Medical clamp
First Claim
1. A medical clamp comprising:
- a unitary plastic strip including two connected legs moveable toward each other about a center point, the legs forming opposed jaws for attachment to an object;
each jaw having a pincer member including a toothed portion facing the toothed portion of the other jaw, and a rear portion facing the center point;
the rear portion of one pincer member including a stop surface and the rear portion of the other pincer member including means projecting toward the stop surface for interacting with the stop surface to limit the movement of one pincer member relative to the other pincer member in a direction parallel to the legs as the legs are moved toward each other; and
means for securing the legs together in a closed position while the projecting means interact with the stop surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical clamp (14) formed from a unitary, molded plastic strip (10) folded at its midpoint (12) into a generally "C" shape. Each leg (16, 18) has a base portion (20, 24) and an angled jaws portion (22, 26). A bar (42) extends from one base portion toward the other base portion (24), where, in the assembled clamp, it interengages another bar (44). Pincer members (28, 29) at the ends of the jaw portions have teeth (30) for securing the clamp to a sheet (35) or similar support surface on the operating table. One of the pincer members includes at its rear portion facing the midpoint of the strip, a wedge-like member (84), projecting substantially transverse to the leg. The other pincer member includes a ledge portion (86) acting as a stop surface adapted to received the wedge member in sliding interference fit as the jaws are closed. The interferece fit of the ledge portion and the wedge member limits the movement of one jaw relative to the other in a direction parallel to the legs, as the jaws are closed. The interaction of the wedge member and ledge in effect resists the tendency of one leg to move parallel relative to the other as the bars with hook (48) and retainer member (46) interengage for the purpose of locking the jaws together.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medical clamp comprising:
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a unitary plastic strip including two connected legs moveable toward each other about a center point, the legs forming opposed jaws for attachment to an object; each jaw having a pincer member including a toothed portion facing the toothed portion of the other jaw, and a rear portion facing the center point; the rear portion of one pincer member including a stop surface and the rear portion of the other pincer member including means projecting toward the stop surface for interacting with the stop surface to limit the movement of one pincer member relative to the other pincer member in a direction parallel to the legs as the legs are moved toward each other; and means for securing the legs together in a closed position while the projecting means interact with the stop surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A medical clamp comprising:
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a unitary strip including first and second legs having curved portions connected substantially symmetrically about a center point, the legs forming opposed jaws for attachment to an object; each jaw having a pincer member including a rear portion facing the center point and a front portion facing away from the center point, each pincer member having between the rear and front portions, a plurality of teeth defined by alternating ridges and grooves oriented substantially parallel to each other and transverse to the legs; the rear portion of one pincer member including a wedge member projecting toward the other pincer member, and the rear portion of the other pincer member including a ledge portion adapted to receive the wedge member in sliding interference fit as the jaws are closed, whereby the interference fit of the ledge portion and wedge member limits the movement of one jaw relative to the other in a direction parallel to the legs, as the jaws are closed; and first and second means projecting toward each other from the first and second legs respectively, for interengaging to secure the jaws in a closed position as manual pressure is applied to the legs to move the legs toward each other. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification