Unitary clamp

Abstract

A clamp comprises a pair of integral jaws hingedly connected at one end for pivotal movement between opened and closed positions. One jaw contains a latch strike while the other jaw includes a projecting latching member selectively engageable with the latch strike for securely though releasably interconnecting the jaws in various locked positions. The clamp is fabricated from a semi-rigid plastic material having a high fatigue level, and is particularly adapted for releasably securing medical tubing and the like to or immediately adjacent a patient in a medical environment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In hospitals and similar institutions it is always desirable and often necessary to releasably secure various medical tubing and monitoring or information control cables to or immediately adjacent a patient, particularly where a patient has limited control of his faculties or is severely restricted in extent of physical activity. Critical life support fluids as well as monitoring apparatus are generally supplied to the patient via suitable tubing or information flow cables. It is most desirable to secure these vital life lines in a manner ensuring their effectiveness yet maintaining their portability.

Efficient and dependable attachment as well as detachment of the tubings and cables is also a critical factor in the effectiveness of a clamping device utilized to attach medical cables and tubing to or immediately adjacent a patient. It is, therefore, desirable that the clamping device be inexpensive, easy to use, and dependable. Ideally, the clamping device should be simple, requiring the use of only one hand to permit the greatest freedom of the user while manipulating the clamp and various tubes or the like to be secured It is further desirable that the clamping device not injure or enhance the possibility of damage to the secured or securing member and, in that regard, the clamp must permit the simple and efficient attachment to bedding, a patient's clothing, or directly to a patient without injury or damage. It is further imperative that the clamp not restrict or endanger the free flow of information or fluids through the life lines supported by the clamping device.

In the past, various attempts have been made to provide a clamp for use in the medical environment. However, none of the prior art devices provides a clamp which is efficient and economical to use yet dependable, and easy to attach and detach, while ensuring proper flow of information and fluids through the secured devices and without enhancing or causing damage to the attachment member. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,645 discloses a unitary clamping device for attaching an I.V. tube or the like to the limb of a patient by means of an elongate strap-like member. A pair of spaced transverse ribs are provided on one face and adjacent one end of the strap. The tube receiving recesses are contained in and are coextensive with each rib, with locking elements placed on each side of and spaced from the ribs extending upwardly to hold the tubes in place. The strap is wrapped around the patient with the tubes secured in ribs, the strap continuing over the top of the ribs thus sandwiching the tubes between two sides of the strap. The strap is then buckled or secured in the typical manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,991 discloses a clamp made of a flexible tubular device having a cutaway portion to form a tongue which is wrapped around the tubes or cables to be held. A screw is then placed through the tongue and the tubular portion of the clamp to secure the tubing or cables. An aligator type clip is also held by the screw and within the tube portion of the clamp to provide means for attaching the mechanism to a patient's clothing or bedding.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,497 discloses a snap action unitary clamp having a toggle actuated clamping mechanism for securing the clamp to clothing or the like and a "C" clip for attaching tubing and carrying it to the patient.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,509 discloses another unitary clamp designed to secure fluid conductive tubes of different size. The clamp has a tear drop open tube for carrying medical tubes or the like wherein a tube may be pinched to stop the flow of fluids therethrough by moving the tube into the narrow portion of the tear drop. The clamp also has a narrowing slot by which the entire apparatus may be attached to bedding, clothing or the like by wedging the fabric into the slot.

Other clamps or fasteners not directly related to medical or similar applications are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,459,603, 2,531,003and 3,292,233. Of particular interest in this group is U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,223, disclosing a clamp of unitary construction being of the snap action variety for attaching clothes to a clothes line. The clamp is basically a closed integral ring sectioned into relatively rigid supports carrying opposite resilient arm sections wherein each arm terminates in a foldable, thin web. A pair of jaw sections are provided, one extending from each web and connected to each other by a third foldable, thin web. A tube, for example a clothes line, is then placed in the jaws after having fabric wrapped thereabout and the clamp is snapped shut to secure the tubing to the fabric.

Each of the clamps devised in the prior art have certain disadvantages in that they are not efficient or economical to use and do not provide simple, dependable attachment and detachment of tubular and cable devices to or immediately adjacent a patient without special skill. Further, none of the prior art devices permit efficient and simple manipulation without impairing or endangering the flow of fluids or information therethrough. Further, at least some of the prior art devices cannot be used without enhancing or causing damage to the securing member.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a clamp directed to the critical needs and peculiar considerations of a medical environment. The present invention provides a clamp which is dependable, efficient and economical requiring the use of only one hand to manipulate and engage the clamp while ensuring free flow of fluids and information through the secured tubing and cables, without endangering or injuring the secured member.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a clamp for releasably securing flexible tubing or the like to a support article. Specifically, the invention relates to a clamping device for releasably securing medical tubing and cables to or immediately adjacent a patient in a medical environment.

The clamp of the present invention comprises a pair of integral jaws hingedly connected at one end for pivotal movement between opened and closed positions. A latching member projects from one jaw and is selectively engageable with a latch strike contained in the other jaw, to lock the clamp in a plurality of closed position. Passageways for carrying tubing, cables, and the like are contained in at least one of the jaws and located between the latch and the hinge. When the jaws are held in closed position the periphery of the tubing is tightly held, thus securing the tubing in predetermined position. Means for gripping a fabric material, such as bedding or a patient's clothing are provided in the open end of the jaws. Thus, when the jaws are closed to secure tubes or clamps, the open ends close attaching the clamp to a suitable fabric support. To open the jaws, the latch strike and latch member are merely disengaged, thereby detaching the fabric and releasing the tubes and cables.

Means for attaching the clamp directly to the patient are also provided A self-adhering strap member of bracelet may be carried by one of the jaws, whereby the clamp may be secured directly to the patient without interfering with the latch or the tube and cable passageways. When the clamp includes the strap member, it is further desirable to provide jaws conforming to the contours of a patient's limb. This ensures the comfort of the patient while minimizing extension of the clamp beyond the securing member, thus reducing the possibility of accidentally moving or opening the clamp.

A series of guide posts are provided to properly seat tubes and cables within the passageways to further aid the operator in efficiently attaching the clamp. Also, locking posts are provided to restrict the longitudinal displacement of the tubes and cables thus transmitting the tension from between a tube source and a patient to between a source and the clamp. This minimizes the chances of accidental withdrawal and reduces the possibility of injury or pain to the patient caused by unsteady tube or cable hook-ups.

While a detailed description of the preferred embodiments follows, it should be understood that alteration in exact structural details may be made without deterring from the scope and spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a clamp embodying the teachings of the present invention, showing the jaws of the clamp in a locked position.

FIG. 2 is a view conforming generally to the view of FIG. 1, showing the clamp in section.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the clamp of FIG. 1 in a fully opened or extended position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fully opened clamp of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the hinge means of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the clamp may be opened and/or closed requiring the use of but one hand of an operator.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the clamp, adapted for attachment to a limb of a patient.

FIG. 7 is a view of the clamp of FIG. 6 showing in detail the modification including a bracelet strap.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the clamp of FIG. 6 showing in detail the modification for attaching the clamp to a patient's limb.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the fully opened clamp of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the fully opened clamp of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 6 show variations of a clamp 10. Both clamps are of unitary construction and include a pair of jaws 30 and 31, and 40 and 41, respectively. The jaws are hingedly connected at 11 for movement between open and closed positions. A latch 12 including a latch strike 33 is carried in each upper jaw as illustrated and a projecting latching member 32 is integral with the other jaw, the strike and latching member being selectively engageable with one another to releasably secure the upper and lower jaws in various locked positions. The clamp of FIGS. 1 through 5 is particularly well suited for attachment to a fabric material 13, for example, a bed sheet or a patient's clothing. The clamp of FIGS. 6 through 10 includes a modification having a strap member 14 for securing the clamp 10 to a member, for example, a patient's limb.

The first embodiment of the clamp 10, illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, is composed of an upper jaw 30 and a lower jaw 31 joined at flexible hinge 11 for movement between opened and closed positions. A latch mechanism 12 composed of the latch strike 33 (see FIG. 2) and the projecting latching member 32 selectively locks the jaw in a variety of closed positions for clamping various devices in the area between the latch mechanism 12 and hinge 11.

The latch mechanism comprises a throat 33 having a lip edge 52 which is suited to engage the serrations 50 on the front surface of the elongate projecting member 32. The latching member 32 is contained in the lower jaw 31 and projects through the throat 33 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. When the clamp 10 is closed the serrations 50 engage the lip 52 for securely though releasably locking the clamp in a selected closed position.

It is desirable, when the clamp is utilized for carrying tubular devices 20 and 21, to provide a set of passageways 16 through 19 in one or both of the jaws 30 and 31, the passageways being disposed between the latch member 12 and the hinged end 11, see FIG. 1. The passageways 16-19 are generated by mated channels 16a through 19a in jaw 31 and 16b through 196 in jaw 30, as shown in FIG. 3, when channels a are in phase with channels b cylindrical passageways are created when the clamp 10 is closed. This facilitates the carriage of tubular devices, for example, tubes 20 and 21 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the clamp is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the perimeter of the tubes 20 and 21 are tightly held, without distortion. When the clamp is opened the tubes may be adjusted or removed. In this manner the clamp 10 provides a suitable apparatus for releasably securing medical tubing, for instance, intravenous (I.V.) tubing 21, information cables 20 and the like, in position during use.

A series of ribs 15 may also be contained in each of the jaws 30 and 31 between the terminal end 51 of the clamp and the locking mechanism 12. The ribs 15 are out of phase, generating a meshing relationship when the clamp 10 is brought into closed juxtaposition as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. The channels 15 provide a friction gripping mechanism for securing the clamp 10 to fabric material 13, for example, bedding or clothing or the like. By securing the clamp 10 at 13, the clamp is maintained in a relatively fixed position immediately adjacent a patient.

To enhance the gripping ability of the ribs 15 when the clamp 10 is held in closed juxtaposition it is useful to provide nodules 34 on each of the projecting surfaces of channels 15, said nodules serving to enhance the friction created when the clamp 10 is closed as in FIGS. 1 and 2, thus decreasing the possibility of the accidental or unintentional removal of material 13 from the clamp while the lock member 32 engages strike 30.

The clamp is made of a moldable material, such as, by way of example, polypropylene or the like. Thus, the flexible hinge 11 has a high fatigue level, allowing repeated uses of the clamp. Polypropylene or a similar material also has the quality of springback causing the hinge 11 to be biased toward open position in the final molded shape, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, it can be seen that the clamp 10 is normally open when molded in the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. To counteract this biasing the locking means 12 is utilized to lock the clamp 10 in a selected closed position during use. Due to the inherent spring-back and fatigue levels of polypropylene, the projecting member 32 may be depressed with the thumb to release the lock and will automatically spring back into the locking position when the force is removed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the clamp is particularly well suited for applications where only one hand is free to perform the clamping function. As there shown, once the tubes have been placed in channels 16-19, if the clamp is held in the open position between the thumb and forefinger, it is possible to close and/or secure the clamp to an object simply by advancing the two jaws 30 and 31 into a closed position.

The clamp is also particularly well suited to be opened and removed with the use of only one hand. When the clamp is held as shown in FIG. 5 between the thumb and forefinger, the thumb may be used to depress or deflect projecting latch member 32 of the locking mechanism 12, to disengage the latch strike 33. When this is done, the spring action of the flexible hinge 11 will force the jaws 30 and 31 apart, thus permitting removal of the clamp from the fabric 13 and adjacent or removal of the tubes 20 and 21 from channels 16-19. Due to the spring-back qualities of polypropylene and similar materials the clamp will again be held in the locked position once the member 32 is released.

The clamp is illustrated in a fully extended position in FIG. 3. As can be seen, the passageways 16, 17, 18 and 19 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are generated by the transverse channels 16a through 19a in jaw 31 and 16b through 19b in jaw 30. The channels a and b mate when the clamp is locked in a closed position. It should be understood that the channels 16a-19a and 16b-19b need not be in phase, as illustrated, but may be disposed in any relationship giving the desired number and type passageways when the clamp is closed. The formed passageways 16-19 are illustrated as varying in size to facilitate the carriage of a variety of devices, for example, the large tube as cable 20 and the smaller diameter intravenous (I.V.) tube 21, see FIG. 3. Projecting guide posts 35 extend beyond each channel 16a through 19a to ensure proper seating of the tubes 20 and 21 and the like prior to locking the clamp in a closed position. A guide channel 36 in jaw 31 receives the posts 35 when the clamp 10 is closed. The channel 36 provides clearance for the posts thus allowing them to extend substantially beyond the top surface 60 of the jaw, 30, without interference. In this manner it is possible to easily seat the tubes 20 and 21 in proper channels when the clamp is open.

Projecting locking posts 37 are also provided in jaw 30 for longitudinally securing wall flexible tubes in place once the clamp 10 has been closed, for example, the I.V. tube 21 in channel 16. Flexible I.V. tubes are generally made of a polyvinylchloride material and due to their smooth surface tend to creep or shift longitudinally if only held about their periphery. By utilizing the two locking posts 37, the polyvinylchloride tube 21 may be placed in an S configuration inside the channel 16. This prevents creeping and also transfers the pull tension from between the patient or the needle and the I.V. fluid reservoir to between the clamp and the reservoir thereby eliminating possibility of accidental or unintentional withdrawal of the needle or injury to the patient. The configuration of both the guide posts 35 and the locking posts 37 is clearly shown in FIG. 4.

Upon closing the clamp 10 the guide posts 35 are seated in the guide channel 36 to ensure proper seating of the cable 20 and tube 21 and the like in their respective channels 16-19 once the jaws 30 and 31 are in the locked position. In this manner the clamp 10 can be closed to releasably secure the perimeter of various tubing devices thus minimizing longitudinal movement.

It has been found that the flexible hinge 11 may aid in the locking technique wherein a locking mechanism similar to latch 12 is utilized. The hinge 11 tends to urge jaw 30 toward the serrations 50 of member 32 when the clamp is in a closed position. To enhance this capability, the flexible hinge 11 is of a wedge-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 4, the cross section of the wedge increasing as it approaches jaw 30. This decreases the flexibility of the hinge 11 at this point and tends to urge the jaw and therewith the lip 34 of throat 33 toward serrations 50 of member 32. Since the member 32 is molded to be biased in the opposite direction, the hinge 11 and the member 32 are both held in tension thus increasing the locking force holding the clamp in a closed position.

The clamp also includes means for attaching a hangar, such as a hook to hang the clamp from a suitable support when not in use or when desired to suspend the articles 20 and 21 from a support structure. The clearance hole 38 and 39 are suited to receive such a clip or hangar, see FIGS. 1 and 2. Holes 38 and 39 may be included in the original mold or later drilled. Generally, it is advantageous to mold clearance hold 39 because it is halved into sections 39a and 39b in the mold product, similar to channels 16 through 19, see FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGS. 6 through 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The clamping device 10 comprises a pair of jaws 40 and 41, joined by a flexible hinge 11 to generate transverse channels 42, 43 and 44 of varying size to hold a variety of tubular devices. The channels 42, 43 and 44 correspond to channels 16-19 of the first embodiment. The locking device 12 is again utilized in the second embodiment, having a projecting member 32 carried in jaw 41, the member 32 being selectively engageable with strike 33 in jaws 40. However, the jaws 40 and 41 are contoured in FIGS. 6-9, conforming to the limb of a patient, shown in phantom in FIG. 6. This permits the clamp to be conviently secured directly to the limb without extending beyond the surface contours, thus reducing accidental bumping or catching of the clamp.

The clamp is also designed to carry the strap member or bracelet 14 suitable for extending around a patient's arm, leg, wrist or the like. Strap 14 may, by way of example, be fabricated from "Velcro" self-sticking fabric, manufactured by Velcro Corporation, 681-5th Avenue, New York, New York. "Velcro" comprises a series 0f loops 53 as contained on the outer surface 54 of one side of the strap and a friction cloth 55 as contained on the inner surface 56 of the other half of the strap. Thus, when the strap 14 is wrapped around a supporting member, for example, the limb of the patient (shown in phantom in FIG. 6) the two halves of the strap are merely brought into juxtaposition as shown at 57 and frictionally held to form a bracelet about the limb.

As is more clearly shown in FIG. 9, the strap 14 is carried in a channel 45 having entrace and exit ports 46 and 47. The channel 45 is deeper than the transverse channels 42, 43, and 44 thereby carrying the strap 14 beneath the tube passageways, allowing sufficient clearance for the flexible tubing carried therein, see FIG. 7. Thus, channel 45 also corresponds with the guide post channel 36 of the first embodiment. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 9, the theory and principle of both clamps is the same. The guide posts 35 permit proper seating of flexible tubes prior to clamping, the guide channel 36 having been replaced by strap clearance channel 45 to permit proper carriage of the strap 14 during use. While the locking posts 37 have not been included in the second embodiment as illustrated, it should be understood that they could be added if desired. It should further be understood that gripping ribs 15 could be added to the second embodiment thereby further increasing its versatility.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece, plastic clamp for clamping tubing and the like to a support member, comprising a pair of elongate jaws integrally hinged together at one of their ends of pivotal movement to open and closed positions, one of said jaws having an opening therethrough between the ends thereof and spaced from the hinged end, a latch strike on said one jaw at one side of said opening, an upstanding latch member on the other jaw spaced from the hinged end thereof in a position to extend through the opening in said one jaw and having serrations on one side thereof engageable with the latch strike to releasably latch the jaws in closed position, a plurality of transverse arcuate channels in each jaw between the latch and hinged end thereof and extending completely across the width of the jaws, said channels forming a plurality of transverse throughpassageways in the clamp when the jaws thereof are disposed in closed juxtaposition for clamping tubing and the like between the jaws, and an upstanding guide post on one of said jaws at the side of at least one of said channels and projecting into said channel to engage the side of a tube therein to guide the tube into proper registry with the channel during closing movement of the jaws and to lock the tube in proper position in the channel when the jaws are in closed juxtaposition.

2. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the latch member is permanently biased toward the latch strike.

3. A clamp as recited in claim 2, wherein said bias in generated by a flexible hinge joining the pair of jaws, said hinge being of tapered, wedge shaped configuration and decreasing in thickness from said one jaw toward said other jaw.

4. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the attaching means comprises a series of ribs in each of said jaws adjacent their terminal ends, and wherein the ribs of said one jaw are out of phase with the ribs of said other jaw, forming a meshing relationship when said jaws are disposed in closed juxtaposition.

5. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein said jaws constitute curvilinear members conforming substantially to the contour of human limb or the like.

6. A clamp as recited in claim 5, wherein the attaching means includes means for carrying a strap member for securing the clamp to a human limb or the like.

7. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein guide posts are on one of said jaws adjacent one side of said at least one channel and extending toward the other jaw for aligning a flexible tube relative to said channel prior to locking said jaws in closed position.

8. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein locking posts are in said channels for releasably securing the tubes against longitudinal movement in the channel.

9. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the clamp includes means for attaching a hangar to one or the other of said jaws.

10. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein that end of each of said jaws remote from the hinged ends thereof include a series of transverse ribs which project outwardly from and extend completely across the width of the jaws, and wherein the transverse ribs in one jaw are longitudinally offset from the ribs of the other jaw whereby said ribs are disposed in interlocking, side-by-side, meshing registry when the jaws of the clamp are disposed in closed juxtaposition, said ribs constituting means for securing the clamp to a support member.

11. A clamp as recited in claim 10, which includes nodules projecting from each of said ribs thereby enhancing the gripping characteristics of the clamp when the jaws of the clamp are disposed in closed juxtaposition.

12. A clamp as in claim 1, wherein the jaws are curvilinear, said other jaw having a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending openings therethrough between the latch member and the hinged end thereof, said jaw having a recess therein in communication at its opposite ends with said last mentioned openings, and said openings and recess adapted to receive a strap for securing said other jaw member to a human limb or the like.

13. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein said hinge decreases in thickness from one jaw to the other jaw so that the hinges is more flexible adjacent said other jaw whereby the jaws are resiliently urged longitudinally relative to one another when in closed position and the latch serrations and latch strike are accordingly urged into secure locking engagement with one another.

14. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein a guide post is at the side of each channel, and said guide posts are disposed centrally of the width of said one jaw and are aligned with one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said one jaw, and a pair of locking posts are on said one jaw at the side of one of said channels opposite the guide post therein, said locking posts disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said one channel.