Instant release connection with a reduced effective angle of friction

Claim 1

AN INSTANT RELEASE CONNECTION FOR PERIPHERAL ENGAGEMEMT WITH ADJACENT FLANGED ENDS OF PIPE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A PLURALITY O F ARCUATE SEGMENTAL CLAMPING ELEMENTS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO DEFINE AN ANNULAR CLAMPING ASSEMBLY, SAID CLAMPING ELEMENTS HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL RECESS FOR PERIPHERAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLANGED ENDS AND HAVING ADJACENT FREE ENDS; A SHOULDER MEMBER EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID FREE ENDS; A THREADED CONNECTING BOLT PIVOTALLY SECURED TO ONE END TO SAID OTHER FREE END FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CLAMPING ASSEMBLY; AN ADJUSTING MEMBER THREADEDLY SECURED TO SAID CONNECTING BOLT; A RELEASABLE LOCKING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID CONNECTING BOLT BETWEEN THE PIVOTAL AXIS THEREOF AND SAID ADJUSTING MEMBER, SAID SHOULDER MEMBER AND LOCKING MEMBER HAVING COMPLEMENTARY ARCUATE BEARING SURFACES FORMED THEREON AND ALIGNED TO FREELY ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER IN OVERLAPPING, INTERLOCKED RELATIONSHIP, SAID BEARING SURFACES HAVING A COMMON AXIS OF CURVATURE OFFSET TOWARDS THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ANNULAR CLAMPING ASSEMBLY WITH RESPECT TO THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID CONNECTING BOLT AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE ANGLE OF FRICTION THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAID BEARING SURFACES ARE ENGAGED.