Patent ID: 8387943

Claim:
A pinch valve of the type having flexible tubing extending through a valve body, said flexible tubing having a longitudinal axis and forming a conduit for fluid flow therethrough, said pinch valve comprising: a frame adapted to surround said flexible tubing; a pair of tube-constricting segments disposed on said frame on one side of said flexible tubing, said pair of tube-constricting segments resiliently mounted to operate between a relaxed condition and a flexed condition, and when in the flexed condition, forming a variable channel therebetween, said channel transverse to said longitudinal axis of said flexible tubing; a blade member disposed adjacent said flexible tubing on the side opposite said tube-constricting segments and extending transversely across said frame, said blade member reciprocally positionable between an open position permitting fluid flow and a closed position closing said flexible tubing within said channel and preventing fluid flow.