Patent ID: 7367738

Claim:
A clampband for releasably joining first and second elements, comprising: a retaining member mounted to one of the first and second elements and defining a recessed portion for receiving a portion of the other element to thereby join the first and second elements, wherein the retaining member extends completely circumferentially about the first and second elements; a reshapeable tube proximate said retaining member and capable of being reshaped from an at least partially collapsed state to an at least partially expanded state such that the recessed portion of said retaining member engages the other element and joins the first and second elements while said reshapeable tube is in the at least partially collapsed state and further such that the recessed portion of said retaining member is deflected away from the first and second elements while said reshapeable tube is in the at least partially expanded state to release the other element; and at least one fastener for connecting said retaining member to one of the first and second elements while said reshapeable tube is in both the at least partially collapsed state and the at least partially expanded state, wherein the recessed portion of said retaining member is configured to be deflected relative to that portion of said retaining member connected to one of the first and second elements by said at least one fastener.