Tube Roller Clamp

1 . A first section ( 170 ) and a second section ( 180 ) for forming a tube roller clamp ( 100 ) for evacuating fluid from flexible tubing ( 900 ) in a single flow direction, the first section ( 170 ) and the second section ( 180 ) each comprising:

a roller ( 300 , 380 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 190 ) partially surrounded by a roller body ( 330 ) for contact with the flexible tubing ( 900 );

a pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) for holding the roller ( 300 ) in a fixed position relative to an outer face ( 290 ) of a housing portion ( 200 );

wherein the roller ( 300 ) is constrained by the spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) from movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ( 190 ) but is able to rotate around the longitudinal axis ( 190 ); and

the first section ( 170 ) adapted to reversibly connect to the second section ( 180 ) after inversion to allow an end user to assemble the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) for evacuating fluid by capturing flexible tubing ( 900 ) between rollers ( 300 , 380 ).

2 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein:

the roller ( 300 ) a first journal ( 310 ) on a first end of a roller shaft ( 304 ), and a second journal ( 310 ) on a second end of the roller shaft ( 304 ); and

the spacing clips ( 400 ) each have a bushing ( 430 ) for holding the first journal ( 310 ) or the second journal of the roller ( 300 ) in the fixed position relative to a first outer face ( 290 ) of a first housing portion ( 200 ).

3 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein:

the pair of spacing clips ( 450 ) each have an internal roller engagement boss ( 454 ) for insertion into an opening ( 384 ) in a shaft end ( 388 ) of roller ( 380 ); and

the internal roller engagement boss ( 454 ) used to hold the roller ( 380 ) in a fixed position relative to the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

4 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein;

each roller ( 300 , 380 ) has a ratchet wheel ( 320 );

each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion ( 200 ) has at least one protrusion ( 230 , 234 ) that engages with the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) to allow rotation of the roller ( 300 ) in a first direction when viewed from a first end of the roller ( 300 ) but not allow rotation of the roller ( 300 ) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; and

thus, the assembled tube roller clamp ( 100 ) will only allow motion of the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) in one direction with respect to flexible tubing ( 900 ) captured between the roller body ( 330 ) in the first section ( 170 ) and the roller body in the second section ( 180 ).

5 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 4 wherein the housing portion ( 200 ) has a protrusion that prevents the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) from rotating in a prohibited direction as a ratchet tooth ( 328 ) moves towards the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

6 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 5 wherein the housing portion ( 200 ) has a protrusion that prevents the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) from rotating in a prohibited direction as a ratchet tooth ( 328 ) moves away from the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

7 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 4 wherein the housing portion ( 200 ) has a protrusion that prevents the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) from rotating in a prohibited direction as a ratchet tooth ( 328 ) moves away from the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

8 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein;

each roller ( 300 , 380 ) has a ratchet wheel ( 320 );

each housing portion ( 200 ) has at least one protrusion ( 230 , 234 ) that engages with the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) to allow rotation of the roller ( 300 ) in a first direction when viewed from a first end of the roller ( 300 ) but not allow rotation of the roller ( 300 ) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; and

thus, the assembled tube roller clamp ( 100 ) will only allow motion of the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) in one direction with respect to flexible tubing captured between the first roller ( 300 ) and the second roller ( 300 ).

9 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 8 wherein the housing portion ( 200 ) has a protrusion that prevents the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) from rotating in a prohibited direction as a ratchet tooth ( 328 ) moves towards the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

10 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 9 wherein the housing portion ( 200 ) has a protrusion that prevents the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) from rotating in a prohibited direction as a ratchet tooth ( 328 ) moves away from the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

11 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 8 wherein the housing portion ( 200 ) has a protrusion that prevents the ratchet wheel ( 320 ) from rotating in a prohibited direction as a ratchet tooth ( 328 ) moves away from the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

12 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein each spacing clip ( 400 , 450 ) of the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) is adapted for use in either the first section ( 170 ) or the second section ( 180 ).

13 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) in the first section are identical to the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) in the second section ( 180 ).

14 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) in the first section is different from the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) in the second section ( 180 ).

15 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 14 wherein:

the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) in the first section positions the longitudinal axis ( 190 ) of the roller ( 300 , 380 ) a first distance ( 494 ) from the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ); and

the pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) in the second section positions the longitudinal axis ( 190 ) of the roller ( 300 , 380 ) a second distance ( 496 ) from the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ); and

the first distance is ( 494 ) is different than the second distance ( 496 ).

16 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) each carry a marking that is visible after the spacing clip ( 400 , 450 ) is inserted into the housing portion ( 200 ), the marking serving to indicate a distance between a longitudinal axis ( 190 ) of the roller ( 300 , 380 ) and the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ).

17 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 16 wherein one pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) carries a different marking from another pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) as the distance between the longitudinal axis ( 190 ) the roller and the outer face ( 290 ) of the housing portion ( 200 ) in the first section ( 170 ) is different than the distance in the second section ( 180 ).

18 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein both of the rollers ( 300 , 380 ) have a marking that is visible in the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) to indicate a gap ( 350 ) between the roller body ( 330 ) for the first section ( 170 ) and the roller body ( 330 ) of the second section ( 180 ).

19 . The first section ( 170 ) and second section ( 180 ) of claim 1 wherein both of the housing portions ( 200 ) have a marking that is visible in the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) to indicate a gap ( 350 ) between the roller body ( 330 ) for the first section ( 170 ) and the roller body ( 330 ) of the second section ( 180 ).

20 . A kit for creating a tube roller clamp ( 100 ) for evacuating fluid from flexible tubing, the kit comprising:

a first section ( 170 ); and

a second section ( 180 ); wherein the first section ( 170 ) is adapted for reversible connection with the second section ( 180 );

each of the first section ( 170 ) and the second section ( 180 ) comprising:

a roller ( 300 , 380 ) with a roller body ( 330 ) in an intermediate section of the roller ( 300 );

a pair of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) adapted to engage the roller at both a first end of a roller shaft ( 304 ) or a second end of the roller shaft ( 304 ) to allow the roller ( 300 , 380 ) to rotate around a longitudinal axis ( 190 ) of the roller ( 300 , 380 ) but not move a substantial amount laterally relative to the longitudinal axis ( 190 ); and

the pair of spacing clips ( 400 ) with the engaged roller ( 300 ) attached to a housing portion ( 200 ) so that the longitudinal axis ( 190 ) of the roller ( 300 ) is a specific placement within the housing portion ( 200 ) so that when the first section ( 170 ) is reversibly connected to the second section ( 180 ) by an end user, a gap ( 350 ) between the pair of roller bodies ( 330 ) is appropriate to squeeze a particular type of flexible tubing ( 900 ) to evacuate fluid from the flexible tubing ( 900 ).

21 . The kit of claim 20 for creating a tube roller clamp ( 100 ) wherein the each of the spacing clips ( 400 ) has a bushing ( 430 ) for receipt of a journal ( 310 ) of the roller shaft ( 304 ).

22 . The kit of claim 20 for creating a tube roller clamp ( 100 ) wherein the each of the spacing clips ( 450 ) has an internal roller engagement boss ( 454 ) for engaging openings ( 384 ) in the ends ( 388 ) of the roller ( 380 ).

23 . The kit of claim 20 wherein both the of the roller ( 300 , 380 ) in the first section ( 170 ) and the roller( 300 , 380 ) in the second section ( 180 ) is able to rotate in a first direction when viewed from a first end of the roller ( 300 , 380 ) but not able to rotate freely in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

24 . The kit of claim 20 wherein the first section ( 170 ) is identical to the second section ( 180 ).

25 . The kit of claim 20 wherein both pairs of spacing clips ( 400 , 450 ) are identical.

26 . The kit of claim 20 wherein both rollers ( 300 , 380 ) are identical.

27 . The kit of claim 20 wherein both housing portions ( 200 ) are identical.

28 . The kit of claim 20 wherein at least one component in the first section ( 170 ) and at least one component in the second section ( 180 ) is color coded to allow an end user to know that the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) formed from this kit will be suitable for a specific type of flexible tubing with a specific wall thickness.

29 . A process for creating a kit for a tube roller clamp ( 100 ) for evacuating fluid from flexible tubing, the process comprising:

placing a first journal ( 310 ) of a first roller 300 in a first spacing clip ( 400 );

placing a second journal ( 310 ) of the first roller ( 300 ) in a second spacing clip ( 400 );

inserting the first spacing clip ( 400 ) and the second spacing clip ( 400 ) into a first housing portion ( 200 ) to form a first section ( 170 ) and placing the first roller ( 300 ) in a fixed relationship with the first housing portion ( 200 );

placing a third journal ( 310 ) of a second roller 300 in a fourth spacing clip ( 400 );

placing a fourth journal ( 310 ) of the second roller ( 300 ) in a fourth spacing clip ( 400 );

inserting the third spacing clip ( 400 ) and the fourth spacing clip ( 400 ) into a second housing portion ( 200 ) to form a second section ( 180 ) and placing the second roller ( 300 ) in a fixed relationship with the second housing portion ( 200 ); and

wherein the tube roller clamp ( 100 ) to be formed by a user that connects to the first section ( 170 ) to the second section ( 180 ) will have a gap ( 350 ) between the first roller ( 300 ) and the second roller ( 300 ) that is appropriate to create a squeezed portion of a particular type of flexible tubing to be placed between the first roller ( 300 ) and the second roller ( 300 ).