Hose clamp and closing tool

Abstract

A hose clamp for limited diameters, in the form of an open band ring having overlapping band ends, is manufactured from the band material of an insert as is used in conventional hose clamps for bridging an ear gap, such insert being typically made of steel according to DIN 1.4310 having a thickness of 0.3 mm. An opening is provided near one band end and a hook for engaging the opening is provided near the other band end. For closing this hose clamp, a gripper-type tool is used, the two jaws of which, in the closed condition, constitute an essentially uninterrupted inner surface having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the closed hose clamp.

1 . A hose clamp made of an open band ring ( 10 ) and having overlapping band ends ( 11 ,  12 ), an opening ( 13 ) disposed in one band end ( 11 ), and a hook ( 14 ) disposed in the other band end ( 12 ) for engaging the opening ( 13 ), characterised in that the band ring ( 10 ) is made of the material of a hose clamp insert having a thickness of up to 0.4 mm.  
     
     
         2 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein the material of the band ring ( 10 ) is steel according to DIN 1.4310 having a thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein the band ring ( 10 ) has border regions ( 16 ) raised outwardly from a centre portion ( 15 ) that takes a substantial part of the band width.  
     
     
         4 . The hose clamp of  claim 3  wherein the centre portion ( 15 ) of the band ring ( 10 ) has a curved cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . The hose clamp of  claim 4  wherein the centre portion ( 15 ) of the band ring ( 10 ) has an outwardly convexly curved cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . The hose clamp of any one of  claims 3  to  5  wherein the outer overlapping band end ( 11 ) has its terminal edge ( 19 ) chamfered in the areas of the raised border regions ( 16 ).  
     
     
         7 . The hose clamp of any preceding claim wherein the hook ( 14 ) is partially punched and pressed out of the band material.  
     
     
         8 . The hose clamp of  claim 7  wherein the hook ( 14 ) in the closed condition projects beyond the plane portion of the band ring ( 10 ) no further than the outwardly raised border regions ( 16 ).  
     
     
         9 . The hose clamp of any preceding claim, having a diameter of up to 20 mm, preferably 3 to 13 mm, wherein the band material has a width of 5 to 12 mm, preferably 8 mm, and a thickness of at most 0.4 mm, preferably 0.3 mm.  
     
     
         10 . A tool for closing a hose clamp which consists of an open band ring ( 10 ) having overlapping ends, an opening ( 13 ) located in one band end ( 11 ) and a hook ( 14 ) located in the other band end ( 12 ) for engaging the opening ( 13 ), specifically for closing the hose clamp of any preceding claim, characterised in that the tool ( 20 ) is formed as a pair grippers the two jaws ( 21 ,  22 ) of which in the closed condition form an inner surface having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the closed hose clamp, wherein the inner surfaces of the jaws ( 21 ,  22 ) form a smooth cylindrical surface over their substantial width with enlarged border regions.  
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the jaws ( 21 ,  22 ) in the closed condition form a substantially uninterrupted inner surface.  
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 10  or  claim 11  wherein the jaws are exchangeable in accordance with the diameter of the respective hose clamp.  
     
     
         13 . The tool of any one of  claims 10  to  12  wherein the tips ( 23 ,  24 ) of the jaws ( 21 ,  22 ) overlap each other in the closed condition.  
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13  wherein the tips ( 23 ,  24 ) of the jaws ( 21 ,  22 ) have their widths reduced to substantially one-half.  
     
     
         15 . The tool of any one of  claims 10  to  13  wherein, in the hinge region ( 26 ), one gripper arm ( 25 ) is formed by two legs, with the other gripper arm ( 27 ) crossing between the two legs.  
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 15  wherein the tip of one jaw has two outer tines between which a central tine formed at the tip of the other jaw engages in the closed condition of the grippers.