Flow regulating device

Claim 1

A roller clamp for regulating the rate of fluid flow from a supply source to a desired delivery point through plastic tubing comprising: an elongated, box-like body having a base portion with an internal compression surface, a top portion with an elongated, open passageway, elongated side walls, and end walls; a centrally disposed passageway in said end walls defined by a fluid inlet means at one end wall for receiving the plastic tubing from said supply source, and a fluid outlet at the opposite end wall for receiving the plastic tubing leading to the delivery point; a length of conduit fabricated from silicone rubber having a lumen for the passage of fluid through the body from the inlet to the outlet, said conduit being disposed and captured within the body in stretched condition between said inlet and said outlet means so as not to be affected by external stretching and tugging forces; a roller having a circumferential outer surface and centrally disposed axle hubs; a track within the body for capturing said roller for longitudinal movement within said body, said compression surface having an angular variance to the track to provide a variable distance between the outer surface of the roller in contact with the conduit and the base; whereby the fluid flow may be varied by application of a manual force to the roller, thereby altering the diameter of the lumen from fully open to completely closed as defined by the area between the roller and compression surface.