Patent ID: 8020898

Claim:
A band clamp for connecting overlapping first and second pipe ends, the band clamp comprising: a band extending circumferentially from a first end to a second end and having a pair of axial ends, said band including a radially protruding rib extending circumferentially at least part way between said first and second ends and being located inwardly of said axial ends, said band including a first lateral section extending from a side of said rib and a second lateral section extending from an opposite side of said rib, each of said lateral sections having an axial width within a range of approximately 50-150% of an axial width of said rib; a tightening mechanism connected to said band to bring said first and second ends toward each other to tighten said band, said tightening mechanism including a single bolt axially aligned with said rib; and a gasket located radially beneath said band and at least axially within said rib; wherein, upon tightening of said tightening mechanism using said single bolt, said first and second lateral sections collapse circumferentially so as to apply clamping pressure to the first and second pipe ends along the axial width of said lateral sections, wherein the clamping pressure of said first and second lateral sections, when applied against the pipe ends, provides stiffness at a joint formed at the band clamp and the first and second pipe ends in order to help resist bending moments at the joint, wherein each of said lateral sections is angled radially inward with respect to an axis of said band at an angle within a range of approximately 0.5-5°.