Abstract:
A conduit clamp has an upper member and a lower member selectively connectable around a flexible tube. The upper member and lower member has interconnecting pivot points for pivotally connecting to each other. The lower member has a pair of opposing sidewalls with rocker arms integrally formed therein for receiving and moving a locking protuberance extending on outer surfaces of the upper member as the conduit is depressed into a locked and closed position. The rocker arms are flexible to allow the locking protuberances to move in and out of gaps formed around the rocker arms for closing and opening the conduit clamp. The upper member has a pair of sidewalls and a lower extending projection therebetween. The extending projection closes the pathway in the flexible tube as the conduit clamp moves to a closed position.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/648,089 filed on Jan. 28, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a conduit clamp for selectively opening and closing a pathway in resilient tube.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Flexible tubing made of plastic or rubber is widely used in the medical, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, food and beverage, and other laboratory environments. In many instances during the conveying of fluids through the flexible tubing, it is desirable to close and stop the flow of the fluid through the tube. Conduit clamps in the prior art contained undesirable features. Conduit clamps in the prior art have outer body features with sharp edges, these have the potential for snags, scratches or punctures. This may cause plastic bio-bags to be damaged. The sharp corners can cut or damage the bags in transit. Many clamps of the prior art require that the clamp be installed onto the tube only at the ends which required the clamp being threaded from the-end of the tube to its desired location. This procedure can only occur before the tube is assembled to the solution container and not when the tube is completely assembled in place. Further, when the prior art clamp fails to operate properly or is damaged during use the tubing must be removed from the fittings to replace clamp. Other undesirable features include difficulty to lock the clamp into the closed position and difficulty to pry the clamp open again. The prior art clamp also contains ratchet type closures that have a tendency for untimely or unwanted release. It is therefore desirable to provide a conduit clamp that can be installed onto a flexible tube at anytime and easily opened and closed with only a push button finger pressure without unwanted openings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is the intent of the present invention to address the aforementioned concerns. The present invention is a conduit clamp for selectively restricting or closing a fluid path in a flexible tube. The conduit clamp is a two-piece construction having an upper member and a lower member pivotally connected together at a pivot point for moving the upper member between an open and closed position. The upper and lower members are separable and connectable at the pivot point for assembly and disassembly of the conduit clamp on the tube. The lower member forms a through trough for receiving a segment of the tube therein. The upper member has a center projection for closing the fluid path of the tube when the upper member is pivotally moved to the closed position.  
         [0005]     In another aspect of the invention the upper member and lower member have means for locking the upper member in the closed position.  
         [0006]     In yet another aspect of the invention, the means for locking the upper member in the open or closed positions include a rocker arm integrally formed in side walls of the lower member. The rocker arm is surrounded by a gap along most of its periphery and a protuberance on an exterior surface of the upper member for disposition in a portion of the gap when the upper member is locked in the open or closed positions. The rocker arm also provides means for releasing the upper member from the closed and locked position, in that the rocker arm can be manually depressed at one end to flex the opposing end of the rocker arm to release the protuberance from the gap. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the conduit clamp of the present invention with an upper and lower member connected together in a closed position;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a side elevational view of the conduit clamp in an open position showing a portion of the upper member pivoted away from a tube;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  is a side elevational view of the conduit clamp in a closed position showing the upper member clamped down and sealing a pathway in the-tube;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a side wall and top portion of the upper member;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of the upper member;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the lower member;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the lower member illustrating certain interior features;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the lower member illustrating certain exterior features;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   c  are schematic views showing various movements of portions of the conduit clamp as it opens from a closed position;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  are perspective views of the conduit clamp with a tube therein in an open position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the conduit clamp in the closed position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Looking at  FIGS. 1-10 , a conduit clamp  10  is provided for pinching and/or closing the fluid path of a flexible tube to prevent any fluid from flowing through the tube  100  in a manifold system, from or to a bio-bag, or a patient. Although the conduit clamp of the present invention can be used in various environments, the conduit clamp  10  is most beneficial in the medical or pharmaceutical field for selectively controlling the flow of fluid from or to the patient. The clamp  10  of the present invention is made of a non-metallic material and preferably made of an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved PVDF, polypropylene, polysulfone, silicon, TPE, TPR, etc. The clamp  10  features a complete outer body with no sharp edges eliminating the potential of snags, scratches, or punctures. The unique locking mechanism is fully encapsulated to guard against untimely or unwanted release. The clamp has a press down locking system and a side release mechanism allowing for secure and single handed operation and installation. This high-tech design allows for complete flow stoppage and can be installed over the tube in the normal fashion or assembled after the tube is already in formation.  
         [0020]     The assembled conduit clamp is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2   a,    2   b,    9   a,  and  9   b.  The conduit clamp  10  of the present invention has a separable upper member  12  and lower member  14  which can selectively be placed around a tube  100  and then connected together either before or after the assembly of the tube.  100  in its environment. The upper member  12  and lower member  14  pivotally connect to each other at one end to provide a jaw-like movement of the clamp  10  as it opens and closes.  
         [0021]     The upper member  12  has essentially a U-shaped configuration with an upper surface  16  and two side walls  20 . The exposed upper surface  16  of the upper member  12  has a shallow impression  18  defining a space for placement of a finger or thumb when closing the conduit clamp  10 . The upper member  12  has a pivot end  22  with a cylindrical formation  22 . The pivot end  22  is the point of connection of the upper and lower members  12 ,  14  respectively. The cylindrical pivot end  22  is integrally connected to the upper surface  16  by an integral undulated portion  25  that provides strength to the upper member  12 . The undulated portion  25  allows the upper member  12  to move forward when heavier tubing  100  is being clamped and closed. The undulated portion  25  allows the upper member  12  to self-adjust to provide a complete closing of the fluid path even when the walls of the tube  100  are thick.  
         [0022]     Each lateral end  24  of the cylindrical pivot end  22  is adjacent to a side wall  20 . A conical-shaped or cylindrical-shaped lobe  24  is formed on each end of the cylindrical pivot end  22 . The lobes  24  extend laterally beyond the side walls  20  for connection to the lower member  14  as discussed hereinafter.  
         [0023]     The lobes  24  have a cutout  27  to define the range of pivotal rotation allowed for the upper member  12  relative to the lower member  14 . The lower member  14 , as will be discussed hereinafter, has corresponding apertures  63  sized for lockingly receiving the lobes  24  therein. The apertures  63  will preferably have a small projection  65  extending into the apertures  63 . The projection  65  moves within the boundaries of the cutout  27  in the lobes  24  to limit the pivotal rotation of the upper member  12  relative to the lower member  14 . The lower member  14  is shown in phantom on  FIGS. 2   a,    2   b  to show the relationship of the upper member to the tube  100 , when the clamp  10  is in the opened ( FIG. 2   a ) and closed ( FIG. 2   b ) position.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , side walls  20  are adjacent to and contiguously formed with the upper surface  16 . Each side wall  20  is a mirror image of the other, and therefore only one side wall  20  will be discussed. The side wall  20  of the upper member  12  has an open configuration defined by a pair of windows  26   a,    26   b  formed therein and spaced from each other A first window  26   a  provides an access for eliminating the steel portions of the mold during the manufacturing process. The second window  26   b  provides a cutout for depression of a rocker arm  70  on the lower member  14 . The window  26   b  is positioned in wall  20  to be adjacent the rocker arm  70  when the clamp  10  is in the closed position. Proximate to the lower edge of the exterior of each side wall  20  is a protuberance  30  laterally extending therefrom. The protuberance  30  is spaced from the pivot point  22 . The protuberances  30  on each of the side walls  20  are positioned and formed to slide against the rocker arm  70  formed in the lower member  14  and to lock in place in an opening  72   b  formed below the rocker arm  70  as will be discussed hereinafter.  
         [0025]     Looking at  FIG. 4 , a rib  42  extends laterally between the two side walls  20 . The rib  42  provides strength to the side walls  20  so that the side walls  20  do not flex outwardly or inwardly when the upper member  12  is manually depressed when closing the conduit clamp  10 . The rib  42  between the two side walls  20  has an arch formation to provide clearance for the tube  100 , as shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
         [0026]     A center projection  44  integrally extends from the pivot end  22  and behind the side walls  20 . The projection  44  preferably has the same width as the pivot end  22 . The projection  44  partially extends at least as far as the lower surface  46  of each side wall  20 , in order to fully close the pathway in the tube  100  when the clamp  10  is in the closed and locked position (see  FIG. 2   b ). The projection  44  terminates and forms a laterally extending cylindrical portion  48  at the free end of the projection  44  to prevent a sharp edge cutting into the tube  100 . The cylindrical portion  48  of the projection  44  pinches the tube  100  closed and locked when the conduit clamp  10  is in the closed position. The projection  44  and its cylindrical edge  48  are not connected to the side walls  20  so that the projection  44  and its associated cylindrical portion  48  can flex slightly vertically relative to the two side walls  20  when the clamp is closed.  
         [0027]     A C-spring  50 , defined as a curved section of material has one end connected to the back wall  52  adjacent the rear edge of the side walls  20 . The C-spring  50  allows flexing when a higher load to be applied to the upper surface  16  of the upper member  12  to close and lock the conduit clamp  10 . A tube with a thick wall requires a higher load to be applied to the upper surface  16  of the upper member  12  to close the clamp  10 . The C-spring  50  allows the undulated portion  25  to stretch or elongate when the upper member  12  has to adjust to close the pathway of the tube  100 , especially a tube with a thick wall. The C-spring  50  also provides resiliency to the projection  44  when an upper extending appendage  51  on the projection  44  contacts the C-spring  50 , as shown in  FIG. 2b . As can be seen, appendage  51  and C-spring  50  contact each other when the upper member  12  pivots toward closing the clamp  10 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the lower member  14  of the conduit clamp  10 . The lower member  14  has a through trough or U-shaped configuration with a pair of side walls  60  meeting with a bottom surface  62 . The bottom surface  62  of the lower member  14  includes at least one laterally extending bump  64  protruding upward between the two side walls  60  for cooperating with the cylindrical portion  48  of the center projection  44  to close the fluid flow in the tube  100 . Multiple bumps  64  may also be provided as finger grips. In the preferred embodiment, one of the bumps may be formed as a raised bar  64   a  traversing the inner bottom surface  62  of the lower member  14 . The raised bar  64   a  is positioned to slightly offset the cylindrical portion  48  of the upper member  12  when the clamp  10  is in the closed position to provide space for the tube material.  
         [0029]     Each side wall  60  is a mirror image of the other side wall  60 , and therefore only one side wall  60  will be discussed. Proximate to a forward end  66  of the side wall  60  a rocker arm  70  is formed therein. The rocker arm  70  is cut directly into each side wall  60  leaving a gap/opening  72  around the rocker arm  70  except for the connecting flanges  74  which connect a mid-section of the rocker arm  70  to the material of the side walls  60 . The rocker arm  70  pivots about the connecting flanges  74 . Manual pressure on either end of the rocker arm  70  will cause the opposite end to flex outward relative to the side walls  60 . The gap/opening  72  is sized at the upper end  72   a  and lower end  72   b  to accommodate the protuberances  30  on the upper member  12 .  
         [0030]     The rocker arm  70  defines the path of the protuberance  30  relative to the lower member  14  when downward pressure is applied to the upper member  12  to close the clamp or when the clamp is being opened. Looking first at  FIG. 7 , the shape of the rocker arm  70  has a downward arcuate curved path which coincides with the arcuate path of the movement of the protuberance  30  as the upper member  12  pivots relative to the lower member  14 .  
         [0031]     When the conduit clamp  10  is in the open position, the protuberance  30  is held in or above the upper gap  72   a  as shown in  FIG. 8c . As downward pressure is applied to the upper member  12 , the protuberance  30  slides along the inner surface  75  of the rocker arm  70 . The inner surface of the rocker arm  70  may include a lip  76  at the bottom edge of the rocker arm  70  extending inwardly, as shown in  FIG. 6  and  9   a.  The lip  76  keeps the clamp in the unlocked position until added manual pressure is placed on the upper member  12 . Further, pressure on the upper member  12  moves the protuberance  30  over the lip  76  so that the protuberance  30  snaps into the lower gap  72   b  to lock the conduit clamp  10  in the closed position.  
         [0032]     To open the conduit clamp  10  from a closed position, the operator manually depresses the upper portion  70 a of the rocker arm  70 . The upper portion  70   a  of the rocker arm  70  is positioned adjacent the window  26   b  when the conduit clamp  10  is closed or locked to allow for full depression of the upper rocker arm  70 . As can be seen in the drawings, the outer surface of the lower member  14  has a depression  78  surrounding the upper portion  70   a  of the rocker arm  70  to facilitate the manual depression of the upper portion  70   a  of the rocker arm  70 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   b  show the movement of a wall  20  of the upper member  12  relative to a wall  60  of the lower member  14  as the clamp  10  moves from the closed and locked position to the open position. In  FIG. 8a  the conduit clamp  10  is in the closed and locked position showing the protuberance  30  locked in opening  72 b. The lip  76  secures the protuberance  30  in the opening  72   b  until the rocker arm  70  is manually pivoted, as shown in  FIG. 8   b.  When the rocker arm  70  is pivoted, an upper portion of the rocker arm is pivoted into a portion of the window  26   b  ( FIG. 8   b ). The protuberance  30  is then release from the opening  72   b,  and can slide past the lip  76  to move the upper member  16  upwardly as shown in  FIG. 8   c  to open the conduit clamp  10 .  
         [0034]     The upper member  12  can be connected to the lower member  14  either before the conduit clamp  10  is threaded onto the tube  100 , or the tube  100  may be placed in the trough, between the side walls  60  of the lower member  14  before the upper member  12  is connected to the lower member  14 . In either case, the upper member  12  is connected to the lower member  14  by snapping the lobes  24  of the upper member  12  into the apertures  63  of the lower member to form the pivot end. The upper member  12  can be separated from the lower member  14  by opening the clamp  10  and flexing the side walls  60  of the lower member  14  to remove the lobes  24  from apertures  63 .  
         [0035]     The clamp  10  provides complete fluid stoppage and can be installed on or over tubing or finished assemblies with a single hand installation for ease of operation. The unique top locking mechanism with a side release mechanism prevents unwanted openings. The clamp  10  also provides an internal ratchet mechanism that meters fluid flow, and has a high degree of leverage to accommodate varied durometer tubing. The clamp  10  has no sharp edges or corners, thereby preventing punctures and ruptures of the tube  10 .  
         [0036]     The clamp  10  of the present invention is fully autoclavable and sterilizable and meets all USP Class VI criteria. The tube clamps of the present invention have been physically tested to meet the most demanding applications. Typical applications for the conduit clamp includes biopharmaceutical manufacturing, pharmaceutical processes, peristaltic pump sets, drug delivery and discovery, medical systems, laboratory functions, and other assemblies and tubing sets.  
         [0037]     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.