Mounting apparatus

Claim 1

A mounting apparatus for releasably securing an external member to a tubular member comprising; an elongate tubular member; an elongate external member adapted to be releasably secured to and in engagement with said tubular member; a clamping member having: a resilient arcuate mounting portion adapted to engage said elongate external member having spaced apart, symmetrically formed mounting portion ends, the distance between said mounting portion ends being no less than the distance between any two points on said mounting portion forming a line parallel to a line joining said mounting portion ends; and, two resilient, symmetrically formed curved clamping legs joining said mounting portion at said mounting portion ends wherein said mounting portion ends merge into and form an intergral part with said clamping legs; said curved clamping legs positioned opposite each other and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said elongate tubular member prior to mounting said curved clamping legs for resiliently engaging said elongate tubular member; said clamping legs terminating at spaced apart, symmetrically formed, clamping leg ends having symmetrically formed, curved end projections on said clamping leg ends of said clamping legs to facilitate mounting on said elongate tubular member and release therefrom; the distance between said mounting portion ends being less than the maximum distance between said curved clamping legs; and, said mounting portion releasably securing said elongate external member to said elongate tubular member along the length of said external member and said tubular member with said elongate external member in longitudinal engagement with said elongate tubular member.

Claim 5

A method for releasably securing an elongate external member to an elongate tubular member comprising the steps of: aligning end edges of the elongate external member on the exterior surface and along the length of the tubular member; placing a removable clamping member over the elongate external member, the removable clamping member having: a resilient arcuate mounting portion adapted to engage the elongate external member having spaced apart, symmetrically formed mounting portion ends, the distance between the mounting portion ends being no less than the distance between any two points on the mounting portion forming a line parallel to a line joining the mounting portion ends; two resilient, symmetrically formed curved clamping legs joining the mounting portion at the mounting portion ends wherein the mounting portion ends merge into and form an integral part with the clamping legs; and, the clamping legs terminating at spaced apart, symmetrically formed, clamping leg ends having symmetrically formed, curved end projections on the clamping leg ends of the clamping legs to facilitate mounting on the elongate tubular member and release therefrom, the elongate external member being positioned between curved end projections of the clamping member; pushing the clamping member adjacent the mounting portion thereof toward the elongate tubular member for spreading the curved end projections of the clamping member in conformity with the exterior surface of the tubular member; and snapping the clamping member into position such that the mounting portion of the clamping member engages the external member adjacent the end surface thereof and the legs of the clamping member substantially engage the exterior surface of the tubular member.

Claim 6

A method for releasably securing an elongate external member to an elongate tubular member comprising the steps of: aligning end edges of the elongate external member on the exterior surface and along the length of the tubular member; placing a removable clamping member over the elongate external member, the removable clamping member having: a resilient arcuate mounting portion adapted to engage the elongate external member having spaced apart, symmetrically formed mounting portion ends, the distance between the mounting portion ends being no less than the distance between any two points on the mounting portion forming a line parallel to a line joining the mounting portion ends; two resilient, symmetrically formed curved clamping legs joining the mounting portion at the mounting portion ends wherein the mounting portion ends merge into and form an integral part with the clamping legs; and, the clamping legs terminating at spaced apart, symmetrically formed, clamping leg ends having symmetrically formed, curved end projections on the clamping leg ends of the clamping legs to facilitate mounting on the elongate tubular member and release therefrom, the elongate external member being positioned between curved end projections of the clamping member; pushing the clamping member adjacent the mounting portion thereof toward the elongate tubular member for spreading the curved end projections of the clamping member in conformity with the exterior surface of the tubular member; and snapping the clamping member into position such that the mounting portion of the clamping member engages the external member adjacent the end surface thereof and the legs of the clamping member substantially engage the exterior surface of the tubular member.