US3290040A - Clamp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1966 I R. M. KERR 3,290,040

CLAMP Filed April 6, 1964 8 22 INVENTOR.

FIG. 4. 7305521- M. K522,

OQNEY United States Patent 3,290,040 CLAMP Robert M. Kerr, 220 N. Main St., Winter Garden, Fla. Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,537 3 Claims. (Cl. 269- 95) This invention relates to a clamp or work holder, and more specifically, to a work-holding clamp adapted for use with a conventional vise means to hold the lower unit casing of an outboard motor or the like.

A basic objective of this invention resides in the provision of a lower unit holding fixture or clamp to support the gear casing or lower unit housing of an outboard motor during repair and service operations, the unit being supported in a convenient, secure, safe and rigid position.

Another object is to provide a work holder for use with an outboard motor which does not require the operator to handle the clamp means during operations on the motor, thus leaving both hands free for the performance of service operations.

Another object is to supply a work holder for an outboard motor unit housing as described above which rigidly and securely supports the unit, but which does not damage the unit.

Among the additional objects and advantages of this invention are the provision of a holder as described above which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and sell, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a clamp means according to this invention supporting a lower unit of an outboard motor in a vise means;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the clamp;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the clamp; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the position of the unit housing in phantom lines.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, the clamp or work holder hereof is generally designated in the drawing by reference numeral 10. The clamp is adapted for use with a conventional vise 12 with jaws 14 or the like, in supporting the lower unit or gear housing 16 of an outboard motor. The housings 16 conventionally include a pointed end portion 18, and may have upwardly projecting rods 20 mounted thereon or other types of upward projections (not shown).

The clamp 10 includes an upstanding, substantially rectangular arm member 22 having a vertical lower portion 24 clamped between the vise jaws 14 to fix the clamp in a selected position therein, and an upper, angularly related portion 26.

An elongated, tubular sleeve member 28 is provided, and has opposite ends 30 and 32, and inner and outer walls 34, 36, respectively. The sleeve 28 is fixed to the upper portion 26 of the arm 22 by welds 38 connecting the end 32 thereto, and in such fixed location has an upper side portion 40 and lower side portion 42. Secured to the lower side portion 42 on the outer wall 36, adjacent the open end 30 of the sleeve, are a pair of elongated, outwardly projecting, substantially rectangular arm members 44, each having an inner, outwardly angled portion 46 fixed by welds 48 to the outer wall, and an outer portion 50 arranged substantially parallel to the sleeve. As will be noted in FIGURE 2, the fixed arms 44 are arranged at substantially 45 radii taken from the center of the sleeve.

Secured to the sleeve outer wall 36 on the upper por- "ice tion 40 thereof is a substantially U-shaped bracket 52 comprising a bight portion 54 from the sides of which depend a pair of arms 56, 58 secured by welds 60 to the upper side 40 at substantially a central location, as seen in FIGURE 2. The bight portion is centrally apertured at 62 and has a threaded nut 64 secured thereto carrying a locking screw 66 movable through the bight aperture.

For clamping of the housing 16, a movable clamping arm 68 having a central flat portion 70, and a first, upwardly angled end portion 72 supplied with a V-shaped notch 74 is supplied. A second end portion of the movable arm includes an upwardly angled member 76 with a flat end 78, the end 78 having an opening 80 formed therein.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, the casing 16 is mounted in such manner that the end 18 projects into the open end 30, the main body of the casing resting on the fixed arms 44. The housing disclosed in the drawing has a projected rod, and where a housing of this type is to be mounted, the rod is extended through the opening 80 of the movable clamping arm 68, and the screw means 66 is suitably tightened. In those instances where other types of units are encountered, the opposite end of the movable arm may be employed by a reversal of this element, and the notch 74 engaged with a projecting portion or notch in the casing.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that this description and illustration are offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for the lower unit casing of an outboard motor, for use in a vise or the like, the clamp comprismg:

an upstanding arm member including a bottom portion and an upper portion angularly related thereto, the bottom portion being mounted in the vise;

an elongated, tubular sleeve member having opposite ends, upper and lower side portions, and inner and outer walls, one of the ends being fixedly secured to the upper portion of the arm;

a pair of fixed arm members secured on the sleeve outer wall adjacent the other end thereof, each arm having an outwardly angled inner portion and an outer portion substantially parallel to the wall, the fixed arms being arranged adjacent one side of the sleeve;

a substantially U-shaped bracket having a bight portion and a pair of side arms, the arms being secured to the sleeve outer wall intermediate the ends thereof on the upper portion;

the bight portion having a threaded opening therein;

a clamping screw mounted in the threaded opening;

and

a movable clamping arm, including a central section and outwardly angled end portions, the central section being clamped between the screw and the sleeve outer wall with the end portions engaging the unit casing.

2. A work holding clamp for a unit having an outer surface, the clamp comprising:

an upstanding arm member;

a substantially tubular sleeve member, having an outer surface and having a pair of ends, secured to the arm member;

a pair of longitudinal substantially parallel projecting arm members fixed to the outer surface of the sleeve member and having inner work supporting surfaces for contacting the outer surface of the unit at spaced apart locations;

a movable clamping arm, longitudinally adjustable in a direction substantially parallel to the tubular sleeve 3 member, having an end portion with work securing aperture means thereon;

the end portion of the movable clamping arm engaging the unit at a location spaced from the last named location; and

changeable fastening means connecting the movable clamping arm to the sleeve to extend outwardly a distance such that the unit is held against the open end of the sleeve member and the fixed arm members.

3. A work holding clamp for a unit having an exterior surface and having an interior and being open at at least one end, the clamp comprising:

an upstanding arm member;

a substantially tubular sleeve member; having an outer surface and having a pair of ends, secured to the arm member;

a pair of longitudinal substantially parallel projecting arm members fixed to the outer surface of the sleeve member and having inner Work supporting surfaces for contacting the outer surface of the unit at spaced apart locations;

the open end of the unit extending outwardly of the projecting arm members;

a movable clamping arm, longitudinally adjustable in a direction substantially parallel to the tubular sleeve member and having an end portion with work securing aperture means thereon;

the end portion of the movable clamping arm engaging the unit at a location spaced from the last named locations; and

changeable fastening means connecting the movable clamping arm to the sleeve member to extend outwardly a distance such that the unit is held against the open end of the sleeve member and the fixed arm member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,399 9/ 1904 Strutz 279-46 1,208,522 12/1916 Duncan 26995 1,614,697 1/1927 Snook 26976 1,645,669 10/ 1927 Stevenson 29-200 2,127,828 8/1938 Milton 269287 2,679,684 6/1954 Fagan 26976 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CLAMP FOR THE LOWER UNIT CASING OF AN OUTBOARD MOTOR, FOR USE IN A VISE OR THE LIKE, THE CLAMP COMPRISING: AN UPSTANDING ARM MEMBER INCLUDING A BOTTOM PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION ANGULARLY RELATED THERETO, THE BOTTOM PORTION BEING MOUNTED IN THE VICE; AN ELONGATED, TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, UPPER AND LOWER SIDE PORTIONS, AND INNER AND OUTER WALLS, ONE OF THE ENDS BEING FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ARM; A PAIR OF FIXED ARM MEMBERS SECURED ON THE SLEEVE OUTER WALL ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF, EACH ARM HAVING AN OUTWARDLY ANGLED INNER PORTION AND AN OUTER PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE WALL, THE FIXED ARMS BEING ARRANGED ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF THE SLEEVE;

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