Clamp for resilient tubing

Claim 2

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws for receiving a length of resilient tubing longitudinally along said channel, said channel having approximately the same radius of curvature as the outer surface of the tubing adapted to be received therein, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section extending longitudinally of said channel and positioned to be receivable in said channel when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, said protuberant portion being longitudinally curved at its ends, and means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment.

Claim 3

The clamp of claim 1 in which said channel is substantially longer than said protuberant portion.

Claim 4

The clamp of claim 1 in which said protuberant portion has a radius of curvature substantially less than that of said channel.

Claim 5

The clamp of claim 3 in which said protUberant portion has a radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of said channel less two times the wall thickness of the resilient tubing receivable therein.

Claim 6

The clamp of claim 1 in which said lower jaw defines said channel and is generally U-shaped in configuration, said upper jaw comprising a separate element received by said lower jaw, and guide means provided by said upper jaw for limiting relative longitudinal movement of said jaws and for guiding said upper jaw towards and away from the channel of said lower jaw. 6 The clamp of claim 5 in which said upper jaw is tippably mounted within said lower jaw, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising a knob-equipped shaft threadedly secured to said lower jaw and bearing downwardly against said upper jaw at the longitudinal midpoint thereof.

Claim 7

The clamp of claim 1 in which said protuberant portion is provided intermediate its length and at opposite sides thereof with a pair of laterally extending ribs engageable with a resilient tube received between said jaws when said jaws are substantially fully closed.

Claim 8

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws for receiving a length of resilient tubing longitudinally along said channel, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section receivable in said channel when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, and means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment, said upper and lower jaws having free end portions and having ends opposite said free end portions connected by spring hinge means with a pivot axis generally parallel to said channel, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising an upstanding threaded stem secured to said lower jaw adjacent the free end portion thereof, said upper jaw being provided with a recess adjacent its free end for receiving said stem, and a knob threadedly mounted on said stem above said upper jaw for urging said jaws towards each other as said knob is screwed downwardly along said stem.

Claim 9

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws for receiving a length of resilient tubing longitudinally along said channel, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section receivable in said channel when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, and means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment, said upper and lower jaws having free end portions and having ends opposite said free end portions connected by spring hinge means with a pivot axis generally parallel to said channel, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising an upstanding threaded stem secured to said lower jaw adjacent the free end portion thereof, said upper jaw being provided with a recess adjacent its free end for receiving said stem, and a knob threadedly mounted on said stem above said upper jaw for urging said jaws towards each other as said knob is screwed downwardly along said stem.

Claim 10

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section receivable in said channel when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment, said upper and lower jaws having free end portions and having ends opposite said free end portions connected by spring hinge means, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising an upstanding threaded stem secured to said lower jaw adjacent the free end portion thereof, said upper jaw being provided with a recess adjacent its free end for receiving said stem, and a knob threadedly mounted on said stem above said upper jaw for urging said jaws towards each other as said knob is screwed downwardly along said stem, paid lower jaw being provided with a free end portion and a pair of arms extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of said free end portion, said arms being spaced to receive a user''s finger snugly therebetween for the supporting of said clamp for one-handed operation.

Claim 11

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section receivable in said channel when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment, said upper and lower jaws having free end portions and having ends opposite said free end portions connected by spring hinge means, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising an upstanding threaded stem secured to said lower jaw adjacent the free end portion thereof, said upper jaw being provided with a recess adjacent its free end for receiving said stem, and a knob threadedly mounted on said stem above said upper jaw for urging said jaws towards each other as said knob is screwed downwardly along said stem, paid lower jaw being provided with a free end portion and a pair of arms extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of said free end portion, said arms being spaced to receive a user''s finger snugly therebetween for the supporting of said clamp for one-handed operation.

Claim 12

The clamp of claim 9 in which said arms each extend outwardly at an angle from the vertical falling within the range of approximately 10 to 30*.

Claim 13

The clamp of claim 10 in which each arm extends outwardly from the vertical at an angle of approximAtely 20*.

Claim 14

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws, a length of resilient plastic tubing extending longitudinally through said channel between said jaws, said channel having approximately the same radius of curvature as the outer surface of said tubing, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section extending longitudinally of said channel and positioned to be receivable therein in engagement with said tubing when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, and means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment.

Claim 15

A clamp for resilient tubing comprising rigid upper and lower jaws, one of said jaws being provided with an elongated channel of generally semicylindrical configuration facing the other of said jaws, a length of resilient plastic tubing extending longitudinally through said channel between said jaws, said channel having approximately the same radius of curvature as the outer surface of said tubing, said other of said jaws having an elongated protuberant portion of generally semicircular cross section extending longitudinally of said channel and positioned to be receivable therein in engagement with said tubing when said jaws are closed, said protuberant portion and said channel each having a length exceeding three times the radius of curvature of said channel, and means for urging said jaws towards each other into selected positions of adjustment.

Claim 16

The clamp of claim 12 in which said channel is substantially longer than said protuberant portion.

Claim 17

The clamp of claim 12 in which said protuberant portion has a radius of curvature substantially less than that of said channel.

Claim 18

The clamp of claim 14 in which said protuberant portion is longitudinally curved at its ends.

Claim 19

The clamp of claim 14 in which said protuberant portion has a radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of said channel less two times the wall thickness of said resilient plastic tubing received therein.

Claim 20

The clamp of claim 12 in which said upper and lower jaws have free end portions and have ends opposite said free end portions connected by spring means with a pivot axis generally parallel to said channel, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising an upstanding threaded stem secured to said lower jaw adjacent the free end portion thereof, said upper jaw being provided with a recess adjacent its free end for receiving said stem, and a knob threadedly mounted on said stem above said upper jaw for urging said jaws towards each other as said knob is screwed downwardly along said stem.

Claim 21

The clamp of claim 12 in which said lower jaw defines said channel and is generally U-shaped in configuration, said upper jaw comprising a separate element received by said lower jaw, and guide means provided by said upper jaw for limiting relative longitudinal movement of said jaws and for guiding said upper jaw towards and away from the channel of said lower jaw.

Claim 22

The clamp of claim 18 in which said upper jaw is tippably mounted within said lower jaw, said means for urging said jaws towards each other comprising a knob-equipped shaft threadedly secured to said lower jaw and bearing downwardly against said upper jaw at the longitudinal mid point thereof.

Claim 23

The clamp of claim 12 in which said protuberant portion is provided intermediate its length and at opposite sides thereof with a pair of laterally extending ribs engageable with said resilient plastic tubing when said jaws are substantially fully closed.