REPOSITIONING CLUTCH FOR A CLAMPING SUPPORT HEAD
The clamping support heads disclosed herein provide a clampable mouth having jaws that can securely hold and permit movement of a variety of different size and/or shape objects. The objects may be quickly attached and quickly removed from the clamping support heads. A repositioning clutch allows for rotational repositioning of a clamped object. The repositioning clutch may include a clutch body attached to a stem of a stand, a friction ring seated to a clutch body, a bearing plate sharing a bearing interface with the friction ring, a clutch shaft extending through the clutch body, the friction ring, and the bearing plate to a terminal end, and a clutch adjustment handle screwed onto the terminal end of the clutch shaft. Rotation of the clutch adjustment handle adjusts compression force on the bearing interface between the friction ring and the bearing plate to secure or release the object from rotation.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a stand including a stem extending along a first axis;
a clamping support head including a clutch shaft extending from the clamping support head along a second axis.
a repositioning clutch permitting the clamping support head to selectively rotate about the second axis, the repositioning clutch including:
a clutch body attached to the stem;
a removable friction ring seated to the clutch body, wherein the friction ring is keyed to the clutch body to prevent rotation of the friction ring with reference to the clutch body;
a bearing plate sharing a bearing interface with the friction ring, the clutch shaft extending through the clutch body, the friction ring, and the bearing plate to a terminal end; and
a clutch adjustment handle screwed onto the terminal end of the clutch shaft, wherein rotation of the clutch adjustment handle adjusts compression force on the bearing interface between the friction ring and the bearing plate.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the friction ring is made of plastic and the bearing plate includes a metallic seat for the friction ring.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the friction ring is made of a metal alloy and the bearing plate includes a plastic seat for the friction ring.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the friction ring and the bearing plate include matching bevels that provide a bearing surface area therebetween.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamping support head is rotatable about the second axis to any desired position within a 360-degree range.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the friction ring is press-fit or slip-fit to the clutch body.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second axis extends through the first axis and is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamping support head further includes:
a clampable mouth having a fixed jaw and a translating jaw;
a slide fixed to the translating jaw and to linearly move the translating jaw with reference to the fixed jaw; and
a tightening mechanism to tighten the translating jaw against the fixed jaw after the clampable mouth is placed in a closed position.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the clamping support head further includes:
a quick release to selectively release the slide and permit the clampable mouth to move to an open position.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the clamping support head further includes molded resilient pads removably attached to the fixed jaw and the translating jaw.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the slide includes molded resilient strips removably attached to two or more longitudinal edges of the slide.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stand includes at least three legs extending radially from the stem.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a leg fitting serving as a hub for the legs and the stem extending vertically therefrom, wherein the leg fitting includes one or more handles integrally molded into the leg fitting and arranged between the legs.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamping support head further includes a helper magnet.
15 . A method of using a clamping support head, comprising:
placing an object between a fixed jaw and a translating jaw of a clampable mouth of the clamping support head in an open position, wherein a clutch shaft extends from the clamping support head along an head axis;
clamping the object between the fixed jaw and the translating jaw by linearly moving the translating jaw with reference to the fixed jaw to a closed position;
releasing a repositioning clutch by unscrewing a clutch adjustment handle screwed onto a terminal end of the clutch shaft thereby permitting the clamping support head to selectively rotate about the head axis;
rotating the clamping support head to reposition the object;
securing the clamping support head in its rotated position by screwing the clutch adjustment handle onto the terminal end of the clutch shaft to apply compression force on a bearing interface between a friction ring and a bearing plate within the repositioning clutch.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the clamping operation further includes tightening the translating jaw against the fixed jaw after the clampable mouth is placed in the closed position.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the friction ring is made of plastic and the bearing plate includes a metallic seat for the friction ring.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the friction ring is made of a metal alloy and the bearing plate includes a plastic seat for the friction ring.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the friction ring and the bearing plate include matching bevels that provide a bearing surface area therebetween.
20 . A bicycle repair stand comprising:
a stand including a stem extending along a first axis and at least three legs extending radially from the stem;
a clamping support head including:
a clampable mouth having a fixed jaw and a translating jaw;
a slide fixed to the translating jaw and to linearly move the translating jaw with reference to the fixed jaw;
a tightening mechanism to tighten the translating jaw against the fixed jaw after the clampable mouth is placed in a closed position; and
a clutch shaft extending from the clamping support head along a second axis; and
a repositioning clutch permitting the clamping support head to selectively rotate about the second axis, the repositioning clutch including:
a clutch body attached to the stem;
a friction ring seated to the clutch body;
a bearing plate sharing a bearing interface with the friction ring, the clutch shaft extending through the clutch body, the friction ring, and the bearing plate to a terminal end; and
a clutch adjustment handle screwed onto the terminal end of the clutch shaft, wherein rotation of the clutch adjustment handle adjusts compression force on the bearing interface between the friction ring and the bearing plate.