r
Field of the Disclosure:
The present disclosure generally relates to a holding device. · J\.Iore
pa~icularly, the present disclosure relates to a holding device for holding
delicate cylindrical articles.
Background:
A large variety of holding devices are available for holding articles of
different shapes, sizes and configurations. The holding devices are required
to maintain the articles in a stable condition, while different operational
loads are acting on the article, thereby permitting performing of different
operations on the article. More specifically, the mechanical operations such
as machining may be performed over the arti~le, while the article is held by
the holding device. The conventional holding device generally includes a
pair of gripping elements or holding jaws, wherein either one of the hoking
elements is urged against the second holding element. Generally, thread
engagement between the jaws facilitate urging one holding element towards
the other for facilitating tight holding of an article there-between. Howe·ver,
the holding elements of the holding device should firmly grip the article
while still avoiding any damage to the article due to firm gripping thereof by
the holding elements of the holding device, but the conventional holding
devices fail to hold the article without damaging the article. Further, the
conventionally known holding devices fail to achieve stable gripping of the
complex shaped articles, such as cylindrical articles.
Accordingly, there is need for a holding device that firmly grips an article,
particularly a cylindrical article while still avoiding any damage to the article
2
due to firm gripping action thereof. Further, there is need for a holding
device that may facilitate stable gripping of the cylindrical articles while
different mechanical operations that may cause uri-stability of the article are
performed on the cylindrical articles. Further, there is need for a holding
device that is simple in construction and convenient to use. Still further,
there is a need for a holding device that is ergonomically safe to use.
Further, there is a need for a holding device that can change from gripping to
un-gripping configuration easily and quickly. Still further, there is a need for
a quick release holding device.
Objects:
Some of the objects of the present disclosure which at least one embodiment
is adapted to provide, are described herein below:
It is an object of the present disclosure is to ameliorate one or more
problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present invention is to provide a holding arrangement for
firmly holding an article while still avoiding any damage to the article due to
firm gripping thereof.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a holding arrangement
for firmly holding an article, particularly an article having complex shapes
such as articles having cylindrical cross -section.
3
Still another object of the present disclosure 1s to provide a holding
arrangement that is simple in construction.
Yet another object of the present disclosure 1s to provide a . holding
arrangement that is ·convenient to use.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a holding arrangement
that is ergonomically safe to use.
Yet another object of the present disclosure· is to provide a holding device
that requires less time for setting the holding arrangement.
Still another object of the present invention IS to provide a holding
arrangement that requires less time for chan.ging from gripping to ungripping
configuration.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a holding
arrangement that ensures stable holding of the article while different
mechanical forces are acting on the article due to mechanical operations
carried thereon.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent
from the following description when read in conjunction with the
accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure.
4
SUMMARY
A holding device for securely holding an article is disclosed in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The holding device includes a
mounting bracket, a support bracket, a guide element, at least one elongate
holding element and a spring. The mounting bracket is having a first
member and a second member, wherein the second member is orthogonally
extending from the first member and either of the first member and the
second member is mounted on a flat surface for facilitating mounting of the
holding device thereon. The support bracket is provided with at least one
stepped aperture configured thereon. The support bracket is mounted on
either of the first member and the second member. The guide element is
having at least one aperture configured thereon. The guide element is
mounted on the support bracket such that the aperture on the guide element
is aligned with the stepped aperture configured on the support bracket. The
at least one elongate holding element includes a head portion, a stem portion
depending from the head portion, and a radially extending lip configured on
the stem portion.
The stem portion passes through the aligned apertures of the guide element
and the support bracket and moves between a closed configuration in which
the stem portion defines an enclosure in conjunction with the first member,
the second member and the support bracket for facilitating holding of the
article therein and an open configuration in which the stem portion is lifted
to provide a passage for receiving or releasing the article from the enclosure.
The spring is disposed between the radially extending lip configured on the
stem portion and the guide element for maintaining the stem portion of the
5
elongate holding element in the closed configuration. The spring gets
compressed when the head portion of the elongate holding element is pulled
outwardly for defining the open configuration of the stem portion.
Typically, the head portion is knurled for facilitating holding thereof.
Generally, the guide element is secured to the support bracket by using bolts.
-
Specifically, either of the first member and second member of the mounting
bracket is mounted on a flat surface by using bolts.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings:
The disclosure will now be explained in relation to the non limiting
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure la illustrates a prior art holding device in an operative configuration
for gripping a cylindrical article;
Figure lb illustrates a holding device in accordance with an embodiment in
an operative configuration for firmly and stably gripping a cylindrical
article;
Figure 2a illustrates a cylindrical article held 'by a conventional holding
device;
6
------------ -- --------- --
Figure 2b illustrates the cylindrical article of Figure 2a damaged due to
gripping forces exerted thereon by the conventional holding device;
Figure 3 illustrates an assembled view of the holding device ofFigure lb;
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a sectional view of the
holding device of Figure lb;
Figure Sa illustrates a side view of a mounting bracket of the holding device
of Figure 3;
Figure Sb illustrates a front view of the mounting bracket of Figure Sa;
Figure 6a illustrates a top view of a support bracket of the holding device of
Figure 3;
Figure 6b illustrates a side view of the support bracket of Figure 6a;
Figure 7a illustrates a guide element mounted on the support bracket of
Figure 6a;
Figure 7b illustrates an elongate holding element of the holding device of
Figure 2;
Figure Sa illustrates a holding device in a dis-assembled configuration, with
the elongate holding element passing through an aperture configured on the
7
guide element and a sprmg disposed between the guicie element and a
radially extending lip configured on the elongate holding element;
Figure 8b illustrates another view of the holding device in a dis-assembled
configuration; and
Figure 9 illustrates an elongate holding element with spnng mounted
thereon passing through an aperture configured on the guide element and an
aperture configured on the support bracket.
Detailed Description:
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings which do not limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The
description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details
thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the
following description. Descriptions of well-known components and
processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the
embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to
facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be
practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the
embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as
limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
8
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal
the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications
such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and,
therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be
comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed
embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology
employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of
preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and
scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Referring to Figure 1a of the accompanying drawings, a prior art holding
device 10 for holding a cylindrical article is illustrated, wherein the gripping
jaws of the holding device are urged towards each other by means of threads
for facilitating tight gripping of the article there-between. Figure 1b
illustrates a holding device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure for holding a cylindrical article, while different
mechanical operations such as machining are performed on the article.
Figure 2a illustrates a cylindrical article 12 held by a conventional holding
device 10. Figure 2b illustrates the cylindrical article 12 getting damaged
due to gripping forces exerted thereon by the conventional holding device
10. Figure 3 illustrates an assembled view of the holding device 100 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The holding
device 100 includes a mounting bracket 20, a support bracket 30, an
elongate holding element 40 and a guide element 50.
9
Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of the holding device 100. Referring to
Figure 4, the elongate holding element 40 includes head portion 42 and a
stem portion 44 depending from the head portion 42. The head portion 42 of·
the elongate holding element 40 is knurled for facilitating gripping thereof.
The support bracket 30 is having at least one stepped aperture configured
thereon and is mounted on either of the first member 22 and the second
member 24. The stepp.ed aperture 36 includes a large aperture and a small
aperture. The guide element 50 is having at least one aperture configured
thereon and is mounted on the support bracket 30 such that the aperture on
the guide element is aligned with the small aperture of the stepped aperture
36 configured on the support bracket 30. The stem portion 44 of the elongate
holding element 40 passes through aligned apertures of the guide element 50
and the support bracket 30.
Figure Sa and Figure 5b illustrate different views of the mounting bracket
20. The mounting bracket 20 includes a first member 22 and a second
member 24, the second member 24 is orthogonally extending from the first
member 22. The first member 22 includes a pair of bolt holes 23a and 23b
configured thereon to facilitate passage of bolts there-through for mounting
the holding device 100 on a flat surface. The second member 24 includes a
pair of bolt holes 25a and 25b configured on a top portion thereof for
facilitating securing of the support bracket 30 to the mounting bracket 20.
Referring to Figure 6a and Figure 6b illustrates top view and side view of
the support bracket 30 respectively. The support bracket 30 is having the
10
stepped aperture 36 configured thereon. The stepped aperture 36 includes a
large aperture and a small aperture. The support bracket 30 is mounted on
the second member 24 of the mounting bracket 20 and is extending parallel
to the first member 22 of the mounting bracket 20. More specifically, the
support bracket 30 includes a pair of holes 32a and 32b that registers with
the pair of bolt holes 25a and 25b configured on the mounting bracket 20 for
facilitating securing of the support bracket 30 to the mounting bracket 20.
The support bracket 30 includes a guide element 50 with at least one
aperture 56 mounted thereon, such that aperture 56 configured on the guide
element 50 is aligned with the stepped aperture 36 configured on the support
bracket 30. Figure 7a illustrates a guide elem~nt 50 that can be mounted on
the support bracket 30. More specifically, the support bracket 30 includes a
pair of bolt holes 34 for facilitating mounting of the guide element 50 on the
support bracket 30. The. aperture 56 configured on the guide element 50
guides the movement of the stem portion 44 of the elongate holding element
40. The stem portion 44 of the elongate holding element 40 passes through
the aligned apertures 36 and 56 of the support bracket 30 and the guide
element 50 respectively.
Referring to Figure 7b, the stem member 44 of the elongate holding element
40 is illustrated. The elongate holding element 40 includes a head portion 42
and the stem portion 44 depending from the head portion 42, and a radially
extending lip 46 configured on the stem portion 44. The stem portion 44
passes through aligned apertures 56 and 36 of the guide element 50 and the
support bracket 30 respectively and moves between a closed configuration in
which said stem portion 44 defines an enclosure in conjunction with the first
member 22, the second member 24 and the support bracket 30 for
II
,--------------------- ~~~------~-~----
facilitating holding of an article 120 therein and an open configuration in
which the stem portion 44 is lifted to provide a passage for receiving or
releasing the article 120 from the enclosure.
The stem portion 44 of the elongate holding element 40 is actuated by a
spring 60. Referring to Figures 8a and 8b, the spring 60 is disposed between
the radially extending lip 46 configured on the stem portion 44 and the guide
element 50 for maintaining the stem portion 44 of said elongate holding
element 40 in said closed configuration, the spring 60 gets compressed when
the head portion 42 of the elongate holding element 40 is pulled outwardly
for defining the open configuration of the stem portion 44.
More specifically, as the head portion 42 of the stem portion 44 of the
elongate holding element 40 is pulled away from the first member 22 of the
mounting bracket 20, the stem portion 44 is lifted to. create a passage for
receiving or releasing the article 120 from the enclosure.
Technical Advantages and economic significance:
The clamping arrangement for firmly gripping an article in accordance with
the present disclosure has several technical advantages including but not
limited to the realization of:
• a clamping arrangement for firmly gripping an article while still
avoiding any damage to the article dueto firm gripping thereof;
• a clamping arrangement for firmly gripping a complex shaped
article, particularly a cylindrical sectioned article;
• a clamping arrangement that is simple in construction;
12
• a clamping arrangement that is convenient to use
• a clamping arrangement that is ergonomically safe to use;
• a clamping device that requires less time for setting the clamping
arrangement; and
• a clamping arrangement thar requires less time for changing from
gripping to un-gripping configuration.
Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as
"comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a
stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but
not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements,
integers or steps.
The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one
or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the
embodiment of the invention to achieve one or more of the desired objects or
results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like
that has . been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of
providing a context for the invention. It is not to be taken as an admission
that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were
common general knowledge in the field relevant to the invention as it
existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the vanous physical parameters,
dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the
13
values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters,
dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the invention, unless there
is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular
features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications
can be made, and that many changes can be ·made in the preferred
embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These
and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred
embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure
herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing
descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention
and not as a limitation.
14

We Claim:
1. A holding device for securely holding an article, said holding device
compnsmg:
• a mounting bracket having a first member and a second
member orthogonally extending from said first member, either
of said first member and said second member adapted to be
mounted on a flat surface for facilitating mounting of said
holding device thereon;
• a support bracket provided with at least one stepped aperture
configured thereon and mounted on either of said first member
and said second member;
• a guide element with at least one aperture configured thereon
and mounted on said support bracket such that said aperture on
said guide element is aligned with said stepped aperture
configured on said support bracket;
• at least one elongate holding element compnsmg a head
portion, a stem portion depending from said head portion, and a
radially extending lip configured on said stem portion, said
stem portion adapted to pass through aligned apertures of said
guide element and said support bracket and move between a
closed configuration in which said stem portion defines an
enclosure in conjunction with said first member, said second
member and said support bracket for facilitating holding of
said article therein and an open configuration in which said
stem portion is lifted to provide a passage for receiving or
releasing said article from said enclosure;
15
• a spnng disposed between said radially extending lip
configured on said stem portion and said guide element for
maintaining said stem portion of said elongate holding element
in said closed configuration , said spring adapted to get
compressed when said head portion of said elongate holding
element 1s pulled outwardly for defining said open
configuration of said stem portion.
2. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head portion is
knurled for facilitating holding thereof.
3. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide element
is secured to said support bracket by using bolts.
4. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein either of said first
member and second member of said mounting bracket is mounted on
a flat surface by using bolts.