Reusable earless clamp structure
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
18 Citations
39 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.
- 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.
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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.
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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.
Specification