Worm gear clamping apparatus

Claim 2

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus comprising: a molded, one-piece worm gear drive head and a flexible molded strap attachable to said worm gear drive head; said worm gear drive head comprising: a base member having a smooth interior surface and a recess molded thereon, a cover member connected to said base member by means of a flexible web member and having a latch molded thereon and a plurality of bearing surfaces molded therein, and a threaded member connected to said base member by means of flexible frangible web members and having threads formed on a portion of its length and journals outboard the ends of said threads, said threaded member also including means to rotate said threaded member at one end thereof; and said strap having a smooth side and a threaded side oppositely disposed from said smooth side, said threaded side having a plurality of axially extending matable worm gear threads at one end thereof, the other end of said strap being attachable to said worm gear drive head.

Claim 3

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover member and said threaded member have a first molded position and a second assembled position wherein said threaded member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member and said cover member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member permitting said journals on said threaded member to engage said bearing surfaces provided on said cover member and permitting said latch to engage said recess in said base member, said folding and engagement of said cover member and said threaded member relative to said base member forming a slot between said smooth interior surface of said base member and said threaded member to receive said strap, said strap having a first molded position and a second assembled position wherein said strap is formed into a generally circular configuration having said threaded side on the outer circumference thereof, said strap being received in said slot permitting said smooth side of said strap to slidingly contact said smooth interior surface of said base member and permitting said axially extending worm gear threads on said strap to engage said threaded member allowing the diameter of said generally circular configuration to be selectively varied by rotation of said threaded member.

Claim 4

A flexible, encircling, varible circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said recess on said base member is molded on the outer surface thereof.

Claim 5

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said recess on said base member is molded on the interior wall of said base member.

Claim 6

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said base member has a ramp shaped section molded thereto at one end thereof to form a leading surface to assist insertion of said strap in said slot and engagement of said axially extending worm gear threads with said threaded member.

Claim 7

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said base member has a generally concave surface on the underside thereof to permit firm seating of said worm gear drive head on the article being clamped.

Claim 8

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said threaded member is provided with a slotted head at one end thereof to assist rotation of said threaded member to vary said diameter of said generally circular configuration of said strap.

Claim 9

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said threaded member is provided with a hexagonal head at one end thereof to assist rotation of said threaded member to vary said diameter of said generally circular configuration of said strap.

Claim 10

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap is integrally molded to said base member.

Claim 11

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap is operatively connected to said base member.

Claim 12

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus comprising: a molded, one-piece worm gear drive head and a flexible strap attachable to said worm gear drive head; said worm gear drive head comprising a U-shaped base member having a smooth interior surface with a recess provided on one wall thereof and also having a generally concave surface on the underside thereof, said concave surface extending to a ramp shaped section molded to one end of said base member, a cover member connected to said base member by means of a flexible web member and having a plurality of bearing surfaces molded theRein and a latch molded thereon, and a threaded member connected to said base member by means of flexible frangible web members and having threads formed on a portion of its length and journals outboard the ends of said threads, said threaded member also having a hexagonal slotted head at one end thereof to assist rotation of said threaded member, said cover member and said threaded member having a first molded position and a second assembled position wherein said threaded member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member and said cover member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member permitting said journals on said threaded member to engage said bearing surfaces provided on said cover member and permitting said latch to engage said recess provided in said base member, said folding and engagement of said cover member and said threaded member relative to said base member forming a slot between said smooth interior surface of said base member and said threaded member to receive said flexible strap, said ramp shaped section forming a leading surface to assist insertion of said strap in said slot and engagement of said strap with said threaded member.

Claim 13

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus comprising: a molded, one-piece worm gear drive head and a flexible strap attachable to said worm gear drive head; said worm gear drive head comprising a U-shaped base member having a smooth interior surface with a recess provided on one wall thereof and also having a generally concave surface on the underside thereof, said concave surface extending to a ramp shaped section molded to one end of said base member, a cover member connected to said base member by means of a flexible web member and having a plurality of bearing surfaces molded theRein and a latch molded thereon, and a threaded member connected to said base member by means of flexible frangible web members and having threads formed on a portion of its length and journals outboard the ends of said threads, said threaded member also having a hexagonal slotted head at one end thereof to assist rotation of said threaded member, said cover member and said threaded member having a first molded position and a second assembled position wherein said threaded member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member and said cover member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member permitting said journals on said threaded member to engage said bearing surfaces provided on said cover member and permitting said latch to engage said recess provided in said base member, said folding and engagement of said cover member and said threaded member relative to said base member forming a slot between said smooth interior surface of said base member and said threaded member to receive said flexible strap, said ramp shaped section forming a leading surface to assist insertion of said strap in said slot and engagement of said strap with said threaded member.

Claim 14

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein one side of said strap has a plurality of axially extended matable worm gear threads at one end thereof, the other end of said strap being attachable to said worm gear drive head.

Claim 15

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said strap is integrally molded to said base member.

Claim 16

A flexible, encircling, variable circumference, clamping apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said strap is operatively connected to said base member.

Claim 17

A molded, one-piece worm gear drive head comprising a U-shaped base member having a smooth interior surface and a recess molded thereon, a cover member connected to said base member by means of a flexible web member and having a plurality of bearing surfaces molded therein and a latch molded thereon, and a threaded member connected to said base member by means of flexible frangible web members and having threads formed on a portion of its length and journals outboard the ends of said threads, said threaded member also having a hexagonal slotted head at one end thereof to assist rotation of said threaded member, said cover member and said threaded member having a first molded position and a second assembled position wherein said threaded member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member and said cover member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member permitting said journals on said threaded member to engage said bearing surfaces provided on said cover member and permitting said latch to engage said recess in said base member, said folding and engagement of said cover member and said threaded member relative to said base member forming a slot between said smooth interior surface of said base member and said threaded member, said slot adapted to receive a flexible strap.

Claim 18

A molded, one-piece worm gear drive head comprising a U-shaped base member having a smooth interior surface and a recess molded thereon, a cover member connected to said base member by means of a flexible web member and having a plurality of bearing surfaces molded therein and a latch molded thereon, and a threaded member connected to said base member by means of flexible frangible web members and having threads formed on a portion of its length and journals outboard the ends of said threads, said threaded member also having a hexagonal slotted head at one end thereof to assist rotation of said threaded member, said cover member and said threaded member having a first molded position and a second assembled position wherein said threaded member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member and said cover member is folded about said base member to be oppositely disposed from said base member permitting said journals on said threaded member to engage said bearing surfaces provided on said cover member and permitting said latch to engage said recess in said base member, said folding and engagement of said cover member and said threaded member relative to said base member forming a slot between said smooth interior surface of said base member and said threaded member, said slot adapted to receive a flexible strap.

Claim 19

A molded, one-piece worm gear drive head as defined in claim 15, wherein said recess on said base member is molded on the interior wall of said base member.

Claim 20

A molded, one-piece worm gear drive head as defined in claim 15, wherein said base member has a generally concave surface on the underside thereof, said concave surface extending to a ramp shaped section molded to one end of said base member.