GB1567852A

GB1567852A - Band clamp

Info

Publication number: GB1567852A
Application number: GB908977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Nifco Inc
Current assignee: Nifco Inc
Priority date: 1976-03-09
Filing date: 1977-03-03
Publication date: 1980-05-21

Description

(54) BAND CLAMP (71) We, NIFCO INC., a Japanese com- pany, of World Trade Center Bldg. 23F, 4-1 Hamamatsucho 2 chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a binding band of plastics material for use in connecting a hose of flexible material, such as a rubber hose or synthetic resin hose, to a metal tap.

Typical examples of binding devices which have been used widely for this purpose are those comprising in combination a metal strip having holes on opposite ends thereof and bent to form a circle with the holes being mated in the outside of the circle and a bolt and nut, and those comprising a steel wire ring having resiliency and opposite end portions capable of engaging with each other by twisting them. In the first example, the strip circle is mounted around the hose fitted to the tap and then the bolt is inserted into the mated holes thereof. By screwing the nut, the diameter of the strip circle is reduced to tighten the hose to the tap. In the second example, the ring is mounted on a hose fitted to the tap with the end portions being disengaged and then the end portions are twisted together to reduce the diameter of the ring.

Since the first example requires at least three parts and some tools such as a spanner or a screwdriver etc. in operation, the actual use thereof is troublesome. In this sense, the second example is desirable. However, since the second example relies on the resiliency of the ring material, the reliability of the tightening is reduced with time.

The object of the present invention is to provide a binding band which is easy of operation, which is capable of holding a sufficient tightening force for a long time and which is simple in construction.

According to the present invention, a resilient plastics band clamp comprises a flexible strip and a body formed at one end thereof, the body including a first grip and a pair of bridge pieces, the first grip extending in a direction out of the plane of the strip and supported at a position spaced from the strip by the bridge pieces which extend from the strip, the end of the first grip nearest the strip defining, with the bridge pieces, a passage parallel to the strip through which the other end of the strip may be passed, the first grip being formed with a cantilever arm extending from the end of the first grip nearest the strip in a direction substantially parallel to that portion of the strip nearest the arm, the clamp further including a pawl extending into the space between the cantilever arm and the strip, and the strip being formed at a location remote from the body with a series of ratchet teeth facing towards the body, the strip also having a second grip situated intermediate the body and the ratchet teeth.

The accompanying drawings show two examples of band clamps which embody the invention. In these drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the binding band according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the binding band in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the binding band device in use; and Figure 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the binding band device according to the present invention.

A strip 1, adapted to be bent to form a circle in which a hose is to be held tightly on a metal tap, is formed integrally at one end thereof with a body comprising a pair of bridge pieces Sa and 5b on which a first grip 2 is integrally formed in a spaced relation to the strip 1 and extending in a direction out of the plane of the strip. The space defined by the strip 1, the bridge pieces 5a and 5b and the first grip 2 forms a substantially rectangu lar passage 6 into which the other end of the strip may be inserted.

The first grip 2 is formed integrally with a catch 7 so that the latter extends in a direction substantially parallel and opposite to the inserting direction of the band into the hole 6. The catch 7 comprises a resilient cantilever arm 7a, a pawl 7b facing the strip 1 and formed on the end of the resilient cantilever arm 7a and an operating piece 7c formed on the end of the cantilever arm 7a and behind the pawl 7b.

The distance between the outer surface of the strip 1 and the inner surface of the first grip 2, i.e. the height of the passage 6 is selected to be slightly larger than the thickness of the other end of the strip 1 and the distance between the outer surface of the strip 1 and the inner end of the pawl 7b is less than the height of the passage 6 so that the other end portion of the strip 1 passes through the passage 6 with the pawl 7b urged against the outer surface of the strip 1.

It will be appreciated that the pawl may be formed on the strip, with the cantilever arm acting on the surface of the strip to urge the ratchet teeth into engagement with the pawl when the free end of the strip is inserted into the passage in the body.

The outer surface of a portion of the strip 1 remote from the body is formed with a series of ratchet teeth 3 extending longitudinally of the strip 1. The teeth face away from the end of the strip, i.e. each of the teeth 3 has a mild slope on the side thereof nearest the end of the strip remote from the body and the other side of the tooth is undercut to form an overhanging structure. The first tooth 3 is provided in a position spaced from the end of the band body by a small distance, and the end portion is made flat to form an insertion end piece 8.

A second grip 4 is integrally formed in a position between the last tooth 3 on the outer surface of the strip and the body, and extends substantially perpendicularly to the strip.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the bridge pieces 5a and 5b for supporting the first grip 2 are formed in longitudinally offset positions with respect to the strip 1. This structure is convenient in that it permits the band clamp according to the present invention to be moulded easily and economically by using a die consisting of two halves. However, the support bridges may be formed in opposite positions by using a complex die consisting of three or more die components if there is no objection to the more troublesome operation entailed.

At any rate, the band clamp according to the present invention comprising the strip 1, the first grip 2, the teeth 3, the second grip 4, the bridge pieces 5a and 5b and the catch 7 is moulded integrally by using a die having a plurality of die pieces.

In this embodiment, the strip 1 is moulded in a previously bent shape as shown. It should be noted, however, that the strip may be moulded in a straight configuration and bent as shown in use.

In use, the band clamp constructed as described above is mounted around a portion of the hose fitted on the tap and then the insertion piece 8 on one end thereof is inserted into the passage 6 on the other end thereof. In this state, the pawl 7b of the catch 7 will be engaged with a suitable portion of the teeth 3. Thereafter, the grips 2 and 4 which are in faced relation at this time are pinched by the fingers or a suitable tool to fit the strip tightly onto the hose to thereby reinforce the tight fit between the hose and the tap. The final tightened state is retained since the pawl 7b engages with successive teeth of the series of teeth 3 as the strip is advanced through the passage 6 by pinching of the grips 2 and 4.

The operating piece 7c formed on the catch 7 is used to disengage the pawl 7b from the teeth 3 to release the tight fit of the strip on the hose.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a catch 9 corresponding to the catch 7 in the previous embodiment is provided at the end of the passage adjacent the strip 1. The catch 9 comprises a resilient cantilever arm 9a extending rearwardly of the insertion hole and a pawl 9b formed on an intermediate portion of the surface of the cantilever arm 9a adjacent the strip. The strip 1 is further formed integrally with a rigid wall portion 10 extending parallel to the arm 9a and separated therefrom by a space 11 in which the engagement between the pawl 9b and the teeth 3 passed through the passage 6 is accomplished.

Since the other portions of the second embodiment are identical to those of the first embodiment, details thereof are omitted. It should be noted, however, that for a hose of the same diameter the length of the strip in this embodiment must be made slightly longer than that in the first embodiment because the pawl 9a is positioned on the exit side of the passage 6. The disengagement of the pawl 9a from the teeth 3 is achieved by pulling the end of the cantilever arm 9a away from the wall 10.

As described hereinbefore, the binding band according to the present invention comprises a strip provided integrally with both engaging teeth and means for retaining these teeth so that the binding band need not be used in conjunction with other parts.

Furthermore, the tightening is easily performed by inserting the teeth portion into the insertion hole and pinching the grips. Furthermore, the engagement of the pawl with the teeth is easily released by pulling out the operating piece. This permits a re-use of the binding band.

The tightening obtainable by the present binding device is reliable and it is possible to mass-produce the binding device economically due to the fact that it is integrally moulded from plastics material.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: l. A resilient plastics band clamp comprising a flexible strip and a body formed at one end thereof, the body including a first grip and a pair of bridge pieces, the first grip extending in a direction out of the plane of the strip and supported at a position spaced from the strip by the bridge pieces which extend from the strip, the end of the first grip nearest the strip defining, with the bridge pieces, a passage parallel to the strip through which the other end of the strip may be passed, the first grip being formed with a cantilever arm extending from the end of the first grip nearest the strip in a direction substantially parallel to that portion of the strip nearest the arm, the clamp further including a pawl extending into the space between the cantilever arm and the strip, and the strip being formed at a location remote from the body with a series of ratchet teeth facing towards the body, the strip also having a second grip situated intermediate the body and the ratchet teeth.

2. A band clamp according to claim 1, in which the cantilever arm is resilient, and has the pawl formed thereon to extend towards the strip, the cantilever arm being formed with an operating piece extending away from the pawl, and the ratchet teeth being formed on the face of the strip towards which the pawl extends.

3. A band clamp according to claim 1, in which the pawl is formed on the strip and extends towards the cantilever arm, the pawl and the ratchet teeth being formed on opposite faces of the strip.

4. A band clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the pawl is positioned intermediate the two grips.

5. A band clamp according to any preceding claim in which the bridge pieces are formed at longitudinally offset positions with respect to the strip.

6. A band clamp according to any preceding claim substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

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Claims

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operating piece. This permits a re-use of the binding band.

The tightening obtainable by the present binding device is reliable and it is possible to mass-produce the binding device economically due to the fact that it is integrally moulded from plastics material.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: l. A resilient plastics band clamp comprising a flexible strip and a body formed at one end thereof, the body including a first grip and a pair of bridge pieces, the first grip extending in a direction out of the plane of the strip and supported at a position spaced from the strip by the bridge pieces which extend from the strip, the end of the first grip nearest the strip defining, with the bridge pieces, a passage parallel to the strip through which the other end of the strip may be passed, the first grip being formed with a cantilever arm extending from the end of the first grip nearest the strip in a direction substantially parallel to that portion of the strip nearest the arm, the clamp further including a pawl extending into the space between the cantilever arm and the strip, and the strip being formed at a location remote from the body with a series of ratchet teeth facing towards the body, the strip also having a second grip situated intermediate the body and the ratchet teeth.
2. A band clamp according to claim 1, in which the cantilever arm is resilient, and has the pawl formed thereon to extend towards the strip, the cantilever arm being formed with an operating piece extending away from the pawl, and the ratchet teeth being formed on the face of the strip towards which the pawl extends.
3. A band clamp according to claim 1, in which the pawl is formed on the strip and extends towards the cantilever arm, the pawl and the ratchet teeth being formed on opposite faces of the strip.
4. A band clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the pawl is positioned intermediate the two grips.
5. A band clamp according to any preceding claim in which the bridge pieces are formed at longitudinally offset positions with respect to the strip.
6. A band clamp according to any preceding claim substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.