Tube clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8973889-B2
Application number	US-72192210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2010
Priority date	Mar 13, 2009
Publication date	Mar 10, 2015
Grant date	Mar 10, 2015

Abstract

Embodiments of a clamp for compressing a flexible tube are disclosed herein. In one such embodiment, the clamp includes a first member, a second member moveably coupled to the first member to move into and out of a clamping position to apply a compressive force to the tube, a locking member to hold the first and second members in the clamping position, a third member moveably retained between a pair of sidewalls of one of the first member and the second member, and a fourth member moveably coupled to one of the first member and the second member and engageable with the third member to apply an additional compressive force to the tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clamp for compressing a flexible tube, comprising:
a first member;
a second member moveably coupled to the first member and adapted to move into and out of a clamping position to apply a compressive force to the tube, at least one of the first and second members including a pair of sidewalls that define a channel;
a locking member adapted to hold the first and second members in a fixed clamping position, wherein rotation of the first member relative to the second member is prevented;
a third member moveably retained in the channel, the third member adapted to move from a first position to a second non-parallel position relative to the first position; and
a fourth member moveably coupled to one of the first member and the second member, wherein the fourth member is adapted such that, when the first and second members are held in the fixed clamping position by the locking member, the fourth member is adapted to engage with the third member such that the third member moves from the first position to the second non-parallel position to apply an additional compressive force to the tube.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member each have a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the locking member is rotatably coupled to one of the second end of the first member and the second end of the second member, and wherein the locking member is engageable with the other one of the second end of the first member and the second end of the second member.

3. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein the first member and second member are connected at their first ends by one of a connecting member and a second hinge.

4. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the channel defined by the pair of sidewalls is adapted to permit upward and downward movement of the third member.

5. The clamp of claim 4 , wherein the third member is retained in the channel by a first hinge adapted to limit the upward movement of the third member.

6. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the third member has a first end and an opposing second end, a first hinge coupling the third member to the first or second member at the first or second end of the third member such that the third member rotates about the first hinge when the fourth member engages with the third member to apply the additional compressive force to the tube.

7. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the third member includes a longitudinally extending cross-bar portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having a v-shaped edge extending substantially the entire length thereof.

8. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein a platform extends substantially the entire length between the pair of sidewalls and a ridge extends substantially the entire length of the platform.

9. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the fourth member is adapted to lock with one of the first and second members.

10. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the fourth member includes a rotatable button and at least one projection extending from a bottom surface of the button, the at least one projection having a barbed end adapted to engage a crossmember when the fourth member is rotated into the clamping position.

11. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the fourth member includes at least one projection extending from a bottom surface of the fourth member and one of the first and second members includes first and second pushbuttons extending from opposites sides therefrom, the first and second pushbuttons each having a pair of arms adapted to form a hole, the at least one projection having a barbed end adapted to engage a portion of the hole when the fourth member is rotated into the clamping position.

12. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the third member includes at least one hook member, the hook member adapted to engage with one of the first and second members.

13. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the third member includes at least one telltale window, the telltale window adapted to indicate a flow position of the clamp.

14. A clamp for compressing a flexible tube, comprising:
a first member having a first end and a second end;
a second member with a first end and a second end, the first and second members moveably coupled at their first ends and adapted to move into and out of a clamping position to apply a compressive force to the tube;
a locking member pivotally coupled to the second end of at least one of the first member and second member, the locking member adapted to hold the first and second members in a fixed clamping position, wherein the locking member is moveably coupled to one of the first and second members by a first hinge;
a lever member moveably coupled to one of the first member and the second member; and
a guillotine moveably retained in a channel defined by a pair of sidewalls of one of the first member and the second member at a second hinge attached to the guillotine, wherein the channel defined by the pair of sidewalls is adapted to permit upward and downward movement of the guillotine and wherein a lip inwardly extends from at least one of the pair of sidewalls, the lip adapted to limit the downward movement of the guillotine, the lever adapted to engage the guillotine to apply and additional compressive force to the tube when the first and second members are held in the fixed clamping position.

15. A method for compressing at least one flexible tube, the method comprising:
positioning the at least one tube between a first member and a second member of a clamp, the clamp comprising:
the first and second members, the second member moveably coupled to the first member,
a locking member,
a third member moveably retained in a channel defined by a pair of sidewalls of one of the first member and the second member, the third member adapted to move from a first position to a second non-parallel position relative to the first position; and
a fourth member moveably coupled to one of the first member and the second member;

rotating the first member toward the second member to a clamping position such that an initial compressive force is applied to the at least one tube;
engaging the locking member such that the first and second members are held in a fixed clamping position, wherein rotation of the first member relative to the second member is prevented; and
while the first and second members are held in the fixed clamping position, rotating the fourth member to engage the third member such that the third member moves from the first position to the second non-parallel position and an additional compressive force is applied to the at least one tube.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
rotating the fourth member to control the flow of fluid through the at least one tube.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locking member is rotatably coupled to one of the first and second members and includes at least two hook members, wherein engaging the locking member comprises at least one of:
engaging a first one of the at least two hook members with the other of the first and second members such that the at least one tube is in a stop flow position; and
engaging a second one of the at least two hook members with the other of the first and second members so that the at least one tube is in a start flow position.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
interchanging the third member with a different member.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fourth member includes a rotatable button and at least one projection extending from a bottom surface of the button, the at least one projection hav

Assignees

• Werth Albert A
• Saint Gobain Performance Plast

Inventors

• Werth Albert A

Classifications

• F16K7/06

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

• F16L55/10 Primary

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

• F16K7/065

  Cam clamps · CPC title

• Y10T24/44966

  having gripping member shifted by operator · CPC title

• A61M25/0014

  Connecting a tube to a hub · CPC title