curved surface 124 conforms in surface co~figura-
tion with a spherically curved surface 125 of the interior of
the bowl 2~. Body 12~ includes a hub segment 122 and a key
¦shaped~oss 123 extending axially from the hub segment 122 through
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the cutout 70 and into the base body 24. A hexagonal shaped
aperture 130 is formed in the hub segment 22 and a c~ylindrical
shaped bore 131 of reduced diameter is formed in the hub and in
the boss 123. A rod 132, having a hexagonal head engages the
hexagonal aperture 130 and rotation thereof is inhibited. The
rod 132 extends through the aperture 130 and the bore 131. The
restraining means further includes a cylindrically shaped base
body hub 133 integrally formed on the base body and through which
a key shaped aperture 134 extends. The key shaped boss 123 of
body 120 engages aperture 134 and inhibits rotary movement of the
body 120. An annular array of raised ramp shaped segments 140,
142, 144 and 146 are integrally formed on a surface 136 of hub 133.
A locking lever 148 is provided having a surface 150, an
aperture 152 formed therein, and an annular array of ramp shaped
segments 154, 156, 158 and 160 which are integrally formed with
the lever 148 and extend from the surface 150. The ramp segments
are arrayed for providing that each ramp segment increases in
height in a predeermined direction as, for example, in a counter-
clockwise direction as shown in Figure 10. The lever 148 is main-
tained in engagement with the surface 136 of the base body hub 133
by the screw 132 which extends through the aperture 152 in the
lever arm 148, a washer 164 and a locking nut 166. The lock
lever 148 includes a lever arm segment 162 which extends through
the aperture 90 formed in the base body wall. As shown in Figure
5, this aperture includes a ratchet shaped segment 167 extending
to a notch 168. Upon rotation of the lever arm 162 in a first
direction/ the ramp segments 140, 142, 144 and 146 are forced into
engagement with the corresponding ramp segments 154, 156, 158 and
160, thereby forcing the screw 132 to advanc~ in an axial direction
toward the base body 24. The effect of movement is determined
by the relative positioning of ramp segments 140-146 ana 154-160.
As shown, the lever arm is advanced about 30 to 60 D to establish
interference. The captivating spherical body 120 then exerts a foroe
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on the spherical segment 64 which is positioned between this body
and the cavity surface 86. Movement of the bowl member 28 and
support body is inhibited and it is maintained at a preselected
orientation. By rotating the lever arm segment 162 in a second
opposite direction/ the ramp ségments are disengaged, the sand-
wiching force established by the spherical body 120 on the bowl
member 28 is released and the bowl member, although captivated in
the cavity, can be reorientated by the application of hand ~ressu~
Upon reorientation, the bowl member 28 can then be locked in the
selected position by advancing the lever arm in the opposite
direction. A tool 169/ such as a wrench, may be extended through
the aperture 90 for adjusting nut 166 to compensate for wear.
Figures 10,11 and 12 illustrate an alternative cammed surface con-
figuration wherein surfaces 136 and 150 are cammed or annularly
tapered to provide interference therebetween. Figure 11 illus-
trates non-interfering engagement while Figure 12 illus~rates the
lever 148 rotated for establishing interference.
The bowl member 28 is advantageously adjustable in the
cavity and has substantial freedom of movement in order to present
the workpiece at a desired attitude. The extent of reorientation
and movement of the bowl member 28 in the cavity about three
axes is determined by the size and configuration of the cutout
70. The cutout 70 is configured and sized to provide on the
one hand a substantial degree of unlimited movement, and, on
the other hand, to provide a bowl surface segment 66 having an
area sufficiently large to assure mechanical integrity of the
bowl in supporting the bowl member and for enabling restraint
of the same upon the application of a sandwiching force by the
sphexical body 120. The restraining arrangement is advantageous
in that the spherical configuration of the body 120 applies a
restraining force across a gap of the cutout and contributes
to the rigidity of the bowl member in the area of the cutout.
The cutout 70 is at least coextensive with the axis 21~ thgereby
enabling the bow] member 28 to rotate 360 about this axis.
The cutout is formed for providing that the bowl member may be
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rotated an angular distance ~c) about an axis 222 (Fig. 7).
Since the bowl member 28 can be rotated 360 about an axis 218,
the angular rotation bc) is effectively doubled. Orientation
about the axis 222 is shown in Figure 5. The cutout is also
shaped to enable rotation for an angular distance (6) (Fig. 4)
220. Various orientations about the axis 220 are illustrated in
Figures 1 and 11. Thus, a substantial degree of freedom is
provided for reorientating the support body 22 to a desired
attitude. The size and configuration of the cutout can be varied
to suit particular needs. It has been found that the angles (~;)
and~)can equal 40 and 20 respectively while providing
sufficient structural integrity for a hem~pherical segment 64
formed of a structural polymer foam having a radius of 51 mm
and a wall thickness of S mm. The restraining means thus
described is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent
No. 4,243,212 issued January 6, 1981 and which is
assigned to the Assi~nee of this invention,
A ~uick connect and disconnect mounting means comprises
a clamp 92 (Fig.5,11 and 15) which is provided for mounting and
demounting the base body 24 to the surfacé 17 of a worktable or
bench top. The clamp 92 comprises a formed wire body having
horizontal segments 94 and 96 which extend over an upper surface
of the work support table, horizontal segments 98 and 100 which
extend below a lower surface of the worktable, vertical segments
102 and 104, an~ segments 106 and 108 for engaging surfaces 109
and 110 in the base body 24. A plate 112 îs provided and extends
between the lower horizontal segments 98 and 100. An aperture
113 is formed in the plate and a screw 114 engages and extends
throu~h the aperture. The screw 114 includes a knob 116 and a
tip 118 mounted at opposite ends of the screw for respectivel~
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rotating the screw and for engaging the lower section of
the worktable. Alternatively, the vise 16 can be screw
mounted to a table by screws 115 extending through apertures 117
in the segments 106 and 108 or it can be utilized freestanding
without use of any mounting members.
The first gripping member 18 comprises an elongated
stationary member having a lower, flat surface 171 engaging
support surfaces 36 and 38 (Fig. 2) and upper angled surfaces
173. This member is mounted to the frame by screws 172 and
174. The second jaw member 20 is transported by means including
first and second, elongated, rotatably mounted screws 176 and
178. Apertures 180 and 182 (Fig. 3) formed in the frame
member 26 provide for support of the screws at one end thereof.
The arrangement of the screw support and jaw member transport
is the same for each of the screws 176 and 178. The following
description,which is applicable to the screw 176, is equally
applicable to screw 178 and similar components are provided
for supporting the screw 178. A distal segment of the screw 176
extends through the aperture 180 (Fig. 6) and engages a bore
181 of a crank arm 184. A rotatable knob 186 is pressed on and
captivated by a lever segment 183 of the crank arm. A plate
or washer 1~8 is positioned on the screw adjacent a wall
segment of the frame member and a pin 190 extends through a
transverse bore 191 in the screw for inhi~iting longitudinal
movement of the screw through the aperture. The pin and washer
~s well as a surface 193 on the crank arm inhibits movement
of the screw 176 in an axial direction. The screw 176 is
~pported at another location along its lengtn and is mechanically
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coupled to the transported jaw 20 by a travel body or pivot
nut 192. The body 192 includes an internally threaded bore
198 which is engaged by the screw 176. A shoulder 200
is formed on the body 192 and an aperture 201 is formed
therein. A screw 202 extends through this aperture and engages
the gripping member 2a in a bore 205. The screw 202 while
engaging the gripping member 20 includes a flat head segment 203 and
is freely rotatable in the aperture 201. Vpon manual rotation
of the crank arm 184, the screw 176 rotates causing movement
of the travel body 192 in an axial direction in accordance
with the direction of the rotation of the crank. Screw 202
extends through the elongated slot 42 formed in the frame
member 26 surface 38 and causes jaw member 20 to travel there-
with. As indicated, a similar supportable arrangement is
provided near an opposite end of the member 20. By rotating
cranks 184 and crank 2~7, the jaw member 20 is advanced and
retracted relative to the stationary member 18 with jaw face
209 and 211 (Fig. 6) thereof parallel. ByrDtating only a
single crank or by rotating the crank at different rates,
the jaw faces 2~9 and 211 are positioned anti-parallel. This
is advantageous in that tapered and wedge shaped workpieces
can be conveniently gripped by the jaw faces. A workbench which
exhibits the angularity control is disclosed in U.S. Patents
3,615,087, 3,841,619 and 4,076,229 to Arnold Hickman which
are assigned to the Assignee of this invention.
In addition to gripping a workpiece directly with the
jaw faces, the workpiece can be gripped through the use o~ swivel
members 213 which are rotatably positioned in apertures 215
~Fig. 13)formed in a jaw member. A swivel includes a ridge 217
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and swivelson opposite jaws are employed to support a workpiece
which is positioned in the ridges 217. The jaws 18 and 20 are
spaced apart a substantial distance in the described arrangement
by advancement of the transportable member 20 along the frame
member surface. This spacing is further increased through the
use of the swivels 213.
An improved portable or stationary vise for moderate or
relatively light working operations has thus been described.
The vise 16 will support a workpiece subjected to relative
moderate to light pounding, hammering, etc. and during other
working operations. It is particularly useful for hobby work,
arts and crafts. The use of a support body including a frame
and a bowl shaped member enables a relatively low cost,light
weight vise to be fabricated of a material such as a polymer
plastic yet which can support a workpiece during the application
of relatively moderate or relatively light working forces on
the workpiece. The vise can be orientated about three axes in
a plurality of dlfferent attitudes and is locked at a
selected orientation. The described arrangement further enables
a limited extension of centrally gripped elongated workpieces
into the interior of the bowl shaped member. The use of a
frame member for supporting the grip~ing jaw members enables
relatively wide spacing of these jaw members in a portable
arrangement and the angularity jaw control enables gripping of
tapered pieces and other non-linear arrangements.
While there has been described a particular embodiment of
the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that variations may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended
claims. - 14 -
