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Inventor Howard Yates, left, shows his innovative quick-opening c-clamp to Jeff Peterson, who has a traditional c-clamp. Peterson is president and chief executive officer of Palm International, which is distributing Yates' c-clamp. |
Mt. Juliet inventor hits it big - The Lebanon Democrat "I have sort of an inventive mind, I guess you'd call it," Yates said Thursday, noting he first conceived the "king cab" pickup truck concept on a rainy day in Milqaukee in 1953. Citing his lack of experience with peddling his ideas at the time, Yates is quick to note the king-cab concept was one for which he was never credited by the automotive industry. Hist latest invention, however, quickly garnered the interest of automotive titan General Motors as well as a number of well-known aircraft manufacturers, including the likes of Boeing, and Vaught Aircraft. Yates' innovation is a new twist on the c-clamp, a tool commonly used by a host of industries to secure wood or metal work pieces. The devices are made up of a c-shaped frame and a threaded screw which is tightened for clamping. The revamped clamp dramatically reduced the time and effort needed to secure work pieces. Yates explained, and in a business world where time equals money, the newly developed tool has quickly gained popularity. In fact, after Yates made his first prototype, an automotive manufacturer in St. Louis immediately ordered 100 new clamps, he recalled. Shortly thereafter came orders from GM, Vaught Aircraft and California-based American Tool Company. "It didn't surprise me," Yates added of the product's popularity. "you take the conventional clamp that's on the market today . . . and to open it to six inches and close it takes you, I'd say a minute and a half to two minutes." Yates' clamp can be opened and closed in a matter of seconds, as a Vaught Aircraft engineer learned after a visit from the Mt. Juliet inventor. "I brought one of my clamps and told him to bring a (conventional) c-clamp , and I'd meet him in the lobby," Yates said. At first, the aircraft engineer was skeptical and remarked the two clamps barely differed in appearance. But the engineer quickly changed his mind after seeing the redesigned clamp in action, Yates continued. "I told him to open his (clamp) to five inches and then close it," Yates said. " I said I'd open mine up to five inches, push it back and close it, and show him the difference. He picked his up and made two turns to screw it out. I pulled mine all the way out to five inches, pushed it back and laid it down on the table." Not too long after vanquishing the engineer's doubts, Yates found financial support for his new product in nearby LaVergne in the form of Palm International - a global distributor of nickel sulfate. To date, the company and other backers have invested more than $600,000 in the device, Yates explained, who noted the new clamp is "built to last" and easily stored. "This c-clamp is guaranteed for life, guaranteed forever," he said. " . . and, it will fit in the top of a machinist's tool box. That makes a big difference." |
