Crimpable separable tubing clamp

Abstract

A crimpable compression clamp that secures a tube onto a fitting and is able to be installed and removed without having to separate the tube and the fitting from each other. The crimpable compression clamp includes an inner band portion and an outer band portion. The inner band portion is detachably attached in the outer band portion so as to allow the crimpable compression clamp to be installed and removed without having to separate the tube and the fitting from each other by merely separating the outer band portion and the inner band portion from each other.

Claims

1. A crimpable compression clamp for securing a tube onto a fitting and for being able to be installed without having to separate the tube and the fitting from each other, comprising: a) an inner band portion having a pair of free ends such that there is a space therebetween; and b) an outer band portion having a pair of free ends such that there is a space therebetween, wherein one of said inner band portion and said outer band portion has at least two apertures, and the other has at least two hooks that can be aligned with said apertures when assembled so as to retain said portions together such that said inner band portion is detachably attached in said outer band portion, wherein said outer band portion substantially encompasses said pair of free ends of said inner band portion, wherein said outer band portion has an Oetiker ear, and wherein said outer band portion has a step-like portion.

2. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said outer band portion is separate and distinct from said inner band portion.

3. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said outer band portion is generally circular.

4. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said Oetiker ear of said outer band portion has a pair of parallel outwardly extending leg portions and a bridge portion, wherein said pair of parallel outwardly extending leg portions are connected to each other by said bridge portion.

5. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said bridge portion of said Oetiker ear of said outer band portion has a reinforcing through groove.

6. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said outer band portion has a pair of three through apertures.

7. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 6, wherein said outer band portion has a through opening.

8. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said pair of free ends of said outer band portion are adjacent to each other.

9. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said pair of free ends of said outer band portion are slightly spaced-apart from each other.

10. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said step-like portion of said outer band portion is disposed to one side of said Oetiker ear of said outer band portion.

11. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 6, wherein each pair of three through apertures of said outer band portion are disposed adjacent to an associated free end of said outer band portion.

12. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 7, wherein said through opening of said outer band portion is slender.

13. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 7, wherein said through opening of said outer band portion is elongated.

14. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 7, wherein said through opening of said outer band portion originates at said step-like portion of said outer band portion.

15. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said inner band portion sits coaxially in said outer band portion.

16. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein said inner band portion is generally circular.

17. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 7, wherein said inner band portion has two pair of support hooks.

18. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 17, wherein said two pair of support hooks of said inner band portion are two pair of cold-deformed and deep drawn support hooks.

19. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 17, wherein said two pair of support hooks of said inner band portion are disposed adjacent one free end of said inner band portion.

20. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 17, wherein each pair of support hooks of said inner band portion releasably engage in an associated pair of through apertures of said outer band portion.

21. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 19, wherein said inner band portion has a tongue extension.

22. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 21, wherein said tongue extension of said inner band portion extends to the other free end of said inner band portion.

23. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 21, wherein said tongue extension of said inner band portion rides releasably in said through opening of said outer band portion.

24. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 7, wherein said pair of free ends of said inner band portion are spaced-apart from each other.

25. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 7, wherein said pair of free ends of said inner band portion face each other.

26. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 17, wherein each pair of support hooks of said inner band portion are disposed adjacent to one free end of said inner band portion.

27. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 21, wherein said tongue extension of said inner band portion is slender.

28. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 21, wherein said tongue extension of said inner band portion is elongated.

29. A crimpable compression clamp for securing a tube onto a fitting and for being able to be installed without having to separate the tube and the fitting from each other, comprising: a) an inner band portion; and b) an outer band portion, wherein said inner band portion is detachably attached in said outer band portion, wherein said outer band portion has a pair of free ends, an Oetiker ear, a step-like portion, a pair of three through apertures, and a through opening, and wherein said inner band portion has a pair of free ends, two pair of support hooks, and a pair of guide/suspension hooks.

30. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 29, wherein said pair of guide/suspension hooks of said inner band portion are disposed between said two pair of support hooks of said inner band portion.

31. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 29, wherein said pair of guide/suspension hooks of said inner band portion releasably engage in an associated pair of through apertures of said outer band portion that straddle said pair of free ends of said outer band portion, and in doing so, maintains said outer band portion around said inner band portion.

32. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 1, wherein one of said at least two hooks and said at least two apertures are on each side of the space between said pair of free ends of the outer band portion.

33. A crimpable compression clamp for securing a tube onto a fitting and for being able to be installed without having to separate the tube and the fitting from each other, comprising: a) an inner band portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a pair of free ends; and b) an outer band portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a pair of free ends, wherein said inner band portion is detachably attached in said outer band portion such that all of said outer surface of said inner band portion is in contact with said inner surface of said outer band portion except for a portion of said outer surface of said inner band portion which corresponds to a space between the pair of free ends of the outer band portion.

34. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 33, wherein said pair of free ends of said outer band portion is in contact with said outer surface of said inner band portion.

35. The crimpable compression clamp of claim 33, wherein said pair of free ends of said inner band portion is in contact with said inner surface of said outer band portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a prior art crimpable non-separable tubing clamp per se;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a crimpable separable tubing clamp per se of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the crimpable separable tubing clamp being assembled placed at an appropriate pipe joint;

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the crimpable separable tubing clamp about to be crimped with a cooperating crimping tool;

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the crimpable separable tubing clamp after it has been securely crimped;

(7) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the two separate components of the crimpable separable tubing clamp prior to assembly;

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrow 7 of just an inner component shown in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrow 8 of just an outer component shown in FIG. 6; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line 9-9 in FIG. 2.

A MARSHALING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

Prior Art

(11) 10 hose clamp 12 tongue-like extension of inner band portion 14 14 inner band portion 16 through opening of outer band portion 18 18 outer band portion 20 step-like portion of outer band portion 18 22 Oetiker ear 24 outwardly extending leg portion of Oetiker ear 22 26 other outwardly extending leg portion of Oetiker ear 22 28 bridging portion of Oetiker ear 22 30 reinforcing through groove of bridging portion 28 of Oetiker ear 22 32 guide or suspension hook of inner band portion 14 34 two cold-deformed, deep-drawn support hooks of inner band portion 14 36 through apertures of outer band portion 18

Present Invention

(12) 40 crimpable compression clamp of embodiments of present invention for securing tube 42 onto fitting 44 and for being able to be installed and removed without having to separate tube 42 and fitting 44 from each other 42 tube 44 fitting 46 inner band portion 48 outer band portion 50 pair of free ends of outer band portion 48 52 Oetiker ear of outer band portion 48 54 pair of parallel outwardly extending leg portions of Oetiker ear 52 of outer band portion 48 56 bridge portion of Oetiker ear 52 of outer band portion 48 58 reinforcing through groove of bridge portion 56 of Oetiker ear 52 of outer band portion 48 60 step-like portion of outer band portion 48 62 pair of three through apertures of outer band portion 48 64 through opening of outer band portion 48 66 pair of free ends of inner band portion 46 68 two pair of support hooks of inner band portion 46 70 tongue extension of inner band portion 46 72 pair of guide or suspension hooks of inner band portion 46

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(13) Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the crimpable compression clamp of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 40 for securing a tube 42 onto a fitting 44 and for being able to be installed and removed without having to separate the tube 42 and the fitting 44 from each other.

(14) The configuration of the crimpable compression clamp 40 can best be seen in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(15) The crimpable compression clamp 40 comprises an inner band portion 46 and an outer band portion 48. The inner band portion 46 is detachably attached in the outer band portion 48 for allowing the crimpable compression clamp 40 to be installed and removed without having to separate the tube 42 and the fitting 44 from each other by merely separating the outer band portion 48 and the inner band portion 46 from each other.

(16) The outer band portion 48 is separate and distinct from the inner band portion 46 for allowing the crimpable compression clamp 40 to be installed and removed without having to separate the tube 42 and the fitting 44 from each other by merely separating the outer band portion 48 and the inner band portion 46 from each other.

(17) The outer band portion 48 is generally circular, and has a pair of free ends 50.

(18) The outer band portion 48 further has an Oetiker ear 52.

(19) The Oetiker ear 52 of the outer band portion 48 has a pair of parallel outwardly extending leg portions 54 connected to each other by a bridge portion 56.

(20) The bridge portion 56 of the Oetiker ear 52 of the outer band portion 48 has a reinforcing through groove 58.

(21) The outer band portion 48 further has a step-like portion 60.

(22) The outer band portion 48 further has a pair of three through apertures 62.

(23) The outer band portion 48 further has a through opening 64.

(24) The pair of free ends 50 of the outer band portion 48 are adjacent to each other and slightly spaced-apart from each other.

(25) The step-like portion 60 of the outer band portion 48 is disposed to one side of the Oetiker ear 52 of the outer band portion 48.

(26) Each pair of three through apertures 62 of the outer band portion 48 are disposed adjacent to an associated free end 50 of the outer band portion 48.

(27) The through opening 64 of the outer band portion 48 is slender and elongated, and originates at the step-like portion 60 of the outer band portion 48.

(28) The inner band portion 46 sits coaxially in the outer band portion 48.

(29) The inner band portion 46 is generally circular, and has a pair of free ends 66.

(30) The inner band portion 46 further has two pair of support hooks 68.

(31) The two pair of support hooks 68 of the inner band portion 46 are two pair of cold-deformed and deep drawn support hooks.

(32) The two pair of support hooks 68 of the inner band portion 46 are disposed adjacent one free end 66 of the inner band portion 46.

(33) Each pair of support hooks 68 of the inner band portion 46 releasably engage in an associated pair of through apertures 62 of the outer band portion 48.

(34) The inner band portion 46 further has a tongue extension 70.

(35) The tongue extension 70 of the inner band portion 46 extends to the other free end 66 of the inner band portion 46.

(36) The tongue extension 70 of the inner band portion 46 rides releasably in the through opening 64 of the outer band portion 48.

(37) The pair of free ends 66 of the inner band portion 46 are spaced-apart from each other and face each other.

(38) The two pair of support hooks 68 of the inner band portion 46 are disposed adjacent to one free end 66 of the inner band portion 46.

(39) The tongue extension 70 of the inner band portion 46 is slender and elongated.

(40) The inner band portion 46 further has a pair of guide/suspension hooks 72.

(41) The pair of guide/suspension hooks 72 of the inner band portion 46 are disposed between the two pair of support hooks 68 of the inner band portion 46, and releasably engage in an associated pair of through apertures 62 of the outer band portion 48 that straddle the pair of free ends 50 of the outer band portion 48, and in so doing, maintains the outer band portion 48 around the inner band portion 46.

(42) It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

(43) While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a crimpable separable tubing clamp, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

(44) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.