Method and apparatus for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate using a novel workpiece hold-down clamp

Abstract

A workpiece hold-down clamp for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate, the workpiece hold-down clamp comprising: a clamp post for mounting to the fixture plate; and a clamp finger which is adjustably mounted to the clamp post, wherein the clamp finger is configured for selective movement along the clamp post, and wherein the clamp finger comprises a portion for engaging the workpiece. A method for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate, the method comprising: providing a workpiece hold-down clamp comprising: a clamp post for mounting to the fixture plate; and a clamp finger which is adjustably mounted to the clamp post, wherein the clamp finger is configured for selective movement along the clamp post, and wherein the clamp finger comprises a portion for engaging the workpiece; positioning a workpiece on the fixture plate; and engaging the workpiece with the clamp finger so as to secure the workpiece to the fixture plate.

1 . A workpiece hold-down clamp for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate, the workpiece hold-down clamp comprising:
 a clamp post for mounting to the fixture plate; and   a clamp finger which is adjustably mounted to the clamp post, wherein the clamp finger is configured for selective movement along the clamp post, and wherein the clamp finger comprises a portion for engaging the workpiece;   wherein the clamp finger comprises a cantilever beam which is flexible.   
     
     
         2 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal axis of the cantilever beam extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the clamp post. 
     
     
         3 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 1  wherein the cantilever beam is connected to the clamp post by a mount, and further wherein the mount is configured to selectively (i) secure the cantilever beam to the clamp post; and (ii) allow the cantilever beam to move longitudinally along the clamp post and circumferentially about the clamp post. 
     
     
         4 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 3  wherein the mount is configured so that when the cantilever beam is moving longitudinally along the clamp post, the cantilever beam may move equally easily in either longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         5 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 3  wherein the mount comprises a pair of opposing jaws which define a bore and a slot therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 5  wherein each of the jaws comprises a spring hinge. 
     
     
         7 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 6  wherein a tab is mounted to each of the jaws, and further wherein the tab enables the user to move the jaw on its spring hinge. 
     
     
         8 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 7  wherein squeezing the tabs together causes the jaws to open. 
     
     
         9 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 8  wherein the diameter of the bore is smaller than the diameter of the clamp post when the tabs are not being squeezed. 
     
     
         10 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 1  wherein the clamp post comprises a distal end and a proximal end, and further wherein the distal end of the clamp post is configured to be releasably mounted to the fixture plate. 
     
     
         11 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 10  wherein the fixture plate comprises at least one screw hole, and further wherein the distal end of the clamp post is threaded for selective disposition in the at least one screw hole. 
     
     
         12 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 11  wherein the proximal end of the clamp post comprises a threaded hole for selectively receiving the threaded distal end of another clamp post. 
     
     
         13 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 1  wherein the cantilever beam has a flexibility such that it can be manually flexed by the fingers of a user. 
     
     
         14 . A workpiece hold-down clamp according to  claim 1  wherein the clamp post comprises at least one flat to facilitate turning the clamp post with a tool. 
     
     
         15 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate, the method comprising:
 providing a workpiece hold-down clamp comprising:
 a clamp post for mounting to the fixture plate; and 
 a clamp finger which is adjustably mounted to the clamp post, wherein the clamp finger is configured for selective movement along the clamp post, and wherein the clamp finger comprises a portion for engaging the workpiece; 
 wherein the clamp finger comprises a cantilever beam which is flexible; 
   positioning a workpiece on the fixture plate; and   engaging the workpiece with the clamp finger so as to secure the workpiece to the fixture plate.   
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the cantilever beam is connected to the clamp post by a mount, wherein the mount comprises a pair of opposing jaws which define a bore and a slot therebetween, wherein the opposing jaws are opened so as to allow the clamp finger to move along the clamp post so that the cantilever beam engages the workpiece, and further wherein the opposing jaws are closed so as to secure the clamp finger to the clamp post, whereby to secure the workpiece to the fixture plate. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26  comprising the additional steps of:
 withdrawing the workpiece from the fixture plate; and 
 securing a new workpiece to the fixture plate. 
 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the workpiece is withdrawn from the fixture plate by manually lifting the clamp finger away from the fixture plate. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the new workpiece is secured to the fixture plate by positioning the new workpiece beneath the clamp finger which has been manually lifted away from the fixture plate, and releasing the pressure on the clamp finger so that the clamp finger engages the new workpiece. 
     
     
         31 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A workpiece hold-down clamp for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate, the workpiece hold-down clamp comprising:
 a clamp post for mounting to the fixture plate; and   a clamp finger which is adjustably mounted to the clamp post, wherein the clamp finger is configured for selective movement along the clamp post, and wherein the clamp finger comprises a portion for engaging the workpiece.   
     
     
         37 . A method for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate, the method comprising:
 providing a workpiece hold-down clamp comprising:
 a clamp post for mounting to the fixture plate; and 
 a clamp finger which is adjustably mounted to the clamp post, wherein the clamp finger is configured for selective movement along the clamp post, and wherein the clamp finger comprises a portion for engaging the workpiece; 
   positioning a workpiece on the fixture plate; and   engaging the workpiece with the clamp finger so as to secure the workpiece to the fixture plate.