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.

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.

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:

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.