Pipe clamp having an overcenter toggle

Claim 1

A clamping structure for use in holding adjacent, aligned, flanged pipe ends with respect to one another which comprises: a band comprising a plurality of identical elongated clamping segments located in end-to-end relationship, said band having terminal ends, each of said segments having a clamping surface comprising an internal groove which is curved throughout its length so as to correspond to the curvature of said flanged pipe ends and which has a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the exteriors of said flanges when said pipe ends are adjacent and aligned with one another, each of said clamping surfaces extending less than one hundred eighty degrees around the circumference of said pipe ends. each of said segments having a single tongue extending from one end thereof and two spaced, parallel ears extending from the other end thereof, said tongues of said adjacent ends fitting between said ears at said adjacent ends, a pivot means located so as to connect each pair of adjacent ends of said segments so that said segments can be pivoted relative to one another, said pivot means comprising pins extending between and connecting said ears and said tongues at said adjacent ends, said band being of less length than the circumference of said flanged ends, and being of such dimension that said segments only engage the flanges on said pipe ends when located so that said grooves fit over said flanges on said pipe ends, a locking arm pivotally mounted on one of said terminal ends, said locking arm including bifurcated ends, a pin serving as a latch retainer located on the other of said terminal ends, a latching element located on said locking arm, said latching element including a cylindrical member pivotally mounted on said bifurcated ends and a hook element, said cylindrical member having a threaded opening therein, said hook element including a rigid threaded base portion threaded within said opening in said cylindrical member, and a non-cylindrical elongated resilient section extending from the rigid base portion and having an inwardly bent hook adapted to engage said pin serving as a latch retainer, said latch retainer, said latching element, and said locking arm form an overcenter toggle holding said locking arm in place when said clamping structure is in use.