Abstract:
A clip of the present invention includes a pair of operable jaws each of which is provided with a detachable holder. Several holders are also prepared in reserve. The holders have several kinds of shapes and sizes. Thus, by interchanging the holder with one another, the clip can fit with different kinds of tubes and multi-way valves, and with different sizes of openings or orifices. Application of the clip is expended with minimal accessories.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a clip for sealing or clipping on an end of a tube or a multi-way valve. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Machines are designed and provided for saving labor. Such machines are always equipped with pipes, tubes, or multi-way valves. For servicing the machines, these pipes, tubes, and multi-way valves shall be temporarily sealed, or gas or liquid would spray out. 
         [0005]    However, diameters of the pipes, the tubes, and the multi-way valves are different from one another. A considerable amount of stoppers or clips have to be prepared for fitting with the pipes. Thus, the cost for servicing is increased. 
         [0006]    Pipe clamp is then provided for fitting with sizes of pipes. However, the clamp has to be fixed and mounted to the pipe with tools. Manipulation of the clamp is difficult and complicated. 
         [0007]    The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The main object of the present invention is to provide an operation-friendly clip which is able to seal an opening end of a tube temporarily. 
         [0009]    To achieve the above and other objects, a clip of the present invention includes a first arm, a first holder, a second arm, an axle, and an elastic member. 
         [0010]    The first arm comprises a first jaw and a first handle. The first handle stretches from one end of the first jaw. The first jaw is formed with a first opening The first opening extends along a longitudinal direction of the first arm and approaches a distal end of the first jaw. The first jaw is formed with a first positioning groove which extends along an appearance of the first opening and locates at a side wall of the first opening. The first positioning groove communicates with the first opening The first positioning groove has a top wall and a bottom wall. 
         [0011]    The first holder is detachably and slidably disposed between the top wall and the bottom wall of the first positioning groove. 
         [0012]    The second arm comprises a second jaw and a second handle. 
         [0013]    The axle pierces through the first arm and the second arm, so that the first arm and the second arm are able to pivot about the axle with respect to each other, leading motion of the first jaw and the second jaw between a clutch position and a release position. 
         [0014]    The elastic member exerts an elastic force for leading motion of the first jaw and the second jaw toward the clutch position generally. 
         [0015]    Therefore, the clip can be utilized with a first holder which is chosen from several kinds of first holders. Interchanging of the first holder is quick and easy. Thus, the clip fits sizes and kinds of tubes, sealing the tubes easily. Machine servicing is then facilitated. 
         [0016]    The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a stereogram showing a first holder which has a smaller opening; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a stereogram showing a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a profile showing a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a profile showing a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the clip is provided without holders; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a profile showing an operation condition of a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the clip clips on one end of a tube; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a profile showing an operation condition of a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the clip clips on two ends of a multi-way valve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  for a first embodiment of the present invention. The clip of the present embodiment includes a first arm  10 , a second arm  20 , an axle  30 , an elastic member, several kinds of first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″, and several kinds of second holders  60 . 
         [0025]    The first arm  10  includes a first jaw  11  and a first handle  12 . The first handle  12  stretches from one end of the first jaw  11 . A first connection portion  13  stretches out and is formed between the first jaw  11  and the first handle  12 . The first jaw  11  is formed with a first opening  111 . The first opening  111  extends along a longitudinal direction of the first arm  10  and approaches a distal end of the first jaw  11 . In other words, the first opening  111  extends from the distal end of the first jaw  11  toward the first handle  12 . In the present embodiment, the first opening  111  has a U-shaped appearance. The first jaw  11  is formed with a first positioning groove  112  which extends along an appearance of the first opening  111 . The first positioning groove  112  communicates with the first opening  111 . That is to say, the first positioning groove  112  is formed concaved from a side wall of the first opening  111 . The first positioning groove  112  has a top wall and a bottom wall. 
         [0026]    The second arm  20  includes a second jaw  21  and a second handle  22 . The second handle  22  stretches from one end of the second jaw  21 . A second connection portion  23  stretches out and is formed between the second jaw  21  and the second handle  22 . The second jaw  21  is formed with a second opening  211 . The second opening  211  extends along a longitudinal direction of the second arm  20  and approaches a distal end of the second jaw  21 . In other words, the second opening  211  extends from the distal end of the second jaw  21  toward the second handle  22 . In the present embodiment, the second opening  211  has a U-shaped appearance, also. The second jaw  21  is formed with a second positioning groove  212  which extends along an appearance of the second opening  211 . The second positioning groove  212  communicates with the second opening  211 . That is to say, the second positioning groove  212  is formed concaved from a side wall of the second opening  211 . The second positioning groove  212  has a top wall and a bottom wall. 
         [0027]    The axle  30  pierces though the first connection portion  13  and the second connection portion  23 , so that the first arm  10  and the second arm  20  are able to pivot about the axle  30  with respect to each other. Thus, motion of the first jaw  11  and the second jaw  21  between a clutch position and a release position is induced. An axial direction of the axle  30  is perpendicular to extension directions of the first opening  111  and the second opening  211 . 
         [0028]    The elastic member (not shown) is disposed between the first jaw and the second jaw. The elastic member exerts an elastic force for leading motion of the first jaw and the second jaw toward the clutch position generally. 
         [0029]    One of the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ is detachably and slidably disposed between the top wall and the bottom wall of the first positioning groove  112 . More specifically, the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ are designed with an appearance corresponding to appearance of the first positioning groove  112 . In the present embodiment, the first positioning groove is U-shaped. Therefore, the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ are U-shaped, also. Additionally, the thickness of the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ is equal to the distance between the top wall and the bottom wall of the first positioning groove  112 . Thus, the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ can be slidably received and positioned in the first positioning groove  112  via the open end of the first opening  111 . Some of the first holders,  50  and  50 ′, are respectively formed with openings  51 ,  51 ′ for clipping. The openings  51 ,  51 ′ have widths different from each other. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 1A , width of the opening  51  of the first holder  50  is larger than width of the opening  51 ′ of the first holder  50 ′. In addition, width of the first opening  11  is slightly larger than widths of the openings  51 ,  51 ′. Thus, the first holders can slightly exposed from the first positioning groove, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The openings of the first holders fit for sizes of tubes. The first holders and the openings of the first holders have U-shaped appearances or other suitable appearances in alternative. The first holder  50 ″ is provided with a stopper  52 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The stopper  52  may be provided in several sizes chosen. Each of the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ is interchangeable with one another for being slidably received in the first position groove  112 . 
         [0030]    The second holder  60  is detachably and slidably disposed between the top wall and the bottom wall of the second positioning groove  212 . More specifically, the second holder  60  is designed with an appearance corresponding to appearance of the second positioning groove  212 . The thickness of the second holder  60  is equal to the distance between the top wall and the bottom wall of the second positioning groove  212 . Thus, the second holder  60  can be slidably received and positioned in the second positioning groove  212  easily via the open end of the second opening  211 . The second holder  60  is provided with a stopper  61 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Some second holders may be provided with opening, just as the first holder  50 , for interchanging with the second holder  60 . In operation condition, the first holders  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ may be interchanged with on another frequently. The first arm may be served with opening  51  or stopper  52 . On the contrary, the second holder  60  is always provided with the stopper  61  for sealing an end of a tube. To fit with the tube, the second holder  60  may be interchanged with another second holder for choosing a stopper which has a suitable diameter. Preferably, the stopper  61  is detachably, also. Please refer to  FIG. 1 , the second holder  60  is formed with a tapered groove  62  and circular groove  63 . The tapered groove  62  connects a distal end of the second holder  60  to the circular groove  63 . The tapered groove  62  is tapered toward the circular groove  63 . The stopper  61  includes a head portion  611 , a neck portion  612 , and a bottom portion  613 . The neck portion  612  can slide along the tapered groove  62  and be temporarily positioned in the circular groove  63 . Therefore, the second holder can serve sizes of tube by merely interchanging the stopper  61  with one another. 
         [0031]    Please refer to  FIG. 5 . When the clip is utilized for clipping and sealing one end of a tube  70 , the first holder  50  with the opening for clipping is chosen. The width of the opening of the first holder  50  fits with the diameter of the tube  70 . The second holder  60  is taken with the stopper. The head portion  611  of the stopper fits with an opening at one end of the tube  70 . In manipulation, the first handle  12  and the second handle  22  is held and gripped. The first jaw  11  and the second jaw  21  are then moved to the release position. The tube  70  is then clipped by the opening of the first holder  50 , and the end opening of the tube  70  is covered by the head portion  611  of the stopper of the second holder  60 . User releases the handles. Accompanied, the elastic force provided by the elastic member presses on the second arm, forcing the head portion  611  of the stopper of the second holder pressing on the end opening of the tube  70 , sealing the tube. Gas or liquid leakage is prohibited. 
         [0032]    Please refer to  FIG. 6 . When the clip is utilized for clipping and sealing two openings at two ends of a multi-way valve  80 , the first holder  50 ″ which provided with the stopper  52  is chosen. The stopper  52  of the first holder  50 ″ and the stopper  61  of the second holder  60  fit with the openings correspondingly. With a similar manipulation as mentioned before, two openings of the multi-way valve  80  is sealed by the stoppers  52 ,  61 . The stoppers  52 ,  61  press against and seal the openings of the multi-way valve with the elastic force provided by the elastic member. Gas or liquid leakage is prohibited. 
         [0033]    Accordingly, the clip is provided with positioning grooves for detachably and slidably receiving the holders. Detachment and replacement of the holders is easily. By interchanging the holders, the clip is able to fit with tubes or multi-way valves and sizes of openings. 
         [0034]    In addition, application of the clip is expanded. One clip can be used in several work conditions with a few kinds of holders. User may bring fewer clips for servicing. 
         [0035]    Moreover, the clip is provided with the second holder which is formed with tapered groove and circular groove. Stopper  61  can be installed on or detached from the second holder. For fitting with sizes of openings, user may interchange the stopper  61  only, without detaching the second holder completely. Frequency of interchanging of the holders is minimized, and accessories of the clip are lessened.