Magnetically-retained shielding cap for peristaltic pump

Abstract

A shielding cap with a cover for use with a peristaltic pump includes a magnet to generate an attractive force between the shielding cap and a pump component to retain the shielding cap in place, and may further include a lip which allows the shielding cap to rest flush against a pump component, and a sidewall which allows the shielding cap to seal an opening in a pump component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shielding cap comprising:
 a cover,   a lip supported on the cover for engaging a peristaltic pump,   a sidewall supported on the cover for extending into the peristaltic pump, and   a magnet supported on the cover for magnetic retention of the shielding cap to the peristaltic pump.   
     
     
         2 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes an outer edge and wherein the lip is a peripheral lip adjacent to the outer edge of the cover. 
     
     
         3 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is adjacent to the lip. 
     
     
         4 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is encircled by the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the lip and the sidewall are integral with the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall extends continuously about the cover adjacent to the lip. 
     
     
         7 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall extends discontinuously about the cover adjacent to the lip. 
     
     
         8 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a tapered cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is overmolded to the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The shielding cap of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is retained to the cover by one of an adhesive, clips, and a combination of adhesive and clips. 
     
     
         11 . A peristaltic pumping assembly comprising:
 a peristaltic pump having a component, the component including an opening, and   a shielding cap engaging the component at the opening, the cap including a cover and a magnet supported on the cover.   
     
     
         12 . The peristaltic pumping assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the peristaltic pump further includes a shaft, and wherein the cap is retained on the component through magnetic attraction to the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The peristaltic pumping assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the component includes an adjustment knob, and wherein the shielding cap includes a lip supported on the cover, the lip engaging the component. 
     
     
         14 . The peristaltic pumping assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the component includes an adjustment knob, and wherein the shielding cap further includes a sidewall supported on the cover, the sidewall extending into the peristaltic pump at the adjustment knob. 
     
     
         15 . The peristaltic pumping assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft includes an engagement feature for manual operation of the peristaltic pump and wherein the shielding cap is in magnetically retained to the shaft at the engagement feature for manual operation of the peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         16 . The peristaltic pumping assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the shielding cap is spaced apart from the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A peristaltic pump comprising:
 a pump housing including a curved surface,   a drive mechanism supported on the pump housing,   a rotatable assembly in mechanical engagement with the drive mechanism, the rotatable assembly including a shaft drivable by the drive mechanism, a plurality of rollers, and an adjustment knob capable of changing a separation distance between the plurality of rollers and the shaft, and   a shielding cap disposed in contact with the adjustment knob, the shielding cap including a cover, and a magnet supported on the cover.   
     
     
         18 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 17 , wherein the shielding cap further includes one of a lip supported on the cover, a sidewall supported on the cover extending into the adjustment knob; and combination of a lip supported on the cover and a sidewall supported on the cover extending into the adjustment knob. 
     
     
         19 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft includes an engagement feature for manual rotation of the rotatable assembly, and wherein the shielding cap is magnetically retained to the shaft at the engagement feature for manual rotation of the rotatable assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 17 , wherein the shielding cap is spaced apart from the shaft.