GB1604255A

GB1604255A - Device for closing tubes

Info

Publication number: GB1604255A
Application number: GB2805677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Matburn Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Matburn Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-12-09

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR CLOSING TUBES (71) We, MATBURN (HOLDINGS) LiMrrED, a British company of Three Colts Lane, Bethnal Green, London E2, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to devices for closing tubes particularly, but not exclusively, outlet tubes for urinary drainage bags.

A urinary drainage bag is usually provided with an outlet tube through which liquid may be withdrawn from the bag. The outlet tube is closed by a closure device when the bag is in use but from time to time it is necessary to open the closure to enable liquid to be withdrawn from the bag. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for such a tube.

Accordingly, the invention provides a tube with a closure device, which comprises a body with a first passage which is open at both ends and has the tube passing through it and with a second passage which is open at one end adjacent one of the open ends of the first passage and is closed at the other end, a portion of the tube extending out of the first passage being bent over on itself, and entered through the open end of the second passage, the tube being removably retained in, and its end be closed by, the closed end of the second passage.

The second passage preferably contains a spigot which can enter the interior of the end portion of a tube fitted in the passage. This arrangement not only retains the tube in the second passage but also provides a seal. The second passage preferably tapers towards its closed end, and in some cases, this taper of the second passage will be sufficient to retain the end portion of the tube therein without the aid of a spigot. The first passage may have an internal rib or ribs or other protuberances which assist in retaining the tube in the passage.

In use, a tube is passed through the first passage and then bends over on itself so that its end portion can enter the second passage. The bending over of the tube on itself provides a constriction of the tube which facilitates the control of the fluid flow through the tube when the closure is opened as when emptying a urinary drainage bag. Another advantage of the arrangement of the present invention is that the end portion of the tube entered in the second passage is shrouded by the body so that when the device is used as a closure for an outlet tube of a urinary drainage bag the fingers of the person emptying the bag need not touch the end portion of the tube and thereby remain uncontaminated.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an underplan and Figure 2 is a cross-section view of a closure device.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a closure device for an outlet tube of a urinary drainage bag comprises a body which is preferably a moulding of polyethylene, but which may be of any other suitable material.

The body contains two passages 1,2 which are of circular cross-section and are arranged parallel to each other. One of these passages (1), herein called the first passage, is open at each end so that an outlet tube of a drainage bag can pass through it. Such outlet tubes are usually of polyvinylchloride. The other passage (2) herein called the second passage, is closed at one end 3. The second passage tapers towards its closed end. The second passage 2 is provided with a central spigot 4 which extends from the closed end 3 of the passage and out through the open end. This spigot portion 4 is frustoconical in shape with a rounded end 5. A rib 6 extends through the passage 1 to assist in retaining the tube in the passage.

In use, the outlet tube of the drainage bag is passed through the first passage 1 and bent over on itself so that its free end can be engaged in the closed passage 2 with the spigot portion 4 engaged inside the tube. It is desirable for the two passages to be as close together as possible to enable the tube to be bent sharply back on itself. Conveniently, the passages are arranged so that the tube has to be bent back through about 1800.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tube with a closure device which comprises a body with a first passage which is open at both ends and has the tube passing through it and with a second passage which is open at one end adjacent one of the open ends of the first passage and is closed at the other end, a portion of the tube extending out of the first passage being bent over on itself, and entered through the open end of the second passage, the tube being removably retained in, and its

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) DEVICE FOR CLOSING TUBES (71) We, MATBURN (HOLDINGS) LiMrrED, a British company of Three Colts Lane, Bethnal Green, London E2, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to devices for closing tubes particularly, but not exclusively, outlet tubes for urinary drainage bags. A urinary drainage bag is usually provided with an outlet tube through which liquid may be withdrawn from the bag. The outlet tube is closed by a closure device when the bag is in use but from time to time it is necessary to open the closure to enable liquid to be withdrawn from the bag. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for such a tube. Accordingly, the invention provides a tube with a closure device, which comprises a body with a first passage which is open at both ends and has the tube passing through it and with a second passage which is open at one end adjacent one of the open ends of the first passage and is closed at the other end, a portion of the tube extending out of the first passage being bent over on itself, and entered through the open end of the second passage, the tube being removably retained in, and its end be closed by, the closed end of the second passage. The second passage preferably contains a spigot which can enter the interior of the end portion of a tube fitted in the passage. This arrangement not only retains the tube in the second passage but also provides a seal. The second passage preferably tapers towards its closed end, and in some cases, this taper of the second passage will be sufficient to retain the end portion of the tube therein without the aid of a spigot. The first passage may have an internal rib or ribs or other protuberances which assist in retaining the tube in the passage. In use, a tube is passed through the first passage and then bends over on itself so that its end portion can enter the second passage. The bending over of the tube on itself provides a constriction of the tube which facilitates the control of the fluid flow through the tube when the closure is opened as when emptying a urinary drainage bag. Another advantage of the arrangement of the present invention is that the end portion of the tube entered in the second passage is shrouded by the body so that when the device is used as a closure for an outlet tube of a urinary drainage bag the fingers of the person emptying the bag need not touch the end portion of the tube and thereby remain uncontaminated. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an underplan and Figure 2 is a cross-section view of a closure device. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a closure device for an outlet tube of a urinary drainage bag comprises a body which is preferably a moulding of polyethylene, but which may be of any other suitable material. The body contains two passages 1,2 which are of circular cross-section and are arranged parallel to each other. One of these passages (1), herein called the first passage, is open at each end so that an outlet tube of a drainage bag can pass through it. Such outlet tubes are usually of polyvinylchloride. The other passage (2) herein called the second passage, is closed at one end 3. The second passage tapers towards its closed end. The second passage 2 is provided with a central spigot 4 which extends from the closed end 3 of the passage and out through the open end. This spigot portion 4 is frustoconical in shape with a rounded end 5. A rib 6 extends through the passage 1 to assist in retaining the tube in the passage. In use, the outlet tube of the drainage bag is passed through the first passage 1 and bent over on itself so that its free end can be engaged in the closed passage 2 with the spigot portion 4 engaged inside the tube. It is desirable for the two passages to be as close together as possible to enable the tube to be bent sharply back on itself. Conveniently, the passages are arranged so that the tube has to be bent back through about 1800. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tube with a closure device which comprises a body with a first passage which is open at both ends and has the tube passing through it and with a second passage which is open at one end adjacent one of the open ends of the first passage and is closed at the other end, a portion of the tube extending out of the first passage being bent over on itself, and entered through the open end of the second passage, the tube being removably retained in, and its end be closed by the closed end of the second passage.

2. A device claimed in C lakn 1, wherein the second passage contains a spigot which can enter the interior end portion of a tube fitted in the passage.

3. A device as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the first passage has an internal rib to assistinretainingatubein the passage.

4. A tube with a closure device substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.