# US 5,346,165 A · Restraining device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,165 A - Document ID: US5346165A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/828,800 - Filed: 1992-01-29 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1989-08-02 - Assignees: Robert George Frean - Inventors: Robert G. Frean; Leslie R. Moss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346165A ## CPC - F17C 13/084: {for small-sized storage vessels, e.g. compressed gas cylinders or bottles, disposable gas vessels, vessels adapted for automotive use} - F16B 2/08: using bands - F16B 7/0433: {for rods or tubes being in parallel relationship} - F17C 2201/0104: cylindrical - F17C 2205/0184: Attachments to the ground, e.g. mooring or anchoring - F17C 2270/0165: on the road - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A restraining device for restraining a round object (13) from rolling. The restraining device (11) comprises a body (15) having a base (17) for location against a support surface, and an opening (18) capable of expansion and contraction for receiving and clampingly retaining the round object. The base (17) is adapted for and is capable of deformation for maintaining stable contact with the support surface upon expansion and contraction of the opening (18). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A restraining device for an object comprising a body having a base for location against a support surface and a pair of side portions extending from said base, said base and said side portions being formed from a resilient material and defining an opening capable of expansion and contraction for receiving and clampingly retaining said object, said base being deformable to define spaced apart sections for engaging and maintaining stable contact with said support surface upon expansion and contraction of said opening through deformation of said side portions and said base, the point of contact of said spaced apart sections with the support surface varying with deformation of said side portions and said base so as to provide a spaced apart contact with the support surface with the points of contact being spaced apart a greater distance as the object received is increased in size, said base and said side portions co-operating to define a clamping ring portion forming a periphery of said opening of variable size to accommodate different sized objects, said base comprising an elongated base portion and said ring portion being mounted on the inner longitudinal face of said base portion at a region intermediate the ends thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A restraining device according to claim 1 wherein said side portions have free ends remote from said base which are spaced apart relationship to define a gap through which said object can be inserted into and removed from said opening, the size of said gap varying with expansion and contraction of said opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A restraining device according to claim 2 wherein a securing device is provided for releasably securing the free ends of the side portions together. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A restraining device according to claim 1 wherein said side portions and said base are formed integrally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A restraining device according to claim 4 wherein said body is formed of resilient material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A restraining device according to claim 5 wherein the said portions include a pair of support arms disposed one to each side of said side intermediate region of the base portion, each support arm extending from the base portion towards the clamping ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A restraining device according to claim 6 wherein an aperture is defined between said base portion, said clamping ring and each of said support arms. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A restraining device according to claim 1 wherein the outer longitudinal face of said base portion is provided with inclined end sections adapted for engagement with said support surface and an intermediate section disposed between said end sections, said intermediate section being recessed to avoid contact with said support surface upon deformation of said base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A restraining device according to claim 8 wherein each of said end sections is provided with a tread structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A combination of a restraining device as set forth in claim 1 and a locating means adapted to receive and releasably retain said base of said restraining device, said locating means comprising said support surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A combination according to claim 10 wherein said locating means includes a channel portion for receiving said base portion of said restraining device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A combination according to claim 11 wherein said locating means further includes at least one locking element engagable with said channel for releasably retaining said base portion in the channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A combination according to claim 12 wherein there are two of said locking elements each adapted to pass through a respective one of said apertures in the body of said restraining device.