US 11,859,745 B2
Clamp
Nick White, Falmouth (GB); and Chris Sillitoe, Cardiff (GB)
Assigned to Bio Pure Technology Limited, Waterlooville (GB)
Filed by Bio Pure Technology Limited, Waterlooville (GB)
Filed on May 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/663,390.
Application 17/663,390 is a continuation of application No. 16/093,807, granted, now 11,359,751, previously published as PCT/GB2017/051106, filed on Apr. 20, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 1606951 (GB), filed on Apr. 21, 2016; and application No. 1620014 (GB), filed on Nov. 25, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0268382 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 37/084 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); F16B 2/18 (2006.01); F16B 7/04 (2006.01); F16L 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/084 (2013.01) [A61M 39/1011 (2013.01); F16B 2/18 (2013.01); F16B 7/0426 (2013.01); F16L 3/1025 (2013.01); F16L 3/1075 (2013.01); F16L 2201/10 (2013.01); F16L 2201/44 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clamp comprising:
a first arcuate portion;
a second arcuate portion hingedly connected to the first arcuate portion; and
a ratchet mechanism for locking the first and second arcuate portions in a closed position;
wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises a linear rack provided with the second arcuate portion and a pawl provided with the first arcuate portion for receiving the linear rack;
wherein the linear rack comprises a plurality of toothed paths each comprising one or more asymmetrical teeth;
wherein the pawl comprises a plurality of fingers which are biased into engagement with the teeth of the linear rack; wherein each of the plurality of fingers are configured to engage with the teeth of one of the plurality of toothed paths; characterized in that:
a first path of the plurality of toothed paths comprises one or more teeth having a larger height than the teeth of a second path of the plurality of toothed paths, wherein the teeth of the first path are positioned so as to provide tactile/audible feedback to a user to indicate an optimum clamping force.