Clamping band

Abstract

A clamping band for securing a cover to the opening of a barrel includes separate semicircular band segments which are detachably secured to one another. A detachable clamp maintains the secured band segments in a closed loop configuration about the periphery of the cover and barrel opening. The band segments are connected to one another by means of a tongue and receptacle opposite the clamp in a manner enabling adjustability of the overall circumference of the clamping band for use on various sized barrels. The components are detachable for individual replacement.

1 . A clamping band, comprising:
 a first band segment;   a second band segment detachably secured to the first band segment; and   a clamp for maintaining the secured first and second band segments in a closed loop configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The clamping band of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection interface between the first and second band segments which allows for adjustment of the length of the loop. 
     
     
         3 . The clamping band of  claim 2 , wherein the connection interface comprises a receptacle forming part of the first band segment and a tongue forming part of the second band segment which is configured for insertion into the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The clamping band of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second band segments are of channel section—comprising a floor and a pair of walls extending from the floor, and further comprising one or more ribs extending from the floor to an inner surface of one, the other or both walls, the ribs being adapted to interact with a lid and/or opening of a vessel covered by the lid to urge the lid against the opening as the clamping band is tightened peripherally thereabout. 
     
     
         5 . The clamping band of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second band segments are of channel section, and
 the receptacle is of channel section—comprising a floor and a pair of spaced walls extending therefrom, and wherein the receptacle includes a plurality of spaced aligned apertures and the tongue comprises a barb configured to be received by a selected one of the apertures.   
     
     
         6 . The clamping band of  claim 5 , wherein the apertures are in a wall of the receptacle channel section, and wherein the tongue is of channel section with the barb extending outwardly from a wall thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping band of  claim 5 , wherein one of the channel walls of the receptacle comprises a return extending toward the receptacle channel floor, and wherein the tongue is of channel section comprising a pair of opposed walls—one of which is received by the return. 
     
     
         8 . The clamping band of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a lever attached pivotally and detachably to both the first and second band segments. 
     
     
         9 . The clamping band of  claim 8 , wherein the first band segment comprises a fork having mutually facing lugs, and wherein the lever comprises a pair of slots into each of which a respective lug is slidably received. 
     
     
         10 . The clamping band of  claim 9 , wherein each lug has a widened head, and wherein each slot includes a widened assembly aperture through which a respective one of the heads pass as the lever is attached to the first band segment. 
     
     
         11 . The clamping band of  claim 8 , wherein the second band segment comprises a hook and wherein the lever comprises a hinge pin for pivotal interaction with the hook. 
     
     
         12 . The clamping band of  claim 11 , wherein the second band segment comprises a pair of said hooks in laterally aligned mutual association, and wherein the hinge pin interacts pivotally with both said hooks. 
     
     
         13 . The clamping band of  claim 9 , wherein the lever is channel-shaped to receive a portion of the second band segment therein. 
     
     
         14 . The clamping band of  claim 13 , wherein the second band segment comprises an eyelet and the lever includes an internal recess flanked by the slots so that when the eyelet is located in or adjacent to the recess the eyelet is laterally aligned with the slots to enable passage of a split pin through the eyelet and slots. 
     
     
         15 . The clamping band of  claim 1 , wherein each band segment is of moulded plastics material. 
     
     
         16 . The clamping band of  claim 15 , wherein the plastics material is fibre-reinforced. 
     
     
         17 . The clamping band of  claim 8 , wherein the lever is of moulded plastics material. 
     
     
         18 . The clamping band of  claim 17 , wherein the plastics material is fibre-reinforced.