Toggle clamp lock

Claim 2

A toggle clamp which includes a base, handle means pivotally coupled to the base, link means pivotally coupled to the handle means, workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to the base and the link means, and releasable locking means including stop means supported by said link means and movable releasable means for engaging the stop means to prevent relative motion between the handle and the link means when the toggle clamp is in a closed position, said link including camming means for moving said releasable means prior to said releasable means moving off from said camming means and being positioned to engage said stop means as said handle, workpiece hold-down means and link are rotated to place the toggle clamp in a closed position in order to hold said clamp in a closed position.

Claim 3

A toggle clamp according to claim 1 wherein said releasable means is supported by said handle.

Claim 4

A toggle clamp according to claim 2 wherein a portion of said link acts as said stop means.

Claim 5

A toggle clamp according to claim 2 wherein said releasable means comprises a spring supporting engagement means for engaging said stop means.

Claim 6

A toggle clamp according to claim 4 wherein a portion of said link acts as said stop means.

Claim 7

A toggle clamp according to claim 4 wherein said spring is a flat spring.

Claim 8

A toggle clamp according to claim 6 wherein a portion of said link acts as said stop means.

Claim 9

A toggle clamp according to claim 6 wherein a trigger means is supported by said spring to permit said engagement means to be moved away from said stop means to permit the clamp to be opened.

Claim 10

A toggle clamp according to claim 8 wherein a portion of said link acts as said stop means.

Claim 11

In a toggle clamp according to claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises a portion of the link and the releasable means comprise a member pivotally coupled to the base having means for engaging the stop means to maintain said clamp in a locked condition.

Claim 12

In a toggle clamp according to claim 10 wherein said releasable means includes resilient biasing means urging said releasable means toward said link.

Claim 13

In a toggle clamp according to claim 11 wherein said releasable means includes a flange for engaging said stop means.

Claim 14

In a toggle clamp according to claim 12 wherein said resilient biasing means engages said base and said releasable means.

Claim 15

In a toggle clamp according to claim 13 wherein said resilient biasing means comprises a wire spring member positioned about the pivot for the releasable means.

Claim 16

In a toggle clamp having a base, a handle pivotally coupled to the base, a link pivotally coupled to the handle, workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to the base and the link, the improvement comprising said link having first and second spaced apart sections interconnected by an interconnecting section, said first and second link sections each having stop means formed therein, a flat spring supported by said handle at one end and fixedly supporting a crossbar at the other end thereof, said crossbar biased by said spring to engage said link while permitting said link to be rotated with said handle and workpiece holddown means with respect to said base when said clamp handle is rotatably moved towards a closed position, said crossbar positioned to engage each of said link section stop means when said clamp is in a closed position thereby preventing opening of said clamp without moving said crossbar away from each of said link section stop means.

Claim 17

In a toggle clamp having a base, a handle pivotally coupled to the base, a link pivotally coupled to the handle, workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to the base and the link, the improvement comprising said link having first and second spaced apart sections interconnected by an interconnecting section, said first and second link sections each having stop means formed therein, a flat spring supported by said handle at one end and fixedly supporting a crossbar at the other end thereof, said crossbar biased by said spring to engage said link while permitting said link to be rotated with said handle and workpiece holddown means with respect to said base when said clamp handle is rotatably moved towards a closed position, said crossbar positioned to engage each of said link section stop means when said clamp is in a closed position thereby preventing opening of said clamp without moving said crossbar away from each of said link section stop means.

Claim 18

In a toggle clamp according to claim 15 wherein trigger means is fixedly coupled to said flat spring to bend it to move said cross bar means away from said right angled face of said stop means.

Claim 19

In a toggle clamp according to claim 16 wherein said first and second link sections each include a camming surface tO urge said crossbar and said flat spring away from each of said stop means when the link is moved relative to said handle.

Claim 20

A toggle clamp having a base, a handle pivotally coupled to said base, workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to said base, a link pivotally coupled to said handle and said hold-down means, releasable means pivotally coupled to said base, resilient biasing means coupled to said base and said releasable means, said link including projecting stop means, said releasable means biased by resilient biasing means in a position to engage said projecting link stop means when said clamp is in a closed position so as to prevent substantial rotation of said link in one direction with respect to said base.

Claim 21

A toggle clamp having a base, a handle pivotally coupled to said base, workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to said base, a link pivotally coupled to said handle and said hold-down means, releasable means pivotally coupled to said base, resilient biasing means coupled to said base and said releasable means, said link including projecting stop means, said releasable means biased by resilient biasing means in a position to engage said projecting link stop means when said clamp is in a closed position so as to prevent substantial rotation of said link in one direction with respect to said base.

Claim 22

A toggle clamp according to claim 18 in which said releasable means includes an arm having a first flange means for engaging both the top and bottom portion of said projecting link stop means.

Claim 23

A toggle clamp according to claim 19 in which said releasable means include a second flange means engaged by said resilient biasing means.

Claim 24

A toggle clamp according to claim 19 in which said projecting stop means includes a sloping bottom surface which will engage said first flange means as the link is moved during closure of the clamp.

Claim 25

A toggle clamp comprising a base, a workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to the base, a handle pivotally coupled to the base and a link comprising first and second sections each pivotally coupled to both said handle and said workpiece hold-down means, an interconnecting section fixedly coupled to said first and second link sections with a portion thereof acting as stop means, a flat spring coupled to said handle and supporting a bar member between said first and second link sections, said bar member positioned to engage said interconnecting member portions which acts as a stop means when said clamp is in a closed position.

Claim 26

A toggle clamp comprising a base, a workpiece hold-down means pivotally coupled to the base, a handle pivotally coupled to the base and a link comprising first and second sections each pivotally coupled to both said handle and said workpiece hold-down means, an interconnecting section fixedly coupled to said first and second link sections with a portion thereof acting as stop means, a flat spring coupled to said handle and supporting a bar member between said first and second link sections, said bar member positioned to engage said interconnecting member portions which acts as a stop means when said clamp is in a closed position.

Claim 27

The toggle clamp of claim 22 in which said first and second link sections are pivotally coupled to said handle by a rod and wherein said bar includes a portion for engaging said rod to limit movement of said spring.