Worm gear clamping apparatus

A flexible, encircling, clamping apparatus, comprising:

• a. a one-piece, molded worm gear drive head and strap assembly, said strap having a first end integral with said worm gear drive head and having a free end, said strap including an outward surface defining partial internal threads;
• b. a one-piece, molded worm member having external threads adapted to engage said partial internal threads, said worm member including means disposed at the rearward end thereof to effect rotation of said worm member, an elongated flexible guide portion projecting forwardly of said external threads, and a stop portion disposed at the forward end of said elongated guide portion;
• c. said worm gear drive head defining
• i. a strap receiving opening for receiving said free end of said strap;
• ii. a worm chamber configured to receive said external threads of said worm member rotatably disposed therein, said worm chamber having a clearance with said worm when said worm is engaged with the partial external threads on said strap within said chamber allowing rotation of said worm but preventing radial movement of said worm relative to said chamber sufficient to cause a disengagement of said worm and said partial external threads, said chamber, said guide portion and said externally threaded portion being of substantially equal axial lengths;
• iii. a journal opening for receiving said elongated guide portion axially movable therein;
• iv. an external, rearward surface cooperating with the axis of said worm chamber to define an included angle of between about thirty degrees and about sixty degrees;
• d. said worm member and said worm gear drive head defining a pre-assembled position with said elongated guide portion in its rearwardmost orientation, with said stop portion disposed adjacent said journal opening, said worm member being pivotable away from said strap to disengage said external threads from said partial internal threads and permit free axial movement of said strap relative to said worm gear drive head.

A flexible, encircling, clamping apparatus, comprising:

• a. a one-piece, molded worm gear drive head and strap assembly, said strap having a first end integral with said worm gear drive head and a second end, said strap including an outward surface defining partial internal threads;
• b. a one-piece, molded worm member having external threads adapted to engage said partial internal threads, said worm member including means disposed at the rearward end thereof to effect rotation of said worm member, an elongated flexible guide portion projecting forwardly of said external threads, and a transverse wall extending from said elongated guide portion to said external threads;
• c. said worm gear drive head defining
• i. a strap-receiving opening for receiving said second end of said strap;
• ii. a worm chamber configured to receive said external threads of said worm member rotatably disposed therein;
• iii. a journal opening for receiving said elongated guide portion axially movable therein;
• iv. an external, rearward surface disposed at an acute angle relative to the axis of said worm chamber;
• v. said worm chamber having a clearance with said worm member when said worm member is engaged with said partial internal threads of said second end within said chamber allowing rotation of said worm but preventing radial movement of said worm relative to said chamber sufficient to cause said worm to disengage from said partial threads;
• d. said worm member and said worm gear drive head defining a pre-assembled position with said elongated guide portion in its rearwardmost orientation relative to said journal opening and said transverse wall of said worm member in engagement with said rearward surface of said worm gear drive head to disengage said external threads from said partial internal threads and permit free axial movement of said strap relative to said worm gear drive head.