RELEASABLE CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FOR JOINING TUBING SECTIONS

• US 20090256355A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordson Corporation
• Original Assignee: Value Plastics Incorporated (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Bruce Alan, Wicks, Jeffrey Clark
• Granted Patent: US 7,878,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/098 by means of flexible hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/38 with fluid cut-off means in only one of the two pipe-end fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/56 for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

A connection assembly for creating a releasable fluid seal connection between two or more sections of tubing includes a male fitting and a female fitting. Connection assemblies generally include the male fitting having a pair of clasps that releasably interact with corresponding catch structures on the female fitting. Interactions between the female and male fittings can be rotatable with respect to the male and/or female fittings. Buckle structures are also disclosed having connection capabilities for a plurality of sections of tubing.

Claims

1. A connection assembly, comprising:

a female portion comprising a female shaft defining a lumen and a plurality of catches disposed about the female shaft;

a male portion comprising a male shaft with an outside diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the lumen, the male shaft comprising an annular recess; and

a clasp assembly comprising a plurality of annularly disposed detents and a plurality of tangs each tang having at least one outer taper that is oriented coaxial to the plurality of detents and is oriented in an opposite direction to the plurality of detents;

wherein the female portion and the male portion are releasably coupled to each other such that the detents seat into the annular recess while the plurality of tangs seat into the plurality of catches.

2. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the female portion, the male portion and the clasp assembly are three separate pieces.

3. The connection assembly of claim 1, the female shaft further comprises a grip flange having a first portion of its diameter the same as an outside diameter of the lumen and a second portion of its diameter larger than the outside diameter of the lumen.

4. The connection assembly of claim 3, wherein the catches are oriented substantially orthogonal to the grip flange.

5. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the number of detents in the plurality of detents exceeds the number of tangs in the plurality of tangs.

6. The connection assembly of claim 1, connection assembly forms a fluid tight seal.

7. The connection assembly of claim 6, wherein male shaft is tapered and the female shaft is tapered, and wherein the tapers of the male and female shafts are in opposite directions.

8. The connection assembly of claim 7, wherein the fluid tight seal is formed without an O-ring.

9. The connection assembly of claim 3, the male shaft further comprising an annular tab stop adjacent to the annular recess thereby stopping longitudinal movement of the female portion with respect to the male portion.

10. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein in the event that the male portion and the female portion are released from each other, the clasp assembly remains coupled to the male portion.

11. A method of coupling a first piece of tubing to a second piece of tubing, comprising the acts of:

providing a female portion comprising a female shaft defining a lumen and a plurality of catches disposed about the female shaft;

providing a male portion comprising a male shaft with an outside diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the lumen, the male shaft comprising an annular recess;

providing a clasp assembly comprising a plurality of annularly disposed detents and a plurality of tangs each tang having at least one outer taper that is oriented coaxial to the plurality of detents and is oriented in an opposite direction to the plurality of detents; and

releasably coupling the female portion to the male portion such that the detents seat into the annular recess while the plurality of tangs seat into the plurality of catches.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of releasably coupling forms a fluid tight connection between the first and second pieces of tubing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of preventing longitudinal movement of the female portion with respect to the male portion with an annular tab stop adjacent to the annular recess.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of disconnecting the male and female portion such that the clasp assembly remains coupled to the male portion.

15. A connection assembly comprising:

a female portion comprising a female shaft defining a lumen, the female shaft comprising an annular recess;

a male portion comprising a male shaft with a plurality of tangs integrated therein and wherein the male shaft has an outside diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the lumen; and

a catch assembly comprising a plurality of annularly disposed detents and a plurality of catches, each catch being oriented coaxial to the plurality of detents and being oriented in an opposite direction to the plurality of detents;

wherein the female portion and the male portion are releasably coupled to each other such that the detents seat into the annular recess while the plurality of catches receive the plurality of tangs.

16. The connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the female portion, the male portion and the clasp assembly are three separate pieces.

17. The connection assembly of claim 15, wherein in the event that the male portion and the female portion are released from each other, the catch assembly remains coupled to the male portion.

18. The connection assembly of claim 15, connection assembly forms a fluid tight seal.

19. The connection assembly of claim 18, wherein male shaft is tapered and the female shaft is tapered, and wherein the tapers of the male and female shafts are in opposite directions.

20. The connection assembly of claim 19, wherein the fluid tight seal is formed without an O-ring.