Securing tool
OwnerRobert Carl Shieldsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A securing tool and methods for its use are described herein. In various embodiments, the securing tool may include a handle and a prying member positioned at a first end of the securing tool opposite the handle. The prying member may be shaped to engage a release of a self-tensioned hose clamp to cause the handle to be manipulable to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp. The securing tool may include first and second sensors configured to provide first and second signals, respectively, that are indicative of sensed occurrence of first and second events after the handle is manipulated to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp. In various embodiments, if the first and second signals satisfy a criterion, the hose clamp may be deemed to have been properly installed.
Claims17
A securing tool, comprising:
- a handle;
- a prying member positioned at a first end of the securing tool opposite the handle, the prying member shaped to engage a release of a self-tensioned hose clamp to cause the handle to be manipulable to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp;
- a first sensor comprising an open electrical circuit configured to provide a first signal indicative of a sensed occurrence of a physical contact closing the electrical circuit after the handle is manipulated to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp, wherein the physical contact creates a sound;
- a second sensor configured to provide a second signal indicative of detection of the sound created by the physical contact closing the electrical circuit after the handle is manipulated to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp;
- and
- a logic configured to determine whether the first and second signals satisfy a criterion, and to provide output indicative of the determination, wherein the criterion is detection of the first and second signals by the logic within a predetermined time interval.
A method comprising:
- manipulating a handle of a securing tool to engage a prying member with a release of a self-tensioned hose clamp, wherein the prying member is positioned at a first end of the securing tool opposite the handle;
- manipulating the handle to pry the prying member so that the release is moved from a first position in which a surface of the release abuts a catch of the self-tensioned hose clamp to a second position in which the catch is free to move past the surface, thereby springing the self-tensioned hose clamp;
- obtaining, from a first sensor comprising an open electrical circuit, a first signal indicative of a sensed occurrence of a physical contact closing the electrical circuit after the handle is manipulated to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp, wherein the physical contact creates a sound;
- obtaining, from a second sensor, a second signal indicative of a sensed occurrence of detection of the sound created by the physical contact closing the electrical circuit after the handle is manipulated to spring the self-tensioned hose clamp;
- and
- determining whether the first and second signals satisfy a criterion, wherein the criterion is detection of the first and second signals by a logic within a predetermined time interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.