Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Ihe presen~ invention relates to a hose clamp, and
more particularly to a screw-type, stepless hose clamp
devoid of any discontinuities, offsets or gaps along the
entire internal clamping surfaces thereof.
Various types of hose clamps are known in the prior
art, as, for example, those utilizing so-called "Oetiker"*
ears which include one or more plastically deformable lug-
shaped ears for tightening the clamp about the object to
be fastened, as disclosed, for example, in my prior U.S.
Patents 2,614,304; 2,847,742 and 3,082,498. While hose
clamps with so-called "Oetiker" ears have proved immensely
successful due to the numerous advantages they offer, hose
clamps with screw-type tightening devices can still be
found in certain applications. Among the latter are, in
particular, so-called worm-type clamps which can be found,
for example, in the automotive industry where they are used
for fastening various hoses, such as the radiator hoses of
the cooling systems or the hoses of hydraulic systems~
To enable the prior art to be described with the aid
;~ 20 of diagrams, the ~igures of the dr~wings will first be
listed.
Figure 1 is an elevational view of a prior art worm-
type hose clamp;
Fi~ure 2 is an elevational view of a screw-type hose
clamp in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 3 is a left side elevational view of the hose
clamp of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a right side elevational view of the hose
3Q clamp of Figure 2;
--1--
..~
. * Trade Mark
t~6
Figure 5 is a cross-sectio:nal view taken along line V--V
of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the hose clamp of
Figures 2-4 with the separate clamping part not yet
assembled onto the clamping band;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment
of a screw-type hose clamp in accordance with the present
invention; and
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
1~ VIII-VIII of Figure 7.
Figure 1 of the drawing shows such a prior art hose
clamp which consists of an open clamping band generally
designated by reference numeral 10 having an inner end lOa
; and an overlapping outer end lOb adapted to be tightened
about the hose by a worm-drive that includes a bridging
member generally designated by reference numeral 11 secùred
in its bottom portion 12 to the inner band end lOa by any
appropriate means, for example, by a rivet-like connection.
The bridging member 11 also forms in its upper portion a
worm-receiving housing 13 of approximately inverted
U-shaped cross section with outwardly extendin~ legs
integral with the side portions 14. The head 15 is
integral with a rotatable part 16 that is provided on its
external surfaces located inside the housing portion 13
with a helical worm surface (not shown) adapted to engage
with more or less inclined teeth formed at least in the
outer surface of the band end lOb. Apart from the fact
that this type of clamp is very expensive to manufacture,
it also entails serious drawbacks when used with the
3a present~day, relatively thin plastlc hoses made normally
--2--
of relatively hard plastic material since the steps or
offsets formed by the circumferential ends of the bridging
member 11 with respect to the inner band end lOa and the
step formed by the inner band end lOa with the overlying
outer band end lOb represent areas of non-tightness which
are the more serious the harder and thinner the plastic
material.
Toggle-type clamping devices as illustrated, for
example, in my prior U.S. Patent 3,475,793 not only entail
similar disadvantages as the worm-type clamp of Figure 1,
but, in additionl also present the danger of inadvertent
reopening by an accidental actuating oE the toggle lever.
Another screw-type clamp is`disclosed in my prior U.S.
Patent 31579~7541 in which one end of the clamping band is
inserted through a slot in a closure part and then bent
back upon itself on the inside while the other end is
secured to the other closure part by hooks. Howeverl this
type of hose clamp entails similar disadvantages as the
worm-type hose clamp of Figure 1 in that it is relatively
expensive to manufacture and provides offsets or steps
which are likely to cause leakages with plastic hoses oE
the type frequently used at present.
Moreover, the bridging member 11 of the prior art
worm-type device illustrated in Figure 1 as well as the
construction of the closure parts of the clamp iLlustrated
in my prior U.S. Patent 3,579,754 limit the minimum hose
diameter with which the clamp can be used~
The present invention is therefore concerned with a
hose clamp adapted to be tightened by a screw-type
3Q mechanism which effectively eliminates the aforementioned
disadvantages and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.
More specifically, the present invention is concerned
with a screw-type hose clamp that can be manufactured in a
relatively inexpensive manner and which can also be
assembled and installed relatively easily and quickly.
A further object of the present invention resides in a
screw-type hose clamp which assures complete tightness with
even the hardest plastic hose materials presently used by
providing an internal clamping surface which is devoid of
any discontinuities, offsets or steps.
Still a further object of the present invention resides
in a screw-type hose clamp which can also be used with
hoses of relatively small diameter.
Referring now to Figures 2-6, reference numeral 20
generally designates a clamp in accordance with the present
invention which includes a generally flat clamping band 21
having a bent-back outer clamping band end portion 22
forming a loop 23 for retaining a half-cylindrical, band-
tightening member 24 of the mechanical tightening mechanism
2q used in the present invention. The member 24 is provided
with a threaded bore 25 ~or purposes to be exp~ained
hereinafter. Three or more rectangular apertures 26 are
provided in the outer end portion 22, through which extend,
respectively, a guide hook 27 and one or more support hooks
28, as more fully disclosed in my prior U.S. Patent
4,299,012, issued November 10, 1~81. As disclosed in this
patent, the arrangement of a
-3a-
3 ~ 6
guide hook 27 and of, for example, two support hooks 28 provides a very
strong connection, thereby assuring an excellent holding ability of the clamp.
Lonsitudinal slots 29 and 29' are further provided in the outer bent-back band
portion ~2 and the inner underlying portion of the band 21 to provide greater
bending ability of the band within this area.
A separate clamping band part generally designated by reference
numeral 30 includes an inner }:and portion 31 as well as a bent back outer
end portion 32 (Figure 6), forming a loop 33 to retain the half-cylindrical,
band-tightening member 34 which is provided with a nonthreaded bore 35
for purposes also bD be explained hereinafter. The outer band end portion 22
is provided with rectangular apertures 36, whereby one suide ho~k 37 and one or
more support hooks, for example, two support hooks 38 as disclosed in my
prior U.S. Patent 4,299,012 are ayain adapted to engage with respective
apertures 36. Longitudinal slots 39 and 39' are provided in the outer a~d inner
band portions 32 and 31 to increase the bending ability of the band part within that
area whereby, for purposes of providing a larger slot, the side portions of sloi 39
are upset as indicated in Figure 6 at 39". A screw member generally designated
by reference n~neral 40 which serves to draw toge~her the open ends of the clamping
band 21, includes a threaded shank portion 42 and a screw head 43~ A cylindricalsleeve 41 is mounted over the threaded shank portion 42 intermediate the band-
tightening member 34 and the screw head 43, possibly by lnterposition oi a spring 44
of any conventional construction, to facilitate actuation of the screw member 40which can be of longer construction and thus greater accessibility of its screw
head .
The lnner band portion 31 of the separate clamping band part 30 ls
provided with rectangular apertures 45 for receiving therein one guide hook 46
and one or more, for example, two support hooks 47 punched out of the clamping
band material 21 to thereby securely fasterl the clamping band part 30 ~o the
clamping band 21, as described above.
A tongue-like extension 51 is provided at the inner
end of the clamping band 21 which is adapted to engage
into a groove-like indentation or embos~ment 52 formed by
a recessed bottom which leaves side portions 53a and 53b
in the normal band configuration; the side portions 53a
and 53b are thereby separated from the bottom 52 by
longitudinal cuts 54O P. small step 55 extending outwardly
from the normal contour of the clamping band 21 defines
the beginning of the groove-like indentation 52 away from
the loop 23, so that the clamping action is taken over
within the area of the indentation 52 by the remaining
clamping band portions 53a and 53b which are disposed in
the normal band contour radially inwardly relative to the
groove-like indentation. The end of the groove-like
indentation 52 nearer the loop 23 is defined in effect by
a small step 56a and 56b in each of the clamping band side
portions. This arrangement assures a completely gap-free
and stepless transition from the free end of the tongue-
like extension into the inner circumferential band pc>rtlon
as more fully described in my Canadian patent No. 1,148,336
issued June 21, 1983. An outwardly extending, centrally
disposed reinforcing groove or embossment 57 may also be
provided in the part of the clamping band 21 nearest the
tongue-like extension 51 as shown in Figure 6.
As can be readily seen, the various parts oE the clamp
in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in
Figures 2-6 can be manufactured in a relatively simple and
inexpensive manner. Assembly of the clamp is also simple
in that it 1s only necessary to bend back the outer band
portion 22 and engage the guide and support hooks 27 and
28 in apertures 26 to securely retain the band-tightening
_5_
member 24. The separate clampirlg band part 30 together
with the other band-tightening member 34 may be
preassembled in a similar manner by engaging hooks 37 and
38 in apertures 36 and when thus preassembled can be
securely attached to the clamping band 21 in a very simple
manner by merely engaging the guide hook 46 and the support
hooks 47 in those apertures 45 which fit closest. By
providing more apertures 45 than necessary for the number of
-5a-
'`, ,`
f~ t7~
hooks 46, 47, it is thus possible to provide Eor a quick ad~ustment to the
nearest dimension for a given hose. Thereafter, the screw 40 possibly together
with the sleeve 41 and the spring 44 are assembled whereby the screw 40 extends
reely through the nonthreaded bore 35 and ~ngages with the threaded bore 25.
The thus-assembled clamp is then mounted axially over the hose, and tightening oi
~he screw 40 then will cause the two loops 23 and 33 to be drawn together,
whence the clamp is tightened. Moreover, the present invention offers the
advantage that the clamp can also be installed in a different manner. For
example, after band-tightenin~ member 24 is retained in place by securing the outer
end portion 22 onto the underlying portion of the clamping band 21 in the mannerdescribad hereinabove, the clamp can be placed radially about the hose to be
fastened, whereafter the pre-assembled separate clamping band part 30 can be
assembled onto the clamping band 21 as described above.
Additionally, it ls quite apparent that there are no parts such as
the bridging member 11 of Figure 1 which limit the minimum diameter for which
the clamp can be used.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a modified embodimen~ of the present
invention in which the clamp generaJly designated by reference numeral 60
again includes a generally flat clamping band 61 whose outer band end portion
is bent back upon itseli at 62 to form a loop 63 again retaining the half-cylindrical,
band-tightening member 64 provided again with a threa~ed bore (not shown).
However, differing from Figures 2-6, the free end of the outer bent-back portion 62
is not secured to the underlying band portion by guide and support hooks, but
instead is connected thereto by a rivet-like connection as described mvre fully
2S ln my prior U . S . Paten~ 3, 286, 314. A longitudinal slot 69 may again be provided
in the outer bent-back band portlon 62 to increase its flexibility.
~ The separate clamping band part generally designated by reference
numeral 70 includes an inner band portion 71 and an outer bent-back ~>and
portion 72 defining a loop 73 for retention of the half-cylindrical, band-tightening
mem~e~^ 74 provided wlth a nonthreaded bore. A rivet-like connection generally
.. .. . .
5g~
designated by reference numeral 75 of the type more f~lly
described in my prior U.S. Patent 3,286,314, securely
fastens the o~ter band portion 72 to the inner band portion
71. As described in my prior U.S~ Patent 3,286,314 and as
shown in Figure 8, a tab-like member 76 is punched out ~rom
the inner band portion which is extended through a corres-
pondingly located slot in the outer band portion whereupon
the tab-like member 76 is bent back into the plar.e of the
outer band portion 72 to displace the corresponding part
lQ 72' (Figure 8) of the outer band portion inwardly and
thereby effect the rivet-like connection. A longitudinal
slot 79 is again provided in the outer band portion 72
whose sides are upset as indicated at 79' to receive the
screw head 80' of the screw member generally designated by
reference numeral 80 which extends freely through the
non-threaded bore (not shown~ in member 74 and threadably
engages with the threaded bore in member 64.
To assure a stepless internal clamping surface, a
groove-like indentation 82 is again provided which is
2Q separated by longitudinal cuts 84 from the lateral band
portions 83a and 83b which remain in the normal conto~r of
the clamping band. As in the embodiment of Figures 2-6, a
small step lnot shown) displacing the bottom of the groove-
like indentation 82 out of the normal band configuration
defines the commencement of the groove-like indentation
while small steps 86a and 86b in lateral band portions 83a
and 83b again define the end of the groove-like indentation.
A reinforcing groove 87 which may also be radially inwardly
directed is provided within the area of the clamping band
adjoining the tongue-like extension (not shown) which is
adapted to engage into the groove~like indentation 82.
--7--
, ~
7~
While I have shown and described only two embodiments
in accordance with ~he present invention, it is understood
that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of
numerous changes and modifications as known to those
skilled in the art. For example, instead of a screw head
with a rectangular slot, a Philips*-type screw head may be
used, or a hexagonal screw head. Moreover, the washer 41
and springs 44 which also may be merely in the form of
appropriately shaped washers or in the shape of other types
of springs, such as wire springs, may be eliminated from
Figure 2 or may be added in Figure 7. Furthermore, a rivet-
like connection as disclosed in my U S. Patent 3,236,314
may be substituted, where desired, for the connection using
guide and support hooks as disclosed in my U.S. Patent
4,299,012, and vice versa. Thus, I do not wish to be
limited to the details shown and described herein, but
intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are
encompassed by the scope of the appended claims~
--8--
*Trade Mark
.,
.''! `
, . ,. ~
