Abstract: A stretching and folding clamping assembly for retaining a workpiece in a predetermined position, wherein a lower clamp arm is pivotally and displaceably mounted on a support bracket. An upper clamp arm is pivotally attached to the lower clamp arm and a pair of attached toggle levers are connected at one end to the support bracket and at a further end to the upper clamp arm. A spring assembly is attached to the support bracket and toggle arms for biasing the toggle arms and upper clamp arm into one of two stable positions, namely an open position wherein end portions of the upper and lower clamp arms are spaced from one another or a closed position wherein end portions of the clamp arms are adjacent one another. A locking mechanism is arranged between one of the clamp arms and the support bracket to retain the clamp arms in the closed, stable position until a desired opening movement of the clamping assembly is initiated.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting an individual to fold and pleat a sheet, blanket or the like comprises a wallmounted console having a pair of relatively movable clamping elements associated with a manually movable spring structure arranged to hold the clamping elements either in clamping engagement with one another or in predetermined spaced relation to one another.