US 11,697,189 B2
Clamping systems for pipes
Glen R. Chartier, Avon Lake, OH (US); Scott Kruepke, Valley City, OH (US); Lawrence Feskanich, Jr., Olmsted Township, OH (US); Katherine Hall, North Ridgeville, OH (US); Don Embree, Akron, OH (US); Seth Bullock, Cleveland, OH (US); and Robert Skrjanc, Lorain, OH (US)
Assigned to Ridge Tool Company, Elyria, OH (US)
Filed by Ridge Tool Company, Elyria, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/591,753.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/741,588, filed on Oct. 5, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0108487 A1, Apr. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. B25B 5/10 (2006.01); B25B 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 5/106 (2013.01) [B25B 5/04 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clamping system (10) comprising:
a base (20) defining a threaded member (22);
a pair of arms (30, 40) pivotally supported by the base (20), each arm (30, 40) defining a proximal end (32, 42) and an opposite distal end (34, 44);
a shaft (70) threadedly engaged with the threaded member (22) of the base (20), the shaft (70) defining a proximal end (72) and an opposite distal end (74);
a central carriage (80) rotatably affixed to the distal end (74) of the shaft (70) and slideably retained to the pair of arms (30, 40);
wherein rotation of the shaft (70) relative to the base (20) results in
(i) axial displacement of the shaft (70) and linear displacement of the central carriage (80), (ii) pivotal displacement of the pair of arms (30, 40);
a force limit system (130), wherein the shaft (70) is in the form of a threaded collar (140), and wherein the collar (140) defines a proximal end (141) and an opposite distal end (142),
an outer periphery threaded region (144) extending at least partially between the proximal end (141) and the distal end (142), and
a central bore (146) extending between the proximal end (141) and the distal end (142),
wherein the force limit system includes:
a central shaft (180) extending through the central bore (146) of the threaded collar (140);
a handle (150) including a post (160) engageable with the proximal end (141) of the threaded collar (140); and
one or more springs (112) disposed between the distal end (142) of the threaded collar (140) and the central carriage (80).