Hermaphroditic coupling for anatomical thermal system
First Claim
1. An element for a hermaphroditic type connector comprising a generally rectangular body defined by the top and bottom walls, a pair of end walls,a pair of longitudinally-extending lumens extending through said body from one end wall to the other, one each adjacent a sidewall,one of said end walls being equipped with coupling means aligned with said lumens for coupling the same to tubing means,the other of said end walls being equipped with a step between said lumens and defining first and second portions in said other end wall,said first portion of said other end wall being closer to said one end wall than said second portion,a hollow integral projection on said first portion and extending longitudinally away from said one end wall and aligned with a first of said lumens and providing a continuation of the same, anda longitudinally extending recess in said second portion aligned with the second of said lumens and providing a continuation of the same, said recess having an interior conforming to the exterior of said projection whereby an identical second element is adapted to be connected to said body,each lumen being equipped with a check valve openable by the connection of said second element to said body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hermaphroditic coupling especially useful in an anatomical thermal system between the pad means and control unit thereof, the hermaphroditic coupling including a pair of parallel lumens with the coupling being divided into two units having identical hermaphroditic, engageable ends and with releasable latch means connecting the two elements of the hermaphroditic coupling.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An element for a hermaphroditic type connector comprising a generally rectangular body defined by the top and bottom walls, a pair of end walls,
a pair of longitudinally-extending lumens extending through said body from one end wall to the other, one each adjacent a sidewall, one of said end walls being equipped with coupling means aligned with said lumens for coupling the same to tubing means, the other of said end walls being equipped with a step between said lumens and defining first and second portions in said other end wall, said first portion of said other end wall being closer to said one end wall than said second portion, a hollow integral projection on said first portion and extending longitudinally away from said one end wall and aligned with a first of said lumens and providing a continuation of the same, and a longitudinally extending recess in said second portion aligned with the second of said lumens and providing a continuation of the same, said recess having an interior conforming to the exterior of said projection whereby an identical second element is adapted to be connected to said body, each lumen being equipped with a check valve openable by the connection of said second element to said body.
- 9. An anatomical thermal system comprising pad means adapted to be positioned on the body of a patient and equipped with internal conduit for passage of thermal fluid, a temperature control mechanism spaced from said pad means and adapted to deliver and receive said thermal fluid, a pair of tubing means interconnecting said mechanism and pad means for separately delivering and returning said thermal fluid, and a coupling interposed in said tubing means, said coupling including a pair of elements having identical hermaphroditic ends in connected relation to each other, one of said elements being connected by said tubing means to said pad means and the other of said elements being connected to and communicating with said temperature control mechanism, each of said elements including a block-like body having a first and second longitudinally extending lumens therethrough, each body having one of said hermaphroditic ends, said hermaphroditic end of each body including a stepped end wall with a first wall portion being equipped with a longitudinally extending tubular projection aligned with said first lumen and a second wall recess aligned with said second lumen and sized to receive the tubular projection of the other body.
Specification