US2365017A - Hose clamp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1944.

\/. E. sPRoUsE HOSE CLAMP Filed Aug. 20, 1945 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOSE CLAMP Verner E. Sprouse, Columbus, Ind. Applicatiol August 2o, 1943, serial No. 499,370 5 claims. (c1. 24-19) This invention relates to hose clamps and has for a primary object the provision of a clamping mechanism which will be free of projecting bolts, ends, and the like. An important advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the clamping mechanism is entirely conned within a more or less rounded housing so that there will be nol danger of the workman catching his clothing on the clamp when he is working about the device to. which the clamp is applied. Furthermore, the structure embodying the invention provides a highly eii'icient method of drawing up the strap of the clamp snugly about the hose to which it is applied in an even manner.

These and other important advantages of the invention, including a better appearing structure, will become apparent tol those versed in the art in the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a viewin side elevation in partial section of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in end elevation;

Fig. 3, a View in` top plan and partial section;

Fig. 4, a view in side elevation in partial section in reference to Fig. 3 of a structure embodying another forrm of the invention;

Fig. 5, a view in end elevation of that second form; and

Fig. 6, a view in top plan and partial section.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views in. the drawing.

Referring first to that form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1-3, an encircling member, such as a strap I is formed to have an end portion II upturned to serve as an abutment for a screwthreaded member, such as a nut I2. This end portion of the strap I0 is carried around from the top end of the abutment II over the top of the nut I2 and thence diagonally downwardly to terminate in a foot I3 which is brought into .contact with the outer side of the strap I0 and there secured in any suitable manner, such as by welding. r Preferably a hole I4 is provided in the diagonal portion in order to provide clearance for the end of a securing bolt I5 that may extend beyond the nut I2.

The other end of the strap I0 is brought around to lap under the rst end portion above described to bear thereagainst in a sliding manner, this end portion being designated as the tongue I6 and free to slide in contact with the inner or under face of the flrst described end portion. Between those end portions, the strap I0 is formed in a generally circular shape. An

l at the left-hand end thereof, Fig. 1, bearing in sliding contact with the outer face of the strap I0 beyond the foot I3. At the opposite end of the housing I8 is a wall 20, herein shown as having a hole therethrough, the lmargin of the hole being formed by having a part of the wall inturned in a frusto-conical shape. toserve as a bearing for a like shaped head 2| of the bolt I5. The hole through this `end, wall of the housing I8 is so located that the axis of the bolt I5 will be normally perpendicular to a diameter of the formed strap I0.

From a lower end of this right-hand wall 20 l extends a foot 22 in Contact with the outer face of the strap I0. .This foot 22 is secured to the strap I in any suitable manner, such as by spot- Welding. The housing I8 is thus located to be over the abutment I I under which the tongue I6 extends. Furthermore the bolt I5 is entirely within the housing and the only exposed portion is the outer face o-f the head 2 I, herein shown as being slotted to be turned by means of a screw driver for carrying the bolt through the nut I2 in order to reduce the diameter of the strap I0. The head 2I is lixed in relation to peripheral travel around the strap I0 by reason of the housing I8 being secured to the strap Ill. The abutment II is pulled toward the housing wall 20 when the bolt I5 is revolved therein in the proper direction to eftject the clamping engagement. For use on large diameter hoses, the side walls of the housing II may be flanged outwardly to form the arcuate side feet 23 and 24 for the purpose of bearing on the hose. In small diameter clamps, these flanges would be preferably omitted due to the difliculty of forming them in a stamping operation. Normally the housing I 8 is tended to be rocked down into engagement by the foot I 9 with the strap I0 as the bolt I5 is drawn into.

clamping position by reason of the fact that the wall 2D would otherwise tend to bend around toward the tongue I6. This bending action is prevented by reason of the top and side walls of the housing I8 forming a. substantial brace with portion tied through the foot I3 to the strap I0.

Thus a structure is provided wherein there are no corners or projecting bolt ends on which clothing or even the fingers of a workman may be caught. The structure is of particular advantage in places where there is restricted room to work.

Referring now to that form ofthe invention as shown in Figs. 4-6, the primary difference between this form and the form shown in Figs. 1-3 resides in the forming of an abutment carrying the screw-threaded member to be `engaged by the bolt I5. In this second form, the strap I is bent upwardly and thence around and back down over itself to form the double strap thickness abutment 25. From the lower end of the downturned part of this abutment, the strap Il) is continued on around to form the tongue 26 lapping under the opposite end portion of the strap III which carries the foot 22 of the housing I8, this foot 22 being secured to that end of the strap by any suitable means, such as by spotwelding. The housing I8 has its foot I9 bearing against the outer face of the strap I0 beyond the abutment 25. The nut I2, which is placed outside of the abutment 25, may be loose in reference thereto or it may be secured to the abutment 25 in any suitable manner, such as by sweating or welding.

while I have herein shown and described my invention in the particular forms, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore do not desire to be limited to those precise forms beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims,

I claim:

1. A hose clamp comprising in combination, an encircling strap; an outturned abutment on one end portion of the strap including a screwthreaded part; a housing secured to the other end portion of said strap and covering said abutment; a wall in said housing outturned from said strap and having a hole therethrough; a bolt through said .hole screw-threadedly engaging with said abutment screw-threaded part; a

shoulder on the bolt revolubly engaging about the margin of said hole; and a bearing member carried by said housing to contact said strap beyond said abutment to limit the rocking of the housing toward said abutment when said bolt is drawn up in said screw-threaded part.

2, A hose clamp comprising yin combination an encircling strap; an outturned abutment on one end portion of the strap including a screwthreaded part; a housing secured to the other end portion of said strap and covering said abutment; a wall` in said housing outturned from said strap and having a hole therethrough; a bolt through said hole screw-threadedly engaging with said abutment screw-threaded part; a shoulder on the bolt revolubly engaging about the margin of said hole; a bearing member carried by said housing to contact said strap beyond said abutment to limit -the rocking of the housing toward said abutment when said bolt is drawn up in said screw-threaded part; said abutment comprising an end portion of said strap bent outwardly and thence looped around and back down against and secured to said strap; and said screw-threaded part consisting of a nut positioned within said loop against said abutmsnt.

3. A hose clamp comprising in combination an encircling strap; an outturned abutment on one end portion of the strap including a screwthreaded part; a housing secured to the other end portion of said strap and covering said abutment; a wall in said housing outturned from said strap and having a hole therethrough; a bolt through said hole screw-threadedly engaging with said abutment screw-threaded part; a shoulder on the bolt revolubly engaging about the margin of said hole; a bearing member carried by said housing to contact said strap beyond said abutment to limit the rocking of the housing toward said abutment when said bolt is drawn up in said screw-threaded part; said abutment comprising an end portion of said strap bent outwardly and thence looped around and back down against and secured to said strap; said screw-threaded part consisting of a nut positioned within said loop against said abutment; said other end of said strap extending by a tongue under said housing and under said abutment.

4. A hose clamp comprising in combination an encircling strap; an outturned abutment on one end portion of the strap including a screwthreaded part; a housing secured to the other end portion of said strap and covering said abutment; a wall in said housing outturned from said strap and having a hole therethrough; a bolt through said hole screw-threadedly engaging with said abutment screw-threaded part; a shoulder on the bolt revolubly engaging vabout the margin of said hole; a bearing member carried by said housing to limit the rocking of the housing toward said abutment when said bolt is drawn up in said screw-threaded part; said abutment comprising an end portion of said strap bent outwardly and thence looped around and back down against and secured to said strap; said screw-threaded part consisting of a nut positioned within said loop against said abutment; said bearing member consisting of a foot slidingly resting on said strap beyond said abutment.

5. A hose clamp comprising in combination an encircling strap; an outturned abutment on one end portion o! the strap including a screwthreaded part; a housing secured to the other end portion of said strap and covering said abutment; a wall in said housing outturned from said strap and having a hole therethrough; a bolt through said hole screw-threadedly engaging with said abutment screw-threaded part; a shoulder on the bolt revolubly engaging about the margin of said hole; a bearing member carried.

by said housing to contact said strap beyond said abutmentto limit the rocking of the housing toward said abutment when said bolt is rdrawn up in said screw-threaded part; said abutment comprising a portion of vsaid strap bent outwardly therefrom and folded back inwardly thereover; anda tongue extending from the inner end of said back fold and around under said other strap end portion.

VERNER E. SPROUSE.

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