V-band coupling

Claim 1

A coupling for joining the abutting ends of cylindrically shaped members comprising at least one retainer element surrounding the ends of said cylindrically shaped members, means attached to and surrounding said retainer element for forcing said retainer element into clamping engagement about said cylindrically shaped members, said clamping means being formed of a continuous band of flexible material having a pair of loops therein and a locking member located within said loops for fixedly securing said clamping means about said cylindrically shaped members, said locking member being made up of a pair of saddle blocks, each of said saddle blocks being of a cylindrical configuration on one side thereof, having a surface of a predetermined configuration on the other side thereof and having a centrally located opening therethrough, one of said saddle blocks located in each of said loops of said clamping means, said clamping means having a first aperture in one loop thereof and second and third apertures in the other loop thereof, a bolt having a head with an undersurface conformed to said preselected configuration at one end thereof passing through said opening in said saddle blocks and said apertures in said clamping means, the remainder of said continuous band of material being completely solid thereby enabling said one loop to uninterruptingly encircle said bolt head, securing means located at the other end of said bolt, and a sleeve interposed between one of said saddle blocks and said securing means.