Self tightening elastic clamp, particularly a hose clamp

Claim 2

A self-tightening hose clamp formed of an elastic wire having: a central portion formed into a continuous helix having at least two full turns of the same hand; end parts at each of the two ends of said helix and extending generally tangentially oppositely to each other and each having a respective outer end; two radially outwardly projecting grips each indirectly connected to a respective one of said outer ends, whereby displacement of said grips angularly toward each other elastically deforms said two turns so as to increase the diameter thereof; and two bent portions each connecting a respective one of said outer ends to a respective one of said grips embracing and thereby restricting axial deformation of said two turns, said bent portions each riding on said two turns during elastic deformation thereof effected through said grips.

Claim 3

The hose clamp of claim 1, said central portion having a partial turn intermediate said grips and alongside said two full turns, said partial turn having an angular length which is increasingly diminished with increasing displacement of said grips towards each other, the diminished angular length of said partial turn being merged into said two full turns so as to thereby increase the diameter of the same.

Claim 4

The hose clamp of claim 2, said two full turns contiguously contacting each other, and said partial turn at least substantially contiguously contacting one of said full turns.

Claim 5

The hose clamp of claim 1, said bent portions each having a bent arm and a bend intermediate the respective outer end and the respective bent arm, each bent arm extending from the respective bend generally spacedly back along the respective outer end.

Claim 6

The hose clamp of claim 4, said bent portion being U-shaped.

Claim 7

The hose clamp of claim 5, each respective outer end and bent arm lying against said two turns and each respective bend passing across said at least two full turns, whereby said bent portions each contact and glide on all of said full turns during the elastic deformation of said helix.

Claim 8

The hose clamp of claim 4, said grips each having a first leg projecting generally perpendicularly from the respective bent arm of the respective bent portion, a second leg and a bend intermediate the respective first and second legs, each second leg being generally parallel to and spaced from the respective first leg, whereby force applied through said grips is transmitted via said bent portions to said partial turn so as to merge same with said two full turns and thereby enlarge the diameter thereof.

Claim 9

The hose clamp of claim 7, said bend of said grip being U-shaped.

Claim 10

The hose clamp of claim 1, wherein said helix is metal and has a circular cross section.

Claim 11

The hose clamp of claim 2, wherein said outer ends of said helix are the free ends of the elastic wire, each bent portion rides on and is physically in contact with each of said two turns during elastic deformation thereof, and said central portion has a single partial turn intermediate said grips.

Claim 12

A self-tightening hose clamp of an elastic wire having: a central portion formed into a continuous helix having two contiguous full turns of the same hand and a partial turn along and contiguous to the side of predetermined portions of both of said two full turns; end parts at each of the two ends of said helix and extending generally tangentially from the respective two turns and oppositely to each other, each end part having a respective outer end; a substantially U-shaped bent portion at each of said outer ends embracing said two turns, said bent portions each having a bent arm at least substantially parallel to and spaced from the respective outer end, and a bend intermediate the respective outer end and the respective bent arm and passing across said two full turns in such a manner that each bent portion rides on said turns; and radially outwardly projecting grips each having a first leg projecting generally perpendicularly from respective bent arms of said bent portions, a second leg generally parallel to and spaced from the respective first legs, and a U-shaped bend intermediate the respective first and second legs, whereby displacement of said grips angularly toward each other is transmitted to said partial turn so as to merge same with said two full turns and thereby enlarge the diameter thereof.

Claim 13

A self-tightening hose clamp of an elastic wire having: a central portion formed into a continuous helix having two contiguous full turns of the same hand and a partial turn along and contiguous to the side of predetermined portions of both of said two full turns; end parts at each of the two ends of said helix and extending generally tangentially from the respective two turns and oppositely to each other, each end part having a respective outer end; a substantially U-shaped bent portion at each of said outer ends embracing said two turns, said bent portions each having a bent arm at least substantially parallel to and spaced from the respective outer end, and a bend intermediate the respective outer end and the respective bent arm and passing across said two full turns in such a manner that each bent portion rides on said turns; and radially outwardly projecting grips each having a first leg projecting generally perpendicularly from respective bent arms of said bent portions, a second leg generally parallel to and spaced from the respective first legs, and a U-shaped bend intermediate the respective first and second legs, whereby displacement of said grips angularly toward each other is transmitted to said partial turn so as to merge same with said two full turns and thereby enlarge the diameter thereof.