US Patent 7314331 Multi-position locking mechanisms for clamping assemblies

A locking mechanism for a clamping assembly includes a roller locking mechanism, at least one clamping member and a shaft member for coupling the roller locking mechanism with the first clamping member. The roller mechanism includes a roller rotatably connected to a handle which contacts a bearing surface to place a compressive force on the first clamping member when the handle is actuated. Another locking mechanism includes a camming member having cam face with a sliding cam surface and a frictional cam surface adjacent to the sliding cam surface. The camming member produces a compressive force on the clamping member as the sliding cam surface contacts a bearing surface and increased static friction when the frictional cam surface contacts the bearing surface to help maintain the camming member in a locked position. Another locking mechanism includes a support frame, a camming member pivotally attached to the support frame, a clamping member and a shaft member for coupling the roller locking mechanism with the first clamping member, the shaft member including a sliding pin which remains in sliding engagement with the camming member.