US Patent 7896322 Simple high force clamp

A clamping and/or spreading tool including a push or pull rod, comprises at least one lock blocking displacement of the push or pull contrary to the clamping and/or spreading direction by it being canted by at least one biasing mechanism, such as a spring, relative to the push or pull rod, and a releasing mechanism which when actuated cancels the blocking effect of the lock such that the biasing mechanism and the releasing mechanism functionally engage the lock at least at opposite sides of the push or pull rod.