Locator tab and associated hose clamp

1. A hose clamp locator for positioning an adjustable hose clamp at the end of a hose, said clamp locator comprising:

a connection portion disposed to facilitate connection to a hose clamp;

a head portion;

a deflecting portion positioned between said connection portion and said head portion, said deflecting portion having a reduced bending resistance compared to said head portion and disposed to deflect upon tightening of said adjustable hose clamp;

an end portion extending angularly from said head portion;

a clip portion extending angularly from said end portion; and

a tooth portion extending angularly from said clip portion so that said tooth portion is disposed to engage an interior surface of a hose.

2. The clamp locator of claim 1 , wherein said deflecting portion describes at least one partial aperture.

3. The clamp locator of claim 1 , wherein said deflecting portion describes at least one aperture.

4. The clamp locator of claim 1 , wherein said clip portion extends from said end portion at an angle of between about 100° and about 130°.

5. The clamp locator of claim 1 , wherein said tooth portion extends from said clip portion at an angle of between about 30° and 60°.

6. The clamp locator of claim 1 , wherein said end portion extends from said head portion at substantially perpendicular angle.

7. An adjustable hose clamp assembly comprising:

a band with an edge thereof describing a partial aperture;

an adjustor disposed to facilitate constriction of said band;

a clamp locator connected to said band and positioned adjacent to said partial aperture, said clamp locator disposed to engage a hose and position said band around said hose.

8. The hose clamp assembly of claim 7 , wherein said clamp locator comprises:

a connection portion disposed to connect to said band;

a head portion;

a deflecting portion positioned between said connection portion and said head portion, said deflecting portion having a reduced bending resistance compared to said head portion and disposed to deflect upon tightening of said adjustable hose clamp;

an end portion extending substantially perpendicular from said head portion;

a clip portion extending an obtuse angle from said end portion; and

a tooth portion extending an acute angle from said clip portion, said tooth portion being disposed to engage an interior surface of a hose.

9. The hose clamp assembly of claim 8 , wherein said deflecting portion of said clamp locator describes at least one partial aperture.

10. The hose clamp assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:

a hose, wherein said clamp locator is engaged with said hose, and said band is positioned around said hose.

11. The hose clamp assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the width of said clamp locator to the width of said partial aperture provided by said band is from about 1:1.4 to about 1:1.6.

12. The hose clamp assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the depth of said partial aperture provided by said band to the depth of said band is from about 1:3 to about 1:5.

13. A method of clamping a hose to a fitting, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a clamp locator to a hose clamp, said clamp locator being disposed to deflect under hose clamp tightening operations, said hose clamp having a circumferential band describing a partial aperture on an edge thereof;

positioning said hose clamp around a hose;

forcing said clamp locator to engage said hose to statically position said hose clamp relative to said hose;

positioning said hose clamp and said hose around a fitting; and

tightening said hose clamp and allowing said clamp locator to deflect towards said partial aperture described by said band of said hose clamp.