Patent ID: 7093518

Claim:
A tool for tensioning, loosening, and opening spring-type clamping elements with two radially outward-projecting actuating arms, comprising: a hand-operable actuating part; a Bowden cable having a core and a sheath, the Bowden cable being connected to the actuating part; and a tensioning part with two jaws which are movable relative to each other, each of the jaws being configured to engage one of the actuating arms, a first one of the jaws being connected to the core, and a second one of the jaws being connected to the sheath of the Bowden cable so that the jaws are movable toward each other and thus execute a tensioning movement, the actuating part including means for locking in a tensioning stroke and means for feeding the Bowden cable, the feeding means and the locking means of the actuating part being configured to cooperate so that several short tensioning strokes of any desired length are performable without predefined latching steps, the stroke being locked in place each time until a required total tensioning stroke has been completed, the jaws of the tensioning part being loose, independent blocks that are not in contact with one another, or connected to one another either directly or indirectly except for the Bowden cable each of the blocks having a transverse slot so that the respective block forms essentially a U, each slot being configured to enclose one of the two clamp actuating arms.