Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A tubing injection site guard comprising: a compressible, penetrable sleeve adapted to surround a continuous tube, a longitudinally divided rigid casing comprising two casing sections, one of said casing sections having a needle access port, said casing sections having walls, said wall of one said casing section being spaced-apart from the other said wall, a longitudinal hinge joining said casing sections along one longitudinal side, and means for locking said casing sections together around said sleeve in an adjustable relationship therebetween, said needle access port allowing a needle to be inserted through said needle port and said sleeve into said tubing, said casing radially compressing said sleeve throughout the length of said sleeve when said locking means is actuated, thereby sealing said sleeve against said tube throughout said sleeve length and sealing needle holes in said sleeve, and said means for locking being adjustable so as to draw said spaced-apart walls of said casing sections progressively together thereby increasing the radial compression of said casing sections on said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A tubing injection site guard comprising: a compressible, penetrable sleeve adapted to surround a continuous tube, a longitudinally divided rigid casing comprising two casing sections, one of said casing sections having a needle access port, said casing sections having walls, said wall of one said casing section being spaced-apart from the other said wall, a longitudinal hinge joining said casing sections along one longitudinal side, and means for locking said casing sections together around said sleeve in an adjustable relationship therebetween, said needle access port allowing a needle to be inserted through said needle port and said sleeve into said tubing, said casing radially compressing said sleeve throughout the length of said sleeve when said locking means is actuated, thereby sealing said sleeve against said tube throughout said sleeve length and sealing needle holes in said sleeve, and said means for locking being adjustable so as to draw said spaced-apart walls of said casing sections progressively together thereby increasing the radial compression of said casing sections on said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The injection site guard of claim 1 wherein said casing is generally cylindrical and said two casing sections are generally semicylindrical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The injection site guard of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises: an ear on each said casing section, each said ear extending outward from its respective said casing section and located on the longitudinal side of said casing section opposite to the longitudinal side having said hinge, and each said ear being adapted to receive pressure to be brought closer to said other ear to close said casing sections about said sleeve and radially compress said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The injection site guard of claim 3 wherein said locking means further comprises: at least one ratchet on one said ear extending toward the other said ear and a corresponding pawl on said other ear extending to meet said ratchet, said ratchet and pawl engaging to lock said casing sections together so that said casing encloses and radially compresses said sleeve, said ratchet and pawl being arranged to allow said casing to be tightened about said sleeve but not loosened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The injection site guard of claim 3 wherein said casing further comprises: a cylindrical extension from each longitudinal end of said casing, each said extension adapted to enclose said tube where it protrudes from said casing, in order to support said tube for reducing bending stresses imposed on said tube and preventing said stresses from being communicated to the section of said tube enclosed within said sleeve and casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The injection site guard of claim 5 wherein said casing is a single integral plastic piece incorporating said casing sections, said hinge, said locking means, and said cylindrical extensions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The injection site guard of claim 6 wherein said hinge comprises a longitudinal section of said integral casing of reduced thickness joining said casing sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The injection site guard of claim 4 wherein there are two ratchets and two corresponding pawls, said ratchets being spaced apart longitudinally along one said ear and said pawls being correspondingly spaced apart longitudinally along said other ear.