US4690412A — Strip structure intended for clamping on a flange

Claim 1

Independent Claim 291 words

A strip structure intended for clamping engagement on a flange or like member, the strip structure having a channel defined by a base and two opposed side walls, each side wall being provided with an elongate limb having a free end region directed inwardly and towards the base such that the limbs abut at their free end regions; wherein each limb has a pair of substantially straight faces in the region of the free end, one of said faces the corresponding face of the other said limb and the other of said faces generally facing the associated side wall; wherein each side wall also is provided with an inward projection nearer the base of the channel than the root of the associated limb; and wherein each limb is provided on that face which generally faces the associated side wall with a recess in which the projection may be accommodated; the arrangement being such that, in use, when the strip structure is being clamped on a flange or like member, the flange causes the limbs to be moved apart, with the projections being accommodated in the corresponding recess, whereby the clamping may be effected without undue force, but, when an attempt is made to remove the strip structure from the flange, the free end regions of the limbs grip the flange and the limbs are restrained from undue movement towards the open end of the channel by the interaction of the projections and the limbs in the region of the recesses of the latter, the configuration of the limbs and the effect of said interaction being such that considerably more force is required to remove the strip structure from the flange than is required to clamp the strip structure on the flange.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 291 words

A strip structure intended for clamping engagement on a flange or like member, the strip structure having a channel defined by a base and two opposed side walls, each side wall being provided with an elongate limb having a free end region directed inwardly and towards the base such that the limbs abut at their free end regions; wherein each limb has a pair of substantially straight faces in the region of the free end, one of said faces the corresponding face of the other said limb and the other of said faces generally facing the associated side wall; wherein each side wall also is provided with an inward projection nearer the base of the channel than the root of the associated limb; and wherein each limb is provided on that face which generally faces the associated side wall with a recess in which the projection may be accommodated; the arrangement being such that, in use, when the strip structure is being clamped on a flange or like member, the flange causes the limbs to be moved apart, with the projections being accommodated in the corresponding recess, whereby the clamping may be effected without undue force, but, when an attempt is made to remove the strip structure from the flange, the free end regions of the limbs grip the flange and the limbs are restrained from undue movement towards the open end of the channel by the interaction of the projections and the limbs in the region of the recesses of the latter, the configuration of the limbs and the effect of said interaction being such that considerably more force is required to remove the strip structure from the flange than is required to clamp the strip structure on the flange.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 61 words

A strip structure according to claim 1, wherein the projections each have a camming face against which, when in use an attempt is made to remove the strip structure from the flange, an enlarged free end region of the limb abuts, in a manner such as to urge the free end region of the limb into harder contact with the flange.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

A strip structure according to claim 1 which also includes a sealing element adjacent the exterior of one of the side walls.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

A strip structure according to claim 1 which also includes a core embedded within the base and side walls of the strip structure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A strip structure according to claim 1 wherein the base and two side walls comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride, a nitrile polyvinylchloride blend, and a styrene butadiene rubber.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

A strip structure according to claim 1 wherein the base and side walls have a Shore hardness of approximately 70 and the limbs have a Shore hardness of approximately 60.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

A strip structure according to claim 1 which, when being fitted to and removed from a flange having a thickness of 2.5 mm, has a ratio exceeding 10:1 in respect of the ratio of the force required to remove the strip structure from the flange to the force required to push the strip structure onto the flange.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 258 words

A strip structure including a channel defined by a base and two opposed side walls comprising: at least one limb positioned and secured on either of said side walls, said limb having a free depending end being directed toward said base; an inward projection positioned on said side wall adjacent to said limb securement; said limb having a pair of faces, one of said faces positioned facing said side wall having said limb, the other face facing said side wall without said limb; a recess on said face facing said side wall having said limb, said recess enabling accommodation of said projection in said recess; wherein, in use, when the strip structure is being clamped on a flange or like member, the flange causes the limb to be moved such that the face facing the side wall having the limb moves towards that side wall, the projection being accommodated in the corresponding recess, whereby the clamping may be affected without undue force, but, when an attempt is made to remove the strip structure from the flange, the free depending end of the limb grips the flange and the limb is restrained from undue movement towards the open end of the channel by the inner action of the projection in the limb in the region of the recess of the ladder, the configuration of the limb and the affect of said interaction being such that considerably more force is required to remove the strip structure from the flange than is required to clamp the strip structure on the flange.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 258 words

A strip structure including a channel defined by a base and two opposed side walls comprising: at least one limb positioned and secured on either of said side walls, said limb having a free depending end being directed toward said base; an inward projection positioned on said side wall adjacent to said limb securement; said limb having a pair of faces, one of said faces positioned facing said side wall having said limb, the other face facing said side wall without said limb; a recess on said face facing said side wall having said limb, said recess enabling accommodation of said projection in said recess; wherein, in use, when the strip structure is being clamped on a flange or like member, the flange causes the limb to be moved such that the face facing the side wall having the limb moves towards that side wall, the projection being accommodated in the corresponding recess, whereby the clamping may be affected without undue force, but, when an attempt is made to remove the strip structure from the flange, the free depending end of the limb grips the flange and the limb is restrained from undue movement towards the open end of the channel by the inner action of the projection in the limb in the region of the recess of the ladder, the configuration of the limb and the affect of said interaction being such that considerably more force is required to remove the strip structure from the flange than is required to clamp the strip structure on the flange.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

A strip structure according to claim 8 wherein the projection has a camming force against which, when in use, an attempt is made to remove the strip structure from the flange, an enlarged free end region of the limb abuts, in a manner such as to urge the free end region of the limb into harder contact with the flange.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A strip structure according to claim 8 wherein the said strip includes a sealing element adjacent the exterior of one of the side walls.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A strip structure according to claim 8 wherein said strip includes a core embedded within the base and side walls of the strip structure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-08-31	1991-03-02	1991-09-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-08-31	1995-03-02	1995-09-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-08-31	1999-03-02	1999-09-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Strip structure intended for clamping on a flange

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