T-bolt hose clamp

A hose clamp for clamping a hose about a fitting, the hose clamp comprising:

• a) a band member for encircling a portion of the outer circumference of said hose, and comprising a radially outward facing surface and a radially inward facing surface, a length extending from a first band end to an opposing second band end, said first end being turned outward to form a first loop member and said second end being turned outward to form an opposing second loop member, and a width extending from a first lateral band edge and an opposite second lateral band edge;
• b) a bolt member for extending between said first loop member and said second loop member, and comprising a transverse portion and a shank portion;
• c) a bridge member for extending from said first band end to said second band end in a position radially inward of said bolt member, and comprising a radially inward facing surface and a radially outward facing surface, a first bridge end and an opposite second bridge end, a portion of said radially outward facing surface being adapted for being disposed against at least a portion of said inward facing surface of said band member;
• and characterized in that said band member possesses at least a first radially inward projecting rib extending along at least a portion of said band length from the point at which the inner surface of the band meets each bridge end, and being formed and arranged such that in the clamp's engaged position about the hose, at least a radially innermost portion of the rib is in substantially the same cross-sectional plane as the inner surface of the bridge.