Clamp for flexible tube

• US 7,549,200 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Shirley, Nathan V., McMichael, Donald J., Madsen, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/139,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 24/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0061 fixing at an intermediate position on the tube, i.e. tube protruding the fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/024 having a clip or clamp system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/91 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3936 Pivoted part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44538 Integral locking-means

Abstract

A clamp for use with a flexible tube is disclosed. The clamp has a first and a second body portion each having a channel positioned upon a surface of the body portion. A detent mechanism is provided for securing the first and second body portions together such that the channel in one body portion aligns with the channel in the other body portion forming a passage through the clamp.

Claims

1. A clamp comprising:

a first body portion having;

a first major surface formed by a coplanar surface of each of a first arm, a second arm, and a yoke connecting the first arm to the second arm,

a second major surface formed by an additional surface of each of the first arm, the second arm, and the yoke, the second major surface being disposed substantially normal to the first major surface,

a yoke surface positioned opposite the second major surface and disposed between the first and second arms, and

a recess within the yoke surface, extending across the first major surface, and terminating at the second major surface;

a second body portion having;

a first major surface,

a second major surface disposed substantially normal to the first major surface,

a cantilevered arm extending normal to the first major surface and situated a distance from the first major surface,

a recess within a surface of the cantilevered arm, extending across the first major surface, and terminating at the second major surface; and

a hinge connecting the first body portion to the second body portion so that the first major surfaces of each of the first and second body portions are contiguous to one another and the recesses within each of the first and second body portions form a passage through the clamp.

2. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.

3. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the cantilevered arm comprises a flanged end for engaging and locking securely with the first and second arms.

4. The clamp of claim 1 comprising a smooth curvilinear surface over the conjoined second major surfaces of both of the first and the second body portions.

5. The clamp of claim 1 comprising gripping elements within the passage.

6. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the clamp is adapted to be destructively released after engaging the cantilevered arm with the first and second arms.

7. A clamp comprising:

a first body portion having two parallel arms separated one from the other by a channel, a first major surface normal to the channel and forming a top surface of the arms, and a recess within the channel extending across and along the first major surface and terminating at a second major surface; and

a second body portion having a first major surface, a cantilevered arm extending normal to the first major surface, and a recess within the cantilevered arm extending along and across the first major surface and terminating at a second major surface;

wherein the cantilevered arm is adapted to engage the channel and lock between the parallel arms placing the first major surfaces contiguous to one another such that the recesses align to form a passage through the clamp.

8. The clamp of claim 7 comprising a hinge connecting the first body portion with the second body portion.

9. The clamp of claim 7 comprising gripping elements within the passage.

10. The clamp of claim 7 wherein the passage is nonlinear.

11. The clamp of claim 7 wherein each of the second major surfaces when joined, form a smooth clamp surface having rounded perimetrical edges.

12. The clamp of claim 7 adapted to secure a flexible tube within the passage and inhibit the tube from longitudinal and rotational movement with respect to the clamp.