Clamp device and methods for making and using

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344874-B2
Application number	US-201715664728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2017
Priority date	May 25, 2012
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

Releasable tubing pinch clamps of a generally U-shaped configuration are described. The embodiments include ones that prevent cross-clamping of the tube by various interlocking features on riser portions of the clamp. Methods and molds for making the pinch clamps are also described. For example, a pinch clamp can have a strip that curves so that its ends can be brought together by manually squeezing the strip at its end, which oppose each other as a result of the strip curve. The strip ends have locking edges or surfaces that cause the strip ends to interferingly engage with each other and lock together. The strip also has opposing pinch projections that can pinch a tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making a pinch clamp, the pinch clamp having a flexible generally U-shaped structure in which riser portions of the U-shape are shaped so as to engage with each other when an open end of the structure is closed by manually pressing the riser portions so as to urge them together, the structure having inwardly projecting portions on opposite riser portions that converge when the riser portions are urged together, thereby permitting a tube running therebetween to be pinched, at least one of the riser portions having a chin portion that extends toward the other of the risers, the structure further comprising a bowl portion, and the chin portion and the bowl portion having openings configured to receive a tube, the method comprising:
forming the riser portions of the structure using mold parts with facing cavities and projecting at least one pin through at least one of the mold parts, wherein the pin has recesses configured to form sides of the openings, the recesses each having an access opening in a direction that is perpendicular to directions in which the cavities open;
separating the mold parts along a first line and removing a molded structure from the pin along a second line that is substantially perpendicular to the first.

2. A pinch clamp, comprising:
a flexible strip forming a generally U-shaped structure in which ends of riser portions of the U-shape are configured with locking edges or surfaces so as to releasably lock with each other when the riser portions are manually squeezed together;
the flexible strip having a bowl portion and a chin portion having respective bowl and chin openings configured to receive a tube running between them;
the chin portion extending from one of the riser portions toward the other of the riser portions;
the flexible strip having pinching projecting portions on the riser portions that converge when the riser portions are manually squeezed together, thereby permitting a tube running between the chin and bowl openings to be pinched between the pinching projections;
the bowl portion being formed, at least in part, by of a pair of bowl members, defining the bowl opening between them, the bowl members being offset along a direction of a tube axis line joining the chin and bowl openings so that no overhangs exist between the bowl members so that the bowl portion can be formed and released from a two part mold portion without use of additional actions or mold elements.

3. The pinch clamp of claim 2 , wherein the chin portion is defined by other chin members defining the chin opening between them, the chin members being offset along the tube axis line joining the chin and bowl openings so that the chin opening can be formed and released from a two part mold portion without the use of additional actions or mold elements.

4. The pinch clamp of claim 3 , wherein the chin opening has a first locking edge or surface and an upper one of the riser portions which is opposite the chin portion includes a locking projection having a second locking edge or surface, the locking projection being configured to fit in the chin opening to permit the first and second locking edges or surfaces to interferingly engage thereby locking the pinch clamp and pinching a tube between the pinching projections.

5. The pinch clamp of claim 4 , wherein the locking projection is configured such that substantially an entirety of the locking projection fits into the chin opening.

6. The pinch clamp of claim 2 , wherein the chin opening has a first locking edge or surface and an upper one of the riser portions which is opposite the chin portion includes a locking projection having a second locking edge or surface, the locking projection being configured to fit in the chin opening to permit the first and second locking edges or surfaces to interferingly engage thereby locking the pinch clamp and pinching a tube between the pinching projections.

7. The pinch clamp of claim 6 , wherein the chin portion has a first anti-cross-clamping surface and the locking projection has a second anti-cross-clamping surface, the first and second anti-cross-clamping surfaces being configured such that the locking projection fits into the chin opening when the first and second anti-cross-clamping surfaces are in contact.

8. The pinch clamp of claim 7 , wherein the locking projection has an asymmetric shape.

9. The pinch clamp of claim 7 , wherein the locking projection has an asymmetric shape with respect to a plane defined by the tube axis line and an imaginary line joining the riser portions.

10. The pinch clamp of claim 9 , wherein the second locking edge or surface is angled away from the first locking edge or surface in a direction remote from the first anti-cross-clamping surface.

11. The pinch clamp of claim 7 , wherein the locking projection has a guide surface that is inclined to push the chin portion away from upper riser portion when the pinch clamp is squeezed.

12. The pinch clamp of claim 6 , wherein the chin portion has a first anti-cross-clamping surface and the locking projection has a second anti-cross-clamping surface, the first and second anti-cross-clamping surfaces being configured such that the locking projection fits into the chin opening only when there is no space between the first and second anti-cross-clamping surfaces.

13. The pinch clamp of claim 6 , wherein the locking projection has an asymmetric shape.

14. The pinch clamp of claim 12 , wherein the locking projection has an asymmetric shape with respect to a plane defined by the tube axis line and an imaginary line joining the riser portions.

15. The pinch clamp of claim 14 , wherein the second locking edge or surface is angled away from the first locking edge or surface in a direction remote from the first anti-cross-clamping surface.

16. The pinch clamp of claim 6 , wherein the chin portion has a first anti-cross-clamping surface and the locking projection has a second anti-cross-clamping surface, the first and second anti-cross-clamping surfaces being configured such that when there is space between first and second guide edges or surfaces as the pinch clamp is squeezed, there are no edges or surfaces of the riser portions that can engage so as to lock the riser portions together, whereby cross-clamping of a tube between the pinching projections is prevented.

17. The pinch clamp of claim 16 , wherein the locking projection has an asymmetric shape.

18. The pinch clamp of claim 16 , wherein the locking projection has an asymmetric shape with respect to a plane defined by the tube axis line and an imaginary line joining the riser portions.

19. The pinch clamp of claim 18 , wherein the second locking edge or surface is angled away from the first locking edge or surface in a direction remote from the first anti-cross-clamping surface.

20. The pinch clamp of claim 6 , wherein the locking projection has a guide surface that is inclined to push the chin portion away from upper riser portion when the pinch clamp is squeezed.

Assignees

• Nxstage Medical Inc
• Braun Medical Inc

Inventors

• Brugger James M
• Schnell William J

Classifications

• A61M39/284 Primary

  Lever clamps · CPC title

• B29C37/0003

  Discharging moulded articles from the mould (constructions for removing the articles B29C33/44) · CPC title

• F16K7/06 Primary

  by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means {(F16K7/045 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• Y10T24/44906

  having specific surface irregularity on or along engaging face · CPC title