Clamp for thin walled tubing

• US 3,874,042 A
• Filed: 01/22/1973
• Issued: 04/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David A. Sharbaugh, Richard L. Schmitz, Roy T. Eddleman
• Original Assignee: David A. Sharbaugh, Richard L. Schmitz, Roy T. Eddleman
• Inventors: Eddleman, Roy T., Schmitz, Richard L., Sharbaugh, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Donald A.
• Application Number:
  US05/325,394
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 24/67R,52,260,245FF,248SL,255SL,255BC,255H,248B,248L,248BB,248HC 132/48A,48R 128/346 251/4,10
• US Class Current: 251/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/04 Specific sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 Tubular membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/04 constrictable by external radial force

Abstract

A process is disclosed which is useful for sealing a thin walled, flexible, plastic tube such as dialysis membrane tubing. The process utilizes a clamp which has an elongated base member having at least two spaced longitudinal ridges positioned thereon. A second mating member is hinged to the base member and has at least two grooves which are positioned to mate with the ridges of the base member when the clamp is closed. The clamp is held in a closed position by the longitudinal movement of the second mating member whereby its terminus is held in a notch which is located in a lug which is integral with the base member.

Claims

1. A method for sealing a thin walled, flexible tube, said method comprising closing said tube between intermeshed grooves and ridges located between an elongated base member having at least two spaced, longitudinal ridges positioned thereon, said base member being connected to an elongated mating member by hinge means attached to one end of said mating member and one end of said base member thereby interconnecting said mating member and said base member, said hinge means being integrally formed from the same material of construction used to form said base member and said mating member and having a non uniform thickness which is positioned so that upon closing, the thinner portion of said hinge means deflects the thicker portion of said hinge means;

the mating member further having at least two spaced, longitudinal grooves having about the same shape as the ridges on said base member and positioned so that when said mating member and said base member are moved to a closed position said ridges and said grooves are brought into close and intermeshed proximity, said base member and said mating member having closing means for holding said members in a closed position, said closing means comprising an integral tongue with a notch formed therein attached to one of said mating members, said tongue being located at an end opposite from said hinge means and said notch being shaped to hold the end of the other of said mating members.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said base has three ridges.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said closure member is fabricated from polypropylene.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said hinge means has a thin portion of a generally uniform thickness and a thick portion of generally uniform thickness.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said tongue is substantially rigid whereby said elongated mating member moves longitudinally upon closing.