Patent US3604700A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Work-supporting devices
Assignee: R Gault Developments Ltd
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Filing: 1969-06-09
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-06-09
Abstract
Abstract An engineering device which may serve as a work-holding device or as a work-machining tool comprises an enclosure open at one end at least packed with a multiplicity of rodlike elements, enabled to grip a workpiece pushed into the mass of elements, by a wedging action provided by a taper in the enclosure itself or by adjustable inner walls or by small balls within a space between a closed end of the enclosure and the inner ends of the elements and also extending round the sides of the mass of elements, two such devices being capable of incorporation in the jaws of a vice with the rodlike elements in the two jaws extending towards each other, or enabled to provide a multiplicity of teeth conforming to a profile or contour of a workpiece by pressing the protruding ends of the mass of elements against the workpiece with the elements inclined to the surface of the workpieces, the elements being held in such positions by small balls within a space between the inner ends of the elements and a closed end of the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Gault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:53
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B1/00; B25B1/24; B25B1/2405; B25B1/241; B25B1/2415; B25B1/2421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A work-holding device comprising an enclosure which is open at least at one end, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed in said enclosure, said rodlike elements being individually movable lengthwise having a length enabling any of them to protrude from and thereby be exposed at said one open end, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, and means provided within said enclosure for laterally urging said rodlike elements together in consequence of movement of some of said rodlike elements inwards relative to said enclosure, whereby a workpiece pressed into the mass of exposed ends of some of said rodlike elements is gripped by the other and surrounding rodlike elements being urged towards said workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A work-holding device comprising an enclosure which is open at least at one end, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed in said enclosure, said rodlike elements being individually movable lengthwise having a length enabling any of them to protrude from and thereby be exposed at said one open end, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, and means provided within said enclosure for laterally urging said rodlike elements together in consequence of movement of some of said rodlike elements inwards relative to said enclosure, whereby a workpiece pressed into the mass of exposed ends of some of said rodlike elements is gripped by the other and surrounding rodlike elements being urged towards said workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A work-holding device as in claim 1 wherein the rodlike elements are hard-drawn wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A work-holding device as in claim 1, wherein a resilient band is provided around the inside of the enclosure to prevent the rodlike elements from falling out.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A work-holding device as in claim 3, wherein the resilient band is housed in a recess round the inside of the enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A work-holding device as in claim 3, wherein the resilient band is stuck around the inside of the end of the enclosure from which the elements protrude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
A work-holding device comprising a tubular enclosure open at least at one end, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed into said one end of the enclosurE and individually movable lengthwise and having a length enabling any of them to protrude appreciably from the enclosure, the other end of the enclosure being provided with a slight inward taper, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, a ring screwing on to the end of the enclosure from which the elements protrude, and an inwardly projecting flange on the ring for urging the outermost elements against the taper when the ring is screwed further on to the enclosure, to enable a workpiece embedded at least partially into the mass of some of said rodlike elements to be gripped by the other elements surrounding it.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
A work-holding device comprising a tubular enclosure open at least at one end, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed into said one end of the enclosurE and individually movable lengthwise and having a length enabling any of them to protrude appreciably from the enclosure, the other end of the enclosure being provided with a slight inward taper, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, a ring screwing on to the end of the enclosure from which the elements protrude, and an inwardly projecting flange on the ring for urging the outermost elements against the taper when the ring is screwed further on to the enclosure, to enable a workpiece embedded at least partially into the mass of some of said rodlike elements to be gripped by the other elements surrounding it.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A work-holding device as in claim 6, wherein the outside of the ring is knurled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A work-holding device as in claim 6, wherein the tapered end of the enclosure is an open end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A work-holding device as in claim 6, wherein the outside of the enclosure is provided with at least one pair of opposed flats.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A work-holding device as in claim 6, wherein a tube is included in the mass of elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A work-holding device comprising a rectangular enclosure open at one end at least, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed into the open end of the enclosure and individually movable lengthwise and having a length enabling any of them to protrude appreciably from the enclosure, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, at least one inner wall pivoted close to and parallel to the corresponding side of the open end of the enclosure, and a screw through the outer wall of the enclosure for adjustment of the angle of inclination of the inner wall with respect to the rodlike elements, to enable a workpiece embedded at least partially into the mass of some of said rodlike elements to be gripped by the other elements surrounding it.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
A work-holding device comprising a rectangular enclosure open at one end at least, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed into the open end of the enclosure and individually movable lengthwise and having a length enabling any of them to protrude appreciably from the enclosure, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, at least one inner wall pivoted close to and parallel to the corresponding side of the open end of the enclosure, and a screw through the outer wall of the enclosure for adjustment of the angle of inclination of the inner wall with respect to the rodlike elements, to enable a workpiece embedded at least partially into the mass of some of said rodlike elements to be gripped by the other elements surrounding it.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A work-holding device as in claim 11, wherein two inner walls and two screws are provided.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A work-holding device as in claim 11, wherein the end of the enclosure remote from the end through which the rodlike elements protrude is a closed end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
153 words
A work-holding device comprising an enclosure with one open end and one closed end, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed into the open end of the enclosure and individually movable lengthwise and having a length enabling any of them to protrude appreciably from the enclosure, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, and a multiplicity of small balls filling a space between the closed end of the enclosure and the inner ends of the elements and also extending around the sides of the mass of elements, means for forcing said balls around said sides to enable a workpiece embedded at least partially into the mass of some of said rodlike elements to be gripped by the other elements surrounding it, said elements being forced laterally towards each other by the balls forced around the sides of the the mass of elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
A work-holding device comprising an enclosure with one open end and one closed end, a multiplicity of rodlike elements packed into the open end of the enclosure and individually movable lengthwise and having a length enabling any of them to protrude appreciably from the enclosure, said elements further having a length enabling at least some of them to recede below other of said elements, and a multiplicity of small balls filling a space between the closed end of the enclosure and the inner ends of the elements and also extending around the sides of the mass of elements, means for forcing said balls around said sides to enable a workpiece embedded at least partially into the mass of some of said rodlike elements to be gripped by the other elements surrounding it, said elements being forced laterally towards each other by the balls forced around the sides of the the mass of elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A work-holding device as in claim 14, wherein the inside of the wall of the enclosure converges upwardly over at least an upper part of its height.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
A work-holding device as in claim 15, wherein the inside of the open end of the enclosure has a slight taper so that the outermost elements contact the sides of the open end right at the rim of the enclosure, and an inward step of less than the diameter of the balls is provided between the converging inside of the wall of the enclosure and the tapered inside of the open end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A work-holding device as in claim 14, wherein said forcing means includes a screw protruding through the wall of the enclosure into the space filled with balls.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |