Quick release band clamp

A quick release band clamp comprising:

• a flexible band having a fixed end portion and a free end portion having a plurality of teeth;
• a mounting bracket attached to said fixed end portion of said flexible band, said mounting bracket having a side support member longitudinally disposed on each side of said flexible band, each side support member having a circular pivot aperture disposed adjacent to one end thereof, said free end portion of said flexible band being receivable between said side support members intermediate said circular pivot apertures and said fixed end portion of said flexible member;
• a pivoting bracket disposed between said side support members, said pivoting bracket having a top portion, a transverse front portion extending from one end of said top portion and a transvers rear portion extending from the other end of said top portion, said transverse front and rear portions being generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to said top portion, said transverse rear portion having a pair of transverse trunnions extending into said circular pivot apertures which pivotally connect said pivoting bracket to said mounting bracket, said pair of transverse trunnions and said circular pivot apertures cooperating to substantially prevent longitudinal displacement of said pivoting bracket in relation to said mounting bracket, said pivoting bracket being pivotable between a closed position and an open position;
• and
• a worm screw rotatably attached to said pivoting bracket parallel to said top portion between said transverse front portion and said transverse rear portion, said worm screw being disposed generally parallel to said top portion and displaced from said top portion a distance greater than the distance said pair of transverse trunnions are displaced from said top portion, said worm screw having a helical thread engagable with said plurality of teeth provided in said flexible band when said pivoting bracket is in said closed position and means for rotating said worm screw to advance said free end portion of said flexible band through said side support members.

A quick release locking mechanism for a band clamp having a flexible band which has a fixed end portion and a free end portion having a plurality of teeth, said quick release locking mechanism comprising:

• a mounting bracket having a base portion attached to said fixed end portion of said flexible band and a pair of spatially separated side support members extending normal to said base portion and oriented in a longitudinal direction of said mounting bracket, one on each side of said flexible band, said free end portion of said flexible band being receivable between said pair of spatially separated side support members in an overlapping relationship with said fixed end portion;
• a pivoting bracket disposed between said pair of spatially separated side support members, said pivoting bracket having a top portion, a transverse front portion extending from a front edge of said top portion and a transverse rear portion extending from a rear edge of said top portion, said transverse front and rear portions extending substantially perpendicular to said top portion;
• means for pivotably connecting said pivoting bracket to said mounting bracket at a predetermined distance from said base portion of said mounting bracket, said means for pivotably connecting said pivoting bracket substantially preventing longitudinal displacement of said pivoting bracket in relation to said mounting bracket, said pivoting bracket being pivotable from a closed position in which said pivoting bracket is substantially parallel to said mounting bracket to an open position displaced from said closed position;
• and
• a worm screw rotatably supported at a location intermediate said means for pivotably connecting said pivoting bracket and said base portion of said mounting bracket, said worm screw being rotatably supported by said transverse rear portion of said pivoting bracket at one end and by said transverse front portion of said pivoting bracket at an end opposite said one end, said worm screw having a helical thread engagable with said plurality of teeth of said free end portion of said flexible band when said pivoting bracket is in said closed position and means extending through said transverse front portion of said pivoting bracket for facilitating the rotation of said worm screw.