U.S. patent number 3,713,622 [Application Number 05/119,271] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-30 for closure device for flexible tubing.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMP Incorporated. Invention is credited to Leon Joel Dinger.
United States Patent |
3,713,622 |
Dinger |
* January 30, 1973 |
CLOSURE DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE TUBING
Abstract
A tube closure device comprising bendable members each having a
pair of arms connected together by integral hinges. Coacting latch
arrangements are disposed on the extending ends of the arms to
latch the arms over sections of flexible tubes which are placed
under compression via the closure devices. A raised floor section
on at least one of the arms serves to compress and sealingly
enclose the tubes such that residual pressures are provided in a
closure.
Inventors: |
Dinger; Leon Joel (Harrisburg,
PA) |
Assignee: |
AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg,
PA)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to October 12, 1988 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
22383481 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/119,271 |
Filed: |
February 26, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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812811 |
Apr 2, 1969 |
3612475 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
251/10; 24/543;
24/102FC |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
39/28 (20130101); Y10T 24/44752 (20150115); Y10T
24/3643 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
39/28 (20060101); A61M 39/00 (20060101); F16k
007/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/3.5R,3.5P,248BB,255.14,255BC,255SL ;132/48A,48R
;251/4,9,10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Geoghegan; Edgar W.
Assistant Examiner: Gerard; Richard
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
812,811, filed Apr. 2, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,475.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a closure device of unitary construction having first and
second arms integral with and diverging from a hinge, together with
latching structure for latching together said arms, the
improvements comprising:
a depending hook-shaped end portion on said first arm and provided
with a first ledge portion in spaced relationship from and spanning
the transverse dimension of said first arm and defining an adjacent
recess extending the entire transverse dimension of said first
arm,
said second arm having an inner surface including an arcuate convex
portion extending the entire transverse dimension of said second
arm,
said second arm having a projecting end portion projecting above
the inner surface of said second arm,
said projecting end portion having a triangular-shaped projection
with one side of said triangular-shaped projection being exposed
along its planar surface and forming an elongated planar sloped
surface,
said recess being complementary in configuration to the sloped
surface and receiving said sloped surface in engagement
therewith,
another side of said triangular portion defining a second ledge
portion,
said projecting end portion being substantially entirely received
in said recess of said first arm and substantially tightly fitting
with said recess, with said ledge portions engaging each other
thereby latching together said arms, and
said second arm having the ends thereof pulled upwardly from a
straightened configuration of said second arm and providing
residual forces tending to return said second arm to said
straightened configuration.
2. In a closure of unitary construction having first and second
arms integral with and diverging from a hinge, together with
latching structure for latching together said arms, the
improvements comprising:
a depending hook-shaped end portion on said first arm and provided
with a first ledge portion in spaced relationship from and spanning
the transverse dimension of said first arm and defining an adjacent
recess extending the entire transverse dimension of said first
arm,
said second arm having an inner surface including an arcuate convex
portion extending the entire transverse dimension of said second
arm,
said second arm having a projecting end portion projecting above
the inner surface of said second arm,
said projecting end portion having a triangular-shaped projection
with one side of said triangular-shaped projection being exposed
along its planar surface and forming an elongated planar sloped
surface,
another side of said triangular portion defining a second ledge
portion,
said projecting end portion being substantially entirely received
in said recess of said first arm and substantially tightly fitting
with said recess, with said ledge portions engaging each other
thereby latching together said arms, and
said second arm having the ends thereof pulled upwardly from a
straightened configuration of said second arm and providing
residual forces tending to return said second arm to said
straightened configuration,
means on the end portions of said arms for allowing insertion of a
tool and forcible unlatching of said arms.
3. In a closure device of unitary construction having first and
second arms integral with and diverging from a hinge, together with
latching structure for latching together said arms, the
improvements comprising:
a depending hook-shaped end portion on said first arm and provided
with a first ledge portion in spaced relationship from and spanning
the transverse dimension of said first arm and defining an adjacent
recess extending the entire transverse dimension of said first
arm,
said second arm being relatively thinner than said first arm,
said second arm having an inner surface including an arcuate convex
portion extending the entire transverse dimension of said second
arm,
said second arm having a projecting end portion projecting above
the inner surface of said second arm,
said projecting end portion having a triangular-shaped projection
with one side of said triangular-shaped projection being exposed
along its planar surface and forming an elongated planar sloped
surface,
another side of said triangular portion defining a second ledge
portion,
said projecting end portion being substantially entirely received
in said recess of said first arm and substantially tightly fitting
with said recess, with said ledge portions engaging each other
thereby latching together said arms, and
said second arm having the ends thereof pulled upwardly from a
straightened configuration of said second arm and providing
residual forces tending to return said second arm to said
straightened configuration.
4. In a closure device of unitary construction having first and
second arms integral with and diverging from a hinge, together with
latching structure for latching together said arms, the
improvements comprising:
a depending hook-shaped end portion on said first arm and provided
with a first ledge portion in spaced relationship from and spanning
the transverse dimension of said first arm and defining an adjacent
recess extending the entire transverse dimension of said first
arm,
said second arm having an inner surface including an arcuate convex
portion extending the entire transverse dimension of said second
arm,
said second arm having a projecting end portion projecting above
the inner surface of said second arm,
said projecting end portion having a triangular-shaped projection
with one side of said triangular-shaped projection being exposed
along its planar surface and forming an elongated planar sloped
surface,
another side of said triangular portion defining a second ledge
portion,
said projecting end portion being substantially entirely received
in said recess of said first arm and substantially tightly fitting
with said recess, with said ledge portions engaging each other
thereby latching together said arms, and
said second arm having the ends thereof pulled upwardly from a
straightened configuration of said second arm and providing
residual forces tending to return said second arm to said
straightened configuration,
a finger tab provided on each of said arms.
5. In a closure device of unitary construction having first and
second arms integral with and diverging from a hinge, together with
latching structure for latching together said arms, the
improvements comprising:
a depending hook-shaped end portion on said first arm and provided
with a first ledge portion in spaced relationship from and spanning
the transverse dimension of said first arm and defining an adjacent
recess extending the entire transverse dimension of said first
arm,
said second arm having an inner surface including an arcuate convex
portion extending the entire transverse dimension of said second
arm,
said second arm having a projecting end portion projecting above
the inner surface of said second arm,
said projecting end portion having a triangular-shaped projection
with one side of said triangular-shaped projection being exposed
along its planar surface and forming an elongated planar sloped
surface,
another side of said triangular portion defining a second ledge
portion,
said projecting end portion being substantially entirely received
in said recess of said first arm and substantially tightly fitting
with said recess, with said ledge portions engaging each other
thereby latching together said arms, and
said second arm having the ends thereof pulled upwardly from a
straightened configuration of said second arm and providing
residual forces tending to return said second arm to said
straightened configuration,
said first arm including a tapered surface engageable on said
sloped surface for camming said hook-shaped end portion outwardly
and allow latching together said arms.
Description
This invention relates to a closure device of the type used to
sealingly close flexible tube. In blood donating operations,
flexible bags are generally used to collect and store the blood.
Flexible tubes extending from the bags are used to a two-fold
purpose. First, they convey blood from the donor to the collection
bag. Second, they are used to house small samples of blood for
testing. Immediately after a donation, the technician closes the
tube at intermittent sections along the length thereof. The
sections may be individually removed at a later time so that the
samples therein may be tested.
It is imperative that the ends of the tube be hermetically sealed
so that the blood in the collection bag does not become
contaminated.
Most prior tube closure devices are in the form of an intricate
clip or clamp which is usually deformed when secured around a tube.
This usually requires a special tool to deform the device onto the
tube. Other tube closure means include an intricate welding or heat
sealing apparatus.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure
device for flexible tubing which is simple in construction, which
is quickly and easily utilized, and which is made from nylon or
other suitable plastic of unitary construction.
Another object is the provision of closure devices for flexible
tubing which will hermetically seal the tubing without the aid of
intricate application tooling.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a closure
device which may be reopened and reused.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
closure device which is simple in design for low cost
manufacturing.
Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective of a closure device in an open position in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tube closure device as
illustrated in FIG. 1 in a closed position on a flexible tubing
with the tubing shown in cross section;
FIG. 3 is a perspective of a modified closure device in an open
position in accordance with another preferred embodiment according
to the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the closure device as shown in FIG. 3
in a closed position on a flexible tube with the tube shown in
cross section.
With more particular reference to FIG. 1, a closure device CD
comprises a pair of arms 2 and 4 secured together at one end by a
hinge portion 6 to define a one-piece closure device which is
molded from a suitable plastic material in accordance with
conventional molding techniques. The extending end portion 8 of the
arm 2 is curved inwardly with a hook-shape toward the device and is
provided with a beveled recess 10. The inside surface 12 of arm 2
is flat along the length of the arm from hinge 6 to recess 10. The
extending end portion 14 of arm 4 terminates in a triangular-shaped
projection 16 having a ledge portion 18 thereon. The recess 10 of
arm 2 cooperates with sloped surface 17 of projection 16 when the
arms are closed such that ledge 18 snapingly receives ledge 20 to
latch the arms together. The floor 22 of arm 4 is transversely
arcuate from hinge 6 to triangular-shaped projection 16, so that
floor 22 is arcuate in a direction normal with respect to the axis
of the closure device. The end 15 is provided with tapered surface
19 and surface 17 acts to cam end 15 out far enough via engagement
of surface 19 therewith so that ledge 20 can be latchably mated
with ledge 18.
In use, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a device CD is disposed over a
flexible tube T whereafter the device is closed to sandwich the
tube between arms 2 and 4. During closing, the tube T becomes
compressed between arcuate floor 22 and flat surface 12. At final
closing of the device, ledge 20 of arm 2 snaps into place and
engages ledge 18 on arm 4 to latch the arms together. Also at final
closing, the extreme ends 21 and 23 of arcuate floor 22 are pulled
upwardly, thus tending to straighten floor 22. This arrangement
provides residual forces in the device, which continuously compress
tube T to insure a sealed closure. Tapered surface 19 of end 15 is
spaced from straight surface 24 to enable gripping end 15 or
placing a tool between surfaces 15 and 24 to unlatch arms 2 and 4
from each other.
With more particular reference to FIG. 3, a modified embodiment of
the closure device as shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.
The modified closure device is shown generally at 26 and comprises
a pair of arms 28 and 30 secured together at one end by a hinge
portion 32 to define a one-piece closure device for example molded
from a suitable plastic material in accordance with conventional
molding techniques. An extended end portion 34 of the arm 28 is
provided with a hook-shape partially formed by an inverted recess
36. The inside surface 38 of the arm 28 is generally flat or planar
along the length of the arm from the hinge 32 to the recess 36. The
extended end portion 40 of the arm 30 terminates in a
triangular-shaped projection 42 having an inverted ledge portion 44
thereon. The recess 36 cooperates with a sloped surface 46 of the
projection 42 when the arms are closed, and ledge 44 snappingly
receives ledge 48 which is adjacent the recess 36 in order to latch
the arms together. The floor or inner surface of the arm 30
includes an arcuate portion 50 between the hinge 32 and the
triangular-shaped projection 42, so that the arcuate portion 50 of
the floor is transversely arcuate in a direction normal with
respect to the axis of the closure device. End 34 is provided with
an inverted beveled or tapered surface 52, which upon closure of
the device, acts against surface 46 to cam the end 34 outwardly far
enough so that ledge 48 can be latchably mated with ledge 44. Each
of the ends 34 and 42 of the arms may be provided on the external
surfaces of the arms with generally circular finger tabs 54 and 56
which are formed integral with the respective arms 28 and 30 and
which include portions extending generally in cantilever
fashion.
In use, reference will be made to FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the device
26 is closed over a flexible tube T to sandwich a portion of the
tube between the arms 28 and 30. In the closed position, ledge 48
of the arm 28 snaps into place and engages the ledge 44 on the end
42 of the arm 30 in order to latch the arms together. Also, the
extreme ends 58 and 60 of the floor of the arm 30 are pulled
upwardly, as shown in FIG. 4. Since the arm 30 is generally of
thinner construction than the arm 28, and since the floor is pulled
upwardly as described, such arrangement provides residual forces in
the closure device, which continuously compress the tube T to
insure a sealed closure and tend to straighten the arm 30 to its
original straightened configuration. The hook-shaped end 34 is in
spaced relationship from the finger tab 56 to allow insertion of a
tool therebetween and forcible unlatching of the arms 28 and 30
from each other. Additionally, the generally planar surface 38 of
the arm 28 may be provided with a transverse arcuate recess 62 for
partially receiving the arcuate portion 50 of the floor of arm 30
with a section of tubing T in compression therebetween.
It should be appreciated that the closure device and the
modification thereof according to the present invention may be
utilized on plastic tubing other than that utilized for blood
collection. The closure device may also be used on other flexible
tubing such as elastomeric material. The device not only provides a
liquid seal, but also an air-tight hermetic seal.
It will, therefore, be appreciated that the present invention and
other desirable objects have been achieved, however, it should be
emphasized that the particular embodiments of the invention which
are specifically disclosed herein are intended as merely
illustrative and not as restrictive of the present invention, with
other modifications and embodiments thereof being embodied within
the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims, wherein:
* * * * *