COS SOMPRBSSIONCLAM ? This application is a.-RORtnmadon-n-part, ot' Application Serial No. tO/76i', 7.-t Januty,, 23, 2004i. S,,. Patent- BACKGRQmnD BFTHB INVENTION The present indention/ ? related t clamps, and more particu} arly to compression clamps used. iR pipe csmec Cmpresgitt clap jr coMhecting a section of pips pr tulbiiig to compress dlanips Uged,,, iii pipe. , 1, 6otineotions. .. _,....,... : r....,.... P......... _... !... :.. ,.. t'o secuxe ° e , c a : : ti ;'k. : a. ie I. asic, : such a-tI. th. : e cfa xp : e, r. ut t... _.' : .......... p p. _.,...., y , :. cross 1fi ; íked (P) or Wh : sl åble t ir X clånip ib crMpitîsiia,. a Fpecially r . ,.. k p p ,. Y e.. se viti riet v ., ., liattii : i lti. ciesige1-tciaI : TFiese clamips ma'b n a ' p1.. n di recreational eM&leS) inaufactttre hpmes jrtarne craSj stick built Tiomes, and beverage .,, eye Tbe proper positioning the eompression clamps on the pipe ends is eiaiic. od. at e important. Accdrduigly, the present clan'ips are designed io enhance tli. e Hkelihqod that the _. !,.. _,..., ?.., : _. :.... :.,....., _... clamp wßllbé » y pOSaion ed. e sUck dw 1s sold by Stier ! tega i ; >dfiord, MassachusesunderthePnreow As iLllustratedinEigs. 1 d, thiscjta ; mp 109 as, achus t un...,, u. r t r,., , p includes a shoulder il0 at one end 120 to provide a positive stop ibr tle pipe 130 wimm the P P clamp. The clamp also demes a witness window"113 to permit visual observation and conSrmation that Ihe p ! p, e is prpp. erly positioned witMn the clamp end a : gaiBS ! t the ange 110. lEe fiange L lQ assists ih pmpdlyposboing thé p Oli ti hlbe énd. Unfortunately, there are difficulties m the installatioh of conventional compression clamps. Aer a clamp is placed on the end of the pipe, it nmst be physically held in place until the fitting is inserted into the pipe and the clamp is compressed which requires two ; hands. If this is not done, the clamp may iauoS'the tube or become incorrectly

oriental on the tube and the $ttmg/may slid tutbc. This problem is exacerbated ointel ori tlie fu' an ; g,,. y lt _...... d when ffie lustallaXn of laizip is at d iri : itiffit ßpape, +e tlie i : iser ly o be vv...,.. n,.... ? :,.. P....... P... g.. p...,,,. r....... Y Y alx ko xeaeh t pip. nt f, e. . ap vvih aneyhand ;, Teving one ;. or no ands to. make the connection with an install toot ADOther diBSoulty is that cohveottonal eonnectors MKe tnose sho\n in Figs. 1 and requn'e spe'eMly designed tools thasnomidth conneGtoR T&is necessitates .. Q p....... Y ? ?.... _...., .. u _...... carrying arlarnbx o£differeßtly 6ized : : mping b : ols to a tç Afèred pe size. k order to reduce the need ibr multiple cnmpmg tools, some manufacturers supply the o e-a -h' sct' cuí< i » a. e r ëx, « ed sUctioS m the eonnector that can be crmiped with a conventional crimping tool. A single tool can crimp crimp thei ears of mny. difrent. isize pipes. However, especiaUy under pressure and certain nvirciriiintal conditions 'hese; ccianectors h a : : tendency to leak :. inWe : area : oftl. e : : zrimped ,.''' SUMT 0 THB EENN ThearMentibned'instauationpro v. o k : _ , oui1 c1 vith : an i x. d :,, r.. t' re invention wherein a compression clam is provided ith an inward delbrmatibn tha. t provides a fi iction St. or : an intèrX fit bet thé m 41 Exe oùtérf 3Lce : f t-heie. pip In this emhpdiment, the inward delbrmation is a. plurality of longitudinal nbs e r spaced about thé cirounifince. of the ctp. As the claKip is. placed on the pipe, the e, c e tii. frietiori aiid'the e reveni vli ci ribs engage the outer sur&eeofthe pipe ereatihg friction and'thereby preventing the clamp from falling off the pipe prematurely. At the same tithe) the ribs Xy ¢wate á sliglit iivrard pressure on the ptpe, which may in turn press against the fitting inside the pipe and prevent the fitting from falling out of the pipe. This embodiment provides a number of advantages over conventional compression clamps, First, users of the present inxentipnareh

,.., , :.,. ;. : _. st a' clarnp in position on thepipe. or to keep thepipe in an upnt position plior to placing the pipé onto tX fitting. siNcondS 9 ; e í de4on Xs i : g ; pWV « the £ m slipping, moving, or be1ng pushed o ut of posltion be tore the ; grlX 1S peXoxmed. Third> tW number of clanlps ! lost inside wUs orbompattajents where pipes ate lostted. will"be reduced) 'because elatnps'will be less likely to ? 11 o the pipe aer the are jlaeed there. Fourth . installatn eficlamps in tight spaces is mucTi easier with the present indention, because the , Qn. of clam uch, sier amp hand can be used to plaethe<lamp : pn the pipe, then crimp the clamp. PSMi, the inward ds&rmation contributes to a stronger connectiLohbettween the Mp1pit d thh l ; erEëct0iside : > piSe The a&rcmentoned crimping problems are overcome m a second aspect of the invention whsrem compression Glamp is provided with an integral crimpmg ear and an integral tone inside the clanipun In th ; s embodiment ; ! the tohg ! ;). : is iQca. ted. between the ear and the pipe oYerlymgthemputhpfthe ear. The ngRe reduces the likelmopdpf leakage by providing ......,..,. ........ ., _. _.. Y1 ?.,. compression aroundthe entire ci !-cum&reneeo Tt-a the"tbtigiie is connected to-the-ear'by a strap including, a score, Ime that allows the strap to Rex outwardly when the ear is Grimped. The flexed strap provides an accessible location to cut the strap to rernove the tongue and ultimatelty to remove the connector if necessary fbr repairs ofrep ! tacemsnt. These and other objects, advantages, and jEeatures of the invention will be readily understood and. appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the current embodiments and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art clamp in combination with a pipe and a fitting.

Fig. 2 is a pei'sp'ectivetiew oftM prioi'art clamp ; Iiig. 2 ls a. ppeetive + bf X ; ptior aft olt. , 3 is, a pÇÇ + d ge al ? f the, p5retit n m com'binati. on with apipe : and a Btttrng : 3 agS 5~i§ : a s. edW iriew wiiálMg-b3--3 h% 4. "Fig. 6 is a se, tio : "alug-Iiy3-3 Fig : 4 zg : 6 is a. secional riew va ; ke. : alcg e i-. in Ei. g :'3M., FWgS 7 is atecXet : 1o-dedwiew of,. 3 :. Flg. 8 ls at perspecd1ve i1eßv of ; l second émbodient of ithe e amp^.. . ; ee Fig 9 is a Bottom perspecv Yiew oftesecoM embdijnent. e Ip is g perspe*e eo*d view d t ; he S'iG [) *3 itl e åtiox a+iafttir. w 11 is aonteetiohaWiewoftheseGOn eml3odimexit ; Fig, 12 is a side secttbndlviewofthe second embodimeint. 'Pig,. 1. 3 is a top sectional view of the seeood embodiment in cpinbin-ation with ew vn a pipe. Fig : l4 is a : top seGtional view Of the second emhodiment in combmatioh With appe aM a FtWg- Fig. 15 is åperspee iew of We ; se-eond embodimoXninwith a pipe with the strap m a deformed position. DBTAILEnDESCRIPTIONOFT ! HEeURRBNTEOD A cpmpression clamp m accordance with Ohe embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 3 a. nd generally designated 10. The ; clamp IO is prily a metal hand that is clampable of slidably : fitt : ing over a pipe or tube 12. The clamp 10 preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs 14, a positive stop flange 16 ? alid a witness wìndsw 18. In operation, Alle clamp lQ is placed over thè end of a-pipe l2, and-^a fittixig 22 is inserted

srie end of °th ; i e. 10 is h,.,.. into the clamp 10 at the sam : end of the. pipe 12. TM clamp 10 is then rimp-ed wi-th a ,. :, rss : : cl. : ., ro . primping tool (not shown) ? congress the, clam bout the pipe 1% at] hel5tti ; Mg 22 ...). 1.... e l.. p. . ? .,... . ; _. x securing the, pipe i-, Ì Structure Shown in Figs. 6 and 7 Nie pijpe 12 is well kapn and generally Goinpnsed e , 6ut. no iifd ro asic sucli., as : PV o PX ccs : linkeel :.., ; b 2ene. 'h :'i e inwludes mputer auztac. ei 19j and atl : end ; t lAlat walli wceiv ; e clamF L D. ¢pen on the : G : x... , . g..'th,. desired applieation, the pipemaybeatigid of itexiMe, and mayhays a vanet of standard . co, mpnsed df mdtil, such as brass or pjaqic--and si aving a comprised of a metal, such as brass, or plastie ; and include at least pae msert i21 having a diameter ligntly smaller uian the iHner'ctiaineter ofe pipe 1 sneh that if canbemnserted E mto the end. 3 of the pipe 1 The T-shaped iitting 2S. shon is intended to be exemplary of QJ XE < wpg wS. g"tpr- _al ban,'haviiig.,, 4. Gireumrenee of any desired size so that it'Sts oer a desjfcd pipe Of tube. The clamp 10 cin- d r a1 °8wet. cl. ii'etvte 2 ; includes a s a-fijet otid2, 4,,. a, secotid end2 ; « sés nd ; 26. Xí6 Width of t>Xd ; e wàll been the ffrst aW sécond ends 24 d. 26- may vary wt& me desired appliGaon.. Theside wall 8 also includes an inner surface 32, an six outzr su'ace 3, . Iri. the pre"red vnbodrimenfia, ip : : 3, ,. extenl. radialty out. vac cz th :. second end 26. The lip 3Smcludes a radius 40 that i :) rtns a smooth transition wi& the side wall 28. The side wall 28 also includes a plurality of inward deformations. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in the preferred embodiment, the inward deformations are a plurality of ribs 14. The ribs 14 preferably extend across the substantial width of the side wall Z8 ; forrning an indentation 42 in the outer suriace 34 and a correspoiidiiig protrusion 44 oh the inner surface

39,.. The depth of Kle pXtrusion 44 may re dependingon ffiei desirednterArence Jb¢recn "_... p.,.. 'I.... _. Y. x, p.. ... "... I. ri1 I, . pxp.,. 1 'a°p rr, .. mb dm.., thjr. _ l. r,'.. nly aout a the 14 andthepipe : 12. m apleiea-eil embenneat, three nbs ? 14 are spaseSe ! t : he sidewall 28. However, any number dfn 14 maybe used, and the ribs 14 ntayhavc a avé a - the. rnad. de'orrn, tiQs : a. "a ur. ter c : E r'ys., o. v eent. sha e ii ar. the inward dermatioms may'be & number cdE dimples, ; 0 a differently shaped unward -ye Ifi thh aMbodwt a positi* st@ 4ei ló dF rad ; nw td Inthepte&rredejmbodtthe &pm e &st cnd4 ctamp, 10. The tliatigg : 1 prebly ext&nds around entire t togotilig r4digi '-'d e.. .'. 0. av'azi r s ' ev antl. t r ; 5. :. ciumfrezce o th cl, m. I, h. . : a e. . c 5. 0,,.. at : e. sr. Thv depth of the flange 16 is approximately the same, but not : gteaterthan of the rp o 1 g 's.. br,. tl o£ t _ i - :. vll vns pipe e 1>2, X-that. tl, * >, i22 m,, a,,. ill,', b, e I,, nsttX o tlYe 61t l'O andt ihtó tbe, 4ríd öf bye insu the pipe 13.] b mMther embpdimet, the side wall 28, mcludes a liole 48 oEwit&ess mdo. p :...... x... _.. :..., v1 S The Me 48 is proximate to : ? && 24 pfe clamp 1 aowmg a. user to e the lZ'l btou « i wvlvndow 48 Whën tS clàtip 1 O is plàc-ed on l ; he * 142. H. Opemtioil the ion, theBecondfflid ; wdthé ç ip 10is-pOSÏiIW prpi£Waté1bthe end 23 of the pipe 12. A user wiU'then sitde th clamp 10 onto the end 3 of the pipe 12. As : 2 pp. w' px. . ...., pp.. the clamp. liO slides onto the pipe 12 ;, the tip 38 on the second end 26 of the clamp 10 serves . o e'. . .. . ' o : e cai. 1 aii. d ti ke ; ii. 1v ri ie ciite_ srif'c v 9. oye .. ;.,. . ! 1 .... , : : g.. _. pipe 1"2, creating,, a friction Hltbetween the nts 14 ai : the pipe 12 ffir cwpin-g. The : pm is. slid onto the clamp 10 unnl the end 23 of the pipe 12 contacts me inner surface 50 of the flange 16 and the pips 12 ds risible through me window 48. The flange 16 prevents the clamp 10 nrom sliding, farther onto the pipe land the inctioh fit created by the ribs 14 prevents the clamp from sliding off the pipe 12 witliout a force being applied by the user. DncefhcGlampOisinplace, meinsert21 ofmenttmg22 isinseicdiBtotheend23

° r"n : : "1 t coin . pipe 12,, ail compress the, pi 11 1'2,,, bnio i 9,, 22,. pipe L2, and wmpFess the pipN onto ie fitting 22 ! t. Sesond, Embodiment. t Figs. 8-1 : 5 show a Second embodimient of the present invention. In this e clari 1t00 iludes a crim ii se . h, . in.,. ear 102 is'. -hit,. px,, ten0srAdi, Outw #04i,'the : The,.- !, Q, 2 inol-q4es, a shaped section thafe radiay (mtwaf. om lOO. The ear 102 includss a. W ped Wion that Sands Xii he w 100. Xie-1W-0. a '. bmis a gap m the eircumjEcrence oftlieeylindncal side wall l2&jthat can be drawn together . : ; . ; . ; ;. rt y.. t v i.-.-re tle clai : 14 ? ritQ - :'°x ., . to. , lt- °os. d . vv : n the I-02 and thepjpe to ovcie the mouth 10 of the ear 102. The tongue 104 is : connecied to the ear gué ì with a sh'ap 106< The ; cla. nip lOOoftMsebodim 1. 38 and rib 4-of r. ioiuslyX ; is sed embodimentt but ot necesst. The cmping ear 102 nieludes ap pflegs lOSa'-b extending radially outward : &pm the side wait 12& Thelegs lS. a-b each include a rsfend HQjauda : second ......,.. ,.... : : end fH. The Erst ends 110 extend nom the side wan l2§ m s direction radially outward i-fi eic 11a a e a tl. t de"ine. a. °a.. 1.. .. ,,, ftorri th. side wall 18'. Tl st s e g p n he szl. val11. Z8 tlaf 'i . iorms the mouth 1 ear 102, Theseeottd ends 111 arejomedtbgethcrby a base 115. The base 115 spans the gap between the two Isgs lOSa-b and. includes a. top edge ; 107 aBd a tbat are, geiftetalyflosh, with, rst a see and 12, 6 of the, .', bottom, dge, I the ii an,, Pxid ends,, 12, 4 side aH 128 respectively. The base 115 may ntrQier include One or more sup The support ribs 116 are conventional, and as shown in Fig. 8 define a pair of relatively narrow parallel dermations U6 extending across the entire base 1J. 5 from the Brst leg 108a to the-secónd leg lOSb The tongue 104 is generally a plate that is positioned underneath the ear 102 between the ear 102 and thepip ; e H2. The tongue 104 overlies the mouth 105 of the ear 102

and. calq çngagç tile pipe 112* Thq Xn « e í v be cted so 1it^ìt ewom : ds to ie .... g ..... p. p.. '. P :. crutle..'. mner : curvature. of'i tde. v 8 : arid. tietorigue J. : t3 . n iu i" : i : 9 ha : is shaped e tQ en a .. .., -2'.. As slia. sri't e ta : e : , : Q.. incde. a ta.,, e e . : : $. z, xma. te tle r side 134 o the side all 128 and a bpitom edge 120 that extends inside the damp 100 e jd,. a'bqtto at e. xt'ends, i4 the,-clarnp, 106 send side edges 136 and IM. 3E'he distanee Between the side edges 130 an ; d 132 is lightly ! widér th flie gaI tif 8a-b so th4t. he *-iN is uvyider than ; mouth (ofthe.. ¢ar 1Q2 ! Ås shown, tlle sidtwall 28 mqi*d ou<k6ation t. 1." e :, e r 2. 1 sho. li. s .-w 1 ° : : : c1 ea. _auc ! ar. d : c : a f'- :., 14. ; a a y, : to'b ; i.-lrivti'i h tf ; 34. : to ; co te ox . th : : ogu. k uc t e og l. t t sie Wall 12 to complete the Gtmirence of the clamp 100. The defbrmation 134 may be wider thgn the distane be<wee] Hie side edges 130 and 133 of the tongue 104, S) j'ming gaps dey 13. piSiri tlhe dwe be ; twëep X side. eXes. 1 : 030 atid. lS of e tw iQA Wsng gaps ope ki tQn, ue t., l39and. 140 be, teentte^sideBedges :. 130, nd e£oJrmationlXoIl : pposit¢idesof : yal ; eert t : o : ed'10. a As CsidoWn 15 tWt lQ4AiWbe ai e 4 100iby a stt 106. Th-e svtrapV 106-is Wrally aSH bw tW-top edgei'107 o ; B ear 1 t and ithe top edge 118 eCthe tongue 104. Altertiatiyely, the strap yomay be attached betweea the ''t ?. ? . :...... P.... o. . ,. y.. bottom., ee1-ge la., of tfi. ongue -. . : anW, e ;. ba, tozza d, g l. fJ o fi. ea x, r o a. ar y other locations onthetongue 104 and the clamp 100. As disclosed., the strap 106 includes a lcwer surplace 144 and an upper surface 146. The strap 106 may inctude one or more score _ :, _..,. ,.... .... l ? <...,... lines lS or similar defbrmationslhataJbw the stap 106 to dBrm when the : legs 108a-b ear 102 are crimped together. As shown, the score line 148 is located on the lower surface 144 of the strap 106 near the center of the strap 106, however, it may be placed at a variety of locations on thestrap 106. In operation, fbe clamp 100 is placed over the pipe 112 in the same manner as disclosed in the nTst emboditnent. If the clamp 100 includes a lip 138 and/or ribs 114,. the

.-.,... 2 a s tie : : li 8. : clamtp 100 ß ssitw 9 thatffie Xd lZ e pipe rl2 lenge. lip lA Tuhe ribs l. I4 fCIn ScXn. with Ae. Wter wS 0ze-p¢ 1 t. t, e t s* 129 o£ lhe rm ,.. : _. . rv. ..,... _. la. : p p., 100 is ; p¢X å fithng 1 ; 2. 2 ls insW : Wio e pip pQ is t. angi 104 s. on g k. r , p : : p amp ( xs : pcpexly pasto,. g. 2, xs ms k_ d, x. a. . p. t. ..,. :. ., e.., a Q0 is crimped hy pressing the legs 10§a-'b pt ; the ear 10 toward each other- usually with a crimping tool 10-t'0 close-the mouth i5o. ftheearandpull t00 tight about the ,,, c"Pro _ a 'p@t 11 fiffing 122. I-hè ps ; A3. 90 md 140 are nzówed wlíen the bar lC is ilmw so 1 hat approximately the enre circuien is Gpcapssed, including the area 1S at a gw o e : at e ear 102. wk s : orz x se. l. with. t inrer ruc :'. of ; xe on iist of,. 100, Ih qtdpf 't6 the 1'00 for"anv r,. qqO !,, 063, ma, 104. zMditioillr7 as i e strap id6 may Xrn1 it e axta Æt sSre QO. This : ies. : 8 as the : ; e ; r I. s czmtl so lia We p I06 uvs : o : rd. Q x, o th : ; sta 10fi- jn. rest ofthetlamp 100). Ei order to rejtnSe the elamR 00 ranyreasoths 1, 06 may ..,, l ?.),,.,...., _.....,.,. P.. _Y =. :. ..,.,,. _ ?..,,., ' relieves some ofthe compression o clamp 100 ;, aHowing the clamp 100 to bepulledfrom xelzues soe o''he oapzessin of te l : n 10,. . : raag ; : the. lamp 'b puX. from the pipe. Thè ib OSitiOn iB t 0 tke-c6t FbcimOsl d Xe biòn. , n, s an lie. xnad, ithout de arfin frdm tlir s. irit xci broar Varacr : : alte.. tcrx : s : . c h. _...., . '... .. .... aspects of the ihventioti as denned in the sppended claims'which are to be : ihte ! rpreted in accordance, with the : principles of patent law including the doctrme of equivalents. Any referce to claim elements imthe singular ibr example, usmg the articles"a/''"an""the"or said is not to be construed as linnfing the elementtp the singular. saca"zs. nat o be construedws liizting th enerttcthe inular.