U.S. patent application number 11/693166 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for electric hair straightening and waving iron.
This patent application is currently assigned to HANG SHUN HING COMPANY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Raymond Kin Man WONG.
Application Number | 20080236609 11/693166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39792170 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080236609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WONG; Raymond Kin Man |
October 2, 2008 |
ELECTRIC HAIR STRAIGHTENING AND WAVING IRON
Abstract
A first jaw is fixed to the handle of the iron, with a second
heated jaw and clamp connected by a pivot to the first jaw.
Complementary flat surfaces on the first and second jaws allow hair
to be straightened therebetween and complementary curved faces on
the clamp and second jaw provide for hair held therebetween to be
waved. Both jaws and the clamp have apertures in which a latch is
received. The latch is moveable substantially parallel to the
transverse axis of the pivot between a first position for
connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting
relative to the first jaw and a second position, for connecting the
first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting
of the clamp.
Inventors: |
WONG; Raymond Kin Man; (Hong
Kong, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
700 THIRTEENTH ST. NW, SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3960
US
|
Assignee: |
HANG SHUN HING COMPANY
LIMITED
Hong Kong
CN
|
Family ID: |
39792170 |
Appl. No.: |
11/693166 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/224 ;
132/226; 219/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/001 20130101;
A45D 1/06 20130101; A45D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/224 ;
132/226; 219/225 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/00 20060101
A45D001/00; A45D 1/04 20060101 A45D001/04; A45D 2/12 20060101
A45D002/12 |
Claims
1. A hair styling iron comprising: a handle; first and second
elongate jaws extending from the handle and having respective inner
and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and
facing one another, at least one of the first and second jaws being
heated; a clamp having a clamp face of complementary shape to, and
presented toward, the outer face of the second jaw; a
transversely-extending pivot connecting the second jaw and clamp to
the first jaw for independent pivoting of the second jaw and the
clamp relative to the first jaw and the handle; latch apertures in
the first jaw, the second jaw and the clamp; a latch received in
the latch apertures, the latch being moveable transversely between
a first position and a second position, buttons on transversely
opposing sides of the handle for moving the latch; wherein in the
first position, the latch connects the second jaw and the clamp
together for pivoting relative to the first jaw, and, in the second
position, the latch connects the first and second jaws together,
while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
2. The iron of claim 1 wherein the apertures in the first jaw and
the clamp are slotted, each aperture having a narrow portion
opening into a wide portion, and the latch is elongate, having at
least one waist which, in the first and second positions, may be
received in the narrow portion of the aperture in the first jaw and
the clamp, respectively.
3. The iron of claim 2 wherein the latch has a cylindrical outer
latch face and the aperture in the second jaw, and the wide portion
of each slotted aperture has complementary cylindrical
surfaces.
4. The iron of claim 2 wherein the latch extends substantially
parallel to the pivot on an opposite side of the pivot from the
jaws.
5. The iron of claim 1 wherein the inner faces of the jaws are
substantially flat.
6. The iron of claim 1 wherein the outer faces of the jaws are
convex and the clamp face is concave such that with the pivot in
the second position, hair wound about both jaws can be held against
the jaws by the clamp for waving.
7. A hair styling iron comprising: a handle; a first elongate jaw
fixedly connected to the handle; a second elongate jaw enclosing an
electric element, the first and second jaws having respective inner
and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and
facing one another, a clamp having a clamp face of complementary
shape to, and presented toward, the outer face of the second jaw; a
transversely-extending pivot connecting the second jaw and the
clamp to the first jaw for independent pivoting of the second jaw
and the clamp relative to the first jaw and handle; latch apertures
in the first jaw, the second jaw and the clamp, the apertures in
the first jaw and the clamp being slotted with having a narrow
portion opening into a wide portion; an elongate latch extending
substantially parallel to the pivot, the latch being slidably
received in the latch apertures for transverse movement between a
first position and a second position, the latch having at least one
waist; first and second buttons on transversely opposing sides of
the handle, whereby pressing the first or second button moves the
latch to the first or second position, respectively, wherein in the
first position, the latch connects the second jaw and the clamp
together, and the waist may be received in the narrow portion of
the aperture in the first jaw, allowing the second jaw and the
clamp to pivot relative to the first jaw; and, in the second
position, the latch connects the first and second jaws together,
and the waist may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture
in the clamp, allowing pivoting of the clamp relative to the first
and second jaws.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to heated irons having jaws
between which hair can be clamped for straightening, and a clamp
for holding hair wound about the closed jaws for waving, and
particularly to irons having a locking mechanism for locking the
jaws together in this waving configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The applicant's pending application Ser. No. 11/484,665
describes a styling iron of the above type, having one jaw rigidly
fixed to the handle and another jaw pivotally fixed to the handle,
both jaws having unheated tips. A locking mechanism is mounted on
the tips for locking the jaws together in a waving configuration.
This locking mechanism is satisfactory, however there is a need for
an iron having a locking mechanism mounted on or adjacent the
handle. Advantageously such an iron should be economical to
manufacture and have a minimum number of simple parts.
[0003] In the hair styling iron of U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,462 a heated
fixed jaw is fastened to the handle, with a pivoting jaw and clamp
joined by a hinge to the fixed jaw. A thumb lever fixed to the
clamp allows the clamp to be opened against spring pressure to
clasp hair between the clamp and an outer face of the pivoting jaw.
By operating a latching mechanism the clamp and pivoting jaw can be
latched together, such that pressing the thumb lever pivots them
simultaneously, allowing hair to be clasped between opposing inner
faces of the two jaws. The latching mechanism is rather complicated
and costly to manufacture, requiring a latch extending into a
keyhole-shaped aperture in the clamp and connected by a linkage for
remote actuation using an actuator on the handle.
[0004] WO 2006/044570 describes an iron having a pair of heated
jaws between which hair can be clamped for straightening, and a
clamp for holding hair wound about the closed jaws for waving. A
locking mechanism is provided locking the clamp to a pivoting jaw,
such that the clamp and jaw pivot together in a straightening
configuration and releasing the clamp from the pivoting jaw in the
waving configuration. The locking mechanism however does not lock
the jaws closed together in the waving configuration. It is an
object of the present invention to meet the above needs and
overcome the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an
improved hair straightening and waving iron.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect the invention provides a hair styling iron
comprising:
a handle; first and second elongate jaws having respective inner
and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and
facing one another, at least one of the jaws being heated; a clamp
having a clamp face of complementary shape to, and presented
toward, the outer face of the second jaw; a transversely-extending
pivot connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw for
independent pivoting of the second jaw and clamp relative to the
first jaw and handle; latch apertures in the first jaw, second jaw
and clamp; a latch received in the latch apertures, the latch being
moveable transversely between a first position and a second
position, buttons on transversely opposing sides of the handle for
moving the latch; wherein in the first position the latch connects
the second jaw and the clamp for pivoting the second jaw and the
clamp together relative to the first jaw; and in the second
position the latch connects the first and second jaws together,
while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
[0006] The buttons thus allow for direct manual operation of the
latch and may be formed on the ends of the latch or may abut the
ends of the latch.
[0007] The apertures in the first jaw and clamp are slotted, each
having a narrow portion opening into a wide portion, and the latch
is elongate having at least one waist which in the first and second
positions may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture in
the first jaw and clamp respectively.
[0008] The latch has a cylindrical outer latch face and the
aperture in the second jaw and the wide portion of each slotted
aperture have complementary cylindrical surfaces.
[0009] Preferably the inner faces of the jaws are substantially
flat. In this manner, with the pivot in the first position hair can
be clamped between the jaws for straightening. The outer faces of
the jaws are preferably convex and the clamp face concave such that
with the pivot in the second position hair wound about both jaws
can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving.
[0010] Preferably the first jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle, and
further including a spring biasing the clamp toward the first jaw,
the clamp having a lever portion on the opposite side of the pivot
from the clamp surface, such that pressing the lever portion toward
the handle pivots the clamp face away from the first jaw.
[0011] The iron preferably further comprises a spring biasing the
pivot to one of the first and second positions, the detent
including a slider fixed in a slot in the handle, the slider having
an outer side configured to be manually engaged and an opposing
inner side for engaging the pivot, the inner side including a ramp
inclined to the axis of the pivot for moving the pivot axially.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a hair styling iron comprising:
a handle; a first jaw connected to the handle and having elongate
inner and outer faces and a first jaw aperture with at least one
keyway portion therein; a second jaw having elongate inner and
outer faces and a second jaw aperture with at least one keyway
portion therein, at least one of the jaws being heated; a clamp
having an elongate clamp face and a clamp aperture with at least
one keyway portion therein; a pivot received in the apertures for
pivotally connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw such
that the inner faces of the jaws are facing one another and the
clamp face is presented toward the outer face of the second jaw,
the pivot having axially spaced key portions of complementary shape
to the keyway portions, the pivot being moveable substantially
parallel to a pivot axis of the pivot between a first position and
a second position, wherein in the first position the key portions
on the pivot engage the keyway portions on the second jaw and the
clamp for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for
pivoting relative to the first jaw; and in the second position the
key portions on the pivot engage the keyway portions on the first
jaw and second jaw for connecting the first and second jaws
together while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
[0013] It will be understood that, alternatively, the keyway
portions may be provided in the pivot, with complementary key
portions in the apertures.
[0014] Therefore in yet another aspect the invention provides a
hair styling iron comprising:
a handle; first and second elongate jaws connected to the handle,
the jaws having respective inner and outer faces, at least one of
the jaws being heated; a pivot mounting the second jaw for pivoting
relative to the handle such that the inner faces are facing one
another, the pivot being movable substantially parallel to an axis
of the pivot between a first position and a second position; a
clamp mounted to the handle by the pivot, the clamp having an clamp
face presented toward the outer face of the second jaw, and key
faces on the pivot for engaging complementary key faces on the
first jaw, second jaw and clamp; wherein in the first position the
key faces on the pivot engage the key faces on the second jaw and
the clamp for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for
pivoting relative to the first jaw; and in the second position the
key faces on the pivot engage the key faces on the first jaw and
second jaw for connecting the first and second jaws together, while
permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
[0015] Preferably the iron further includes a detent for holding
the pivot in the first position and second position.
[0016] Preferably the inner faces of the jaws are substantially
flat. In this manner, with the pivot in the first position hair can
be clamped between the jaws for straightening. The outer faces of
the jaws are preferably convex and the clamp face concave such that
with the pivot in the second position hair wound about both jaws
can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving.
[0017] Preferably the first jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle, and
further including a spring biasing the clamp toward the first jaw,
the clamp having a lever portion on the opposite side of the pivot
from the clamp surface, such that pressing the lever portion toward
the handle pivots the clamp face away from the first jaw.
[0018] The iron preferably further comprises a spring biasing the
pivot to one of the first and second positions, the detent
including a slider fixed in a slot in the handle, the slider having
an outer side configured to be manually engaged and an opposing
inner side for engaging the pivot, the inner side including a ramp
inclined to the axis of the pivot for moving the pivot axially.
[0019] This invention provides a hair straightening and waving iron
with a locking mechanism for locking the jaws together which is
effective and efficient in operational use, and which has an
overall simple design and a small number of parts which minimizes
manufacturing costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a hair styling iron according
to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 1 in
a straightening configuration;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 1 in
a curling configuration;
[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the parts connected by the
pivot of the iron of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the latch of the iron of FIG.
1;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section in an upright plane through
the iron of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a transverse cross section AA of FIG. 6;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a scrap section along line BB of FIG. 6 showing a
straightening configuration;
[0029] FIG. 9 is shows the view of FIG. 8 in a curling
configuration;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of a hair styling iron according
to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 10
in a straightening configuration;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 10
in a curling configuration;
[0033] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the parts connected by the
pivot of the iron of FIG. 10;
[0034] FIG. 14 is a pictorial view of the pivot of the iron of FIG.
10;
[0035] FIG. 15 is a transverse cross section through the centreline
of the pivot of the iron of FIG. 10;
[0036] FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section in an upright plane
through the iron of FIG. 10;
[0037] FIG. 17 is a scrap section along line AA of FIG. 15 showing
a straightening configuration, and
[0038] FIG. 18 is shows the view of FIG. 17 in a curling
configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a first embodiment of an electric
hair styling iron 10 comprises a handle 11 having a convex
cross-section and formed from upper and lower elongate shell
mouldings 11a, 11b. A power cord (not shown) may extend from the
end of the handle 11.
[0040] A first jaw 12 is rigidly fixed to the handle 11 and has
flat inner surface 12a and cylindrical outer surface 12b. A second
jaw 13, also having flat inner surface 13a and cylindrical outer
surface 13b, is attached by a transversely extending pivot 190 to
the handle 11 such that the inner faces 12a, 13a are facing one
another. Both jaws 12, 13 are elongate and hollow, their distal
ends being closed by tips 14, 15 respectively, made of thermally
insulating material.
[0041] A hair waving clamp 16 has a clamp portion 16a with concave
cylindrical clamp face 16b shaped to conform to the cylindrical
face 13b. The clamp 16 is attached by the pivot 190 to the handle
11. A lever portion 17 extends from the clamp portion 16a to the
opposite side of the pivot 190 such that pressing the lever portion
17 toward the handle 11 pivots the clamp face 16b away from the
first jaw 12, thereby either opening the jaws 12, 13 in a
straightening configuration (FIG. 2) or else opening the clamp 16
in a curling configuration (FIG. 3). A torsion spring 22 is fixed
to the handle 11 and located under the lever 17, biasing the lever
17 to close both the clamp 16 and second jaw 13.
[0042] The latch 40 extends through generally transversely aligned
apertures 41, 42, 43 in the first jaw 12 (which is fixed to the
handle 11), the second jaw 13 and the clamp 16 respectively.
Likewise the pivot 190 extends through pivot-receiving openings 198
in the first jaw 12, the second jaw 13 and the clamp 16. The
apertures 41, 42, 43 are offset longitudinally from the pivot 190
on the side of the handle 11. The apertures 41, 42, 43 receive the
latch 40 in a sliding fit, the latch 40 being moveable transversely
between a first position (FIGS. 1, 2 and 8) wherein second jaw 13
and clamp assembly 16 are locked together (the straightening
configuration), and a second position (FIGS. 3 and 9) wherein the
first and second jaws 12, 13 are locked together (the curling
configuration).
[0043] The first jaw 12, second jaw 13 and clamp 16 include
respective opposing flanges pairs 41a/41b, 42a/42b, 43a/43b through
which the respective apertures 41, 42, 43 extend. The flanges on
each side are adjacent one another, with the pivot 190 connecting
them.
[0044] The apertures 43 in the outermost flanges 43a/43b of the
clamp 16 are radially slotted (in the anti-clockwise direction as
seen in FIG. 4) with the narrow slot portion 44a opening into the
wide portion 45b. The aperture 41 in the intermediate flanges
41a/41b of the first jaw 12 are radially slotted (in the clockwise
direction as seen in FIG. 4) with the narrow slot portion 44b
opening into the wide portion 45b. The wide portions 45a, 45b have
part-cylindrical surfaces of the same diameter as the aperture 42
in the innermost flanges 42a, 42b of the second jaw 13 and are
complementary to the cylindrical outer face 47 of the latch 40.
[0045] The latch 40, as seen in FIG. 5, has an elongate bar-like
form with buttons 46a, 46b abutting its opposing ends, each button
having a flange 49a, 49b. The cylindrical outer face 47 extends
between the flanges 49 and is interrupted by longitudinally spaced
waists 48a, 48b and 48c. At one end of face 47 the waist 48a is
separated from the flange 49a by a land 50a and at the other end
waist 48b is separated from waist 48c by a land 50b, while waist
48c is adjacent flange 49b. Buttons 46a, 46b of the latch 40
protrude from opposite sides of the handle 11 in the first and
second positions allowing the buttons to be pressed manually in
operation of the latch 40.
[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates the longitudinally extending electrical
heating element 140 received within the pivoting second jaw 13.
[0047] The buttons 46a, 46b are received in semi-circular recesses
in the handle shells 11a, 11b such that they are retained by the
shoulders 49. Placing the latch 40 in the handle 11 allows it to be
directly actuated by the user, while keeping her fingers safely
clear of the jaws 12, 13 and clamp 16 which are hot during use.
[0048] As seen in FIG. 8, in the straightening configuration the
button 46a abuts flange 43a, cylindrical face 47 is received in
aperture 42 and with the lands 50a, 50b received in the apertures
43 so that the second jaw 13 and clamp 16 are latched together,
whereas the flanges 41a, 41b are aligned with the waists 48a, 48b
so as to allow the both the second jaw 13 and clamp 16 to pivot
relative to the first jaw 12. In pivoting the waists 48a, 48b enter
the narrow slot portions 44b, abutting the ends thereof to limit
the angular movement.
[0049] To move from the straightening configuration of FIG. 8 to
the curling configuration of FIG. 9, the button 46b is pressed to
abut flange 43b. In this position the aperture 41 in flanges 41a
and 41b engage the cylindrical face 47 and land 50b respectively,
while the aperture 42 in flange 42a engages the cylindrical face 47
to thereby latch the first and second jaws 12, 13 together. The
flanges 43a, 43b are aligned with the waists 48c and 48a
respectively so as to allow the clamp 16 to pivot relative to the
first and second jaws 12, 13.
[0050] A second embodiment of an electric hair styling iron 100 is
shown in FIGS. 10-18, and like numbers are used to refer to like
components. Iron 100 comprises a handle 11 having a convex
cross-section and formed from upper and lower elongate shell
mouldings 11a, 11b. A power cord (not shown) may extend from the
end of the handle 11.
[0051] A first jaw 12 is rigidly fixed to the handle 11 and has
flat inner surface 12a and cylindrical outer surface 12b. A second
jaw 13, also having flat inner surface 13a and cylindrical outer
surface 13b, is attached by a transversely extending pivot 190 to
the handle 11 such that the inner faces 12a, 13a are facing one
another. Both jaws 12, 13 are elongate and hollow, their distal
ends being closed by tips 14, 15 respectively, made of thermally
insulating material.
[0052] A hair waving clamp 16 has a clamp portion 16a with concave
cylindrical clamp face 16b shaped to conform to the cylindrical
face 13b. The clamp 16 is attached by the pivot 19 to the handle
11. A lever portion 17 extends from the clamp portion 16a to the
opposite side of the pivot 19 such that pressing the lever portion
17 toward the handle 11 pivots the clamp face 16b away from the
first jaw 12, thereby either opening the jaws 12, 13 in a
straightening configuration (FIG. 11) or else opening the clamp 16
in a curling configuration (FIG. 12). A torsion spring 22 is fixed
to the handle 11 and located under the lever 17, biasing the lever
17 to close both the clamp 16 and second jaw 13.
[0053] A locking mechanism includes a longitudinally moving slider
18 or actuating member on a side of the handle 11 adjacent its
inner end. The slider 18 actuates the locking mechanism and also
provides a detent, it is moveable between an outer position (FIGS.
10 and 11) wherein second jaw 13 and clamp assembly 16 are locked
together (the straightening configuration), and an inner position
(FIG. 12) wherein the first and second jaws 12, 13 are locked
together (the curling configuration).
[0054] The pivot 19, as shown in FIG. 13, is substantially
cylindrical with projecting key portions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
36, 37 formed thereon. The key portions are symmetrically arranged
in pairs 30/31, 32/33, 34/35, 36/37 the projections of each pair
being on opposing sides of a central plane 20, the pairs being
spaced apart longitudinally.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 14, the pivot 19 extends through apertures
24, 25, 26 in the first jaw 12 (which is fixed to the handle 11),
the second jaw 13 and the clamp 16 respectively. The apertures 24,
25, 26 are configured to receive the pivot 19 in a sliding fit and
have respective cylindrical faces 24a, 25a, 26a and keyway portions
24b, 25b, 26b on opposing sides of the central plane 20 for
receiving the key portions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. Two stop
pins 41 are held in an interference fit in apertures 43 in the jaw
12, and slidably received in part-annular slots 44, 45 in the
second jaw 13 and clamp 16 respectively, for limiting the angular
displacement of the jaw 13 and clamp 16.
[0056] Referring to FIGS. 15-18, in which the iron 10 is shown in
the straightening configuration, the slider 18 is received in a
slot in the handle 11. A compression spring 21 between the inner
wall of the handle 11 and one end of the pivot 19 presses the
opposite end of the pivot 19 to abut the slider 18.
[0057] FIG. 15 shows that the first jaw 12, second jaw 13 and clamp
16 are generally U-shaped in transverse section, the
pivot-receiving aperture 24 extending through two flanges 12a, 12b
of the first jaw 12, pivot-receiving aperture 25 extending through
two flanges 13a, 13b of the second jaw 13, pivot-receiving aperture
26 extending through two flanges 16a, 16b of the clamp 16.
[0058] FIG. 16 illustrates the longitudinally extending electrical
heating element 140 received within the pivoting jaw 13.
[0059] As best seen in FIG. 17, in the straightening configuration
the spring is extended and the pivot 19 is in a first position
wherein the key portions 30, 31, 36, 37 are received in the
apertures 26 in the clamp 17, rotationally fixing the pivot 19 to
the clamp 17. The key portions 32, 33, 34, 35 are received in the
apertures 25 in the second jaw 13, likewise rotationally fixing the
pivot 19 to the second jaw 13. Thus in this first position the key
faces 30a, 31a, 36a, 37a on the pivot 19 engage the key faces 25d,
26d, 25e, 26e on the second jaw 13 and the clamp 17 for connecting
the second jaw 13 and the clamp 17 together for pivoting relative
to the first jaw 12.
[0060] The slider 18 has an inclined ramp face 41 which engages the
end of the pivot 19 when the slider 18 is moved to its inner
position, thereby displacing the pivot 19 to a second position
shown in FIG. 9. In this manner slider 18 provides a detent for
holding the pivot 19 in the first position or second position.
[0061] In the curling configuration of FIG. 18, the spring 21 is
compressed and the pivot 19 is in the second position, the key
portions 34, 35 are received in the aperture 24 in the flange 12b
of the first jaw 12. The key portions 32, 33 are received in both
apertures 24 and 25 to span between flanges 12a, 13a of first and
second jaws 12, 13. In this way the first and second jaws 12, 13
are rotationally fixed with the pivot 19. Thus in this second
position the key faces 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a on the pivot 19 engage
the key faces 24d, 25d, 24e, 25e on the first jaw 12 and second jaw
13 for fixing the first and second jaws together, while permitting
relative pivoting of the clamp 16. When the user's thumb is
released from the lever 17, the slider 18 is moved by the thumb for
changing between the two configurations.
[0062] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way
of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and
additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope
thereof.
* * * * *