Patent ID: 8607420

Claim:
A hose clamp comprising: a flexible strap fittable circumferentially partially around a hose and having a pair of opposite ends; a strap end part separate from the strap, forming a circumferential extension of the strap, and having one end overlapping one of the ends of the strap and another end spaced circumferentially from the other end of the strap, the other ends of the strap and of the strap end part each being formed with a throughgoing hole; a mechanism adjustably connecting the one end of the strap and the one end of the strap end part for increasing or reducing an effective total circumferential length of the strap and strap end part; and a spring element separate from the strap and strap end part and having ends each formed with a tab fittable through and lockable with the respective holes of the strap and the strap end part to form interengaging link formations that circumferentially connect the other end of the strap end part to the other end of the strap, and that form releasable hinge connections between the ends of the spring element and the other ends of the strap and strap end part, whereby the spring element provides, when the strap, strap end part, and spring are wrapped circumferentially around a hose, a spring force in the circumferential direction of the strap to tighten the clamp on the house.