Clamp with improved latch

Claim 2

In a clamp having a pair of clamping members each having a free end and hingedly joined at the other end by a flexible web whereby they can be pivoted from an open position in which said free ends are spaced from each other and a closed position wherein said free ends are inwardly pressed toward each other to clamp material therebetween, said clamp having means defining an opening in one of said members, said opening having a pair of ends and sides; the improvement comprising: a generally T-shaped latch having a stem portion and cross portion, said latch being hingedly joined at the free end of said stem to the other of said clamping members and projecting inwardly of said clamp through said opening when said clamp is closed and keeper means in the form of a stepped ramp on opposite sides of said opening, said cross portion of said T-shaped latch being selectively captured by aligned steps on said ramps to maintain said clamp in a selected closed position, said latch being pivoted out of captured engagement with said keeper means to open said clamp.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein each of said ramps are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward said latch when said clamping members are in said closed position, said steps opening downwardly away from said latch to receive the lower edge of said cross portion.

Claim 4

The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the outer free edge of each step defines a locus of points defining a curve having a radius of curvature comparable to the arcuate movement of said cross portion of said latch whereby said latch cams said clamping members toward each other as said latch is pivoted progressively downward over successive steps of said keeper ramps.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said clamping members are arched intermediate their ends in opposite directions when positioned in said closed position to provide a space at approximately the center of said clamp, said latch bridging said space.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said clamping members are resiliently deflectable to permit the clamping pressure to be increased by deflecting the clamping members against their resilient bias.

Claim 7

The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said latch is tensioned when captured by said keeper means as a result of said resilient bias.

Claim 8

The improvement according to claim 6 wherein each of said ramps are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward said latch when said clamping members are in said closed position, said steps opening downwardly away from said latch to receive the lower edge of said cross portion, said tension in said latch preventing unintentional disengagement thereof unless said clamping members are urged further toward each other to permit said cross portion of said latch to clear said steps.

Claim 9

The improvement according to claim 6 wherein the back sides of said keeper ramp include stop means projecting toward the other of said clamping members for engagement therewith to prevent excessive deflection of said keeper ramps when in said closed position.

Claim 10

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said means defining an opening extends through said other ends of said clamping members, said latch being hinged joined to the other of said clamping members at one end of said opening.

Claim 11

A clamp comprising, in combination; a pair of clamping members each having a free ecge and joined together along an opposite edge thereof by a pair of spaced flexible web portions; means intermediate said spaced web portions defining an opening formed partially in each clamping member wherby said clamping members can be piboted from a fully open position with the clamping members generally aligned in a common plane on opposite sides of said web portions to a closed position in which their free edges are urged inwardly toward one another, said opening in said closed position having an overall U-shaped cross section and in said open position having an overall rectangular cross section; a generally T-shaped latch having a stem portion and cross portions, said latch being hingedly joined at the free end of said stem to one of said clamping members at the edge of said opening, said latch projecting inwardly of said clamp when said clamp is closed; and keeper means on the other of said clamping members along opposed side edges of said opening for interengaging with said cross portions of said latch to lock said clamp in said closed position, said keeper means including a pair of aligned step portions, one on each side of said opening, said step portions opening generally downwardly and away from said latch toward the free end of said clamping member for receiving the bottom edges of said cross bar portion; said clamping members, flexible web portions; latch and keeper means being a single integral part in which, when said clamp is fully open, no portion of the clamp in any plane parallel to that occupied by the clamping members overlaps any other portion of the clamp so that the clamp may be molded in a two-piece mold opening and closing in a direction perpendicular to said aligned clamping members.

Claim 12

A clamp comprising, in combination; a pair of clamping members each having a free ecge and joined together along an opposite edge thereof by a pair of spaced flexible web portions; means intermediate said spaced web portions defining an opening formed partially in each clamping member wherby said clamping members can be piboted from a fully open position with the clamping members generally aligned in a common plane on opposite sides of said web portions to a closed position in which their free edges are urged inwardly toward one another, said opening in said closed position having an overall U-shaped cross section and in said open position having an overall rectangular cross section; a generally T-shaped latch having a stem portion and cross portions, said latch being hingedly joined at the free end of said stem to one of said clamping members at the edge of said opening, said latch projecting inwardly of said clamp when said clamp is closed; and keeper means on the other of said clamping members along opposed side edges of said opening for interengaging with said cross portions of said latch to lock said clamp in said closed position, said keeper means including a pair of aligned step portions, one on each side of said opening, said step portions opening generally downwardly and away from said latch toward the free end of said clamping member for receiving the bottom edges of said cross bar portion; said clamping members, flexible web portions; latch and keeper means being a single integral part in which, when said clamp is fully open, no portion of the clamp in any plane parallel to that occupied by the clamping members overlaps any other portion of the clamp so that the clamp may be molded in a two-piece mold opening and closing in a direction perpendicular to said aligned clamping members.

Claim 13

The clamp according to claim 10 wherein said aligned step portions are further characterized as a ramp on each side of said opening, said ramps being inclined upwardly and inwardly toward said latch when said clamp is closed, said ramps including a plurality of steps opening downwardly away from said latch, one aligned pair of steps receiving the lower edge of the cross portion of said latch to close said clamp.

Claim 14

The clamp according to claim 11 wherein said clamping members further include a stop extending from beneath each keeper ramp and formed integrally therewith in a two-piece mold, said stops preventing deflection of said keeper ramps beyond a preselected degree by engagement with said one of said clamping members when said clamp is in said closed position.

Claim 15

The clamp according to claim 11 wherein only the portions of said cross portion extending away from said stem engage said keeper means.

Claim 16

A clamp comprising, in combination: a pair of clamping members each having a free end and hingedly joined at the other end by a flexible web whereby they can be pivoted relative to each other into and out of a clamped position, one of said members having means defining an opening; a generalLy T-shaped latch having a stem and cross portion, said latch being hingedly joined at the free end of said stem to the other of said clamping member and projecting inwardly of said clamp through said opening 15 when said clamp is closed; and keeper means on said one of said clamping members for releasably capturing the cross portions of said latch to lock said clamp in a closed position, said keeper means inclucing a step portion on each side of said opening, said step portions opening generally downwardly and away from said latch toward the free end of said one of said clamping members for receiving the bottom edges of said cross bar portions.

Claim 17

A clamp comprising, in combination: a pair of clamping members each having a free end and hingedly joined at the other end by a flexible web whereby they can be pivoted relative to each other into and out of a clamped position, one of said members having means defining an opening; a generalLy T-shaped latch having a stem and cross portion, said latch being hingedly joined at the free end of said stem to the other of said clamping member and projecting inwardly of said clamp through said opening 15 when said clamp is closed; and keeper means on said one of said clamping members for releasably capturing the cross portions of said latch to lock said clamp in a closed position, said keeper means inclucing a step portion on each side of said opening, said step portions opening generally downwardly and away from said latch toward the free end of said one of said clamping members for receiving the bottom edges of said cross bar portions.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 14 wherein the width of said opening exceeds the width of said cross bar portion with the space between said step portions being less than the width of said cross bar portion to permit the cross portion of said latch to be inserted through said opening and over said keeper means.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 15 wherein said keeper means is further characterized as a ramp on each side of said opening, said ramps being inclined upwardly and inwardly toward said latch when said clamp is closed, said ramp including a plurality of alighed steps opening downwardly away from said latch, one aligned pair of steps receiving the lower edge of said cross portion of said latch to close said clamp.

Claim 20

The combination according to claim 16 wherein said means defining an opening extends through said other ends of said clamping members, said latch being hingedly joined to the other of said clamping members at one end of said opening.