Hand-held jeweler's clamp

Claim 1

A vise for clamping jewelry items or the like, comprising: a pair of facing clamp members forming jaws at one end thereof; pivot means between the facing portions of said members intermediate the ends of said members, said pivot means comprising concave, semi-cylindrical bearing surfaces formed in and extending across each of said members, and a cylindrical fulcrum pin extending transversely between said members and seated within said bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces on said clamping members bearing against opposite sides of said fulcrum pin; a ring snugly surrounding said clamp members directly over said pivot means so as to unyieldingly hold the clamping members together, with said semi-cylindrical bearing surfaces pressed against the fulcrum pin; said ring comprising a plurality of windings of high-tensile-strength wire; said clamp members having a shallow annular groove formed in the outer surfaces thereof surrounding said fulcrum pin, in which said wire windings are laid; and the ends of said wire being anchored to one of said clamp members; and adjustable spreading means operable to spread the ends of said clamp members opposite said jaws.