Umbilical cord clamp
AssigneeHollister Incorporated
InventorJohn L. Nolan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An umbilical cord clamp having an improved lock construction. The clamp is of generally V-shaped configuration and includes a pair of flexible arms joined together at the apex of the V by an integral hinge. One of the arms is provided at its free forward end with a flexible tongue; the other arm has a forwardly-facing recess for receiving that tongue as the clamp is closed. A pair of projections extend inwardly from opposite sides of the recess and define sloping ramp surfaces for engaging the tip of the tongue and for flexing the tongue forwardly as the arms of the clamp are squeezed into closed condition. When the clamp is fully closed, the tip of the tongue snaps into position beneath the undercut projections to lock the arms securely together.
Claims14
An umbilical cord clamp of generally V-shaped configuration comprising a pair of flexible arms having rear end portions joined together by an integral hinge at the apex of the V and having free forward end portions normally disposed in spaced-apart relation and being movable towards each other for clamping an umbilical cord between said arms, and locking means for securing said arms together when said clamp is closed, wherein the improvement comprises
- said locking means includes a flexible tongue at the forward end of one of said arms, said tongue projecting towards the other of said arms in the general direction of closing movement of said one arm, said other arm having a recess at its forward end for receiving said tongue and having a pair of transversely-spaced projections extending into said recess from opposite sides thereof, said tongue having a tip portion and said projections defining a pair of forwardly sloping ramp surfaces engagable with said tip portion for flexing the tongue forwardly as said arms are urged together, said tongue having a pair of lateral notches adjacent said tip portion for receiving said pair of projections when said tip portion has cleared said ramp surfaces and said clamp is fully closed.
An umbilical cord clamp of generally V-shaped configuration formed of flexible plastic material, said clamp having a pair of arms with rear end portions joined together by an integral hinge at the apex of the V and having free forward end portions normally disposed in spaced-apart relation and being movable towards each other for clamping an umbilical cord between said arms, and locking means for securing said arms together when said clamp is closed, wherein the improvement comprises
- said locking means includes a flexible tongue at the forward end of one of said arms, said tongue projecting towards the other of said arms in the general direction of closing movement of said one arm and having a tip providing a pair of lateral hook portions, said other arm having a recess at its forward end for receiving said tongue, said recess being defined by a pair of transversely-spaced opposing side surfaces and a rear surface and being open towards the front of said other arm, said other arm also having a pair of transversely-spaced projections extending into said recess from said opposing side surfaces and defining a pair of forwardly sloping ramp surfaces for engaging said hook portions of said tongue to flex said tongue forwardly as said arms are urged together, said tongue having a pair of lateral notches adjacent to said hook portions for receiving said pair of projections, said hook portions being disposed beneath said notches for engaging the undersides of said projections when said clamp is fully closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.