Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to securing deformable hoses on rigid tubular fittings such as those found in automobile engines to provide a fluid tight seal between a hose and a fitting. More particularly, the invention relates to a hose clamp retention device to position and retain a clamp on a hose ready to be activated after the hose has been positioned over a rigid tubular fitting.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Hose clamps have been designed in a great variety of forms. One type is a clamp of spring steel made to have a diameter slightly smaller than that of the outside diameter of the hose. As a result, when the clamp is pre-loaded by deforming it to enlarge the clamp, there will be stored energy in the clamp which can be released to apply a compressive radial force to hold the clamp on the hose.  
           [0003]    A variation of the pre-loaded type is a clamp made of spring steel and shaped to be enlarged into an open position at the point of manufacture to store energy. The clamp is retained in this open condition either by a built-in restraining structure or by a keeper in the form of a clip. In use, the clamp is released over the hose to clamp the hose.  
           [0004]    It has become common practice to pre-assemble clamps on a hose and provide this assembly to the automobile assembly line. The clamps are typically placed on the hose and either glued in position or attached to the hose with rivets at a point diametrically opposite the restraining structure or held in place by a clamp retention device which engages the hose to hold the clamp in place. The clamp is then in place to be released into a condition to apply a radial compressive load on the hose.  
           [0005]    In order to position a clamp retention device on a hose, the clamp retention device itself will have a retainer comprising a retainer belt with free ends which couple together to locate on the hose in side-by-side relationship with a clamp locator that holds the clamp. Such a clamp retention device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,739.  
           [0006]    The clamp retention device is preferred over attaching the clamp directly to the hose because of difficulties which arise in aligning the clamp and ensuring that the clamp is orthogonal to the hose. However, a clamp retention device which comprises both a clamp locator and a retainer belt occupies space along the length of a hose and this is not always available where a hose fitting is used in a crowded environment.  
           [0007]    An object of this invention is to provide alternative means for securing a hose clamp retention device to a hose which obviates the need for a retainer belt.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the invention, there is provided a clamp retention device for positioning an open, generally cylindrical hose clamp on a hose. The retention device extends generally about a longitudinal axis and has at least one locator for cooperating with the clamp and coupling the clamp to the retention device to hold the clamp disposed about said longitudinal axis. The retention device may further includes at least one preformed perforation to receive therethrough at least one fastener for attaching the retention device to the hose. Preferably, the retention device has a body with at least one dependent tab integrally formed with the body and extending longitudinally from the body at one end thereof for receiving therethrough fastening means, preferably in the form of a wire staple or a rivet. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    In order to better understand the invention, a preferred embodiment is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hose clamp retention device according to the invention shown assembled with a clamp from one side;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 from the other side;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 1 showing the hose clamp retention device without the associated clamp;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the hose clamp retention device of FIG. 3 (without a staple);  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a front side elevation view of the hose clamp retention device of FIG. 3 (without a staple);  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly view of the hose clamp retention device of FIG. 1, assembly on a hose;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the components of FIG. 6 assembled together on a rigid tubular fitting;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 7, drawn online  8 - 8  of FIG. 7;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIG. 3 of a first alternative embodiment of a hose clamp retention device made in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 3 of a second alternative embodiment of a hose clamp retention device made in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2 which illustrate an injection molded hose clamp retention device indicated generally by the numeral  20  and containing an exemplary hose clamp indicated generally by the numeral  22 . The hose clamp is generally cylindrical and is of the pre-stressed type incorporating a latch structure  24  to hold the clamp in an open position for engagement over a hose. It will be evident from the following description that the hose clamp  22  is exemplary of a variety of clamps and that the retention clamp  20  can be used with such clamps.  
         [0021]    The retention device  20  shown in FIGS.  3  to  5  without a clamp consists essentially of a retainer body  26  made of propylene or nylon and which extends generally about a longitudinal axis  28 . The body  26  is generally C-shaped and is proportioned to be a snap-fit on the clamp  22 . C-shaped body  26  has a pair of inwardly extending projections  30 ,  32  provided on an inwardly facing surface of the body  26  for engagement in respective openings  34 ,  36  formed in the clamp  22  and shown in FIG. 6. The retainer body  26  also has a pair of projecting cams  38 ,  40  disposed on the C-shaped body  26  at opposite free ends thereof (best seen in FIG. 5). The cam  38  is centrally disposed in the retainer body  26  and locates against a shoulder  42  defined by an opening  44  formed in the clamp  22 , as best seen in FIG. 6 while the cam  40  is disposed to one side of the retainer body  26  and locates against shoulder  45  formed by an undercut in the side of the clamp  22 , as best seen in FIG. 2. Consequently, when the clamp  22  is engaged in the retainer body  26  by deforming the body to receive the clamp, the projections  30 ,  32  and cams  38 ,  40  locate the clamp angularly with respect to the body to restrict radial movement of the clamp  22 . As mentioned previously, the exemplary clamp  22  is in an expanded or open condition retained in this form by the latch structure  24  ready to be released into a deployed position. However, other types of clamps can be accommodated for conventional actuation.  
         [0022]    In order to limit relative longitudinal movement between the clamp retention device  20  and a hose  46  disposed longitudinally inside the clamp  22  as shown in FIG. 7, the body  26  also has a pair of oppositely disposed, radially inwardly extending locating tabs  48 ,  50 . The locating tabs  48 ,  50  have an L-shaped cross-section and extend longitudinally from the body  26  at one end thereof so that when assembled with the hose  46  with one end of the hose proud of the body  26  to extend a short distance therefrom, the hose  46  will abut against the locating tabs  48 ,  50 .  
         [0023]    A third locating tab  52  of similar shape and orientation to tabs  48 ,  50  is disposed therebetween so as to lie diametrically opposite to the latch structure  24  of the clamp  22 . The tab  52  likewise extends longitudinally from the body  26  on the same side as the locating tabs  48 ,  50  and has a radially inwardly extending lip portion  54  for location against the free end of the hose  46  to limit relative longitudinal movement between the clamp retention device  20  and the hose  46 .  
         [0024]    A longitudinally extending portion  56  of the locating tab  52  has a pair of spaced preformed perforations  58  formed therein as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The separation between the perforations  58  is selected to receive the free ends of a U-shaped staple  60  (FIG. 1, 6) prior to bending the legs of the staple over the inside surface  62  of the hose  46 . The hose clamp retention device  20  is shown assembled with a clamp  22  on a hose  46  in FIG. 7 where it will be seen that the staple  60  has penetrated the wall of the hose  46 .  
         [0025]    In order to facilitate penetration of the hose  46  with the staple  60 , the locating tab  52  is radially inwardly disposed on the body  26  to lie closer to the longitudinal axis  28 . The radial separation between the locating tab  52  and the interior surface of the body  26  is small, about the thickness of the band comprising the clamp  22  as seen most clearly in FIG. 8. The tab  52  is thereby adapted to lie adjacent to the exterior cylindrical surface of the hose  46  while the locating tabs  48 ,  50  are somewhat spaced from the exterior cylindrical surface of the hose  46 .  
         [0026]    Because the hose clamp retention device  20  is preferably molded from synthetic plastic material, the locating tabs  48 ,  50 ,  52  are integrally formed during molding. The perforations  58  may be preformed during the molding process so that the material comprising the retention device  20  will not shatter or fracture. The retention device  20  may also be molded from any other suitable material which can be perforated after molding, for example, by drilling, without shattering or fracturing.  
         [0027]    Assembly of the device  20  on the hose  46  will next be described with reference being made to FIG. 7. The hose  46  is received in the device  20  with clamp  22  snapped into the generally C-shaped body  26 . The body  26  extends radially about the clamp  22  with respect to the longitudinal axis  28  of the device such that the clamp is retained within the body  26 . The hose  46  and clamp  22  are selected so that the hose  46  will slide through the clamp  22  as is common in the art. The assembly with the clamp  22  is positioned relative to the end of the hose  46  in a predetermined position limited by the locating tabs  48 ,  50 ,  52  abutting against the free end of the hose  46 . The hose  46  is then secured to the assembly by means of the staple  60  which is received through the perforations  58  and which penetrates the body of the hose  46 . The stapling of the assembly may be automated and performed in a jig to align staples  60  with the perforations.  
         [0028]    It will be evident that when the hose  46  is engaged over a rigid tubular fitting  64 , drawn in ghost outline in FIG. 7, the position of the clamp  22  on the hose should be such that when the engagement takes place upon release of latch  24 , the clamp  22  will compress the hose  46  between the fitting  64  and the clamp  22 . After the engagement on the fitting  64  is complete, the clamp  22  is deployed in the usual fashion so that the energy stored in the clamp compresses the hose  46  about the fitting  64 .  
         [0029]    The retention device  20  has been described as a one-piece injection molded structure. Clearly, the device can be manufactured differently and take many forms within the scope of the invention. All such variations will be evident to persons skilled in the art and are within the scope of the invention as claimed.  
         [0030]    It will also be appreciated that the preformed perforations may be sized to receive fasteners other than staples, such as a rivet  66  shown in the hose clamp retention device  68  of FIG. 9. The device  68  is otherwise similar to the device  20  and like parts have been identified by like numerals. The hose clamp retention device may also be modified to have a plurality of radially spaced tabs each with respective perforations to receive a fastener to secure the device to a hose. Such a modified hose clamp retention device  70  is shown in FIG. 10 and has a pair of oppositely disposed locating tabs  72 ,  74  at one end of the device  70  and disposed radially opposite one another.  
         [0031]    The locating tabs  72 ,  74  like the locating tab  52  of the hose clamp retention device  20  of FIGS.  1  to  9 , extend longitudinally from the C-shaped body of the hose clamp retention device in respective longitudinal portions  76 ,  78  which terminate in respective radially inwardly extending lip portions  80 ,  82 . The longitudinal portions  76 ,  78  have respective preformed perforations (not shown) formed therein to receive the free ends of a respective U-shaped staple  84 ,  86 . It will be noted that the longitudinal portions  76 ,  79  of the locating tabs  72 ,  74  are radially inwardly disposed to lie closer to the longitudinal axis  28 , similarly to locating tab  52 . This brings the tabs  72 ,  74  closer to lie adjacent to the exterior surface of a hose to which the hose clamp retention device  70  is to be coupled.  
         [0032]    The hose clamp retention device  70  is thereby adapted for retaining larger diameter clamps and hoses.  
         [0033]    Similarly to the hose clamp retention device  20  of FIGS.  1  to  8 , the device  70  has locating projection  30 ,  32  (only of which can be seen in FIG. 10) and locating cams  38 ,  40  (only one of which can be seen in FIG. 10).  
         [0034]    Still more variations to the hose clamp retention device according to the invention may be made as will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

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