Abstract:
A clamp is disclosed including a flexible elongate band having spaced apart ends, one end having a plurality of slots formed therein and the opposite end having a screw assembly disposed thereon, wherein the screw assembly includes a rotatable screw mounted in a housing. Rotation of the screw urges an outer surface of one end of the band to slideably travel along an inclined inner surface and thence along the inner surface of the other end of the band for constricting and expanding the clamp.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a clamp and more particularly to a hose and pipe clamp including a flexible band, wherein one end of the band travels along an inner surface of the other end to militate against clamp loosening, undesirable frictional engagement with adjacent surfaces, or injury to the skin of operating personnel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Hose and pipe clamps are well known in the art. Typically, such clamps include a flexible band having two ends, a plurality of notches formed along one end thereof, a housing affixed to the opposite end, and a screw disposed in the housing adapted to cooperate with the notches of the band. Generally, one end of the band overlaps the opposite end of the band to produce a circular arrangement that contacts the outer diameter of the hose or pipe, for example. 
         [0003]    The clamp is tightened by the operation of the screw. The screw cooperates with the notches of the band causing one end of the band to slideably travel along an outer surface of the band. The diameter of the band is caused to decrease until the force applied to the hose by the band secures the hose to a desired object. 
         [0004]    One such clamp is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,619 to Schaub entitled HOSE CLAMP. The patent discloses a clamp including a housing having a ramp extending from the housing wall, a rotatable screw mounted within the housing, and a clamp band having spaced apart slots formed along the length of the band. The band is inserted into the housing, causing the ramp to urge the screw upwardly, to facilitate the ease of insertion. The screw cooperates with the slots in the band to adjust the diameter of the clamp. 
         [0005]    A problem with such clamps is that the free end portion of the band projecting from the housing is caused to extend over the outer surface of the band rendering the clamp susceptible to loosening, undesirable frictional engagement with adjacent surfaces, injury of the skin of operating personnel, or impractical for certain applications. 
         [0006]    Presently there are hose clamps including features which militate against a loosening of the clamp by securing the free end of the band to the outer surface of the other end. One such clamp is U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,624 to Mockridge entitled HOSE CLIP AND A LOCKING MEMBER THEREFOR. The patent discloses a clamp having a strap and a locking member disposed on the free end of the strap. The locking member is provided to militate against the opening-up of the clamp. 
         [0007]    It would be desirable to produce a clamp which includes a flexible band having two ends, the one end having a plurality of slots, and the opposite end having a screw assembly disposed thereon, which cooperates with the slots to urge the one end of the band along the inner surface of the band, and which is economical to manufacture and may be installed without any special tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A clamp including a flexible band, wherein one end of the band travels along an inner surface of the other end to militate against clamp loosening, undesirable frictional engagement with adjacent surfaces, or injury to the skin of operating personnel has been surprisingly discovered. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the invention, the clamp comprises an elongate band having spaced apart ends and an inner and outer surface; and a means coupled to one end of the band for effecting relative movement between the spaced apart ends of the band for selectively constricting and expanding the band, whereby the outer surface of the other end of the band is caused to travel along the inner surface of the one end. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clamp incorporating the features of the present invention wherein the clamp is illustrated in a fully open position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view in section of the clamp illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wherein the clamp is in a closed operative position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a clamp including a band similar to the band illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein the clamp is illustrated in a fully open position; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the band illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It is understood that materials other than those described can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0016]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a clamp generally indicated by reference numeral  10  including a flexible elongate strap or band  12  having spaced apart ends and a means coupled to one end for effecting relative movement between the ends of the band  12  to constrict or expand the dimension of the clamp  10 . 
         [0017]    The band  12  includes an end  16 , an opposite end  18 , an inner surface, and an outer surface. In the operative clamping relation, the end  16  is caused to overlap the end  18  to form a generally circular loop, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The end  18  includes a plurality of slots  24  formed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the band  12 . The end  16  terminates in a flange  20  extending upwardly therefrom. It will be noted the juncture of the end  16  and the flange  20  is formed to provide a smoothly inclined inner surface. An aperture  22  is formed in the flange  20 . It will be understood that the slots  24  may extend to the end  16  of the band  12 , if desired. The slots  24  may be other configurations such as upstanding ribs or teeth, for example. 
         [0018]    The band  12  may include a surface to reduce the coefficient of friction to facilitate relative movement of adjacent surfaces during use. A lubricating coating may be applied on the inner surface. 
         [0019]    The means for effecting relative movement between the ends  16 ,  18  of the band  12  includes an actuator on the end  16  to contact the outer surface of the end  18  of the band  12 . As clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the means for effecting relative movement between the ends  16 ,  18  of the band  12  is a screw assembly  14 . One such screw assembly  14  is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,087 to Marques entitle LATERALLY SECURE HOSE-CLAMP ASSEMBLY, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0020]    The assembly  14  includes a threaded screw rotatably mounted in a housing. An outer diameter of the threads of the screw are larger than the diameter of the aperture  22 . Prior to mounting the screw within the housing, the screw assembly  14  is secured to the band  12  by operating the screw to cause the threads to contact and travel though the aperture  22  of the flange  20 . 
         [0021]    In operation, the end  18  of the band  12  is inserted into the screw assembly  14  between the threaded screw and a base of the housing. The screw is then rotated in a direction causing the threads to cooperate with the slots  24  of the band  12 , thereby urging the outer surface of the end  18  of the band  12  to slideably travel along the inclined inner surface of the juncture of the flange  20  of the end  16  and thence along the inner surface of the end  16  of the band  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Conversely, the screw can be rotated in the opposite direction causing the threads to cooperate the slots  24  of the band  12 , thereby urging the outer surface of the end  18  to slideably retract along the inner surface of the end  16  of the band  12  and expand the clamp  10 . The inclined inner surface of the end  16  of the band  12  guides the movement of the end  18  of the band  12 . 
         [0022]    Optionally, the means for effecting relative movement between the ends  16 ,  18  of the band  12  may include a surface to increase the coefficient of friction to militate against relative movement of adjacent surfaces during use. Any conventional means as are known in the art may be employed, such as mechanically or chemically treating, coating, or any combination thereof. A plurality of protuberances may be formed thereon such as ribs, teeth, and the like. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show another embodiment of the invention which includes a flexible elongate band similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Reference numerals for similar structure in respect of the description of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are repeated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  with a prime (′) symbol. In certain applications it would be desirable to produce a clamp which militates against an undesirable frictional engagement with adjacent surfaces of the object being clamped. 
         [0024]    The above objective can be achieved by a clamp  10 ′ including a pair of spaced apart flanges  30  formed on an inner surface of an end  16 ′ of a band  12 ′. The flanges  30  are formed to extend laterally inward and in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the band  12 ′. It is noted that the flanges  30  are formed on the inner surface of the band  12 ′ to extend from the juncture of the flange  20 ′ to an intermediate portion of the band  12 ′. The flanges  30  guide the movement of the end  18 ′ of the band  12 ′. 
         [0025]    From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.