Vise Assembly

Abstract

A vise is disclosed herein and generally comprises an object retaining assembly including confronting fixed and movable jaw members for clamping and holding a workpiece. The object retaining assembly is mounted to a sub-base for pivotal movement between a first vertical position and a second horizontal position. In addition, the sub-base is mounted to a fixed base for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the aforementioned axis whereby partially to rotate the entire object retaining assembly.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to clamping or holding devices and more particularly to vises.

PRIOR ART AND OBJECTS

Clamping devices such as vises of the general type disclosed and claimed herein are well known to include a pair of relatively movable work-engaging jaws for clamping and supporting a workpiece. The typical prior art vise has been found to lack the versatility which is required for clamping and holding the various shaped and sized workpieces used in today's workshops.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved vise which is more versatile than those of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved vise having an object retaining assembly which is movable in various directions for positioning a workpiece in accordance with its shape and size.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a vise of the above type wherein the object retaining assembly is shiftable about a particular axis, between a first vertical position for holding a workpiece in one fashion and a second horizontal position for holding the workpiece in a different fashion.

Another particular object of the present invention is to provide a vise of the above described type which is simultaneously shiftable about a second axis which is perpendicular to the aforementioned axis.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vise of the above described type which is capable of engaging and holding workpieces of various shapes.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following description:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vise constructed in accordance with the present invention, the object retaining assembly of the vise being shown in a vertical position for engaging and holding a horizontally extending workpiece;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vise of FIG. 1 with its object retaining assembly being shown in a second horizontal position for engaging and holding a vertically extending workpiece;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partially broken away side view of the vise as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the vise as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partially broken away view of one of the gripping jaws provided with the vise; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 5 and including means for engaging and gripping a cylindrical workpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the drawings, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures, a vise, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is generally by the reference numeral 10. The vise includes a substantially rectangular hollow base 12 suitably mountable to a workbench or other fixed surface (not shown), a slightly smaller circular sub-base 14, and an object retaining assembly 16 for engaging and retaining a workpiece such as elongated rectangular beam 18.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially rectangular lug 20 is formed with and extends upwardly from one side of sub-base 14, for pivotally supporting the object retaining assembly between a first or vertical position (FIG. 1) for holding a workpiece which extends in the horizontal direction and a second or horizontal position for holding a workpiece which extends in the vertical direction. In addition, as will be seen hereinafter, the entire sub-base, including lug 20, is mounted to base 12 for partial rotatable movement about a vertical axis extending through the base and sub-base.

Turning to FIG. 3, the object retaining assembly 16 is seen to comprise a substantially rectangular and elongated support housing 22 which is formed with and supports a fixed jaw member 24 extending upwardly therefrom, the jaw member including a forwardly facing and vertically extending fixed object engaging surface 26. Support housing 22 is provided with a threaded bore 28 through which a threaded rotation shaft 30 extends. The aperture or hole 28 extends longitudinally entirely through support housing 22 directly below fixed jaw member 24. Spaced directly below bore 28, the support housing 22 is provided with an additional bore, rectangular in cross-section, through which a smooth stabilizing rod or bar 32 extends.

A front or movable jaw member 34 having an object engaging surface 36 for confronting relationship with the engaging surface 26 of fixed jaw member 24 is supported on the forward end of the stabilizing bar 32, the latter being secured in a cooperating aperture in the front jaw member by conventional retaining means. The front portion of the threaded rod 30 is smooth, being shouldered at 38 where it joins the threaded portion of the rod, the smooth portion being journaled in a cooperating bore extending through the lower central portion of the front or movable jaw member 34. A handle 40 is secured at the front end of the threaded rod by a cylindrical fitting 42 spaced from the front jaw by a washer 44. Thus, the threaded rod 30 is rotatable by means of the handle relative to the front jaw member, and upon axial movement of the threaded shaft, the front jaw member is moved with the shaft, so that front object engaging surface 36 moves towards and away from confronting surface 26.

Returning to FIG. 1, the housing 22 of object retaining assembly 16 is shown to include a pair of longitudinally spaced and confronting pivot arms 46 which extend outwardly from and are formed with one side of the housing. The pivot arms, which include a top connecting plate 49, are sufficiently longitudinally spaced so that their outwardly extending ends snugly but slidably engage opposite sides of lug 20. A cylindrical pivot pin 48 is provided through cooperating apertures in the pivot arms 46 and lug 20, so that the entire object retaining assembly 16 is capable of pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin. In this manner, the jaw members 24 and 34 may be shifted from a vertically extending position, as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 4, to horizontally extending position, as illustrated by dotted lines.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the forward pivot arm 46 is provided with a threaded aperture 50 through which the threaded intermediate portion 52 of an elongated locking pin 54 extends. The locking pin includes a smooth left end 56, of reduced diameter, which extends into a cooperating bore 58 provided in the lug 20 when the object retaining assembly 16 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3, the locking pin thereby locking the object retaining assembly in place. A knob 60 is provided with the right end of the locking pin, so that the latter may be easily removed from bores 50 and 58, in order to freely pivot the object retaining assembly. In addition, lug 20 includes a second locking bore 62, which is appropriately spaced from bore 58 so as to be in direct alignment with the bore 50 when the object retaining assembly is pivoted (approximately 90.degree.) about pivot pin 48, in order that jaw member 24 and 34 rest in a horizontal position. In this last mentioned position, locking pin 54 may be inserted into bore 50 and aligned bore 62 for, again, locking the object retaining assembly in place.

While it is apparent that the substantially flat gripping surfaces of jaw members 24 and 34 are quite capable of engaging and retaining a substantially flat workpiece such as beam 18, it is equally apparent that these types of flat engaging surfaces can not as easily and reliably engage a cylindrical object such as an elongate tube or pipe (not shown). Accordingly, vise 10 includes pipe jaws comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped gripping members 64, one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, each of the gripping members 64 includes a rectangular base portion or bight 66, having an aperture in its center through which a screw 68 or other suitable fastening device extends, and a pair of outwardly extending legs 70. The longitudinal edge of each leg is provided with a formation of teeth 72 which approximately defines an inwardly extending arc, and an inwardly extending V-shaped wedge 74 positioned directly below the teeth formation.

The gripping members 64 are positioned within cooperating aligned slots 76 formed with respective object engaging surfaces 26 and 36, and are mounted thereat by screws 68 which extend through cooperating threaded bores 78 formed in the base of the slots. In this manner, the formation of teeth 72 and V-shaped wedges 74 provided with the gripping members are in direct alignment with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 3, so that cylindrical objects of various cross-sectional diameter can be rigidly clamped in place.

Turning to FIG. 4, attention is directed to the manner in which sub-base 14 is rotationally supported to base 12. Specifically, a pivot pin (not shown) connects the center of the sub-base to the base for rotational movement relative to the base. The sub-base is provided with an aperture 80, radially outwardly from its center, through which a threaded bolt 82 extends. The bolt extends downwardly from sub-base 14 and through a snugly but slidably fitting arcuate slot (not shown) formed with the top surfaces of base 12, the head 84 of the bolt being positioned directly below the slot. The upper threaded end of bolt 82 extends into a threaded fitting or nut 86 which additionally supports a handle 88. In this manner, upon turning the handle in one direction, the head 84 of bolt 82 is clamped against the surface of base 12 which defines the aforementioned slot for holding the sub-base in place. Upon turning handle 88 in an opposite direction, the head 84 is loosened relative to base 12, so that the entire sub-base 14 and bolt 82 are allowed to rotate, the length of the slot limiting this rotational movement. Accordingly, the sub-base and object retaining assembly 16 are shiftable about an axis which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of pivot pin 48.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. It is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the present application any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A vise comprising a base mountable to a fixed surface, an object retaining assembly including first jaw means, second jaw means and means for bringing said first and second jaw means together for clamping and holding an object, and mounting means pivotally supporting said object retaining assembly and said first and second jaw means for pivotal movement about a vertical axis; said first and second jaw means having a major dimension substantially horizontal and positioned over said mounting means when in a first position, said mounting means comprising a sub-base on said base, a lug at one side of said sub-base and having an aperture therethrough, spaced pivot arms on said object retaining assembly and projecting laterally of said jaw means, said pivot arms lying on opposite sides of said lug and in close relationship therewith, a connector plate rigidly joining said pivot arms, a pivot pin projecting through said pivot arms and the aperture in said lug, said pivot pin having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of movement of said jaw means for enabling pivotal movement of said object retaining assembly through a path generally perpendicular to the path of movement of said jaw means; one of said pivot arms having a threaded aperture receiving a locking pin, and said lug having spaced apart locking bores for selectively receiving said locking pin to position said object retaining assembly so that said first and second jaw means have their major dimension substantially vertical and positioned beyond said mounting means when in a second position, said first and second jaw means include respective confronting substantially flat object engaging surfaces for clamping and holding a relatively flat object such as a rectangular beam, said vise further including means mountable to said object engaging surfaces for clamping and holding a cylindrical object such as a pipe, said cylindrical object engaging means includes a pair of U-shaped elements mountable to respective engaging surfaces such that their associated legs are aligned with and extend towards each other, said legs including cooperating gripping teeth means adapted to circumscribe a substantial portion of a cylindrical object.

2. A vise according to claim 1 wherein said gripping teeth means includes means for gripping cylindrical objects of various diameters.

3. A vise according to claim 1 wherein each of said object engaging surfaces includes a recess therein adapted to receive a corresponding one of said U-shaped elements whereby to prevent lateral movement of said U-shaped element relative to said engaging surface.

4. A vise according to claim 1 including means for moving said object retaining assembly and said sub-base about an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and means for locking said object retaining assembly and said sub-base in place.