Clasp for surrounding and squeezing a flexible tube

Abstract

A clasp for surrounding and sliding along a flexible tube for squeezing the contents therefrom. The clasp includes first and second articulating arms that are hingedly connected together at a flexible joint so as to be rotatable between an open and unlocked position at which to receive the flexible tube therebetween and a closed and locked position at which to lie in substantially parallel face-to-face alignment and thereby apply a compressive force against the tube. One of the articulating arms includes a locking tab, and the other arm includes a catch that is carried by a flexible neck having a spring memory. The catch has a locking slot formed therein in which to removably receive and releasably retain the locking tab to thereby hold the first and second arms in the closed and locked position. The catch also includes a force-receiving push pad to which a manual pushing force is applied to cause the flexible neck to bend and the locking slot of the catch to rotate out of receipt of the locking tab.

1 . A clasp for surrounding and sliding along a flexible tube to squeeze the contents therefrom, said clasp comprising first and second arms hingedly connected to one another at first ends thereof and rotatable between an open position at which the opposite ends of said arms are spaced apart from one another to receive the flexible tube therebetween and a closed position at which said opposite ends are moved together to surround the tube and apply a compressive force thereto, the compressive force having a magnitude by which to permit said clasp to slide along the flexible tube and thereby squeeze the contents therefrom, said first arm having a locking tab and said second arm having a catch by which to receive and releasably retain said catch when said first and second arms are rotated to the closed position, whereby said first and second arms are held together in surrounding engagement with the flexible tube. 
     
     
         2 . The clasp recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first ends of said first and second arms are hingedly connected to one another at a flexible joint extending continuously between said arms. 
     
     
         3 . The clasp recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second arms has a raised force-imparting rib running between the first and opposite ends thereof to engage the flexible tube and apply said compressive force thereto when said first and second arms are rotated together to said closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The clasp recited in  claim 1 , wherein the catch of said second arm includes a locking slot within which to removably receive and releasably retain the locking tab of said first arm when said first and second arms are rotated together to the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The clasp recited in  claim 4 , wherein said catch is carried at and spaced from said second arm by means of a flexible neck having a spring memory, said flexible neck positioning said catch relative to said locking tab so that said locking tab is snapped into receipt by and releasably retained within the locking slot of said catch when said first and second arms are rotated together to said closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The clasp recited in  claim 5 , wherein said flexible neck is rotatable relative to said second arm and adapted to bend for causing a corresponding rotation of said catch relative to said locking tab when said first and second arms are rotated between said open and closed positions. 
     
     
         7 . The clasp recited in  claim 6 , wherein the catch of said second arm includes a force-receiving push pad at which to receive a manually-applied pushing force for causing said flexible neck to bend and said catch to rotate with said neck relative to said second arm. 
     
     
         8 . The clasp recited in  claim 7 , wherein said locking slot and said force-receiving push pad are located at opposite ends of the catch of said second arm so as to rotate together in response to the pushing force manually applied to said push pad. 
     
     
         9 . The clasp recited in  claim 1 , wherein said catch is located between said first and second arms when said arms are in the open position, and said catch is located outside said first and second arms when said arms are rotated together to the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The clasp recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second arms are located in substantially parallel, face-to-face alignment when said arms are rotated together to said second position.