Patent US6601616B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6601616B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Powered clamp application tool
Assignee: CHALLANGER MANUFACTURING CONSULTANTS Inc
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Filing: 2001-10-17
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Granted: 2003-08-05
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Expires: 2021-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A portable electrically powered clamp application tool has a bench mounting kit with a foot pedal control for bench work. The tool has two grippers which enable a powered clamp cutting operation, wherein the only manual step is bending the tightened clamp prior to triggering the cutter arm. A gripper element is non-rotational and has teeth. It locates the material being gripped in a repeatable manner in spite of oil or other lubricants on the clamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter W. Lenox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:26
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B25/00; B25B25/005; B65; B65B; B65B13/00; B65B13/02; B65B13/18; B65B13/24; B65B13/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor with an ON/OFF and a FORWARD/REVERSE switch; a first gripper located near a band entry port in the housing; a second gripper having a linkage to the motor to move forward toward the entry port and backward; a cutter in the housing for cutting a tightened clamp; wherein a clamp tightening mode of operation powers the second gripper backward while gripping a segment of a clamp, thereby tightening the clamp; and wherein a clamp cutting mode of operation powers the second gripper forward, thereby releasing its grip on the clamp segment and activating the cutter to cut the clamp segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor with an ON/OFF and a FORWARD/REVERSE switch; a first gripper located near a band entry port in the housing; a second gripper having a linkage to the motor to move forward toward the entry port and backward; a cutter in the housing for cutting a tightened clamp; wherein a clamp tightening mode of operation powers the second gripper backward while gripping a segment of a clamp, thereby tightening the clamp; and wherein a clamp cutting mode of operation powers the second gripper forward, thereby releasing its grip on the clamp segment and activating the cutter to cut the clamp segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutter further comprises a pivot mount in the housing, and the second gripper has a mechanical interface with one end of the cutter to pivot a cutting end of the cutter into contact with the segment of the clamp during the cutting mode of operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first gripper has a jaw that prevents the clamp segment from moving forward during the cutting mode of operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first gripper jaw travels in an angled slot so as to allow a proper slack in the clamp segment during the cutting mode of operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the linkage further comprises a gear assembly and a torque adjustment assembly for the second gripper, thereby providing a variable tensioning capability to the clamp applicator for accommodating a plurality of clamp widths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the housing further comprises a screw drive for the second gripper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a DC type, the housing has a battery pack, and the housing has a DC input receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a detachable bench mounting base for the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising and AC/DC converter and a foot pedal controller for the motor, wherein both speed and direction are controlled by the foot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a free end clamp adapter having a free end port on the housing and located forward of the entry port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor; a powered pulling member having a clamp which removably attaches to a clamp segment; and a powered cutter to cut the clamp segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor; a powered pulling member having a clamp which removably attaches to a clamp segment; and a powered cutter to cut the clamp segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the pulling member further comprises a screw powered housing which contains an angled slot with a movable jaw therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a stationary gripper located near a clamp entry port, said stationary gripper having a movable jaw to hold a segment of a tightened clamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the motor further comprises an ON/OFF and FORWARD/REVERSE switch, wherein the FORWARD mode powers the pulling member rearward, thereby pulling and tensioning the clamp, the reverse switch powers the pulling element forward, forcing a cutter into the clamp segment, and resetting the tool for the next clamp.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cutter has a pivot and a lever arm, and the pulling member housing forces the lever arm to activate the cutter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the pulling member housing has a clamp exit port to allow the clamp segment to leave the housing in the REVERSE-RESET mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a gear assembly and a variable torque clutch to enable a range of clamp widths to be applied.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a free end clamp adapter to removably fasten adjacent to an entry port of the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the motor is a DC type, and the housing receives a battery pack.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a bench mount for the housing, an AC-DC converter, a foot switch controller and a DC input port on the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor, a clamp entry port, a pulling member means functioning to pull a clamp segment away from the clamp entry port via a linkage to the motor; and a cutter means function to cut the clamp segment via a linkage to the motor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
A clamp applicator comprising: a housing having a motor, a clamp entry port, a pulling member means functioning to pull a clamp segment away from the clamp entry port via a linkage to the motor; and a cutter means function to cut the clamp segment via a linkage to the motor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the cutter means further comprises a pivotable arm having a cutting end and a lever end, and the linkage to the motor further comprises a gear assembly moving the pulling member means against the lever end.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a stationary gripper means function to hold the clamp segment during a cutting operation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the motor is a DC type, and the housing receives a battery pack.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a bench mount, and AC/DC converter, a DC port on the housing and a foot activated controller for the motor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a free end clamp adapter removably attachable adjacent to an entry port of the housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a variable torque transmission means for the motor to transmit an adjustable force to the pulling member means, thereby enabling an application of various width clamps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |