Leak reduction hose clamp

• US 4,935,992 A
• Filed: 04/10/1989
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micro Plastics Incorporated Highway
• Original Assignee: Micro Plastics, Inc. (Essentra Plc)
• Inventors: Due, Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US07/335,722
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 24/20 T T, 24/16 R, 24/16 P B, 24/20 R, 24/30.5 P, 24/543, 248/74.1, 248/74.3
• US Class Current: 24/16.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/23 for a bundle of pipes or a plurality of pipes placed side by side in contact with each other F16L3/237 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/035 fixed by means of teeth or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/14 Bale and package ties, hose clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1482 Ratchet and tool tightened band clamp

Abstract

A plastic tube bundle clamp for securing a plurality of elongated conduit elements such as wires, tubes, or pipes functions without destructive discontinuities in the working surface of the constrictive band. The encircling plastic band terminates in a pair of shoulders, each of which includes an integral, outwardly projecting jaw. When the jaws are compressively forced together, teeth engage one another to lock the clamp. The first jaw comprises spaced apart upper and lower elements which sandwich a first slot and the second jaw comprises an upper element spaced apart from a reduced width, lower element across a second slot. When the jaws are fitted together, the upper element of the second jaw is sandwiched within the first slot, and the lower element of the first jaw is substantially sandwiched within the second slot. The first jaw lower element comprises an elongated notch, preferably of a width substantially one-half the width of the band, which borders an elongated retainer wall, and the notch and the wall are integral with the substantially planar portion. The lower element of the second jaw has a width approximately half the width of the band, and it is matingly received within the notch, closely abutting the adjacent retainer wall, when the jaws are snapped together. The undersides of each jaw lower element smoothly unite to present a substantially circular, continuous bundle-containing surface which is free of destructive discontinuities.

Claims

1. A plastic tube bundling clamp for securing together a bundle of elongated elements such as cables, hoses, wires, pipes, or conduits, said tube bundling clamp comprising:

first and second spaced apart sides;

resilient, plastic band means for encircling a bundle of said elements, said band means having a width extending between said first and second sides and said band means terminating in opposite, rigid shoulders adapted to be compressed together;

jaw means integrally associated with said opposite shoulders for snap fitting together to install said clamp, said jaw means comprising a plurality of interlocking teeth which forcibly engage one another, and said jaw means comprising;

a first jaw comprising;

an elongated, arcuate upper element having a predetermined width;

a cooperating, generally parallel and spaced-apart elongated lower element comprising an arcuate horizontal body portion generally parallel with and spaced apart from said upper element, an integral retaining wall projecting downwardly from said horizontal body portion, said retaining wall having an underside and a width less than the width of said band means, and a notch defined beneath said lower element adjacent said retaining wall having a width less than the width of said band means; and

,

a first elongated, generally arcuate slot defined between said upper and lower elements; and

, a second jaw comprising;

an elongated upper arcuate element adapted to be received within said first arcuate slot when said first and second jaws are fitted together, said last mentioned upper element having a width substantially equal to the width of said first jaw upper element;

a lower, arcuate element generally parallel with and spaced apart from said last mentioned upper arcuate element having an underside and a width substantially equal to the width of said notch; and

,

a second arcuate slot defined between said last mentioned upper and lower jaw member elements adapted to receive at least a portion of said first jaw lower element arcuate body portion when said first and second jaws are fitted together;

said lower element of said second jaw member engaging said notch when the jaw members are compressed together and closely abutting said retaining wall such that the underside of said retaining wall and the underside of said second jaw lower arcuate member form a substantially continuous surface extending between the sides of said clamp without gaps, and the clamp thus presents a continuous, substantially circular, leak proof internal periphery in contact with the bundle of elements captivated by the installed tube bundle clamp.

2. A plastic tube bundling clamp for securing together a bundle of elongated elements such as cables, hoses, wires, pipes, or conduits, said tube bundling clamp comprising:

first and second spaced apart sides;

resilient, plastic band means for encircling a bundle of said elements, said band means having a width extending between said first and second sides and said band means terminating in opposite, rigid shoulders adapted to be compressed together;

jaw means integrally associated with said band means and projecting away from said opposite shoulders thereof for snap fitting together to install said clamp, said jaw means comprising a plurality of interlocking teeth which forcibly engage one another, and said jaw means comprising;

a first jaw comprising;

an elongated, arcuate upper element having a width substantially equal to the width of said band means;

a cooperating, generally parallel and spaced-apart elongated lower element comprising an arcuate horizontal body portion generally parallel with and spaced apart form said upper element, an integral retaining wall projecting downwardly from said horizontal body portion, said retaining wall having an underside and a width less than the width of said band means, and a notch defined beneath said lower element adjacent said retaining wall having a width less than the width of said band means; and

,

a first elongated, generally arcuate slot defined between said upper and lower elements; and

, a second jaw comprising;

an elongated upper arcuate element adapted to be received within said first arcuate slot when said first and second jaws are fitted together, said last mentioned upper element having a width substantially equal to the width of said band means;

a lower, arcuate element generally parallel with and spaced apart from said last mentioned upper arcuate element having an underside and a width substantially equal to the width of said notch; and

,

a second arcuate slot defined between said last mentioned upper and lower jaw member elements adapted to receive at least a portion of said first jaw lower element arcuate body portion when said first and second jaws are fitted together;

said lower element of said second jaw member engaging said notch when the jaw members are compressed together and closely abutting said retaining wall such that the underside of said retaining wall and the underside of said second jaw lower arcuate member form a substantially continuous surface extending between the sides of said clamp without gaps, and the clamp thus presents a continuous, substantially circular, leak proof internal periphery in contact with the bundle of elements captivated by the installed tube bundle clamp.