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 |
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.
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