Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An overcenter clamp comprising: a flexible band having an inner side, an outer side, a hinge end and a hooked end, said hooked end facing said inner side and being adapted to grasp a margin of a first member; a lever arm hingedly connected to said hinge end, said lever arm having a handle facing said outer side and a pivot link facing said inner side, said pivot link having an end adapted for insertion into a socket of a second member enabling the first and second members to be clamped together by placing them adjacent one another so that the socket is adjacent and parallel to the margin, grasping the margin with said hooked end, inserting said pivot link into the socket, and rotating said handle away from said band to a point wherein said band is tensioned and bears upon the second member; and a retaining means connected to said band adjacent said hinge end, said retaining means being engageable with said lever arm to resist rotation of said lever arm with respect to said band when said lever arm is in an open position wherein the angle between said lever arm and band is sufficient so that, when said hooked end grasps the margin, said pivot link is away from the socket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An overcenter clamp comprising: a flexible band having an inner side, an outer side, a hinge end and a hooked end, said hooked end facing said inner side and being adapted to grasp a margin of a first member; a lever arm hingedly connected to said hinge end, said lever arm having a handle facing said outer side and a pivot link facing said inner side, said pivot link having an end adapted for insertion into a socket of a second member enabling the first and second members to be clamped together by placing them adjacent one another so that the socket is adjacent and parallel to the margin, grasping the margin with said hooked end, inserting said pivot link into the socket, and rotating said handle away from said band to a point wherein said band is tensioned and bears upon the second member; and a retaining means connected to said band adjacent said hinge end, said retaining means being engageable with said lever arm to resist rotation of said lever arm with respect to said band when said lever arm is in an open position wherein the angle between said lever arm and band is sufficient so that, when said hooked end grasps the margin, said pivot link is away from the socket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The overcenter clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises an opening in said handle adjacent said hinge end and a tab extending from said band so that said tab extends into said opening when said lever arm is in said open position, said tab being larger than said opening, and said tab and said handle being constructed of suitable materials to enable insertion of said tab into said opening and resist removal of said tab therefrom, thereby to resist said rotation of said lever arm with respect to said band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
225 words
An overcenter clamp assembly comprising: a first member having a margin; a second member having a socket; and an overcenter clamp comprising a flexible band having an inner side, an outer side, a hinge end and a hooked end, said hooked end facing said inner side and being adapted to grasp said margin, a lever arm hingedly connected to said hinge end, said lever arm having a handle facing said outer side and a pivot link facing said inner side, said pivot link having an end adapted for insertion into said socket enabling the first and second members to be clamped together by placing them adjacent one another so that said socket is adjacent and parallel to said margin, grasping said margin with said hooked end, inserting said pivot link into said socket, and rotating said handle away from said band to a point wherein said band is tensioned and bears upon said second member, and a retaining means connected to said band adjacent said hinge end, said retaining means being engageable with said lever arm to resist rotation of said lever arm with respect to said band when said lever arm is in an open position wherein the angle between said lever arm and band is sufficient so that, when said hooked end grasps said margin, said pivot link is away from said socket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
225 words
An overcenter clamp assembly comprising: a first member having a margin; a second member having a socket; and an overcenter clamp comprising a flexible band having an inner side, an outer side, a hinge end and a hooked end, said hooked end facing said inner side and being adapted to grasp said margin, a lever arm hingedly connected to said hinge end, said lever arm having a handle facing said outer side and a pivot link facing said inner side, said pivot link having an end adapted for insertion into said socket enabling the first and second members to be clamped together by placing them adjacent one another so that said socket is adjacent and parallel to said margin, grasping said margin with said hooked end, inserting said pivot link into said socket, and rotating said handle away from said band to a point wherein said band is tensioned and bears upon said second member, and a retaining means connected to said band adjacent said hinge end, said retaining means being engageable with said lever arm to resist rotation of said lever arm with respect to said band when said lever arm is in an open position wherein the angle between said lever arm and band is sufficient so that, when said hooked end grasps said margin, said pivot link is away from said socket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The overcenter clamp assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises an opening in said handle adjacent said hinge end and a tab extending from said band so that said tab extends into said opening when said lever arm is in said open position, said tab being larger than said opening, and said tab and said handle being constructed of suitable materials to enable insertion of said tab into said opening and resist removal of said tab therefrom, thereby to resist said rotation of said lever arm with respect to said band.