Roller clamp having improved infeed section

Claim 1

A disposable roller-type tubing clamp for regulating flow of fluid through a length of flexible tubing comprising a portion of an intravenous administration set, the invention comprising: a clamp body defining a rigid support surface for said length of flexible tubing, said clamp body having a longitudinal axis, said clamp body having first and second ends; opposing semiflexible walls extending from said support surface defining opposing track members with guide surfaces integrally disposed in said walls, said guide surfaces spaced from said support surface a predetermined distance and extending substantially in a direction of said longitudinal axis, said opposing walls spaced from each other and generally parallel with each other to define an open slot therebetween; an open infeed section in said first end of said clamp body, said infeed section including a floor portion spaced from an end of said support surface, said floor portion spaced from said guide surfaces a distance greater than said support surface, said guide surfaces extending in at least a portion of said infeed section; a rotatable member having trunnions positioned to be captively guided and rotated along said guide surfaces with said track members providing confining wall surfaces for the ends of said trunnions; and rotatable member placement means for enhancing placement of said rotatable member onto said guide surfaces, said placement means including angular portions disposed in said infeed section generally extending in a continuous manner inwardly from each of said guide surfaces and joining said wall at a location intermediate said floor portion and said guide surface, each angular portion having an angle with respect to said wall of greater than 90 degrees to urge trunnions of said rotatable member upwardly onto said guide surfaces when said rotatable member is in contact with said angular portion in said infeed section.