Clamp for welding platens

Claim 2

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated upright capable of extending into said hole and being free of connection to said platen; a stop member extending outwardly from a lower portion of said upright, said stop having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance said upright extends into said hole; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising an elongated neck and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright; and workpiece engaging means connected to said neck and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening of said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 3

The clamp defined in claim 1 wherein said neck extends substantially perpendicularly to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve.

Claim 4

The clamp defined in claim 1 wherein said neck extends substantially parallel to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve.

Claim 5

The clamp defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has one side adjacent said neck and engaging said upright with a greater height than a second opposite side engaging said upright.

Claim 6

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated base member capable of extending into said hole and being free of connection to said platen; a flange extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base, said flange having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance of said base extends into said hole; an elongated upright extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising an elongated neck and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright; and workpiece engaging means connected to said neck and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 7

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated base member capable of extending into said hole and being free of connection to said platen; a flange extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base, said flange having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance of said base extends into said hole; an elongated upright extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising an elongated neck and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright; and workpiece engaging means connected to said neck and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 8

The clamp defined in claim 5 wherein said neck extends substantially perpendicularly to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve.

Claim 9

The clamp defined in claim 5 wherein said neck extends substantially parallel to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve.

Claim 10

The clamp defined in claim 5 wherein said flange extends radially outwardly from said base.

Claim 11

The clamp defined in claim 5 wherein said sleeve has one side adjacent said neck and engaging said upright with a greater height than a second opposite side engaging said upright.

Claim 12

The clamp defined in claim 1 further comprising a second sleeve connected to said clamping arm adjacent the other sleeve such that an axis extending through the open portion of said second sleeve is substantially perpendicular to an axis extending through the open portion of the other sleeve.

Claim 13

The clamp defined in claim 5 further comprising a second sleeve connected to said clamping arm adjacent the other sleeve such that an axis extending through the open portion of said second sleeve is substantially perpendicular to an axis extending through the open portion of the other sleeve.

Claim 14

The clamp defined in claim 1 further comprising a second clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said second clamping arm comprising a second elongated neck and a second sleeve connected to said second neck and engaging said upright, said second sleeve permitting changes in angular position of said second neck with respect to said upright; and second workpiece engaging means connected to said second neck and capable of applying force to said workpiece in a direction substantially opposite the direction of force applied by the other workpiece engaging means.

Claim 15

The clamp defined in claim 5 further comprising a second clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said second clamping arm comprising a second elongated neck and a second sleeve connected to said second neck and engaging said upright, said second sleeve permitting changes in angular position of said second neck with respect to said upright; and second workpiece engaging means connected to said second neck and capable of applying force to said workpiece in a direction substantially opposite the direction of force applied by the other workpiece engaging means.

Claim 16

The clamp defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of said elongated upright is curved.

Claim 17

The clamp defined in claim 14 further comprising a second clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said second clamping arm comprising a second elongated neck and a second sleeve connected to said second neck and engaging said upright, said second sleeve permitting changes in angular position of said second neck with respect to said upright; and second workpiece engaging means connected to said second neck and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening of said second engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to wedge in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 18

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated upright capable of extending into said hoel and being free of connection to said platen; a stop member extending outwardly from a lower portion of said upright, said stop having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance said upright extends into said hole; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising a frame portion, an elongated neck extending from said frame and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, wherein said neck extends substantially perpendicularly to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright, a second frame portion and a second neck extending from said sleeve, said second neck extending substantially perpendicular to said central axis; and workpiece engaging means connected to said frame and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening of said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage two opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 19

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated upright capable of extending into said hoel and being free of connection to said platen; a stop member extending outwardly from a lower portion of said upright, said stop having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance said upright extends into said hole; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising a frame portion, an elongated neck extending from said frame and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, wherein said neck extends substantially perpendicularly to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright, a second frame portion and a second neck extending from said sleeve, said second neck extending substantially perpendicular to said central axis; and workpiece engaging means connected to said frame and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening of said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage two opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 20

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated base member capable of extending into said hoel and being free of connection to said platen; a flange extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base, said flange having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance of said base extends into said hole; an elongated upright extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising a frame portion, an elongated neck extending from said frame and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, wherein said neck extends substantially perpendicularly to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright, a second frame portion and a second neck extending from said sleeve, said second neck extending substantially perpendicular to said central axis; and workpiece engaging means connected to said frame and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage two opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.

Claim 21

A clamp adapted to engage a clamp receiving hole in a welding platen for tightly clamping a workpiece in a desired position comprising: an elongated base member capable of extending into said hoel and being free of connection to said platen; a flange extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base, said flange having a portion wider than the mouth of said hole, thereby limiting the distance of said base extends into said hole; an elongated upright extending outwardly from an upper portion of said base; a clamping arm slidably mounted to said upright, said clamping arm comprising a frame portion, an elongated neck extending from said frame and a sleeve connected to said neck and engaging said upright, wherein said neck extends substantially perpendicularly to a central axis extending through the open portion of said sleeve, said sleeve permitting changes in the angular position of said neck with respect to said upright, a second frame portion and a second neck extending from said sleeve, said second neck extending substantially perpendicular to said central axis; and workpiece engaging means connected to said frame and capable of applying force to said workpiece wherein tightening said engaging means against said workpiece causes said clamping arm to pivot with respect to said upright, thereby causing said upright to tilt and tightly engage two opposing sides of said hole which causes said upright to remain wedged in said hole and said workpiece to be tightly clamped.