Abstract:
A clamp apparatus is disclosed which has a duct having an indexing feature formed thereon. A wire clamp is provided which has a length of resilient spring material shaped generally in accordance with a cross sectional configuration and diameter of the duct. A tightening component is operatively coupled to the length of resilient spring material. A portion of the wire clamp engages with the indexing feature to enable the wire clamp to be positioned and held in a desired angular orientation on the duct while being tightened on the duct using the tightening component.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to duct and hose clamps, and more particularly to a wire-style clamp well suited for use with ducts and hoses that incorporates an indexing feature for quickly and easily aligning the clamp on the duct or hose in a predetermined angular orientation on the duct or hose. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Clamps are often used to secure a plastic or rubber duct to another component. Typically such clamps have been of the band style and involve a band of metallic material of a predetermined width and thickness that is configured to rest within a groove or channel of the duct at one thereof. Typically the band style clamp includes a threaded screw that makes contact with a cutouts or slots in the band of material, somewhat like a ring and pinion arrangement. Advancing the threaded screw allows the band of material to be tightened over an edge of the duct. A simplified view of one such style of clamp is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0004]    In many applications where exposure to the elements and moisture is to be expected, the band of material of the clamp must be made of a suitable material which is resistant to moisture and other elements so that the clamp does not rust or corrode. Typically stainless steel is employed. However, as will be appreciated, manufacturing a band-style clamp from stainless steel can add significant cost to the construction of the clamp. This is in part because the band style clamp requires a fair amount of material metallic material for its construction. 
         [0005]    It would be highly desirable to provide a clamp suitable for use with ducts and hoses that can be made significantly more economically than traditional band style hose clamps, and which also can be indexed to a predetermined position on a duct or hose when it is used to secure an end of the duct or hose to another component. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a clamp apparatus. The clamp apparatus may comprise a duct having an indexing feature formed thereon. A wire clamp may be included which has a length of resilient material shaped generally in accordance with a cross sectional configuration and diameter of the duct. A tightening component may be included which is operatively coupled to the length of resilient material. A portion of the wire clamp may engage with the indexing feature to enable the wire clamp to be positioned and held in a desired angular orientation on the duct while being tightened on the duct using the tightening component. 
         [0007]    In another aspect the present disclosure may include a clamp apparatus that comprises a duct and a wire clamp. The duct may have a pair of ribs at least at one end thereof that form a channel. The channel may include an indexing feature formed in part by using the channel. The wire clamp may be comprised of a single length of resilient material shaped generally in accordance with a cross sectional configuration and diameter of the duct. The wire clamp may further comprise a threaded bolt operatively coupled to the length of resilient material. The wire clamp may further be configured to reside at least substantially within the channel and to be maintained in the channel by the pair of ribs of the channel. A portion of the wire clamp may engage with the indexing feature to enable the wire clamp to be positioned and held in a desired angular orientation on the duct while the threaded bolt is tightened. 
         [0008]    In still another aspect the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a clamp apparatus. The method may comprise providing a duct having a channel at least at one end, and forming the channel using a pair of ribs. The method may also include forming an indexing feature using the channel of the duct. The method may also include providing a wire clamp having a length of resilient material shaped generally in accordance with a cross sectional configuration and diameter of the duct, and a threaded bolt operatively coupled to the length of resilient material. A portion of the wire clamp may be used to engage with the indexing feature to enable the wire clamp to be positioned and held in a desired angular orientation on the duct while the threaded bolt is being tightened. 
         [0009]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a prior art duct employing a traditional band style clamp and illustrating how the band style clamp is indexed to a certain angular position on the duct. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a duct clamp apparatus in accordance with one example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of just the wire clamp shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of just a portion of the clamp apparatus in accordance with circled area  4  in  FIG. 2 , which illustrates in greater detail an indexing feature incorporated on the duct, as well as how the clamp engages the indexing feature to angularly align the clamp at a desired angular position on the duct when the clamp is tightened. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective end view of the wire clamp and duct of  FIG. 4  taken in accordance with directional line  5  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  a perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure which makes use of a different indexing feature associated with the duct. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of just the wire clamp component shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of circled area  8  in  FIG. 6  showing the indexing feature on the duct in greater detail. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp apparatus of  FIG. 8  taken in accordance with directional arrow  9  in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a duct incorporating an indexing feature in accordance with the present disclosure at one end thereof. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of just the clamp shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a duct clamp apparatus  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus  10  may include a length of duct  12  and a wire clamp  14  at one end, or both ends, of the duct  12 . The duct  12  may be made from any suitable material, but typically is made from a high strength plastic or rubber material, and typically has a plurality of integrally formed ribs  16  that providing structural reinforcement for the duct  12  while still allowing a degree of flexibility of the duct  12 . A channel  18  may be formed at least at one end of the duct  12 , or alternatively at both ends thereof. Each channel  18  provides an area within which the wire clamp  14  can be positioned. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 3  the clamp  14  can be seen in this example as being formed from a single length of resilient spring material  20 , for example spring steel (e.g., stainless steel) (Inventors to comment on preferred materials for the clamp). The clamp  14  in this example has a circumferential shape to generally match the cross sectional shape of the duct  12 , and a diameter which is generally similar to that of the duct. The clamp  14  may take other shapes, for example oblong, but the shape of the clamp should be reasonably close to the cross-sectional configuration and dimensions of the duct with which it is intended to be used. 
         [0025]    With further reference to  FIG. 3 , the clamp  14  may include a base portion  22  which forms a somewhat U-shaped flange. The base portion  22  abuts a flange  26  of a fastener assembly  24 . The fastener assembly  24  has a plate  28  with a threaded hole  28   a  that receives a threaded shaft  30  of a bolt  32 . The flange  26  may be pressed on or otherwise secured to an unthreaded end portion of the threaded shaft  30  such that the flange  26  is fixed to the threaded shaft  30  and must rotate with the threaded shaft  30 . The plate  28  also has a pair of openings  34  that receive terminal curved end portions  36  of the resilient spring material  20 . Advancing the bolt  32  serves to push the flange  26  against the base portion  22  of the resilient spring material  20 , which increases the spacing between the base portion  22  and the curved end portions  36 , which tightens the clamp  14  on the duct  12 . Rotating the bolt  32  in the opposite direction allows the spacing to be reduced, thus enlarging the diameter of the resilient spring material  20 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the duct  12  can be seen to include an indexing feature  38  associated with the channel  18 . The indexing feature  38  in this example is formed by notched sections  40  of a pair of ribs  42  that help to form the channel  18 . The notched sections  40  provide a pair of generally radially extending edge surfaces  42   a  which contact plate  28 . This contact maintains the clamp  14  in a predetermined angular orientation on the duct  14  as the clamp is tightened. Thus, when installing the duct  12 , typically the installer may position the ends of the duct  12  over the pair of components (not shown) which the duct is being used to complete a flow path. The installer may orientate the duct  12  so that the bolt  32  is in a comfortable angular position by which it can be tightened. The indexing feature  38  prevents the clamp  14  from rotating on the duct  12  as force is being applied to the bolt  32  while it is being tightened. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , a clamp apparatus  100  is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The clamp apparatus in this example includes a duct  102  and one or more wire clamps  104 . The duct  102  is similar in construction to the duct  12  and includes a plurality of ribs  106  where a groove  108  may be formed at one or both ends thereof. In this example, however, the groove  108  includes a pair of radially projecting tabs  110 , as best shown in  FIG. 9 , which are separated from one another by a predetermined angular spacing. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , each tab  110  includes a pair of cutout sections  112  which allow portions of a spring  114  of the clamp  104  to extend there through. The clamp  104  in the clamp apparatus  100  is identical in construction to the clamp  14  of the clamp apparatus  10 , and likewise includes a plate  116  with a threaded hole  116   a,  a threaded bolt  120  and a flange  118  fixedly secured to the threaded bolt  120 . One of the tabs  110  serves to help keep the threaded bolt  120  in a predetermined angular orientation by acting as a “stop” which a U-shaped portion  122  of resilient spring material  124  abuts as pressure is applied to the threaded bolt  120  while tightening the clamp  104  on the duct  102 . The other tab  110  helps to prevent movement of the clamp assembly  104  in the opposite angular direction by interfering with curved sections  126  of the resilient spring material  124 . (Inventors: Does this sound correct? It would seem like we would only need one of the stops  110  and not two.) The tabs  110  in this example are of identical construction although they need not necessarily be identical. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a clamp apparatus  200  is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus  200  in this example includes a duct  202  and at least one clamp  204  at one end thereof. The duct  202  is similar to duct  12  and includes a plurality of ribs  206 , with specific pairs of the ribs  206   a  and  206   b  defining a channel  208  at each end of the duct  202 . Each of the channels  208  includes an indexing feature in the form of a raised section  210 . 
         [0030]    The clamp  204  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 11 . The clamp  204  is somewhat similar in construction to the clamp  14  and includes a length of resilient spring material  212 , for example spring steel (e.g., stainless steel) having curved end portions  214  at one end and a U-shaped portion  216  at its other end. In addition, the length of resilient spring material  212  includes a generally U-shaped intermediate feature  218  that is shaped generally in accordance with each of the raised sections  210 . A threaded bolt  220  is engaged with a threaded opening  222   a  in a plate  222 , and includes a fixedly attached flange  224 . The curved portions  214  of the length of resilient spring material  212  engage within openings  226  in the plate  222  while the U-shaped portion  216  abuts the flange  224 . The length of resilient spring material  212  is held in a predetermined angular orientation on the duct  202  by installing it such that the U-shaped intermediate feature  218  is positioned around the raised section  210 . When installed in this manner the length of resilient spring material  212  of the clamp  204  is not able to rotate in the channel  208  as the threaded bolt  220  is tightened. 
         [0031]    The various embodiments of the clamp apparatus described herein all form an effective, cost efficient and easy to implement means for enabling a clamp to be positioned and held on a duct in a desired angular orientation while the clamp is being tightened or loosened. The clamp apparatus requires only minimal modification to traditional ducts to implement. The clamp apparatus is considerably more cost efficient to employ than a standard band-style clamp because of the significantly reduced material costs associated with a wire-style clamp. 
         [0032]    While various embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the present disclosure. The examples illustrate the various embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.