Sanitary clamp with concealed threads
First Claim
1. Sanitary clamp comprisinga ring formed of facing ring halves, each ring half having a radially protruding finger that extends out from the associated ring half, the ring halves being adapted for closing together onto a pair of flanged round members for holding the round members in sealed engagement with one another;
- a bolt member adapted to penetrate said fingers in proximity to one another, the bolt member having a head and a shaft that includes a first smooth shaft portion extending from said head having a smooth unthreaded wall surface and a first predetermined diameter, and a male-threaded tip portion extending from said smooth shaft portion and coaxial with it, with a male spiral thread thereon, and having a second diameter; and
a nut member for threadably engaging said bolt member and drawing said finger members towards one another to bring the ring halves into sealing engagement with said flanged round members;
the nut member having a blind bore extending from a first end of the nut, the blind bore having a first smooth wall portion of a first predetermined bore diameter to admit entry of the first smooth shaft portion of said bolt member, and a second female threaded bore portion extending coaxial with the first smooth wall bore portion and having a predetermined diameter and having a female spiral thread adapted for threaded engagement with the tip portion of said bolt member, said bore being open only at said first end of the nut member; and
a seal member disposed within said first smooth wall bore portion of said nut member adjacent said free end, such that once said nut member is fastened onto said bolt member, said seal member closes off a space defined between said the tip portion of said bolt member and the female threaded bore portion, such that the male and female spiral threads of the bolt member and the nut member are entirely concealed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sanitary clamp with facing ring halves employs one or more threaded closure devices configured to avoid having any threads exposed to the ambient. A bolt member may have a stepped shaft with a first smooth shaft portion and a male-threaded tip portion. The latter may be the same or a smaller diameter. An associated nut member has a blind bore that extends from a first end of the nut, with a first smooth wall portion and a second female threaded bore portion. The second female threaded portion may have the same bore diameter, or the bore can have a stepped interior diameter with the second female threaded bore portion having a diameter smaller than the first smooth wall portion. A seal member or gland within the smooth wall bore portion closes off a space defined between said the tip portion of the bolt member and the female-threaded bore portion. Once installed, there are no threaded surfaces of the bolt member or the nut member that are exposed to the ambient.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Sanitary clamp comprising
a ring formed of facing ring halves, each ring half having a radially protruding finger that extends out from the associated ring half, the ring halves being adapted for closing together onto a pair of flanged round members for holding the round members in sealed engagement with one another; -
a bolt member adapted to penetrate said fingers in proximity to one another, the bolt member having a head and a shaft that includes a first smooth shaft portion extending from said head having a smooth unthreaded wall surface and a first predetermined diameter, and a male-threaded tip portion extending from said smooth shaft portion and coaxial with it, with a male spiral thread thereon, and having a second diameter; and a nut member for threadably engaging said bolt member and drawing said finger members towards one another to bring the ring halves into sealing engagement with said flanged round members;
the nut member having a blind bore extending from a first end of the nut, the blind bore having a first smooth wall portion of a first predetermined bore diameter to admit entry of the first smooth shaft portion of said bolt member, and a second female threaded bore portion extending coaxial with the first smooth wall bore portion and having a predetermined diameter and having a female spiral thread adapted for threaded engagement with the tip portion of said bolt member, said bore being open only at said first end of the nut member; anda seal member disposed within said first smooth wall bore portion of said nut member adjacent said free end, such that once said nut member is fastened onto said bolt member, said seal member closes off a space defined between said the tip portion of said bolt member and the female threaded bore portion, such that the male and female spiral threads of the bolt member and the nut member are entirely concealed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A threaded fastener assembly for use in an environment in which threads exposed to the ambient must be avoided, comprising
a bolt member having a head and a shaft that includes a first smooth shaft portion extending from said head having a smooth unthreaded wall surface and a first predetermined diameter, and a male-threaded tip portion extending from said smooth shaft portion and coaxial with it, with a male spiral thread thereon, and having a second diameter; -
a nut member configured for threadably engaging said bolt member and having a blind bore extending from a first end of the nut, the blind bore having a first smooth wall portion of a first predetermined bore diameter to admit entry of the first smooth shaft portion of said bolt member, and a second female-threaded bore portion extending coaxial with the first smooth wall bore portion and having a diameter smaller than said first predetermined bore diameter and having a female spiral thread adapted for threaded engagement with the tip portion of said bolt member, said bore being open only at said first end of the nut member; and a seal member disposed within said first smooth wall bore portion of said nut member adjacent said free end, such that once said nut member is fastened onto said bolt member, said seal member closes off a space defined between said the tip portion of said bolt member and the female threaded bore portion, such that the male and female spiral threads of the bolt member and the nut member are entirely concealed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification