The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1995
Bert Krivec, Waukesha, WI (US);
Snap-on Technologies, Inc., Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Abstract
A position latch device is used with a clamp of the type including a pair of pivotally coupled gripping members respectively defining gripping jaws at one end and first and second handle portions at the opposite end. The gripping members are operable between a latched open-jaw condition and a non-latched closed-jaw condition. The position latch device includes a resilient spring extending from the first handle portion toward the second handle portion in an arcuate manner and deflectable by the second handle portion as the gripping members move from the closed-jaw condition to the open jaw condition so as to exert on the second handle portion a force component in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second handle portion. The spring has a fixed end connected to the first handle portion and a free end. The latch device further includes a latching abutment disposed adjacent to the free end of the spring and engageable in the latched condition with the second handle portion in response to movement of the clamp from the closed-jaw condition to retain the clamp against movement toward the closed-jaw condition. The abutment is disengageable from the latched condition in response to application to the free end of a release force having a substantial component in the direction of movement of the second handle member toward the open-jaw condition.