Abstract: A tote assembly to package, store, carry and/or dispense a length of flexible banding material coiled therein is provided. The tote assembly is fabricated from at least two pieces, of the same or different width, that are connected to form a cavity to house a banding material having a defined width. The tote assembly may be connected by one or more post and receptacle connectors and multiple tote assemblies may be stacked by a dimple and depression arrangement. The tote assembly further may include a removable buckle container and a removable cutting tool. Also provided is a method of inserting the banding material directly into a closed tote assembly through a band opening and winding the banding material therewithin.

Abstract: A clamping device is provided in the form of a smooth band, cooperating buckle and locking element. The band has a first end which engages the buckle and a second or free end which is positioned about the object or objects to be bundled and passes through the buckle to create overlapping portions of the band within the buckle. The locking element is positioned within the buckle and between the overlapping portions of the band to secure both portions of the band against adjustment of the band periphery.

Abstract: A clamping device is provided in the form of a cable tie. The cable tie includes a band having a free end for positioning about an object to be constrained, such as an electrical cable, and a buckle through which the free end of the band section is inserted. In a preferred embodiment, the buckle is movably positioned on the band and, during band periphery adjustment, the locking teeth on the band are in an unlocked position. When the desired band periphery is realized, the locking teeth are placed in a locked position. At this point the clamp may be further tightened with a tightening tool.

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.

Abstract: A banding material is disclosed for use as the band in a band clamp. The banding material is provided from a roll of banding material from which a length of the banding material corresponding to the length of the desired band is cut. The length of the band for the band clamp is determined by counting markings on the band which are related to the diameter of an object about which the band clamp is to be fitted. In a preferred embodiment, the markings are .pi. units, or fraction of .pi. units, apart where the diameter of the object is measured in the same units.

Abstract: A banding tool (10) is provided to tension and lock a band (12) and a buckle (14) around an object (16). The tool (10) has a housing (18) and a pull-up/cut-off handle (20) for cooperatingly tensioning the band (12). Upon properly tensioning the band (12) around the object (16), the handle (20) is further manipulated to engage a locking/cutting lever (26). The lever (26) engages a head (42) which holds a punch (46) therein and includes a surface (49). The punch (46) first contacts the band (12) to deform and lock the band (12) to itself. The surface (49) of the head (48) then bends and cuts the tail (134) from the band (12).

Abstract: A clamping device is provided in the form of a one-piece cable tie. The cable tie includes a band section having a free end for positioning about an object to be constrained, such as an electrical cable, and a buckle section through which the free end of the band section is inserted. In a preferred embodiment, the buckle section includes a first portion operatively connected to the band and terminating adjacent a slot. A second, raised portion of the buckle section is longitudinally or horizontally offset from the first portion. The second portion extends from a point adjacent the aforementioned slot to a free end. The width of the slot occupied by the band is greater when the band is loosely wrapped about the object constrained. The greater width of the slot when the band is loosely wrapped facilitates single or multiple wrappings of the object constrained.

Abstract: A clamping assembly is disclosed for constricting an object, such as hoses or the like. The clamping assembly includes a clamp unit and, preferably, a roll formed band. The clamp unit includes a pair of spaced, parallel shelves. A longitudinal gap is created between the two shelves for receiving portions of the band. An interior shelf of the two shelves includes locking teeth. The clamping assembly is characterized by a sidewise joining of the clamp unit and band portions. The clamping assembly also includes a worm screw for engaging other portions of the band.

Abstract: A band tightening tool is provided having a pair of stamped members, each of which has the same structural configuration. The two stamped members are fixedly joined together by a welding process. When connected together, the two stamped members define a channel, a pair of cross holes and an open area. The two cross holes receive a band tightening mandrel having a mandrel slot. The cross holes and mandrel include cooperating retaining elements to prevent unwanted separation of the mandrel from the cross holes. To tighten a band about an object, the end portion of the band is inserted through the channel defined by the two stamped members so that the band end portion can be attached to the band tightening tool. Rotational movement of the band tightening mandrel causes the band to be tightened about the object. In so doing, the open area between the channel and the cross holes acts to accommodate the band portions being wrapped around the mandrel.

Abstract: A flexible hose is secured to a fitting using elongated strips and band clamps in a conventional manner so as to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the flexible hose and the elongated strips. One end portion of each of the elongated strips is bent back so as to be contiguous to the next succeeding portion of the elongated strip so as to form a shoulder and a recess is formed in the fitting. The bent back portions are seated in the recess and retained therein by a band clamp acting on the next succeeding portion so that relative longitudinal movement between the elongated strip and the fitting is prevented by an abutting relationship between the shoulder of the bent back portion and a shoulder of the recess.

Abstract: A clamp is provided which includes a buckle of high strength material with top, bottom, and side walls defining a rectangular passage. An elongate band is anchored at one end to the buckle and wrapped on itself and passed through the buckle at least twice to define a clamp structure for securing a hose on a conduit.The top wall of the buckle has two integral but discrete locking tabs centrally located and adapted to be bent down about their lines of juncture with the top wall. A chisel-tipped punch is driven radially inward between the free ends of the tabs to force them into the adjacent layer of the band, causing band metal to flow and produce upset interlocks between the band and the tabs outward of the tabs. The ends of the tabs also cause band metal to flow into a bulge between the tabs. The punch tip divides the bulge and flows the metal toward the tab ends to produce a second pair of upset interlocks between the band and the tabs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for sealing boreholes in the earth. The borehole is blocked at the sealing level, and a sealing apparatus capable of melting rock and earth is positioned in the borehole just above seal level. The apparatus is heated to rock-melting temperature and powdered rock or other sealing material is transported down the borehole to the apparatus where it is melted, pooling on the mechanical block and allowed to cool and solidify, sealing the hole. Any length of the borehole can be sealed by slowly raising the apparatus in the borehole while continuously supplying powdered rock to the apparatus to be melted and added to the top of the column of molten and cooling rock, forming a continuous borehole seal. The sealing apparatus consists of a heater capable of melting rock, including means for supplying power to the heater, means for transporting powdered rock down the borehole to the heater, means for cooling the apparatus and means for positioning the apparatus in the borehole.