Adjustable clamp with handle

Claim 2

An adjustable clamp comprising: an elongate handle member having a top and a bottom and a first and second end, said handle member defining a first channel therethrough extending generally in the lengthwise direction thereof and a second channel adjacent the first end thereof which substantially perpendicularly intersects the first channel; a flexible strap defining an aperture at a first end thereof and a plurality of ridges along at least a portion of the length of the second end thereof, the second end being slidably inserted through the second channel of said handle member and bent back upon itself and slidably inserted through the first channel of said handle member with the ridges thereof facing the top of said handle member, and through the aperture in the first end of said flexible strap positioned in the first channel, wherein the aperture includes ridge engagement means opposing the ridges of said flexible strap extending therethrough; and lock means for releasably urging the ridge engagement means of the aperture of said flexible strap downwardly against at least one of the ridges of the first end of said flexible strap.

Claim 3

An adjustable clamp according to claim 1 wherein said elongate handle member includes a first lengthwise extending aperture therein for gripping said adjustable clamp and a second lengthwise extending aperture therein defining at least one open end for hanging said adjustable clamp on a nail or the like.

Claim 4

An adjustable clamp according to claim 1 wherein the aperture of said flexible strap is four-sided and the ridge engagement means comprises a blade member extending across the top thereof.

Claim 5

An adjustable clamp according to claim 1 wherein said lock means comprises a knob mounted on the first end of said flexible strap and a detente mounted on the first end of said handle member proximate to but spaced-apart from the second channel so as to snubbingly engage the knob when the knob is urged thereagainst and to force the ridge engagement means downwardly against one or more of the ridges thereof.

Claim 6

An adjustable clamp according to claim 1 wherein said flexible strap may be slidably detached from said handle member.

Claim 7

An adjustable clamp according to claim 1 wherein said handle member comprises rigid plastic and said flexible strap comprises flexible plastic.

Claim 8

An adjustable clamp comprising: an elongate handle member having a top and a bottom and a first and second end, said handle member defining a first channel therethrough extending generally in the lengthwise direction thereof and a second channel adjacent the first end thereof which substantially perpendicularly intersects the first channel; a detachable flexible strap defining an aperture at a first end thereof and a plurality of ridges along at least a portion of the length of the second end thereof, the second end being slidably inserted through the second channel of said handle member and bent back upon itself and slidably inserted through the first channel of said handle member with the ridges thereof facing the top of said handle member, and through the aperture in the first end of said flexible strap positioned in the first channel, wherein the aperture includes ridge engagement means opposing the ridges of said flexible strap extending therethrough; and lock means for releasably urging the ridge engagement means of the aperture of said flexible strap downwardly against at least one of the ridges of the first end of said flexible strap, said lock means comprising a knob mounted on the first end of said flexible strap and a detente mounted on the first end of said handle member proximate to but spaced-apart from the second channel so as to snubbingly engage the knob when the knob is urged thereagainst and to force the ridge engagement means downwardly against one or more of the ridges thereof.

Claim 9

An adjustable clamp comprising: an elongate handle member having a top and a bottom and a first and second end, said handle member defining a first channel therethrough extending generally in the lengthwise direction thereof and a second channel adjacent the first end thereof which substantially perpendicularly intersects the first channel; a detachable flexible strap defining an aperture at a first end thereof and a plurality of ridges along at least a portion of the length of the second end thereof, the second end being slidably inserted through the second channel of said handle member and bent back upon itself and slidably inserted through the first channel of said handle member with the ridges thereof facing the top of said handle member, and through the aperture in the first end of said flexible strap positioned in the first channel, wherein the aperture includes ridge engagement means opposing the ridges of said flexible strap extending therethrough; and lock means for releasably urging the ridge engagement means of the aperture of said flexible strap downwardly against at least one of the ridges of the first end of said flexible strap, said lock means comprising a knob mounted on the first end of said flexible strap and a detente mounted on the first end of said handle member proximate to but spaced-apart from the second channel so as to snubbingly engage the knob when the knob is urged thereagainst and to force the ridge engagement means downwardly against one or more of the ridges thereof.

Claim 10

An adjustable clamp according to claim 7 wherein said elongate handle member includes a first lengthwise extending aperture therein for gripping said adjustable clamp and a second lengthwise extending aperture therein defining at least one open end for hanging said adjustable clamp on a nail or the like.

Claim 11

An adjustable clamp according to claim 7 wherein the aperture of said flexible strap is four-sided and the ridge engagement means comprises a blade member extending across the top thereof.

Claim 12

An adjustable clamp according to claim 7 wherein said flexible strap may be slidably detached from said handle member.

Claim 13

An adjustable clamp comprising: an elongate handle member having a top and a bottom and a first and second end, said handle member defining a first channel therethrough extending generally in the lengthwise direction thereof and a second channel adjacent the first end thereof which substantially perpendicularly intersects the first channel; a slidably detachable flexible strap defining an aperture at a first end thereof and a plurality of ridges along at least a portion of the length of the second end thereof, the second end being slidably inserted through the second channel of said handle member and bent back upon itself and slidably inserted through the first channel of said handle member with the ridges thereof facing the top of said handle member, and through the aperture in the first end of said flexible strap positioned in the first channel, wherein the aperture includes a blade member opposing the ridges of said flexible strap extending therethrough; and lock means for releasably urging the blade member of the aperture of said flexible strap downwardly against at least one of the ridges of the first end of said flexible strap, said lock means comprising an annular cross section knob mounted on the first end of said flexible strap and a detente mounted on the first end of said handle member proximate to but spaced-apart from the second channel so as to snubbingly engage the knob when the knob is urged thereagainst and to force the blade member downwardly against one or more of the ridges thereof.

Claim 14

An adjustable clamp comprising: an elongate handle member having a top and a bottom and a first and second end, said handle member defining a first channel therethrough extending generally in the lengthwise direction thereof and a second channel adjacent the first end thereof which substantially perpendicularly intersects the first channel; a slidably detachable flexible strap defining an aperture at a first end thereof and a plurality of ridges along at least a portion of the length of the second end thereof, the second end being slidably inserted through the second channel of said handle member and bent back upon itself and slidably inserted through the first channel of said handle member with the ridges thereof facing the top of said handle member, and through the aperture in the first end of said flexible strap positioned in the first channel, wherein the aperture includes a blade member opposing the ridges of said flexible strap extending therethrough; and lock means for releasably urging the blade member of the aperture of said flexible strap downwardly against at least one of the ridges of the first end of said flexible strap, said lock means comprising an annular cross section knob mounted on the first end of said flexible strap and a detente mounted on the first end of said handle member proximate to but spaced-apart from the second channel so as to snubbingly engage the knob when the knob is urged thereagainst and to force the blade member downwardly against one or more of the ridges thereof.

Claim 15

An adjustable clamp according to claim 11 wherein said elongate handle member includes a first lengthwise extending aperture therein for gripping said adjustable clamp and a second lengthwise extending aperture therein defining at least one open end for hanging said adjustable clamp on a nail or the like.