Patent EA-001251-B1 (EA)
Title: Stretchable clamp
Inventor: JOHNSON WESLY D
IPC: B65D63/14
Filed: 1997-06-04
Abstract: 1. A releasable clamp comprising an elastic body having an opening extending within the body, the opening having a predetermined dimension, the clamp including attachment means to which may be applied an external stretching force in a direction and magnitude to cause the said opening to expand elastically sufficiently to receive an article having a dimension slightly larger than the said predetermined dimension so that the said article can be received in the opening whilst the stretching force is applied and when the stretching force is released the opening elastically clamps upon the article. 2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 in which the body has a dimension in a first orthogonal direction that is substantially smaller than ,the dimensions in either of the other two orthogonal directions, and in which the attachment means is positioned to enable the opening to expand in a direction perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction. 3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2 in which the said opening extends through the body in a direction perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction. 4. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which the elastic body is formed at least in part of superelastic alloy. 5. A clamp and an article to which the clamp is to be rigidly but releasably fastened, the article having a fastenable portion of a predetermined shape and size, the clamp comprising an elastic body having an opening extending within the body, the opening being sized slightly smaller than the said fastenable portion to the article, and the clamp including attachment means to which may be applied an external stretching force in a direction and magnitude to cause the said opening to expand elastically sufficiently to receive the fastenably portion and, when the said stretching force is released, - to elastically clamped upon the said fastenably portion. 6. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim and an article having a fastenable portion of a predetermined shape and size, the opening expanding elastically sufficiently to receive the said fastenable portion when the external stretching force is applied and, when the said stretching force is released, to elastically clamp upon the said fastenable portion. 7. A clamp and an article as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the article comprises an elongated flat band having a portion along its length defining the fastenable portion, and in which the opening is sized to permit passage of the fastenable portion through the opening only upon elastically expanding the opening in a direction perpendicular to both the thickness and the length direction of the band. 8. A clamp and an article as claimed in claim 1 in which the said opening is of a width, measured parallel to a first orthogonal direction, sufficient to receive at least two thicknesses of the band, whereupon the band may be passed through the opening, about a second article, and back through the said opening to clamp onto the second article. 9. A clamp and an article as claimed in claim 8 in which the band is of uniform width and thickness along substantially its entire length. 10. A clamp and an arfcicle as claimed in claim 9 in which the band has an enlarged portion at one end restraining that said end from passing through the opening when the opening is enlarged. 11. A clamp as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the article has a pair of arms having end portions defining fastenable portions, the end portions being spaced apart by a distance enabling them both to be received within the opening only upon elastically expanding the opening in a direction perpendicular to a first orthogonal direction, whereby, upon release of the stretching force, the arm end portions are locked in the opening. 12. A clamp for rigidly but releasably-fastening to an elongated band, a length of the band having a predetermined cross-sectional size and configuration, the clamp comprising a body formed at least in part of superelastic alloy and having an opening extending through the body, the opening being sized slightly smaller than said cross-sectional size of the band, the clamp including attachment means to which may be applied an external stretching force in a direction and magnitude to cause said opening to expand elastically sufficiently to receive said band length, whereupon, as said stretching force is released, said opening elastically contracts toward its initial size to clamp upon said band. 13. A clamp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 and 12 or a clamp and an article as claimed in any of claims 4 to 11 together with an instrument for applying the said external stretching force to the body, the instrument comprising a pair of elongated members each having a rearward handle portion, the instrument having a forward portion including two arms, each arm having fastening means for fastening to the attachment means of said clamp body such that upon divergence of said arms, the clamp is stretched in the direction of arm divergence, the elongated portions of the instrument including interacting mechanical linking means forcing the arms~co diverge in response to squeezing the handle portions toward each other. 14. An instrument for imparting a stretching force to a stretchable clamp, the instrument comprising a pair of elongated members each having a rearward handle portion, the instrument having a forward portion including two arms, each arm having fastening means for fastening to a clamp such that upon divergence of said arms, the clamp is stretched in the direction of arm divergence, the elongated portions of the instrument including interacting mechanical linking means forcing the arms to diverge in response to squeezing the handle portions toward each other. 15. The instrument of claim 14 wherein one of said elongated members terminates forwardly in the pair of arms, and wherein the mechanical linking means comprises means for camming the arms apart in response to squeezing the handle portions toward each other. 16. The instrument of claim 15 wherein said mechanical linking means comprises an oval opening formed in said one elongated element between said arms, and an oval cam carried by the other elongated member for articulation in said oval opening. 17. Method for clamping an article having a fastenable portion of a predetermined shape and size, comprising: a) providing a clamp comprising an elastically formable body having an opening sized slightly smaller than the fastenable portion, the clamp including attachment means to which may be applied an external stretching force in a direction and magnitude to cause the opening to expand elastically; b) applying to the attachment means a stretching instrument to apply a stretching force to the body to elastically increase the size of the body so that it will receive the fastenable portion; c) receiving the fastenable portion in the opening; and d) releasing the stretching force. 18 . The method of claim 17 wherein said article is an elongated band for clamping to an object to be clamped, the method including the step of passing the band through said opening, around the object and again through said opening before releasing said stretching force.