Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Metal bands
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-02-27
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Metal bands
C024S0200CW, C024S0200CW, C024S0230EE
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192555
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to hose clips for clamping hoses, and more particularly to a hose clip of the self-holding type having a function of holding itself in a spread-diameter state (i.e., state in which the hose clip has a large diameter).
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have conventionally been provided hose clips for clamping hoses utilizing an internal spring force. In view of a working efficiency, these hose clips are desired to be carried to a working site in a spread-diameter state. The hose clips are divided into two types depending on the manner in which they are held in the spread-diameter state. One is a holder type in which a holder discrete from the hose clip clamps both ends of the hose clip to thereby hold it in the spread-diameter state. The other is a holderless or self-holding type in which the hose clip can hold itself in the spread-diameter state. In the former type, when the holder is pulled out of the hose clip so that the hose clip is released from the spread-diameter state, the hose clip throws offthe holder due to its spring-force. As a result, a number of holders scatter around the working site. This results in a problem. Accordingly, the self-holding type hose clips have recently been used widely.
FIG. 13
illustrates one of the conventional self-holding type hose clips. The hose clip shown comprises a clamping ring
101
made by bending a band-shaped leaf spring into a circular form. The clamping ring
101
has both ends crossed and then raised radially to thereby be formed into first and second knobs
102
and
103
respectively. The first knob
102
is formed into the shape of an arch and has an operation hole formed through an upper portion thereof. The second knob
103
is formed into the shape of an elongated strip and has such a width that it can pass under the first knob. The second knob
103
has a pair of locking claws
105
formed on the middle thereof The locking claws
105
engage an arch-shaped portion of the first knob
102
so that the hose clip is held in the spread-diameter state.
The hose clip is released from the spread-diameter state in the following manner. A releasing tool T such as a screwdriver is inserted into the operation hole
104
of the first knob
102
from the second knob
103
side as shown by the solid line in FIG.
14
. The tool T is then moved downward with an upper end of the second knob
103
as a fulcrum, so that the second knob
103
is displaced radially. Consequently, both locking claws
105
are disengaged from the arch portion
102
a
of the first knob
102
, and the spring force rapidly deforms (contracts) the clamping ring into a reduced-diameter state.
However, the above-described hose clip of the self-holding type has the following problems. First, the specification of a hose clip including the clamping force applied to a hose and a clamping width generally determines the thickness and the width of the material for the hose clip. In the aboved-described hose clip, both side edges of the root portion at the second knob
103
side are raised into the pair of locking claws
105
. A sufficient width of the portion of the clamping ring provided with the locking claws
105
is not always ensured relative to the thickness of the second knob
103
. In such a case, when the locking claws
105
are formed by bending both side edges of the second knob
103
which has a large thickness even though having a small width, the width of the root portion of the locking claws
105
is insufficient such that a pair of locking claws cannot be formed. If one side edge of the second knob
103
should be bent into a single locking claw, the engaging force of the locking claw would be unbalanced widthwise. As a result, the hose clip would have a problem of twisting.
Secondly, the releasing tool T is inserted in the operation hole from the second knob
103
side in the releasing operation as described above. However, when the direction in which the hose clip is fitted with the hose is not fixed, the second knob
103
is directed rightward and leftward. If the tool T should be caused to enter the operation hole
104
from the first knob
102
side, the tool T would be inserted into the operation hole
104
obliquely upward with an operating side thereof being directed downward. In this case, since an operating angle of the tool T is large, the tool T interferes with the clamping ring
101
such that the tool cannot be manipulated. Particularly in the case of a hose clip used in a small space such as an engine room of an automobile, inserting the operating side of the tool T deep into the operation hole is disadvantageous.
Thus, in the above-described hose clip, the degree of freedom in the releasing work is low since the direction in which the releasing tool is inserted is limited in the releasing operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hose clip which can accomplish a stable clamping state and has an advantage in the manipulation.
The present invention provides a hose clip comprising a clamping ring made by circularly bending a band-shaped leaf spring having two ends. A first knob is formed by cutting off a central portion of the clamping ring at a side of a first end thereof in a predetermined range of a length thereof to thereby obtain a groove-like opening and by raising the first end of the clamping ring radially with respect to the clamping ring. The first knob includes a generally arch-shaped portion. A second knob includes a reduced-width portion at a side of the second end of the clamping ring. The second knob is formed by fitting the reduced-width portion into the opening and passing it under the arch-shaped portion of the first knob, and by raising the second end of the clamping ring radially with respect to the clamping ring so that the second knob confronts the first knob. An abutment face is provided on a surface of the arch-shaped portion of the first knob opposed to a surface of the arch-shaped portion confronting the second knob. A single locking claw is formed by raising a portion defined between two spaced-apart slits (each extending from one side edge of the second knob) approximately to a widthwise center of the second knob. The locking claw holds the clamping ring in a spread-diameter state when engaging the abutment face and the locking claw permits the clamping ring to turn to a reduced-diameter state when it is disengaged from the abutment face.
According to the above-described construction, the single locking claw is formed on the second knob. This construction is effective in a hose clip including a clamping ring having such a small width that a pair of locking claws cannot be provided on both side edges thereof, respectively.
The locking claw applies a spring force of the clamping ring to the abutment face when the clamping ring is in the spread-diameter state. Accordingly, when only one locking claw is provided, there is a possibility that the hose clip may be twisted. In the above-described hose clip, however, the single locking claw stands substantially away from the widthwise center of the clamping ring and abuts the central portion of the abutment face. Consequently, since the spring force applied to the abutment face is balanced widthwise on the right-hand and left-hand sides thereof, the hose clip can be prevented from being twisted.
In a preferred form, the hose clip further comprises a releasing portion provided for releasing the clamping ring from a spread-diameter state. The releasing portion is formed by hollowing a portion of the first knob radially over the abutment face so that it permits insertion of a releasing jig from the second knob side. In this case, the jig is manipulated radially inside a clamping portion in abutment both with the second knob and with an upper part of the releasing portion so that leverage is effected, thereby releasing the clamping ring from the spread-diameter state.
In order that the hose clip may be released from the spread-diamet
Muto Mineo
Nakamura Yuji
Sakran Victor N.
Togo Seisakusyo Corporation
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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