Patent ID: 8376310

Claim:
A pinch valve comprising: a pinch bar having first and second legs, which are substantially orthogonal to each other, the first leg having a length and an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the first leg, the second leg extending laterally across a first side of a valve surface; and wherein the first leg of the pinch bar is translatable between first and second positions by linear translation of the first leg in first and second opposing directions, the first and second opposing directions being substantially parallel to the first leg's axis of rotation, such that linear translation of the first leg from the first position in the first direction, moves the first leg from the first position to the second position and moves the second leg of the pinch bar laterally away from the first side of the valve surface, linear translation of the first leg from the second position in the second direction moves the first leg from the second position to the first position and moves the second leg laterally toward the first side of the valve surface, the linear translation of the first leg between the first and second positions and the lateral translation of the second leg away from and toward the first side of the valve surface, being capable of pinching and un-pinching a flexible tube placed between the second leg and the first side of the valve surface.