Clamping device having barbed pin

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided in which a clamping device for holding a work-piece comprises at least two clamping arms and at least one of the arms has a pin including a conical or pointed tip that at least partially penetrates a surface of the work-piece while in a clamped configuration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for holding a work-piece to be plated, comprising 
 a plurality of clamping arms each having a gripping pin, wherein at least one gripping pin has a substantially conical tip that at least partially penetrates a surface of the work-piece when the clamping arms are in a clamped configuration.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping pins are biased toward each other at a pressure of 50 foot pounds per square inch.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping pins are biased toward each other at a pressure sufficient to penetrate said work-piece having a surface tension of at least 100 dynes/cm.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said penetration of the work piece is at least 0.015 millimeters +/−0.005 in depth.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping arms are movable between the clamped configuration, in which at least two gripping pins contact the work-piece, and a released configuration, in which less than two gripping pins contact the work-piece.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective material sized and positioned to substantially protect the gripping pin from being plated.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the gripping pin further comprises a body portion having a surface area and the protective material contacts substantially all of the surface area of the body portion.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the body portion comprises a barb that inhibits movement of the protective material in at least one direction.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the protective material is neoprene.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the work-piece comprises a panel and the device is coupled to a flight bar.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the conical tip tapers to a point and the point penetrates the surface of the work-piece up to 0.015 millimeters in depth.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring that biases the clamping arms toward each other.  
     
     
         13 . A method of clamping a work-piece to be plated, comprising: 
 biasing first and second gripping pins toward the work-piece such that at least one of the gripping pins penetrates a surface of the work-piece; and    maintaining contact among the at least two gripping pins and the work-piece while the work-piece is being plated.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the gripping pins has a conical tip that facilitates penetration of the surface of the work-piece.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising fitting a protective sleeve over a body portion of a least one gripping pin.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing step is accomplished at least partially by using a spring.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of fitting a second protective sleeve over a body portion of the second gripping pin.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of inhibiting movement of the protective sleeve using gripping pin barbs.