US3698681A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
On-off clamp for i. v. systems
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-15
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1990-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A clamp for control of fluid flow through tubing, such as in intravenous tubing systems, with a base through which the tubing is passed and releasably held in adjacency to a fixed abutment surface on the base, and with a member hingedly connected to the base and provided with a clamping member movable in unison therewith relative to the abutment surface for clamping the adjacent portion of the tubing thereagainst and closing or partially closing the same; there being provided mutually cooperating interlocking arms on the base and hinged member, respectively, for holding the same in predetermined tube clamping positions, and being relatively laterally movable to release the interlocking engagement between the arms to permit separating movement between the base and hinged member with the clamping member moving away from the abutment surface, thus releasing the constriction in the previously clamped tubing.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Lacey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/22; A61M39/28; A61M39/284; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/39; Y10T24/3916; Y10T24/3936; Y10T24/394; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44641; Y10T24/44744; Y10T24/44752
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A generally U-shaped clamp for controlling fluid flow through a flexible tube, and comprising a base member forming one leg of the U, a fixed upstanding wall forming the base of the U and acting as an abutment surface adjacent the rear edge of said base member and aperture means through which the tube is passed for location along said abutment surface, a top member overlying in flexible hinged relation to the base member, said top member forming the other leg of the U integrally attached adjacent the upper opposite edge of said wall abutment surface and having an integral clamp arm movable therewith and extending in inclined relation, downwardly and rearwardly toward said abutment surface and terminating in a clamping edge proximate to and traversing the tube location along said abutment surface, and adjacently positioned locking arms respectively on said base member and said top member with each of said arms having cooperating shoulder means mutually interengaged when the locking arms are lapped with one another upon movement of the top member toward the base member for holding the clamping edge in tube constricting position against the abutment surface and releasable from mutual interengagement upon relative lateral separating movement between said locking arms permitting separating movement between the base member and top member to remove the clamping edge from tube constricting position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A generally U-shaped clamp for controlling fluid flow through a flexible tube, and comprising a base member forming one leg of the U, a fixed upstanding wall forming the base of the U and acting as an abutment surface adjacent the rear edge of said base member and aperture means through which the tube is passed for location along said abutment surface, a top member overlying in flexible hinged relation to the base member, said top member forming the other leg of the U integrally attached adjacent the upper opposite edge of said wall abutment surface and having an integral clamp arm movable therewith and extending in inclined relation, downwardly and rearwardly toward said abutment surface and terminating in a clamping edge proximate to and traversing the tube location along said abutment surface, and adjacently positioned locking arms respectively on said base member and said top member with each of said arms having cooperating shoulder means mutually interengaged when the locking arms are lapped with one another upon movement of the top member toward the base member for holding the clamping edge in tube constricting position against the abutment surface and releasable from mutual interengagement upon relative lateral separating movement between said locking arms permitting separating movement between the base member and top member to remove the clamping edge from tube constricting position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top member has a resilient hinge connection disposed between itself and said fixed wall whereby the top and base members tend to normally separate from one another upon release of the interengagement between the shoulder means and said hinge maintains a predetermined lateral orientation between the top and base members for permissive re-engagement between the shoulder means when the top and base members are again pressed together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top and base members are provided with finger gripping portions adjacent the front edges thereof in general opposition to one another for inward pressure thereon to separate the shoulder means with relative lateral movement of the top and base members out of the predetermined orientation therebetween whereby to permit the top and base members to return to normal separated and laterally oriented positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A clamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein the finger gripping portions are in the form of corner posts on the top and base members respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoulder means on the base member locking arm comprises at least two downwardly facing and vertically spaced shoulder surfaces for cooperation with a single upwardly facing shoulder surface on the top member locking arm for holding said clamping edge in relatively adjustable tube constricting position, at least the upper shoulder surface on the base member locking arm being inclined downwardly toward the abutment surface to provide mutually coextensive surface engagement with the shoulder surface on the top member locking arm when engaged therewith when said top member is locked in a non-parallel relation to said base member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall at the rear end of the base member has an inwardly extending ledge in generally parallel opposition to the base member to which the top member is hingedly connected, and wherein the base member and ledge are provided with centrally disposed vertically aligned apertures for receiving the tubing for its location along the abutment surface, each of the aligned apertures laterally communicates with the edge of the ledge and base member, respectively, to facilitate assembly and removal therethrough of the tubing relative to the clamp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A clamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein vertical shoulder means are provided between each aperture and an enlarged recess located between the aperture and the edge of said ledge and base member, respectively to releasably trap the tubing in assembly with the clamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |