Hold-down device

Claim 1

A hold-down device, comprising, first and second vertically disposed supports having upper and lower ends, means for mounting said supports against vertical movement, third and fourth supports vertically movably mounted in said first and second supports respectively, a first horizontally disposed member secured to and extending between said first and second supports adjacent the upper ends thereof, a substantially horizontally disposed hold-down shoe secured to and extending between the lower ends of said third and fourth supports, a post means secured to said shoe, between said third and fourth supports and adjacent said fourth support, and extending upwardly therefrom, said post means having upper and lower ends, the upper end of said post means terminating below said first member, a second angularly disposed elongated member having one end secured to the upper end of said post means and its other end secured to said third support below said first support, a first tubular member slidably mounted on said first horizontally disposed member, a second tubular member slidably mounted on said second angularly disposed elongated member, rigid connection means connecting said first and second tubular members, a first linkage means, having opposite ends, pivotally secured at one end to said post means below the upper end thereof, a lever member having upper and lower ends, said lever member being pivotally connected, about a horizontal axis, between its ends, to said rigid connection means, said lever member being pivotally connected at its lower end, about a horizontal axis, to the other end of said first linkage means whereby pivotal movement of said lever in one direction will cause said hold-down shoe to be moved downwardly relative to said first and second supports and whereby pivotal movement of said lever in a direction opposite to said one direction will cause said hold-down shoe to be moved upwardly relative to said first and second supports.