LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR JOINING TWO CONDUITS

• US 20100001516A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordson Corporation
• Original Assignee: Value Plastics Incorporated (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Bruce A., Pisula, James D. JR., Lalouette, Marc, Lombardi, Francis J. III, Narayanan, Ravikumar, Elshof, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/311
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1016 Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0982 with a separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0987 the flexible hook being progressively compressed by axial tensile loads acting on the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

A latch assembly for connection of conduit, the assembly comprising a female portion and a male portion, wherein each of the female portion and the male portion have a shell and a connection device. The connection device of the female portion includes a connection assembly with a molded-in slot, a release button, and a raised rib or alternatively is a connection opening. The connection device of the male portion includes a cantilevered region with a ramped engagement feature or alternatively is a raised cantilevered release button. When connected the cantilevered region or button deflects to accommodate the female portion until the ramped engagement feature or button engages the molded-in slot or connection opening, thus releasing the deflection. Depressing the release button disengages the latch allowing separation of the assembly.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for coupling together first and second fluid conduits, the assembly comprising:

a first connector including a proximal end for coupling with the first fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the housing includes a slot and a cantilevered release button extending distally to a free end of the button from a fixed end of the button; and

a second connector including a proximal end for coupling with the second fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the housing includes a cantilevered region extending proximally to a free end of the cantilevered region from a fixed end of the cantilevered region with an engagement feature near the free end of the cantilevered region,

wherein, when the distal ends of the connectors are moved towards each other in opposed fashion, the cantilevered region passes underneath the slot to allow the engagement feature to engage the slot and connect the first connector to the second connector.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, when the first and second connectors are connected together, pressing inward on the cantilevered release button causes the button to displace the cantilevered region inward.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the cantilevered region displacing inward causes the engagement feature to disengage from the slot.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the engagement feature comprises a ramped portion engaged by the cantilevered release button such that when the button is pressed inward, the contact between the button and the ramped portion results in an axial force that biases the distal ends axially away from each other.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot is immediately adjacent to the button.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot at least partially defines the button.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the proximal ends is a barbed connector.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, when the first and second connectors are connected, the fluid pathways of the first and second connectors are in fluid communication with each other in a male-female mating arrangement.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the fluid pathway of the first connector has a male mating configuration and the fluid pathway of the second connector has a female mating configuration.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housings of the connectors form a male-female mating arrangement with the second connector housing being the male and the first connector housing being the female.

11. A connector assembly for coupling together first and second fluid conduits, the assembly comprising:

a first connector including a proximal end for coupling with the first fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the housing includes a cantilevered button extending proximally to a free end of the button from a fixed end of the button; and

a second connector including a proximal end for coupling with the second fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the housing includes a connection opening,

wherein, when the distal ends of the connectors are moved towards each other in opposed fashion, the cantilevered button passes underneath the connection opening to be received in the opening, engage the opening, and connect the first connector to the second connector.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fixed end of the button at least partially forms a leading distal edge of the first connector.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein a slot defines the button in the housing of the first connector.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein, when the first and second connectors are connected together, pressing inward on the button causes the button to disengage from the connection opening.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one of the proximal ends is a barbed connector.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein, when the first and second connectors are connected, the fluid pathways of the first and second connectors are in fluid communication with each other in a male-female mating arrangement.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the fluid pathway of the first connector has a male mating configuration and the fluid pathway of the second connector has a female mating configuration.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the housings of the connectors form a male-female mating arrangement with the first connector housing being the male and the second connector housing being the female.

19. A latch assembly for the connection of conduits, the latch assembly comprising:

a female portion including a shell, a slot, and a release button; and

a male portion including a shell and a cantilevered region with an engagement feature;

wherein

the cantilevered region is adapted to deflect upon engagement with the female portion;

the engagement feature is adapted to engage the slot; and

the release button is adapted to disengage the engagement feature from the slot when depressed, thereby allowing separation of the female and male portions.

20. The latch assembly of claim 19, wherein the slot at least partially defines the release button out of the shell of the female portion.

21. The latch assembly of claim 19, wherein the engagement feature engaging the slot at least partially releases the deflection of the cantilevered region.

22. The latch assembly of claim 19, wherein disengaging the engagement feature from the slot by depressing the release button creates an axial force that urges the female and male portions axially away from each other.

23. The latch assembly of claim 19, wherein the cantilevered region deflects inward upon engagement with the female portion.

25. The latch assembly of claim 19, wherein the release button and cantilevered region have free ends that face in the opposite direction when the male and female portions are engaged with each other in a male-female arrangement.

26. A latch assembly for connection of conduits, the latch assembly comprising:

a female portion including a shell and a connection opening; and

a male portion including a shell and a cantilevered button;

wherein

the cantilevered button is adapted to deflect upon engagement with the female portion and further engage the connection opening; and

the cantilevered release button is adapted to disengage the connection opening when depressed, thereby allowing separation of the female and male portions.

27. The latch assembly of claim 26, wherein the cantilevered button is at least partially defined in the shell of the male portion via a slot in the shell of the male portion.

28. The latch assembly of claim 26, wherein the cantilevered button engaging the opening at least partially releases the deflection of the cantilevered button.

29. The latch assembly of claim 26, wherein the cantilevered button deflects inward upon engagement with the opening.

30. The latch assembly of claim 26, wherein the cantilevered button has a free end that faces away from an end of the male portion that extends most greatly into the female portion when the male and female ends are engaged.

31. The latch assembly of claim 26, wherein the cantilevered button has a free end and a fixed end and the fixed end is near an end of the male portion that extends most greatly into the female portion when the male and female ends are engaged.

32. A connector assembly for coupling together first and second fluid conduits, the assembly comprising:

a first connector including a proximal end for coupling with the first fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the housing includes a slot and a cantilevered release button extending distally to a free end of the button from a fixed end of the button; and

a second connector including a proximal end for coupling with the second fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the housing includes a cantilevered region extending distally to a free end of the cantilevered region from a fixed end of the cantilevered region with an engagement feature near the free end of the cantilevered region,

wherein, when the distal ends of the connectors are moved towards each other in opposed fashion, the cantilevered region passes underneath the slot to allow the engagement feature to engage the slot and connect the first connector to the second connector.

33. The assembly of claim 32, wherein, when the first and second connectors are connected together, pressing inward on the cantilevered release button causes the button to displace the cantilevered region inward.

34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the cantilevered region displacing inward causes the engagement feature to disengage from the slot.

35. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the engagement feature comprises a ramped portion engaged by the cantilevered release button such that when the button is pressed inward, the contact between the button and the ramped engagement feature results in an axial force that biases the distal ends axially away from each other.

36. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the slot is immediately adjacent to the button.

37. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the slot at least partially defines the button.

38. The assembly of claim 32, wherein at least one of the proximal ends is a barbed connector.

39. The assembly of claim 32, wherein, when the first and second connectors are connected, the fluid pathways of the first and second connectors are in fluid communication with each other in a male-female mating arrangement.

40. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the fluid pathway of the first connector has a male mating configuration and the fluid pathway of the second connector has a female mating configuration.

41. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the housings of the connectors form a male-female mating arrangement with the second connector housing being the male and the first connector housing being the female.