Twist-lock connector

• US 3,876,234 A
• Filed: 01/11/1973
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack L. Harms
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Harms
• Inventors: Harms, Jack L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Moshe I.
• Application Number:
  US05/322,710
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 285/360,38,175,423,332,358,394,401
• US Class Current: 285/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-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: F16L 37/24 in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet action
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Abstract

A twist-lock connector for joining together the ends of two pieces of tubing comprising one member which includes a female portion having an internal opening with an inner conical tapered sealing surface and another member which includes a hollow male portion having a protrusion with an outer conical matingly tapered sealing surface, and rotary cam means on the members for insuring that the tapered sealing surfaces are forced together into self-locking intimate frictional contact providing a fluidtight connection and for precluding relative longitudinal motion between the two members tending accidentally to disengage the sealing surfaces. The female portion of one member includes at its mouth two spiral cam tracks disposed 180.degree. apart in the manner of a double helix having a non-locking helix angle, and the male portion of the other cooperating member includes at its base two cam follower lugs disposed 180.degree. from each other for cooperation with the cam tracks.

Claims

1. A twist-lock connector for joining together the end of two pieces of flexible tubing comprising two cooperating members made of rigid plastic material, each member including means for connecting with the end of a piece of flexible tubing, one member including a female portion having an internal opening with an inner conical tapered sealing surface, the other member including a male portion having as protrusion with an outer conical matingly tapered sealing surface, the tapered surfaces being dimensioned for locking frictional engagement to form a fluidtight connection, and rotary cam means involving a non-locking helix angle associated with the two members whereby relative rotary motion between the two members insures that the tapered sealing surfaces are forced together into intimate locking frictional contact providing a fluid-tight connection and whereby relative longitudinal motion between the two members tending to disengage the sealing surfaces is precluded, the improvement wherein said rotary cam means comprises a first cylindrical surface at the mouth of the female portion having a pair of diametrically opposed spiral cam tracks therein, and a second cylindrical surface at the base of the male portion having a pair of diametrically opposed cam follower lugs positioned thereon for cooperation with the cam tracks of the first cylindrical surface.

2. A twist-lock connector as in claim 1 wherein each cooperating member includes at least one laterally protruding ear to facilitate manual relative rotary motion between the two members, the ears being positioned so that they are in longitudinal alignment with each other when the two members are in the locked condition.

3. A twist-lock connector as in claim 1 wherein the cam tracks permit at least 180.degree. of relative rotary motion between the two members.