Abstract:
A drain tube stripper containing two handles pivotally joined at one end. The second end of each handle contains a roller. The rollers meet when the handles are pressed together. The handles are of unequal length A drain tube, e.g., surgical drain, can be stripped of fluid and material buildup by placing the open rollers over the tube and pressing the handles together. The rollers thereby pinch the drain tube and the rollers allow the device to be moved along the drain tube pushing fluid and material ahead of the rollers. The drain tube stripper allows the tube to enter between the rollers from the side and exit from the side of the opposing handle. The tube drain stripper may also contain a guide component to minimize entanglement of the drain and the device is rolled along the drain tubing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Use 
         [0002]    The device subject of this disclosure is a hand held device with rollers that can pinch a flexible drain tube and push liquid and other debris through the tube to a collection bag or similar device. It is particularly suited for clearing surgical drain lines. 
         [0003]    2. Prior Art 
         [0004]    Related devices are disclosed in the prior art, including devices that have two arms attached together at one end and a complementary set of rollers at the second end. See for example patent application US 2004/0267305 of Mark H. Borgman filed Jun. 30, 2003. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention comprises a drain tube stripper. The stripper is comprised of two handles of unequal length. At the first end of each handle are a complementary set of rollers. The unequal handle length may allow one roller to fit in the same longitudinal axis as the second roller when the pivotally adjustable handles are closed together. Each roller is mounted on the first end of each handle. The second end of each handle is pivotally joined together. 
         [0006]    When the handles are open, a gap is formed between the rollers and the flexible tube can enter between the rollers from one handle side and pass through the second handle side unobstructed. The opening of the handle can be facilitated by a spring mechanism or similar compressible and expandable device placed between the handles. 
         [0007]    The handles are mounted perpendicular to the pivot axis. This can allow the handle arms to nest adjacent to each other when the pivot attachment is closed, thereby allowing the rollers to lie in the same axis of orientation and make the tube stripper more compact for storage. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. These drawings, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates the device of the invention showing the two arms of unequal length and pivotally attached and showing the position of the flexible tube positioned between the rollers. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the device showing the relative positions of the rollers when the handles are closed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device with handles open and the spring device used to push the handles open. The gap between flanged roller and the guide component is illustrated. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the spring component that can be used in one embodiment of the invention. Also illustrated is the position of the handles perpendicular to the axis of orientation of the pivot. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the rollers pinching the tubing. The tubing enters between the top of the device between the rollers and exits the device within the gap between the guide component and the flanged wheel. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tube pinched between the rollers. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a detailed perspective view of the attachment mechanism of the spring to the hand grip component. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates perspective view of the rollers and handle device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a different embodiment of the invention where the two handles are not pushed apart by a spring but by the flexible component joining the two handles. The handles can be squeezed close with one roller meeting the other roller. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a second embodiment with the handles squeezed together and the two rollers pinching a tube. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of the invention with the first roller fitting close to the flanged roller. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the invention with the handles and rollers open. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0021]    The invention subject of this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following novel features. The two sets of rollers each attached to a handle are offset from the other by the unequal length of the handles. This allows the rollers to nest in series or in line when the device is completely closed, i.e., the pivot attachment is folded against itself. See  FIG. 2  illustrating the device  100  arid the nested two rollers  105 ,  106  mounted on axles  170 ,  171  and the opposite second handle ends  101 ,  102  pivotally attached  110 . The handles are in a parallel axis of orientation. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of the device  100 . The unequal length of the handles allows the flexible tube to enter from one side  281  of the device. The tube  501  is pinched between the two sets of rollers and the tube exits from the second side  282  of the handle configuration. It will be appreciated that this pathway is in contrast to prior art methods wherein the tube enters through the front between the rollers. 
         [0023]    The perspective illustration of  FIG. 1  shows optional hand grip  132  attached to the first handle  103  and the hand grip  131  attached to the second handle  104  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The hand grip  132  forms a tube guide  121  proximate to the tube exit point  282 . Also illustrated is the juncture of the first handle end  101 , and second handle end  102  and pivot component  110 . The tube holding flange  109 , a component of the first roller  105 , is also illustrated. The drain tube  501  is placed between the rollers  105 ,  106  and the guide  121 . 
         [0024]    See  FIG. 5  illustrating the gap  123  between the first roller  105  and the end of the handgrip  132  attached to the first handle. This gap  123  forms part of an angled pathway  124  separately oriented to the longitudinal orientation  125  of the handles  103 ,  104 . When the handles are not closed, a gap exists between the two rollers. This creates a pathway through which the flexible tube can pass from one side of the device to the other side. See  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    A guide component guides the path of the tube section through the first handle side. This prevents the tube from tangling with the handle, pivoting mechanism, etc. This is important in view of the squeezing action of the device on the tube while the device is simultaneously moved down the tube to a drain bag or similar device. See  FIG. 8  illustrating the gap  123  between the roller and the first handle grip  132 . The handles  103 ,  104  have a scissor-like configuration thereby allowing the handles to accommodate pressure without out breaking or bending. The guide component  121  is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . The curved surface of the guide component is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . This curved surface facilitates placement of the round drain tubing within the guide component. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment comprising a top and bottom attachment of a spring  201  to each handle. The sides of the handles  103 ,  104  are also shown (mounted perpendicularly to the pivot axis). 
         [0027]    Also illustrated in  FIG. 5  is the flexible tube pinched between rollers  105 ,  106 . Note the two handles are not parallel. This is because the drain tube occupies space between the rollers thereby preventing the rollers from completely closing. The spacing between the rollers is assisted by the recoil force of the compressed spring. The handles of the stripper are pushed together by a user&#39;s hand (not shown). It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a particular spring structure or spring location. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the device and also illustrates the flexible tube  501  protruding from a first side  131  of the device and continuing from the second side  132 . The device, pinching the tube, is pulled over the tube in the direction shown by vector arrow  550 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  also illustrates one embodiment for attaching the spring  201  to the handle grip  132 . The handle grip contains a protrusion  135  holding one end of the spring. A matching protrusion can be installed on the other handle grip. Alternative methods of spring attachment include a protruding tab with an eyelet through which the spring can be tied or threaded. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the device and illustrating the first roller  105  with the flange  109  and the second roller  106  wherein the width of the wheel  106  fits within the width of the flange  109 . This relationship is also illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    It will be appreciated that the positioning of each roller may be reversed, e.g., the first roller  105  may be mounted on the shorter second handle  104  and the second roller  106  mounted on the long first handle  103 . Also illustrated is the gap  123  between the roller  105  and the curved guide  121 . The flexible tube may fit within the curved surface of this guide  121 . Also illustrated is the gap  281  commencing on the first side and extending  282  from the first roller  105 . Also illustrated is the end of the shorter handle  104  and the end of the longer handle  103 , joined together by a pivot or hinge mechanism  110 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 9 through 12  illustrate another embodiment  400  of the invention. In this embodiment, the handles  401 ,  403  are flat in contrast to the scissor-like position of the handles  102 ,  103  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The second handle  401  and the first handle  403  are joined by a single piece elbow component  402 . The elbow component can be compressed when the handles are pushed together but returns to its original shape when the pushing force is removed. In the original. shape, the first roller  105  and second roller  106  are separated or open.  FIG. 9  illustrates the device in an open position. It will be appreciated that the single piece design is more sanitary than a multi-piece hinged or pivot design. The handles and elbow component can be easily wiped clean. 
         [0033]    Also illustrated in  FIG. 9  is the curved guide component  121 . Also illustrated are the two rollers  105 ,  106  and the flange component  109 . The axle  170 ,  171  of each roller is illustrated. The reinforcing component  404  connecting the handle  105  to the roller axle  170  is also illustrated. Also illustrated is the tubing  501  positioned within the flange component  109  of roller  105  and the guide  121 . 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the illustrated roller configuration. For example a roller may have a concave surface and used in conjunction with a complementary roller with a convex surface. 
         [0035]    It will be further appreciated that the embodiment of the invention comprising straight handles of unequal length can be closed with the handles and rollers in the same axis of orientation. This saves storage space. 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the device containing the tube  501  wherein the device is in a closed position. The handles  401 ,  403  are squeezed together. This squeezing action pinches the tube between the first roller  105  and the second roller  106 . The rollers rotate on the axles  170 ,  171  as the device is pulled along the tube thereby pushing any liquid or debris. 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the device illustrating the top second handle  401 , the second roller  106 , a section of tubing  501  pinched between the second roller and the first flanged  109 A,  109 B roller  105 . It will be appreciated that in another embodiment, the first roller  105  may have only a single flange  109 B. The tube will be held in place on the roller side by the reinforcing component  404 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the device with a section of tubing  501  positioned between the first roller  105  and the guide component  121  comprising part of the first handle  403 . Also shown is the second roller  106 , the attaching reinforcement mechanism  405  attaching the axle  171  of the second roller  106  to the second handle  401  and the elbow connecting component  402 . The axle of the first roller is also shown  170 . 
         [0039]    The device subject of this invention may be made from metal such as stainless steel or spring steel. The device may also be made from plastics such as ABS plastic, nylon, polyoxymethylene (Delrin) and acrylic. The device can be made using injection molding or vacuum molding. 
         [0040]    This specification is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. As already stated, various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of components or adjustments made in the steps of the method without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. 
         [0041]    While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.