| US 7,566,038 B2 | ||
| Rail clamp | ||
| Christopher P. Scott, Hackensack, N.J. (US); Jason R. Cahayla, Saddle Brook, N.J. (US); Richard A. Modes, Hopatcong, N.J. (US); and John A. Griecci, Redondo Beach, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Surgical Concept Designs, LLC, Hackensack, N.J. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jul. 11, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/827,227. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0013507 A1, Jan. 15, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. A47B 96/06 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 248—231.61 [248/227.4; 248/228.3; 24/535; 600/230; 5/600; 403/385] | 10 Claims |
| 1. A clamp for attaching a device to a mount structure, comprising:
a clamp mechanism including a first clamp member connected to a second clamp member, the first and second clamp members being
movable relative to one another between a first clamp-mechanism position and a second clamp-mechanism position, wherein the
first clamp-mechanism position provides adequate clearance for the mount structure to be inserted between the clamp members,
and wherein the second clamp-mechanism position leaves inadequate room for the mount structure between the clamp members;
and
an actuation mechanism including a handle that is movable between a first handle position and an extreme second handle position,
and also including a first bias member;
wherein with the handle in its first position, the actuation mechanism is configured to actuate the clamp mechanism to the
first clamp-mechanism position;
wherein with the handle in its extreme, second position, the actuation mechanism is configured to actuate the clamp mechanism
to the second clamp-mechanism position;
wherein with the handle in its extreme, second position, the first bias member is configured to resiliently bias the clamp
members toward their respective second clamp-mechanism positions; and
wherein the actuation mechanism further includes a lock member and a second bias member, the lock member being movable relative
to the clamp mechanism between a first lock-member position and a second lock-member position, and the second bias member
being configured to bias the lock member toward its second position;
the handle is configured to actuate the lock member to its first position when the handle is actuated to its first position;
the clamp mechanism defines a lock-engagement surface configured such that, as the clamp mechanism moves through a range of
clamp-mechanism positions toward the second clamp-mechanism position, the lock member can engage the lock-engagement surface
in a range of lock-member positions progressing toward the second lock-member position; and
through the range of clamp-mechanism positions, the lock member in its respective engaged positions blocks the clamp mechanism
from moving back toward the first clamp-mechanism position.
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