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. 15, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2014
Melvyn James Marple, Douglassville, PA (US);
James Arthur Marple, Newtown, CT (US);
Melvyn James Marple, Douglassville, PA (US);
James Arthur Marple, Newtown, CT (US);
Other;
Abstract
A clamping device is configured to ensure that a workpiece fixed between the jaws of the clamp is self centered by coupling the jaws to a pair of linkages that rotate through the same angle as the application of a first causes the jaws to translate in linear fashion across the surface of the device. In particular, the clamping device utilizes coupled linkage (e.g., a 180° bell crank), in combination with slots for retaining opposing jaws and maintaining only linear movement of the jaws, thus providing a fast and accurate self-centering arrangement. The clamping device may also be located within a hollow workpiece and controlled to move the jaws outward and engage the inner surface of the hollow workpiece in a self-aligned configuration.