Pipe clamping device

A clamping device comprising:

• a retainer having first and second coupling ends movably coupled together from an open position to a closed position, respectively, said first coupling end having a first opening and a second opening;
• a connecting member positioned between said first and second openings, said connecting member having a pivoting end and an anchoring end with a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said pivoting end having a first pivoting element pivotally coupled to said first opening and a second pivoting element pivotally coupled to said second opening to pivot said connecting member about a pivot axis between an unengaged position with said anchoring end being spaced from said second coupling end and an engaged position with said anchoring end being removably coupled to said second coupling end, said second opening of said first coupling end being sized to receive said connecting member between said first and second openings by allowing movement of said connecting member in a direction substantially parallel to said pivot axis to engage and disengage said second pivot element from said first opening;
• and
• a retention member coupled to said pivoting end of said connecting member for prohibiting movement of said connecting member in a direction parallel to said pivot axis.

A method of forming a clamping device comprising the steps of:

• providing a retainer having first and second coupling ends pivotally coupled together from an open position to a closed position, said first coupling end having first and second mounting members with first and second openings, respectively, said first coupling end further having a pivot axis extending through said mounting members,
• inserting a fastener between said mounting members of said retainer, said fastener having a pivoting end and an anchoring end with a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said pivoting end having first and second pivoting elements, said fastener being inserted into said retainer by moving said first pivoting element substantially along said pivot axis to engage said securing portion, and to pivotally couple said fastener to said first retainer end such that said fastener can pivot about said pivot axis between an unengaged position where said anchoring end is spaced from said second retainer end to an engaged position where said anchoring end is removably coupled to said second retainer end;
• and
• coupling a retention member to said pivoting end of said fastening member to prohibit said pivoting end from being accidentally removed from said first retainer end, said retention member coupled to said pivoting end between said first and second mounting members to prohibit movement of said fastener in a direction along said pivot axis.

A clamping device for coupling a pair of tubular members together, comprising:

• a retainer having first and second coupling ends movably coupled together between an open position and a closed position, said first coupling end having first and second mounting members with first and second mounting openings, respectively;
• and
• a latch assembly releasably coupling said first and second ends together between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch assembly including
• a connecting member having a pivoting end with first and second pivot elements pivotally coupled to said first coupling end of said retainer and an anchoring end operatively engageable with said second coupling end of said retainer,
• retention member coupled to said pivoting end of said connecting member and located between said first and second mounting members, said retention member extending from said pivoting end of said connecting member towards said anchoring end of said connecting member and overlapping a portion of said anchoring end, and
• a tightening member movably coupled to said anchoring end of said connecting member.