Reusable earless clamp structure

• US 5,283,931 A
• Filed: 05/20/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans Oetiker AG, Maschinen- und Apparatefabrik
• Original Assignee: Hans Oetiker AG, Maschinen- und Apparatefabrik
• Inventors: Oetiker, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/886,337
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 24/20 R, 24/20 CW, 24/20 TT, 24/20 S, 24/20 EE, 24/23 W, 24/23 EE, 24/484, 24/278, 24/279, 24/282, 285/39, 285/410
• US Class Current: 24/20.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/035 fixed by means of teeth or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1457 Metal bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1478 Circumferentially swagged band clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1482 Ratchet and tool tightened band clamp

Abstract

An open reusable clamp structure, especially of the earless type, with a clamping band having overlapping inner and outer band portions adapted to be detachably interconnected by mechanical connecting means; first tool-engaging surfaces are provided in the inner and outer band portions, preferably in the form of pressed-out cold-deformed embossments for tightening the clamping band about an object to be fastened thereby, and second tool-engaging surfaces are provided in the inner and outer band portions which are separate from the first tool-engaging surfaces and are again preferably in the form of pressed-out cold-deformed embossments for reopening the previously interconnected overlapping band portions. To prevent over-torquing during reopening, undulations or the like are provided in the outer band portion intermediate the first and second tool-engaging surfaces.

Claims

1. An open reusable clamp structure, especially of the earless type, comprising clamping band means having overlapping inner and outer band portions adapted to be detachably interconnected by mechanical connecting means, first tool-engaging means in the inner and outer band portions for tightening the clamping band means about an object to be fastened thereby by the application of tightening forces corresponding substantially to the installed condition of the clamp structure, and second tool-engaging means in said inner and outer band portions separate from said first tool-engaging means for disassembling the clamp structure from its previously installed condition by reopening the overlapping band portions previously interconnected by the application of the tightening forces.

2. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 1, wherein said first tool-engaging means includes further means for preventing over-torquing during tightening of the clamp structure.

3. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 1, wherein said outer band portion is provided with a longitudinal opening intermediate the first and second embossment means in the outer band portion, and wherein said inner band portion is provided with a guide hook for engagement in said opening to guide the inner and outer band portions axially relative to one another during tightening of the clamp structure.

4. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 3, wherein said guide hook is located in the inner band portion intermediate the first and second embossment means thereof.

5. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 3, wherein said additional means are formed by undulation means in the lateral band portions adjacent said opening.

6. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 1, further comprising means to provide an internal clamping surface devoid of any gaps or steps including tongue-like means in one band portion and tongue-receiving means in the other band portion.

7. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 6, wherein one of said tongue-like means and tongue-receiving means is formed by cold-deformed embossment means pressed out of the overlapping band portion in the inward direction.

8. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 7, wherein said embossment means forms the tongue-receiving means by two spaced inwardly pressed-out embossment means defining therebetween a tongue-receiving channel for the tongue-like means at the inner band portion.

9. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 7, wherein said embossment means forms the tongue-like means adapted to engage in a fork-shaped configuration at the inner band end.

10. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 6, wherein said tongue-receiving means starts within the area of a first step-like portion in said outer band portion and extends in a direction away from the free end of the outer band portion.

11. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 10, wherein said tongue-receiving means includes a central channel starting at said first step-like portion and terminating in a second step-like portion.

12. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 1, wherein said clamp structure, starting from the free end of the outer band portion, includes the second embossment means in the outer band portion, the longitudinal opening and the additional means, the first embossment means in the outer band portion, the second embossment means in the inner band portion, the support hook means, the guide hook, the first embossment means in the inner band portion and the tongue-like means.

13. An open reusable clamp structure, especially of the earless type, comprising clamping band means having overlapping inner and outer band portions adapted to be detachably interconnected by mechanical connecting means, first tool-engaging means in the inner and outer band portions for tightening the clamping band means about an object to be fastened thereby, second tool-engaging means in said inner and outer band portions separate from said first tool-engaging means for reopening the previously interconnected overlapping band portions, and additional means located within an area in said outer band portion intermediate the first and second tool-engaging means for imparting to said area of the clamping band means elastic stretchability in the longitudinal direction.

14. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 13, wherein said first tool-engaging means include a first pressed-out embossment means in the outer band portion and a first pressed-out embossment means in the inner band portion.

15. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 14, wherein said first embossment means in said outer and inner band portions are of at least approximately complementary shape as viewed in transverse cross section through the clamping band means so that the first embossment means in the inner band portion can slide underneath the first embossment means in the outer band portion in nested relationship therewith during tightening of the clamp structure.

16. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 15, wherein said first embossment means in said outer and inner band portions are approximately semi-circularly shaped in said transverse cross section and extend in the longitudinal direction of the clamping band means with at least the sides thereof integral with the clamping band means.

17. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 16, wherein each said of said first embossment means is delimited at least at one end thereof by a substantially transverse cut forming a tool-engaging surface.

18. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 14, wherein said second tool-engaging means includes a second pressed-out embossment means in the outer band portion and a second pressed-out embossment means in said inner band portion.

19. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 18, wherein said second embossment means in said outer and inner band portions are approximately semi-circularly shaped as viewed in transverse cross section through the clamping band means with a tool-engaging surface at one end of each of the second embossment means.

20. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 19, wherein each tool-engaging surface of the second embossment means is formed by a substantially transverse cut.

21. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 20, wherein said second embossment means are integral with the clamping band means over at least the sides thereof.

22. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 19, wherein said first embossment means in said outer and inner band portions are of at least approximately complementary shape as viewed in transverse cross section through the clamping band means so that the first embossment means in the inner band portion can slide underneath the first embossment means in the outer band portion in nested relationship therewith during tightening of the clamp structure.

23. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 22, wherein said first embossment means in said outer and inner band portions are approximately semi-circularly shaped in said transverse cross section and extend in the longitudinal direction of the clamping band means with at least the sides thereof integral with the clamping band means.

24. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 23, wherein each said of said first embossment means is delimited at least at one end thereof by a substantially transverse cut forming a tool-engaging surface.

25. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 13, wherein said first tool-engaging means includes further means for preventing over-torquing during tightening of the clamp structure.

26. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 25, wherein said first tool-engaging means include a first pressed-out embossment means in the outer band portion and a first pressed-out embossment means in the inner band portion.

27. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 26, wherein said second tool-engaging means includes a second pressed-out embossment means in the outer band portion and a second pressed-out embossment means in said inner band portion.

28. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 27, wherein said outer band portion is provided with a longitudinal opening intermediate the first and second embossment means in the outer band portion, and wherein said inner band portion is provided with a guide hook for engagement in said opening to guide the inner and outer band portions axially relative to one another during tightening of the clamp structure.

29. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 28, wherein said additional means are formed by undulation means in the lateral band portions adjacent said opening.

30. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 29, wherein said connecting means includes a pressed-out support hook means located intermediate said guide hook and said second embossment means in the inner band portion, said support hook means having a latching portion projecting out of the inner band portion and extending in a direction away from the free end of the inner band portion, and said latching portion being of such shape as to engage with a transverse edge in the opening formed by the first embossment means in the outer band portion, and said edge being located nearer the free end of the outer band portion.

31. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 30, wherein said connecting means are so located in the clamping band means as to interconnect the overlapping band portions when the clamp structure of predetermined size is correctly tightened about the object to be fastened thereby, and wherein said further means is effectively formed by the location of the first embossment means in said inner and outer band portions such that the tool-engaging surface in the first embossment means in the inner band portion is about to be flush with the end surface of the first embossment means in the outer band portion opposite the tool-engaging surface thereof when the clamp has reached its tightening position in which said connecting means becomes effective.

32. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 31, further comprising means to provide an internal clamping surface devoid of any gaps or steps including tongue-like means in one band portion and tongue-receiving means in the other band portion.

33. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 32, wherein said tongue-receiving means starts within the area of a first step-like portion in said outer band portion and extends in a direction away from the free end of the outer band portion.

34. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 33, wherein said clamp structure, starting from the free end of the outer band portion, includes the second embossment means in the outer band portion, the longitudinal opening and the additional means, the first embossment means in the outer band portion, the first step-like portion adjoined by the tongue-receiving means, the second embossment means in the inner band portion, the support hook means, the guide hook, the first embossment means in the inner band portion and the tongue-like means.

35. An open reusable clamp structure, especially of the earless type, comprising clamping band means having overlapping inner and outer band portions adapted to be detachably interconnected by mechanical connecting means, first tool-engaging means in the inner and outer band portions for tightening the clamping band means about an object to be fastened thereby, and second tool-engaging means in said inner and outer band portions separate from said first tool-engaging means for reopening the previously interconnected overlapping band portions, said connecting means including a pressed-out support hook means located intermediate said guide hook and said second tool-engaging means in the inner band portion, said support hook means having a latching portion projecting out of the inner band portion and extending in a direction away from the free end of the inner band portion, and said latching portion being of such shape as to engage with a transverse edge in the opening formed by the first tool-engaging means in the outer band portion.

36. An open reusable clamp structure, especially of the earless type, comprising clamping band means having overlapping inner and outer band portions adapted to be detachably interconnected by mechanical connecting means, first tool-engaging means in the inner and outer band portions for tightening the clamping band means about an object to be fastened thereby, and second tool-engaging means in said inner and outer band portions separate from said first tool-engaging means for reopening the previously interconnected overlapping band portions, said first tool-engaging means including further means for preventing over-torquing during tightening of the clamp structure, said connecting means being so located in the clamping band means as to interconnect the overlapping band portions when the clamp structure of predetermined size is correctly tightened about the object to be fastened thereby, and said further means being effectively formed by the location of the first tool-engaging means in said inner and outer band portions such that the tool-engaging surface in the first tool-engaging means in the inner band portion is about to be flush with the end surface of the first tool-engaging means in the outer band portion opposite the tool-engaging surface thereof when the clamp has reached its tightening position in which said connecting means becomes effective.

37. An open reusable clamp structure, especially of the earless type for securing an underlying object to be fastened thereby, comprising clamping band means having overlapping inner and outer band portions adapted to be detachably interconnected by mechanical connecting means, first tool-engaging means in the inner and outer band portions to enable tightening the clamping band means about the object to be fastened thereby until the clamp structure substantially reaches its installed condition, second tool-engaging means in said inner and outer band portions separate from said first tool-engaging means to enable disassembly of the clamp structure from its installed condition by causing the previously interconnected overlapping band portions to disconnect, and additional means substantially preventing over-torquing of the clamping band means during disassembly of the clamp structure.

38. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 37, wherein said additional means includes means for imparting to the clamping band means elastic stretchability in its longitudinal direction.

39. An open reusable clamp structure according to claim 38, wherein said first tool-engaging means includes further means for preventing over-torquing during tightening of the clamp structure.