Shut off clamp

Claim 1

A clamp for controlling fluid flow through a flexible tube; and comprising a molded strip of plastic material having spaced transverse substantially V-shaped notches providing inclined abutment surfaces with apical relatively thin hinge connections about which the strip is folded to provide a base section with a tube clamping lower abutment, an upstanding front section having laterally spaced substantially vertical arms between which the tube is to be disposed to overlie the lower abutment and having confronting locking recesses, an upstanding rear section with an aperture to receive the tube therethrough, and a lever arm section extending forwardly from the rear section to overlie the base section and having a tube clamping upper abutment in opposition to the lower abutment; said lever arm section having a T-head presenting rearwardly facing shoulders joined to the front end thereof by a shank portion extending between the arms of said front section and of a length permitting relative movement between the lever arm section and the front section and locating said shoulders for snug reception in said locking recesses for locking the tube in constricted condition between the upper and lower abutments and with the hinge connections between adjacent sections in tension and the abutment surfaces in compression, whereby forced movement of the front section rearwardly along the shank portion will release the interengagement between the shoulders and locking recesses with automatic upward movement of the lever arm section relative to the front section as a result of the stressed condition of the hinge connections and abutment surfaces to remove constriction of the tube between the upper and lower abutments and from which released position of the lever arm it may be forced downwardly to again cause interengagement between the shoulders and locking recesses for constricting the tube between the upper and lower abutments.