Snap-on clamp

Abstract

A snap-on clamp adapted to be removably connected to a part, the clamp including a U-shaped housing encompassing a space, the housing including a peak at a first end, a pair of side walls, each side wall extending from the peak and terminating at an edge, the pair of side walls cooperatively form two edges which define a mouth disposed at a second end opposingly disposed from the first end, the pair of side walls configured to be resiliently securable to the part. The two edges includes engaging surfaces urged towards one another and are configured to be removably coupled to the part when the clamp is urged with the mouth towards the part; and further comprising at least one protrusion disposed on at least one of the engaging surfaces, the at least one protrusion is configured to be lodged in a slot of the part.

1 . A snap-on clamp adapted to be removably connected to a part, said clamp comprising a U-shaped housing encompassing a space, said housing comprising a length, a height, a longitudinal axis disposed along the length, a peak at a first end along the height of said housing, a pair of resilient side walls, each resilient side wall extending from the peak and terminating at an edge, said pair of resilient side walls cooperatively form two edges which define a mouth disposed at a second end that is opposingly disposed from said first end along the height of said housing, said two edges comprise engaging surfaces urged towards one another, each of said engaging surfaces comprises a profile shaped according to the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of a rail style selected from the group consisting of Picatinny and Weaver and when said mouth is urged towards the part, said mouth opens before closing to hug the part to secure the part within said engaging surfaces. 
     
     
         2 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one protrusion disposed on at least one of said engaging surfaces, said at least one protrusion is configured to be lodged in a slot of the part, each said at least one protrusion consisting of a semi-spherical-shaped structure. 
     
     
         3 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , wherein each said resilient side wall further comprises at least one embedded leaf spring extending into said space, said at least one embedded leaf spring having a resilient engaging surface with respect to said housing, said embedded leaf springs of said pair of resilient side walls cooperatively engage the part to which the clamp is coupled. 
     
     
         4 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , wherein each of said resilient side walls comprises more than one segment. 
     
     
         5 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a mixed-slot rail having a longitudinal axis, the mixed-slot rail comprises at least one keyed slot having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and at least one slot having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the mixed-slot rail comprises at least one threaded aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a laser beam emitter. 
     
     
         8 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 7 , said laser beam emitter further comprises a ball and socket mechanism configured to be removably coupled to said U-shaped housing, a beam emitting device attached to said ball and socket mechanism, wherein the direction of a beam from said beam emitting device is adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ferromagnetic material configured to be coupled to a complementary ferromagnetic material of the part to further removably secure the clamp to the part. 
     
     
         11 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , wherein each of said resilient side walls further comprises at least one keyed slot adapted to receive a key that is disposed through a keyed slot in the mixed-slot rail to prevent said housing from moving in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a first extension disposed on a first end along the length of said housing, wherein said first extension is adapted as a grasp point to facilitate removal of said clamp from the part. 
     
     
         13 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 12 , further comprising a second extension disposed on a second end along the length of said housing, wherein said second extension is adapted as a contact point of said clamp with respect to the part in order to facilitate removal of said clamp from the part. 
     
     
         14 . A snap-on clamp adapted to be removably connected to a part, said clamp comprising a U-shaped housing encompassing a space, said housing comprising a length, a height, a longitudinal axis disposed along the length, a peak at a first end along the height of said housing, a pair of resilient side walls, each resilient side wall extending from said peak and terminating at an edge, said pair of resilient side walls cooperatively form two edges which define a mouth disposed at a second end that is opposingly disposed from said first end along the height of said housing, said two edges comprise engaging surfaces urged towards one another, each of said engaging surfaces comprises a profile shaped according to the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of a rail style selected from the group consisting of Picatinny and Weaver and when said mouth is urged towards the part, said mouth opens before closing to hug the part to secure the part within said engaging surfaces; and at least one protrusion disposed on at least one of said engaging surfaces, said at least one protrusion is configured to be lodged in a slot of the part, each said at least one protrusion consisting of a semi-spherical-shaped structure. 
     
     
         15 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 14 , wherein each said resilient side wall further comprises at least one embedded leaf spring extending into said space, said at least one embedded leaf spring having a resilient engaging surface with respect to said housing, said embedded leaf springs of said pair of resilient side walls cooperatively engage the part to which the clamp is disposed. 
     
     
         16 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 14 , wherein each of said resilient side walls comprises more than one segment. 
     
     
         17 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 14 , further comprising a mixed-slot rail having a longitudinal axis, the mixed-slot rail comprises at least one keyed slot having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and at least one slot having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one ferromagnetic material configured to be coupled to a complementary ferromagnetic material of the part to further removably secure the clamp to the part. 
     
     
         19 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 14 , further comprising a first extension disposed on a first end along the length of said housing, wherein said first extension is adapted as a grasp point. 
     
     
         20 . The snap-on clamp of  claim 19 , further comprising a second extension disposed on a second end along the length of said housing, wherein said second extension is adapted as a contact point of said clamp with respect to the part in order to facilitate removal of said clamp from the part.