Clamp assemblies for clamping tubing and controlling fluid flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025243959-A1
Application number	US-202318878291-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2023
Priority date	Jul 12, 2022
Publication date	Jul 31, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A clamp assembly for clamping flexible tubing includes a base member including a pair of sidewalls and a bottom that extends between the sidewalls. At least one of the sidewalls includes a clamp latching feature that extends inward from an inner surface of the at least one of the sidewalls. A locking lever is located between the sidewalls and is pivotally connected to the sidewalls at a pivot location such that the locking lever pivots relative to the base member. The locking lever includes a lever catch feature configured to cooperatively mate with the clamp latching feature.

First claim

1 . A clamp assembly for clamping flexible tubing, the clamp assembly comprising:
a base member comprising a pair of sidewalls and a bottom that extends between the sidewalls, at least one of the sidewalls including a clamp latching feature extending inward from an inner surface of the at least one of the sidewalls; and a locking lever located between the sidewalls and pivotally connected to the sidewalls at a pivot location such that the locking lever pivots relative to the base member, the locking lever including a lever catch feature configured to cooperatively mate with the clamp latching feature.

2 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 comprising at least two clamp latching features spaced-apart from each other along the inner surface of the at least one of the sidewalls such that the clamp latching features are different distances from the bottom.

3 . The clamp assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lever catch feature mates with one of the clamp latching features at a first angular position relative to the base member to lock the locking lever at the first angular position and mates with another of the clamp latching features at a different, second angular position relative to the base member to lock the locking lever at the second angular position.

4 . The clamp assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least two clamp latch features include a first clamp latch feature and a second clamp latch feature, the second clamp latch feature is closer to the bottom of the base member than the first clamp latch feature.

5 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking lever includes a lever portion and a pinching portion arranged and configured to impinge on tubing located in the base member, the pivot location located on the pinching portion.

6 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein each sidewall has at least two clamp latching features spaced-apart from each other along inner surfaces of the sidewalls such that the clamp latching features of each sidewall are different distances from the bottom.

7 . The clamp assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least two clamp latching features of each sidewall comprise a first post and a second post spaced-apart from the first post.

8 . The clamp assembly of claim 7 , wherein the lever catch feature comprises a recess area that is sized and arranged to mate with the first post with the locking lever at a first angular position and a second post with the locking lever at a second, different angular position relative to the base member.

9 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a de-pinching feature that is configured to move inward and impinge upon tubing located in the base member.

10 . The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the de-pinching feature comprises a tab that is connected to one of the pair of sidewalls at a mounted end and extends to a free end.

11 . The clamp assembly of claim 10 , wherein the de-pinching feature comprises a projection that extends inward from the free end.

12 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises an end wall that extends between the pair of sidewalls at an end of the bottom located at a location of ingress and egress for tubing, wherein a height of the end wall is reduced at a center of the end wall compared to at the pair of sidewalls.

13 . A clamp assembly for clamping flexible tubing, the clamp assembly comprising:
a base member comprising a pair of sidewalls and a bottom that extends between the sidewalls, at least one of the sidewalls including a clamp latching feature; a locking lever located between the sidewalls and pivotally connected to the sidewalls at a pivot location such that the locking lever pivots relative to the base member, the locking lever including a lever catch feature configured to cooperatively mate with the clamp latching feature; and a de-pinching feature that is configured to move inward and impinge upon tubing located in the base member.

14 . The clamp assembly of claim 13 , wherein the de-pinching feature comprises a tab that is connected to one of the pair of sidewalls at a mounted end and extends to a free end.

15 . The clamp assembly of claim 14 , wherein the de-pinching feature comprises a projection that extends inward from the free end.

16 . The clamp assembly of claim 13 , wherein the base member comprises an end wall that extends between the pair of sidewalls at an end of the bottom located at a location of ingress and egress for tubing, wherein a height of the end wall is reduced at a center of the end wall compared to at the pair of sidewalls.

17 . The clamp assembly of claim 13 , wherein each sidewall has at least two clamp latching features spaced-apart from each other along inner surfaces of the sidewalls such that the clamp latching features of each sidewall are different distances from the bottom.

18 . The clamp assembly of claim 17 , wherein the at least two clamp latching features of each sidewall comprise a first post and a second post spaced-apart from the first post.

19 . The clamp assembly of claim 18 , wherein the lever catch feature comprises a recess area that is sized and arranged to mate with the first post with the locking lever at a first angular position and a second post with the locking lever at a second, different angular position relative to the base member.

20 . The clamp assembly of claim 13 , wherein the locking lever includes a lever portion and a pinching portion arranged and configured to impinge on tubing located in the base member, the pivot location located on the pinching portion.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Dash Manas Ranjan
• Martin Gregory Roger
• Weiss Andreas Alfred

Classifications

• F16K7/063

  Lever clamps · CPC title

• F16L55/10 Primary

  Means for stopping flow in pipes or hoses (F16L29/00, F16L37/28 take precedence; valves F16K) · CPC title

• A61M39/284 Primary

  Lever clamps · CPC title