Abstract:
A band clamp is disclosed which can be movably applied to an elongated object, such as a hose, conduit or the like, when the band clamp is in an open or non-engaged position. In one embodiment, the elongated object is gripped between a pair of arms which project inwardly from opposite sides of an inner circumferential surface of the band when the band is in its open or non-engaged position. The inner circumferential surface of the band also includes a pair of recesses, one on each side thereof. When the band is in its closed or engaged position, each of the arms is received in a corresponding recess. The first and second arms are attached at a common junction with the band forming an arc that is no less than about 180°.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to band clamps and, more particularly, to a band clamp for grasping an elongated object along the length thereof, e.g., for securing a hose to a nipple-type fitting.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Band clamps for grasping and/or compressing an elongated object, such as a conduit, wire bundle, or hose are known in the art. One common type of band clamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,501 to Yu, which discloses a generally annular open-ended band, the free ends of which have interlocking elements. After the band clamp is properly positioned on a conduit, the free ends are urged together whereupon the band clamp constricts about the conduit and the interlocking elements become engaged to prevent the band clamp from loosening.  
         [0003]     The prior art hose clamps, e.g., like those described in the Yu &#39;501 patent, cannot grasp the object strongly enough to be retained on the elongated object without closing the clamp. As a result, they are not capable of being temporarily applied to an elongated object while in their open position (e.g., for transportation to a job site prior to actual installation).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art discussed above by providing a band clamp that includes a band forming a loop and having a radially expanded (i.e., disengaged) position and a radially constricted (i.e., engaged) position. At least one arm is biased inwardly relative to the band for frictionally engaging an elongated object disposed within the loop of the band when the band is in its expanded position.  
         [0005]     The clamp, when installed on an elongated object (e.g., a hose) in its radially expanded position, can be properly positioned relative to the end of the elongated object so as to frictionally grip the elongated object tightly enough to retain the clamp in a selected position yet not so tight that the clamp&#39;s position cannot be adjusted. This allows the clamp to be assembled to, for instance, a while the clamp is disengaged. After shipping the resulting assembly to a jobsite, the clamp can be repositioned without removing it from the hose and then engaged to attach the hose to a mating structure, such as a mechanical fitting or the like, thereby facilitating both transportation and installation of the clamp.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the elongated object is gripped between a pair of arms which project inwardly from opposite sides of an inner circumferential surface of the band when the band is in its open or non-engaged position. The inner circumferential surface of the band also includes a pair of recesses, one on each side thereof. When the band is in its closed or engaged position, each of the arms is received in a corresponding recess. Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a disengaged band clamp constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the band clamp of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the band clamp of  FIG. 1  disposed on a hose with its outer band in a disengaged state;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the clamp and hose shown in  FIG. 3  taken along section line IV-IV and looking in the direction of the arrows;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the clamp of  FIGS. 1-4  in its engaged state while securing a hose on a nipple-type fitting; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the clamp, hose, and fitting of  FIG. 5  taken along section line VI-VI and looking in the direction of the arrows. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     Although the present invention can be used in conjunction with any type of hose, conduit, wire bundle, or the like, it is particularly suitable for use as a hose fitting. Accordingly, the present invention will be described hereinafter as such. It should be understood, however, that the following description is only meant to be illustrative of the present invention and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention, which has applicability for grasping and/or clamping other types of elongated objects.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a band clamp  10 , preferably made of a plastic, such as nylon, and manufactured via injection molding, includes an outer band  12  in the form of an open-ended loop and having complementary, interlocking closure members  14 ,  16  provided at adjacent ends of the outer band  12 . The closure member  14  has an upper tongue  18  and a lower jaw  20  which cooperate with each other to form an elongated, open-ended cavity  22  therebetween. The closure member  16  has an upper tongue  28  and a lower jaw  30  which cooperate with each other to form an elongated, open-ended cavity  32  therebetween. The upper tongue  18  and the lower jaw  30  are somewhat thicker in the radial direction than the lower jaw  20  and the upper tongue  28  so as to maximize clamping force when the interlocking closure members  14 ,  16  are engaged as will be described hereinafter. The thicker members (i.e., the upper tongue  18  and the lower jaw  30 ) serve to constrain the clamp  10  in the radial direction, while the thinner members (i.e., the lower jaw  20  and the upper tongue  28 ) act as guides and supports for the thicker members.  
         [0016]     Rows of teeth  24 ,  34  are formed on the lower surface of the upper tongue  18  and the upper surface of the lower jaw  30 , respectively. The teeth  24 ,  34  have any mating, interlocking shape, e.g., a generally triangular shape, and may have a directionality and/or shape that permits relative overriding in the locking direction and resists overriding in the unlocking direction, e.g., the teeth  24 ,  34  may point into the open-ended cavities  22 ,  32 , respectively. The teeth  24 ,  34  are formed of intersecting surfaces which define an acute angle relative to the direction of locking movement and are inclined relative to the jaws  20 ,  30 , respectively, so that the upper tongue  18  and the lower jaw  30  can slide relative to one another toward a locking position, but then lock against movement in an opposite direction.  
         [0017]     Finger grip pads  26 ,  36  are integrally formed on the closure members  14 ,  16 , respectively, distal to the cavities  22 ,  32 . The grip pads  26 ,  36  provide anti-slip surfaces for receiving the opposed thumb and finger of a human hand or the opposed jaws of a tool, such as a pair of pliers; and, therefore, they aid in closing and locking the band clamp  10 .  
         [0018]     The upper tongue  18  of the closure member  14  is sized and shaped to fit snugly into the open-ended cavity  32  of the closure member  16  between the upper tongue  28  and the lower jaw  30 . Likewise, the lower jaw  30  of the closure member  16  is sized and shaped to fit snugly into the open-ended cavity  22  of the closure member  14  between the upper tongue  18  and the lower jaw  20 .  
         [0019]     A generally C-shaped inner band  38 , having flexible arms  42 ,  44 , is attached to the inner diameter of the outer band  12  at a junction area  40  such that the inner band  38  is substantially concentric with the outer band  12 . The arms  42 ,  44  extend in opposite directions from the junction area  40  in a cantilevered fashion. Recesses  46 ,  48  are provided in the outer band  12  adjacent to the arms  42 ,  44 , respectively, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.  
         [0020]     In the embodiment shown, the junction area  40  has a width that is equal to that of the outer band  12 , but the arms  42 ,  44  are narrower. Controlling the dimensions of the arms  42 ,  44  provides a selected resistance to bending and associated grip strength. Preferably, the inner band  38  subtends an arc that is greater than or equal to about 180°. The arms  42 ,  44  have a relaxed inner diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the elongated object on which the clamp  10  is to be installed, e.g., a hose. In this manner, the arms  42 ,  44  may grip the elongated object lightly to hold the clamp  10  in position on the elongated object prior to compressing the clamp  10  into its closed (i.e., engaged) position. In applications where clamp position adjustments are anticipated, the grip is preferably strong enough to retain the clamp  10  on the hose at a selected position during handling operations prior to closure of the clamp  10 , but not strongly enough to prevent repositioning the clamp  10  on the hose, if necessary, by, for instance, sliding the clamp  10  along the length of the hose. The present invention permits clamp repositioning without tools and without adjusting the closure members  14 ,  16 . This function is described below in reference to  FIGS. 3-6  and in the context of using the clamp  10  for clamping a hose  50  to a nipple-type fitting  52 .  
         [0021]     Upon compressing the band clamp  10  inwardly, the closure members  14 ,  16  engage and lock, closing the outer band  12  snugly around the hose  50 . Upon closing the outer band  12 , the C-shaped inner band  38  may flex to assume a smaller circumference, while the arms  42 ,  44  are wholly or partially received in their respective recesses  46 ,  48 . The arms  42 ,  44  may be dimensioned to “bottom-out” in the recesses  46 ,  48  such that the inner surfaces thereof exert compressive force against the hose  50 . Alternatively, if the outer band  12  does not force the arms  42 ,  44  inwardly through contact with the recesses  46 ,  48 , the arms  42 ,  44  will still exert their original grip when the outer band  12  is in its closed position. In both instances, the arms  42 ,  44  exert a gripping force before, during, and after closure, as well as when the clamp  10  is released from closure, to grip the elongated object of interest (i.e., the nipple-type fitting  52 ).  
         [0022]     Now referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the band clamp  10  is shown applied to the hose  50  prior to the hose&#39;s attachment to the fitting  52  (e.g., before transportation to a job site to simplify installing the hose  50  at the job site). The arms  42 ,  44  flex somewhat, such that the generally C-shaped inner band  38  contacts the outer circumference of the hose  50 , conforming to the shape of the hose  50  and exerting an inwardly directed grip on the hose  50 . The clamp  10  may then be properly positioned relative to the end of the hose  50 , e.g., to facilitate installation of the hose  50  on the nipple-type fitting  52 . The arms  42 ,  44  are sized and shaped so as to frictionally grip the hose  50  tightly enough to retain the clamp  10  in a selected position on the hose  50 , yet not so tightly that the clamp&#39;s position cannot be adjusted. Accordingly, the arms  42 ,  44  prevent the clamp  10  from falling off or sliding down the hose  50 . The length of the arc traced by the arms  42 ,  44 , and junction area  40 , along with the thickness and width of the arms  42 ,  44 , can be selected such that the arms  42 ,  44  exert a desired grip strength on the hose  50  that is optimal for a particular application.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the clamp  10  in position on the fitting  52 . The finger grip pads  26 ,  36  are pushed towards each other with the closure members  14 ,  16  engaged and teeth  24 ,  34  interlocked, thereby securing the hose  50  to the nipple-type fitting  52 . The arm  42  is received in the recess  46 , while the arm  44  is received in the recess  48 , such that the arms  42 ,  44  lie flush with the inner edges of the outer band  12 . In this way, a generally uniform inwardly-directed circumferential pressure is applied to the hose  50  and the nipple-type fitting  52 .  
         [0024]     The band clamp  10  of the present invention has several advantages over prior art hose clamps. The gripping capability of the C-shaped inner band  38  to the elongated object (e.g., the hose  50 ) prior to engagement of the closure members  14 ,  16  simplifies later installation and thus reduces installation cost. For example, the clamp  10  of the present invention can be fastened to an elongated object with the clamp  10  in its open position, prepackaged, and then transported to a job site, where the hose  50  is installed and the clamp  10  closed.  
         [0025]     The band clamp  10  of the present invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations. For instance, the circumferential length and the width of the arms  42 ,  44  can be varied, with the width ranging from a width substantially less than that of the outer band  12  up to or exceeding the width of the outer band  12 . Preferably, the arms  42 ,  44  have a width between about 25% and 75% of the width of the outer band  12  so that the clamp  10  has optimal gripping capability before being compressed to a closed position. The dimensions of the recesses  46 ,  48  can be similarly varied or they can be eliminated entirely. A single arm  42  can be used instead of two for gripping an elongated object prior to engaging the clamp  10 , viz., by trapping the elongated object between the arm  42  and the inner wall of the outer band  12 . A similar function can be achieved if the free end of one of the arms  42 ,  44 , is attached to a portion of the outer band  12  to approximate a chord of the circle formed by the outer band  12  when the clamp  10  is engaged. The inner C-shaped band  38  can be formed of a discrete piece (i.e., not integrally formed with the outer band  12  via the junction area  40 ) that is attached to the outer band  12  by a rivet, glue, or by a metal band crimped around the inner C-shaped band  38  and the outer band  12 . The ends of the loop forming the clamp  10  can be engaged using a conventional screw-type adjuster instead of employing complementary closure members  14 ,  16 . While the present invention has been described above as being made of plastic, it could be made of metal in the manner of a conventional hose clamp. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.