Patent ID: 7305740

Claim:
A self-locking clamp ( 1 , 1 ′) comprising a body ( 9 ) formed by a substantially cylindrical shape bent profile provided with a first end ( 6 ) and a second end ( 2 ) substantially overlapping each other in the region of a substantially longitudinal opening ( 10 ) which is substantially adjacent to the second end ( 2 ), the second end ( 2 ) having at least one first locking element ( 4 ) extending from the longitudinal opening, the first end ( 6 ) and the second end ( 2 ) engaging each other when the clamp ( 1 , 1 ′) is in a first, locked position, the clamp ( 1 , 1 ′) comprising at least one second locking element in the form of an engagement cutout ( 7 ), located in a region ( 5 ) substantially adjacent to the first end ( 6 ), the engagement cutout ( 7 ) defining a cut which engages the first locking element ( 4 ) when the clamp ( 1 , 1 ′) is in the first, locked position, said region ( 5 ) adjacent to said first end being formed as a planar portion in the plane of the body ( 9 ) where said engagement cutout and said cut are contained, the at least one first locking element and the at least one second locking element engaging each other in the first locked position in a plane concurrent with a plane of the body ( 9 ) and being disposed with respect to each other and to the longitudinal opening such that the clamp can be unlocked by pressing a portion of the body adjacent to the first end radially towards the center of the clamp.