Snap-on clamp system

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 including 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.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A snap-on clamp system comprising:
 (a) a mixed-slot rail having a longitudinal axis, said mixed-slot rail comprising 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, said trapezoidal cross-sectional shape is disposed in a manner such that its larger base is disposed on the bottom of said at least one keyed slot having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape to prevent dislodgement of a similarly shaped pin disposed within said at least one keyed slot having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape; and   (b) a snap-on clamp adapted to be removably connected to said mixed-slot rail, said snap-on 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 said mixed-slot rail, said mouth opens before closing to hug said mixed-slot rail to secure said mixed-slot rail within said engaging surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The snap-on clamp system 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 said mixed-slot rail, each said at least one protrusion comprising a semi-spherical-shaped structure. 
     
     
         3 . The snap-on clamp system 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 said mixed-slot rail to which the clamp is coupled. 
     
     
         4 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said resilient side walls comprises more than one segment. 
     
     
         5 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 4 , wherein said mixed-slot rail comprises at least one threaded aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 1 , further comprising a laser beam emitter. 
     
     
         7 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 6 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ferromagnetic material configured to be coupled to a complementary ferromagnetic material of said mixed-slot rail to further removably secure the clamp to said mixed-slot rail. 
     
     
         10 . The snap-on clamp system 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 said mixed-slot rail to prevent said housing from moving in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The snap-on clamp system 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 said mixed-slot rail. 
     
     
         12 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 11 , 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 said mixed-slot rail in order to facilitate removal of said clamp from said mixed-slot rail. 
     
     
         13 . A snap-on clamp system comprising a snap-on clamp adapted for securing a first part to a second part, said snap-on clamp comprising a U-shaped resilient housing comprising a mouth defined by two edges at a first end of said resilient housing, a second end disposed at an opposing end from said first end of said resilient housing, an inner resilient engaging surface extending from each of said two edges within said resilient housing towards said second end within a space defined by an opening of said resilient housing, each of said resilient engaging surfaces is configured to yield with respect to said resilient housing and each of said resilient engaging surfaces comprises brackets adapted to engage only the sides of the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of a rail having a style selected from the group consisting of Picatinny and Weaver and when said mouth is urged towards the second part, said mouth opens before closing to hug the second part to secure the second part within said brackets of said resilient engaging surfaces and the first part is attached to said resilient housing. 
     
     
         14 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 13 , wherein the first part is a laser beam emitter. 
     
     
         15 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 14 , said beam emitter further comprises a ball and socket mechanism configured to be removably coupled to said resilient 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. 
     
     
         16 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 13 , wherein said pair of engaging surfaces comprises curved surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 16 , wherein said curved surfaces include a diameter of from about 25 mm to about 30 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 13 , wherein said mouth is tapered to facilitate engagement of said mouth and the second part. 
     
     
         19 . The snap-on clamp system of  claim 13 , further comprising an indicating device comprising a visual indicator and a projection plane upon which said visual indicator is projected.