Hose Clamp

Abstract

A hose clamp for securing a hose to a component includes a first band of uniform thickness that extends angularly about an axis and includes an engagement surface, and a second band having the uniform thickness and formed in one piece with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.

1 . A hose clamp for securing a hose to a component comprising:
 a first band that extends angularly about an axis, including an engagement surface located within a thickness of the first band; and   a second band formed in one piece with the first band and radially aligned with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface and located within a thickness of the second band, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.   
     
     
         2 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a recess located along a length of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with the recess when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         3 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a series of recesses spaced angularly about the axis and located along a length of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with at least one of the recesses when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         4 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, and is angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         5 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         6 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first band is formed with a first hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the first band; and   the second first band is formed with a second hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the second band, the holes being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the holes being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.   
     
     
         7 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band;   the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state;   the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and   the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.   
     
     
         8 . The hose clamp of  claim 1  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band;   the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state;   
       the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and
 the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state. 
 
     
     
         9 . A hose clamp for securing a hose to a component comprising:
 a first band of uniform thickness that extends angularly about an axis and includes an engagement surface; and   a second band having the uniform thickness and formed in one piece with the first band, extending angularly about the axis, offset axially from the first band, and including a latch surface engageable with the engagement surface, the clamp having an open state in which the first band and the second band are elastically urged angularly about the axis toward contact with the hose, said engagement maintaining an elastically resilient load between the first band and the second band.   
     
     
         10 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a recess located along a length of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with the recess when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         11 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a series of recesses spaced angularly about the axis and located along a length of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a projection extending from the second band, facing and engageable with at least one of the recesses when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         12 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, and is angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         13 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band; and   the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state.   
     
     
         14 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the first band is formed with a first hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the first band; and   the second first band is formed with a second hole that extends at least partially through the thickness of the second band, the holes being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the holes being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.   
     
     
         15 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the engagement surface is located at an end of the first band;   the latch surface comprises a surface that is substantially axially aligned with the engagement surface, angularly aligned with and contacting the engagement when the clamp is in the open state;   the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and   the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state.   
     
     
         16 . The hose clamp of  claim 9  wherein:
 the engagement surface comprises a series of first ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the first band;   the latch surface comprises a series of second ratchet teeth distributed along and located at an edge of the second band, facing and engageable with the first ratchet teeth when the clamp is in the open state;   
       the first band is further formed with a first stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the first band; and
 the second band is further formed with a second stop surface that extends radially from the thickness of the second band, the first and second stop surfaces being substantially nonaligned when the clamp is in a closed state, the stop surfaces being engageable by a tool that changes the clamp from the open state to the closed state. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of securing a hose to a component using a hose clamp, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a clamp that includes a first band that extends angularly about an axis and an engagement surface, and a second band formed in one piece with the first band, radially aligned with the first band, and including a latch surface;   (b) opening the clamp and producing an elastic preload on the first and second bands, the preload elastically urging angular displacement of the first band relative to the second band about the axis toward contact with the hose;   (c) maintaining the elastic preload on the clamp in the open state;   (d) locating the clamp over the hose;   (e) releasing the elastic preload; and   (f) allowing the clamp to elastically engage the hose.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of:
 engaging the first band and the second band with pliers;   opening the pliers to angularly displace the first band away from the second band; and   step (c) further comprises the step of rotating the pliers to engage the latch surface with the engagement surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 step (c) further comprises the step of engaging the latch surface with the engagement surface; and   step (e) further comprises the step of using the blade of a flat ended screwdriver to axially displace the engagement surface from engagement with the latch surface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein step (c) further comprises the step of using pliers to angularly displace the first band toward the second band and to engage the engagement surface with the latch surface.