Patent ID: 7421930

Claim:
A tool for closing a hose clamp which consists of an open band ring having a central portion which constitutes a substantial portion of the width of the band ring, border regions raised outwardly from the central portion, mutually overlapping ends, an opening located in one end of said band ring and a hook located in the other end of said band ring for engaging said opening, wherein the tool is formed as a pair grippers having two jaws which, in the closed condition of the tool, form an inner surface having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the closed hose clamp, the inner surfaces forming a substantially smooth cylindrical surface with enlarged border regions corresponding to the outward raised border portions of the band ring, wherein the pair of grippers have a first arm formed by a pair of legs and a second arm crossing between the pair of legs of said first arm within a hinged region of the tool, wherein the jaws have tip portions which overlap each other in the closed condition of the tool, and wherein said tip portions have a width substantially one-half the width of the remaining parts of said jaws.