Title: One hand held and operated clamp

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Abstract: A clamping mechanism for C-clamps, wrenches, vises and other work holding equipment has a detent as a means to hold the jaws open in a work receiving position with the moveable jaw free of the fixed jaw; a spring or weight bias with dash pot for gentle slow closing bringing the moveable jaw against the work as the work is held against the fixed jaw; a reciprocable manually operated one-way clutch mechanism having a drive and return stroke acting on a sliding plunger supporting the moveable jaw to apply added clamping force on the work between the fixed and moveable jaws; a second one-way clutch engaged with the clamp frame acting on the moveable jaw plunger to hold the moveable jaw in clamping position when the manually operated one-way clutch is in the return stroke and thus not holding the plunger; and a clamp release mechanism which releases the two one-way clutches thus allowing the clamp to be opened against the force of the moveable jaw bias only. The actuator for the manually operated one-way clutch is a reciprocating lever arranged to be gripped and operated by the hand holding the clamping device. The clamp release control is a push-button which is so placed on the clamp frame that it may be operated by the thumb of the hand holding the clamp. When the release button has been depressed, the clamp is released from the work by pushing down on the clamp to retract the moveable jaw. The detent then holds the jaws open.


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