A HOSE CLAMP FOR AN OUTLET HOSE MEMBER FROM A LIQUID COLLECTION BAG

Abstract: A hose clamp (8) to be positioned on an outlet hose member (7) from a liquid collection bag (1), e.g. a urine collection bag, is provided with two hingedly connected clamp parts (9, 10), one of which (10) has a U-shaped cross-section and lateral portions (13, 14), including longitudinal slots (15) to receive the bottom portion (4) of the bag (1). When mounted, the clamp (8) is pushed onto the bottom portion (4) of the bag (1) so that only a small part of the clamp (8) extends outside the bag. Thereby, the inconveniences to the user are diminished to the largest extent and an improved security against unintentional opening is obtained.

Description: A hose clamp for an outlet hose member from a liquid collection bag. The invention relates to a hose clamp to be posi¬ tioned on an outlet hose member inserted at the bottom of a * liquid collection bag between welded wall portions of the bag * , comprising two clamp parts that are hingedly connected at one- end and one of which is provided with a jaw part that is eccentric about the hinge axis and, in the closing position of the clamp, squeezes the hose member against a stationary jaw part on the second clamp portion, the clamp parts having releasable locking means active in the closing position. Such hose clamps are mainly used in liquid col¬ lection bags for medical or hygienic purposes, e.g. urine collection bags for incontinence equipments. For emptying such bags it is known to make use of a rigid socket accommodating a valve as well as a resi¬ lient hose membe, the latter being considerably more suitable with regard to the comfort of the user. With respect to the closing member of such an outlet hose member it is a primary demand that it en- sures in its closing position a completely leakage-free squeezing of the hose ' member. Moreover, the closing member should as far as possible be secured against unintentional opening and simultaneously it must not be too difficult to open when emptying is to take place. In known urine collection bags hose clamps of a conventional design mounted on the part of the outlet hose member extending outside the bag are used. As the hose clamp is made from a rigid material it is frequent¬ ly irritating to the user and thus does not fulfil the wish to better comfort which is the mere reason for app¬ lying a flexible hose member. Such inconveniences apply in particular, if the clamp extends transversely of the longitudinal direction of the hose member in order to keep the hose member proper as short as possible. The fact that the clamp parts are located freely outside the bag proper makes it further difficult to combine the actually contradictory demands on a reliable locking in the closing position and on a handy opening ability. It is the: object of the invention to provide a hose clamp that does not suffer from these functional drawbacks of known closing means. To accomplish this, the hose clamp according to the invention is characterized in that said second part has a substantially ϋ-shaped cross-section corresponding to the outer diameter of the hose member and having la¬ teral portions in which opposite longitudinal slots for receiving said welded wall portions of the bag are pro¬ vided, said slots extending from the end opposite the hinge connection through such a length of the clamp that only a slight portion thereof around the jaw parts pro¬ jects outside the edge of said wall portions. The design of one of the clamp portions as a ϋ- shaped member which on the major part of its length by means of said slots is pushed onto the welded bottom walls of the bag so that only a very small portion of the clamp projects outside the bag, entails a consider¬ ably improved comfort to the user. Moreover, since in the closing position also said one clamp part superposes the bag in engagement with the U-shaped part, the clamp is considerably better protect¬ ed against, i.e. less accessible to unintentional open¬ ing. The invention will now be explained in detail by means of an embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a hose clamp according to the inven¬ tion mounted on a urine collection bag, Figs 2 and 3 are perspective views of the hose clamp in open and closed positions, respectively, Fig..4 is a longitudinal view, and Fig..5 illustrates the hose clamp from one end. The- urine, collection bag shown in Fig. 1 is of a conventional design with resilient walls made from pla¬ stic material, said walls being welded together in a li- quidtight manner at lateral portions 2 and 3, a bottom portion 4 and a top portion 5, an outlet hose member 6 and an inlet hose member 7, respectively, being insert¬ ed, however, between the welded bag walls at the bottom portion 4 and the top portion 5, of which the inlet hose member may for instance be connected with an external catheter of the kind disclosed in published interna¬ tional patent application No. WO 86/00816. A hose clamp 8 to be further described in the following is mounted around the outlet hose member 6. In the illustrated mounted position the clamp 8 is pushed onto the bottom portion 4 of the bag 1 surrounding the portion of the outlet hose member 6 located between the bag walls so that only a very little portion of the clamp 8 extends outside the bag 1. As illustrated in Figs 2 to 5 the clamp 8 com¬ prises two clamp parts 9 and 10 that are hingedly con¬ nected at the one end which in the mounted position of the clamp projects outside the bag. In a manner known per se the first hinge part 9 is provided with a jaw part 11 which is eccentric with respect to the hinge axis and, in the closing position, squeezes the hose member 6 against a stationary jaw part 12 on the second clamp part 10. As it appears most clearly from Fig. 4, the clamp part 10 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section cor- responding to the outer diameter of the hose member 6 and includes lateral portions 13 and 14 in which longi¬ tudinal slots 15 and 16 are provided to receive the bottom portion 4 of the bag 1, said slots extending from the end edge 17 opposite the hinged connection through such a length, of the clamp 8 that only a slight portion thereof around, the hinge connection projects outside the bag 1 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The bottom 18 of the U-shaped clamp part 10 may be provided with upwardly projecting, longitudinal ribs 19 serving as guide members for the hose member 6. For locking the clamp 8 in the closing position illustrated in Figs 1, 3 and 4 the lateral portions 13 and 14 of the U-shaped clamp part 10 and inwardly pro- jecting edge portions 20 and 21 of the clamp part 9 are provided with engaging parts which in the illustrated example are constituted by inwardly projecting edge por¬ tions 22 and 23 and underlying, longidtudinal rib pro¬ jections 24 and 25 on the lateral portions 13 and 14 and parallel to said edge portions, and by outwardly pro¬ jecting protuberances 26 and 27 at the free end of each of the edge portions 20 and 21 of the clamp part 9. Said engaging parts provides for obtaining in the closing po¬ sition a reliable snap locking engagement between the clamp parts 9 and 10, the external surface of the clamp part 9 flushing substantially with the top edges of the lateral portions 13 and 14 of the clamp part 10. In order to facilitate the opening the clamp part 9 may at its end opposite the hinge connection be formed with an outwards directe bulge 28 constituting a handy finger grip. In the illustrated example, as it appears from Fig. 5, the hinge connection between the clamp parts 9 and 10 is provided by engagement between inwardly pro- jecting hinge pins 29 and 30 on the lateral portions 13 and 14 of the clamp part 10 and matching recesses 31 in the external surface of the clamp part 9 at the jaw part 11. Between the recesses 31 and 32 the clamp part 9 comprises a conical depression 33 which in the open po¬ sition of the hose clamp with the clamp part 9 turned substantiality 180° in relation to the closing position, causes that the squeezing effect on the hose member be¬ comes minimum, thereby ensuring a maximum free liquid flow through the hose member when emtying the bag 1 through the hose member. Each of the clamp parts 9 and 10 may be formed in one piece, for instance from an injection moulded pla¬ stic material.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. A hose clamp (8) to be positioned on an outlet hose member (6) inserted at the bottom of a liquid col¬ lection bag (1) between welded wall portions (4) of the bag, comprising two clamp parts (9, 10) that are hinged¬ ly connected at one end and one of which is provided with a jaw part (11) that is eccentric with respect to the hinge axis and, in the closing position of the clamp, squeezes the hose member (6) against a stationary jaw part (12) on the second clamp portion (10), the clamp parts having releasable locking means (22 to 27) active in the closing position, characterized in that said second part (10) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section corresponding to the outer diameter of the hose member (6) and having lateral portions (13, 14) in which opposite longitudinal slots (15, 16) for receiving said welded wall portions (4) of the bag (1) are pro¬ vided, said slots extending from the end (17) opposite the hinge connection through such a length of the clamp (8) that only a slight portion thereof around the jaw parts (11, 12) projects outside the edge of said wall portions (4) . 2. A hose clamp as claimed in claim 1, character¬ ized in that said lateral portions (13, 14) of the part (11) having U-shaped cross-section and edge portions (20, 21) of said one part (9) are provided with engaging means (22 to 27) for mutual snap locking of said two parts (9, 10) in the closing position, the external sur¬ face of said one part (9) flushing substantially with the top edges of said lateral portions (13, 14). 3. A hose clamp as claimed in claim 2, character¬ ized in that said one part (9) at its end opposite the hinge connection (29, 30) is formed as a finger grip (28). 4. A hose clamp as claimed in claim 2 or 3, cha¬ racterized in that said one part (9) in the area of the hinge connection has a conical depression in its exter¬ nal surface to ensure a maximum free liquid flow through the hose member (6) in the fully open position of the clamp.

Inventors: KAMSTRUP-LARSEN JOERGEN, MORRIS MICHAEL, KAMSTRUP-LARSEN, JOERGEN, MORRIS, MICHAEL
Applicants: COLOPLAST AS, COLOPLAST A/S
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A61F5
IPC codes: A61F5, A61M39