Uni-directional worm drive clamp
AssigneeThe United Seal Company
InventorsC. Kenneth Storer, Preston D. Cook, Helen S. Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A worm drive clamp comprises a worm drive member and a unitary strap and housing member. The worm drive member has a cylindrical body with a thread, a pawled portion below the body, and a head suitable for turning by a driver such as a hex nut driver. The worm drive member is situated in a chamber defined by the housing. The bottom wall of the housing has a ratcheted recess that interacts with the pawled portion to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the drive member. As the strap is passed upwards through a slot in the housing, grooves on the strap engage the thread of the worm drive member so that the strap is drawn upwards as the worm drive member is rotated clockwise.
Claims6
A worm drive clamp comprising:
- a worm drive member having a body with at least one spiral thread on an outer surface thereof, a head disposed above an upper end of said body, and a pawled portion disposed below a lower end of said body;
- and
- a flexible strap having a housing adapted to receive said drive member disposed toward a first end thereof, said strap being provided with a plurality of grooves on an inner surface thereof,
- wherein said housing has a ratcheted recess in a bottom wall thereof adapted to engage said pawled portion when said drive member is situated in said housing, and a slot in said bottom wall adapted to receive said second end of said strap;
- and
- as said second end of said strap is inserted upward through said slot when said drive member is situated in said housing, said grooves engage said thread, such that as said worm drive member is rotated clockwise, said strap is drawn further upward through said slot, while said pawled portion is engaged by said ratcheted recess to prevent counterclockwise rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.