Tramec, L.L.C. recently secured a major technological breakthrough with the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12723678. This patent, titled ‘Clamp assembly’, introduces a powerful way to secure hardware components. Engineers can now provide custom sizing for clamp openings with unprecedented flexibility.
Advanced Hinged Design for Commercial Vehicles
The innovation focuses on a new clamp assembly design for securing hoses and pipes. This system uses a dual-body structure extending between an attachment end and a hinged end. A specialized second body connects hingedly to the first body to allow seamless movement between opened and closed positions. This assembly features retention members with a separable portion. A customizable opening ensures the clamp adapts to various sizing requirements. This setup allows for incredible versatility during installation.
Key Inventors and Kansas Recognition
The talented inventors behind this breakthrough include Craig Herweyer, Chris Kline, Kevin Cornelius, and Jeffrey McKeown. Their diligent work earned this invention the title of patent of the month for the Kansas state for the month of October 2026 granted by Swanson Reed. Tramec Sloan operates a prominent manufacturing facility in Iola, Kansas, and this award highlights their ongoing commitment to advancing regional manufacturing. Swanson Reed selected this patent because it demonstrates exceptional engineering ingenuity and provides a practical, robust solution for the heavy duty trucking industry.
R&D Tax Credit Eligibility in the USA
The practical applications of this patent present strong opportunities for claiming the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit in the United States. To develop this advanced clamp assembly, the engineering team likely engaged in systemic experimentation to resolve technical uncertainties related to material strength, hinge durability, and vibration resistance. Testing these prototypes under extreme commercial vehicle conditions directly aligns with the requirements of the four-part test under Internal Revenue Code Section 41. Companies investing in similar iterative design processes, prototype evaluations, and performance testing can leverage these R&D tax credits to offset development costs and further drive industrial innovation.
