Mounting clamp for a tubular part

• US 6,508,442 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ESPA Co.
• Original Assignee: ESPA Co.
• Inventors: Dolez, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US09/532,126
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/74.5, 248/63, 248/226.12, 248/230.5, 248/230.9, 248/231.81
• US Class Current: 248/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1233 the member being of metal, with or without an other layer of other material

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting clamp for a tubular part such as a cable, a hose, a coupling, or a tube, the clamp having a loop region for surrounding the tubular part, said loop region being open and terminating in fixing tabs, each provided with at least one fixing hole, wherein at least one of said fixing holes presents at least one claw enabling a fixing element of a fixing device to be tightened in preliminary manner by being moved in translation.

Claims

1. A mounting clamp for a tubular part, the clamp having a loop region for surrounding the tubular art, said loop region being open and terminating in fixing tabs, each fixing tab provided with at least one fixing hole, wherein at least one of said fixing holes presents at least one claw enabling a first fixing element of a fixing device tightened in a preliminary manner wit a ratchet effect by being moved in translation, said first fixing element cooperating with a second fixing element of said fixing device for a final clamping of the mounting clamp.

2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein said fixing element is a screw, and wherein said second fixing element is a nut.

3. A clamp according to claim 1, presenting a plurality of claws distributed around said hole.

4. A clamp according to claim 1, including a protective element surrounding the loop region.

5. A clamp according to claim 4, wherein the protective element is made of elastomer.

6. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the loop region has a plane bearing face adjacent to the fixing tabs.

7. A method of installing a clamp according to claim 1, the method comprising:

a) installing the loop region around the tubular part;

b) inserting and moving in translation a first fixing element of the fixing device to perform preliminary tightening with ratchet effect;

c) positioning the clamp at a desired location on the tubular part; and

d) tightening said first fixing element and a second fixing element to effect final clamping.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first fixing device is a screw and wherein said second fixing element is a nut, and step b) comprises:

b1) prepositioning the clamp on the tubular part;

b2) engaging and moving the screw in translation in relation at least one claw to perform said preliminary tightening;

and step c) comprises final positioning of the clamp at the desired location.