Clamp

• US 9,004,416 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Ogawa, Takaya, Aoshima, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guan, Guang H
• Application Number:
  US13/510,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20120298811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 248/65, 248/67.7, 248/70, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/74.4, 248/55, 248/230.1, 248/230.4, 248/230.5, 248/230.2, 248/230.6, 248/230.7, 248/231.31, 248/231.51, 248/231.61, 248/231.71, 248/316.1, 248/316.2, 248/316.5, 248/316.6, 248/316.7, 245/30, 245/55, 245/64, 244/58, 244/57, 242/97
• US Class Current: 248/74.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/035 in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44641 having gripping member formed from, biased by, or mounted on resilient member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44855 Terminal end of resilient member having engagement or disengagement enhancing structural modifications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44932 having specific surface material or irregularity on or along engaging face

Abstract

A clamp includes a clamp main body, a flexible member, a pipe holding portion, a pipe insertion path, and a pair of opposite pieces. At least one opposite piece of the pair of opposite pieces, is pressed by an outer circumference of a pipe inserted into the pipe insertion path, and is bendable in a direction in which the pipe insertion path is expandable. One opposite piece extends up to a position adjacent to the pipe holding portion. An extending end portion of one opposite piece protrudes toward an inside of the pipe insertion path from one portion of the flexible member adjacent to the end portion.

Claims

1. A clamp, comprising:

a clamp main body made of a rigid member and including a pair of half portions engaging each other, the pair of half portions including a first half portion and a second half portion, each half portion having a semi-circular shape portion including an opposite piece formed on a first end portion thereof and a lock piece formed on a second end portion thereof facing the first end portion with a space therebetween, the lock piece of the first half portion engaging the semi-circular shape portion of the second half portion, and the lock piece of the second half portion engaging the semi-circular shape portion of the first half portion such that the opposite pieces are positioned to face each other; and

a flexible member including a pipe holding portion for holding a pipe, and a pipe insertion path communicating at a first end portion thereof with the pipe holding portion and having an outward opening on a second end portion thereof, the flexible member being held between the pair of half portions of the clamp main body,

wherein the opposite pieces of the pair of half portions define the pipe insertion path, at least one opposite piece is adapted to be pressed by an outer circumference of the pipe inserted into the pipe insertion path, and is flexible in a direction such that the pipe insertion path expands,

the at least one opposite piece extends to a position adjacent to the pipe holding portion,

an extending end portion of the at least one opposite piece protrudes toward an inside of the pipe insertion path relative to one portion of the flexible member adjacent to the extending end portion,

each of the pair of half portions includes a lock claw, and the lock piece having a lock hole formed therein, the lock claw and the lock piece respectively protruding from an outer circumference of the semi-circular shape portion, and

the lock claws are respectively arranged around the first end portions of the semi-circular shape portions so that the lock claw of the first half portion engages the lock hole of the second half portion, and the lock claw of the second half portion engages the lock hole of the first half portion, respectively, when the pair of half portions engages each other.

2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the extending end portion of the at least one opposite piece includes a plane surface portion for receiving a load in a removal direction of the pipe.

3. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the extending end portion of the at least one opposite piece includes a claw portion, and the flexible member includes a depressed portion to fit the claw portion.

4. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes at least a cut-out portion in a direction such that one opposite piece flexes.

5. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp main body includes a pipe support portion extending toward the pipe insertion path.

6. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the second half portion is separable from the first half portion, and the first half portion and the second half portion engage each other in a width direction of the flexible member to hold the flexible member therebetween.

7. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of half portions includes a support leg adapted to be inserted into a hole of a panel and extending downwardly from each of the semi-circular shape portions;

and

each of the semi-circular shape portions includes an elastic arm protruding downwardly from a lower portion thereof, and the support leg has an elastic claw protruding upwardly therefrom and adapted to support the panel between the elastic arms and the elastic claws.

8. A clamp according to claim 7, wherein the support leg includes a positioning projection and a positioning hole adjacent to the positioning projection, and the positioning projection inwardly protrudes in a direction opposite to the elastic claw;

and

the positioning projection of the first half portion engages the positioning hole of the second half portion, and the positioning projection of the second half portion engages the positioning hole of the first half portion, respectively.

9. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the opposite pieces and the lock pieces extend in width directions of the pair of half portions, respectively.

10. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the semi-circular shape portion of the first half portion has a width to extend toward the second half portion, and the semi-circular shape portion of the second half portion has a width same as the width of the semi-circular shape portion of the first half portion to extend toward the first half-portion, thereby forming a hollow portion for fitting the flexible member therebetween.

11. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes a flexible abutment portion formed around the pipe insertion path;

and

each of the pair of half portions includes a projecting edge portion, and a pipe support portion integrally formed therewith and extending inwardly from an inner circumferential edge of the projecting edge portion to abut an outer circumferential surface of the flexible abutment portion.