Clamp arrangement

Claim 1

A clamp arrangement for detachably securing a device to a work surface comprising a housing, a resilient member having substantial length and width secured to the housing by means of an upright member, spring means biasing the resilient member from the housing, cam means comprising a raised annular portion on the housing, the upright member extending through an opening in the annular portion lever means secured to the upright member for rotational movement therewith cooperating with said cam means so as to move the upright member and the resilient member connected thereto in opposition to the bias of the spring means upon movement of the lever means, the resilient member being lockingly engaged with the work surface upon movement of the lever means in one direction and being released from locking engagement with the work surface upon movement of the lever means in the opposite direction, said cam means including at least one retaining recess and the lever means including at least one detent engageable in the retaining recess to hold the lever means in a selected position relative to the cam means, said housing including an inverted cup-shaped portion, the resilient member being greater in length and width than the entrance to said cup-shaped member, the central portion of the resilient member being moved inwardly into the cup-shaped portion to create a suction to clamp the device to the work surface, with movement of the central portion of the resilient member outwardly from the housing breaking the suction and releasing the device from locked engagement with the work surface, said housing including an external skirt portion disposed about the cup-shaped portion and spaced therefrom, with the sides of the resilient member being between the walls of the cup-shaped portion and the skirt portion.