Patent ID: 6877780

Claim:
A band clamp for connecting two tubular bodies, comprising: a band extending from a first end to a second end and including a pair of spaced ribs extending at least part way between said first and second ends; a tightening mechanism connected to said band and including two clamp members movable toward and away from each other to draw said first and second ends toward and away from each other for tightening and loosening of said band; and a gasket located on an inner surface of said band between said ribs and extending alone the length at said band between said first and second ends such that said gasket forms a complete loop when said first and second ends are brought together using said tightening mechanism, whereby said band clamp can be disposed over and tightened around abutting ends of the tubular bodies with said gasket inhibiting the escape of fluid through the function formed between the abutting ends of the two tubular bodies; wherein said clamp members comprise confronting portions of a pair of strap sections and wherein each of said strap sections is secured to an outer surface of said band near a different one of said first and second ends, said band being continuous between said first and second ends with said ends being aligned with each other and spaced by a gap having a length that can be varied by tightening or loosening said band using said tightening mechanism.