Abstract: An improved tool for locking a band clamp, and an improved lock for a band clamp is disclosed. The tool includes a knife body having a knife edge that progressively cuts the free end of the band over a period of time, rather than simultaneously cutting the entire band width. In one embodiment, this is accomplished with a knife edge that is non-linear. The tool further includes a punch with a rounded or hemispherical shaped leading tip that forms an improved locking dimple. The locking dimple forms an improved lock having side walls that are, at least in part, parallel with the walls of the surrounding aperture in the band. By varying the profile of the knife edge, the punch can more fully form an improved locking dimple.

Abstract: A banding material gripping mechanism and band tightening tool using the same are disclosed, wherein there is a reduced likelihood of the banding material buckling in the tool. The gripping mechanism includes gripping body and a banding material gripper component (“gripper”) that reciprocates within the gripping body for iteratively: (i) gripping the banding material so that a band being formed from the banding material can be tightened, and (ii) releasing the banding material so that the gripper can slide along the banding material as the gripping body moves forwardly over a further length of excess banding material in preparation for performing (i) again.

Abstract: The non-preformed clamping device of the present invention includes a buckle having an inclined shroud and a raised rear portion and a band having a pair of retention members for holding the buckle in position on the band. The buckle and band can further include matching markers to permit the user to properly orient the buckle on the band.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel banding tool which, prior to being used to provide a securing lock for a band clamp, can extract an unspecified length of excess band from the band clamp during a band clamp tightening operation without the banding tool itself expanding. The tightening is accomplished by the cranking or rotating of a tensioning rod for moving a band gripping assembly along the length of the tensioning rod whereby the band gripping assembly extracts a length of band from the band clamp. The present invention also includes a novel manual tension activation assembly for use in cranking the tension rod. The tension activation assembly can be attached to an end of the tensioning rod at a plurality of torque varying positions according to operator convenience and cranking space restrictions. Alternatively, cranking can be provided by a power drive rather than the manual tension activation assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a band clamp with an improved lock between the band and the buckle of the band clamp. The improved lock is of the type of lock where the band is passed through the buckle and then shaped to form a locking surface that engages the exterior of the buckle to prevent the band from being pulled back through the buckle. Characteristic of the improved lock is that the lateral cross-section of the locking surface is, in one embodiment substantially V-shaped. In other embodiments, the lateral cross-section is substantially U-shaped and substantially .OMEGA.-shaped. In a further embodiment, a banding tool is disclosed for use with a band and a buckle separate from the band, wherein the banding tool forms both a band lock on one band end and a retaining member on the opposite band end such that the retaining member inhibits the non-attached buckle from separating from the band during lock formation.