Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
351 words
Apparatus capable of being fixed by wedging action to an elongated support member at a desired position thereof and for receiving and supporting at said fixed position an external force applied in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support member, said apparatus comprising: external force receiving means for receiving said external force; wedging action means adapted to receive said external force transmitted through said external force receiving means and for effecting by said external force a wedging action, said wedging action means including a wedging action member for generating a pair of wedging forces substantially in a perpendicular direction to said longitudinal axis of said elongated support member and wedging force receiving member having wedging force receiving surface for receiving said pair of wedging forces from said wedging action member; biasing means adapted to engage said wedging action means and for exerting a biasing force thereon to normally keep said wedging action member in contact with said wedging force receiving surface of said wedging force receiving member; holding means for holding said elongated support member, said holding means including a pair of first and second pressing members, each being adapted to receive a respective one of said pair of wedging forces and for exerting on said elongated support member a pair of pressing forces having the same directions and opposite orientations with respect to each other; wedging force transmitting means adapted to receive said pair of wedging forces and for transmitting the same to said holding means; wedging action releasing means adapted to receive an external releasing force and for effecting a release of said wedging action of said wedging action means wherein said wedging action member includes a casing having formed therein at least one pair of interior opposed surfaces which taper towards each other in the longitudinal direction and adapted to make contact with said wedging force receiving member, said casing having a longitudinally extending open side formed between said tapered surfaces receiving therethrough said elongated support member so that a longitudinally extending portion thereof is located between said first and second pressing members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
351 words
Apparatus capable of being fixed by wedging action to an elongated support member at a desired position thereof and for receiving and supporting at said fixed position an external force applied in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support member, said apparatus comprising: external force receiving means for receiving said external force; wedging action means adapted to receive said external force transmitted through said external force receiving means and for effecting by said external force a wedging action, said wedging action means including a wedging action member for generating a pair of wedging forces substantially in a perpendicular direction to said longitudinal axis of said elongated support member and wedging force receiving member having wedging force receiving surface for receiving said pair of wedging forces from said wedging action member; biasing means adapted to engage said wedging action means and for exerting a biasing force thereon to normally keep said wedging action member in contact with said wedging force receiving surface of said wedging force receiving member; holding means for holding said elongated support member, said holding means including a pair of first and second pressing members, each being adapted to receive a respective one of said pair of wedging forces and for exerting on said elongated support member a pair of pressing forces having the same directions and opposite orientations with respect to each other; wedging force transmitting means adapted to receive said pair of wedging forces and for transmitting the same to said holding means; wedging action releasing means adapted to receive an external releasing force and for effecting a release of said wedging action of said wedging action means wherein said wedging action member includes a casing having formed therein at least one pair of interior opposed surfaces which taper towards each other in the longitudinal direction and adapted to make contact with said wedging force receiving member, said casing having a longitudinally extending open side formed between said tapered surfaces receiving therethrough said elongated support member so that a longitudinally extending portion thereof is located between said first and second pressing members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wedging force receiving member comprises at least one pair of rolling members, each rolling member being retained at a predetermined position by a retainer member slideably disposed in said casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rolling member comprises a ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said first and second pressing members of said holding means comprises said rolling member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rolling members and said tapered surfaces are arranged in two pairs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external force receiving means comprises a portion of the outer surface of said casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said biasing means comprises a coil spring disposed between said casing and said retainer member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wedging action releasing means comprises a guide pin disposed in said casing and a push pin mounted slideably on said guide pin and engaged with said retainer member.