Polarized manifold connection device

• US 5,478,119 A
• Filed: 03/04/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Dye, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shackelford, Heather Chun
• Application Number:
  US08/205,445
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 285/26, 285/137.1, 285/921, 285/914, 604/283, 601/148, 601/149, 601/150, 601/151, 601/152
• US Class Current: 285/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/00 Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/914 Irreversible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

A polarized manifold connection device for connecting multiple conduits from a compression sleeve having inflatable chambers to multiple tubing from a source of pressurized fluid is disclosed. The connection device comprises a male connector half and a female connector half each having a similar visually perceptible asymmetrical configuration of their respective housings defined by rigid elements which resist deformation of the housings. Thus, the two halves can be connected in only a single orientation. In this manner, the conduits from the source of fluid are uniquely connected to the conduits from the inflatable chambers. The connection device incorporates a releasable locking mechanism which allows the connector halves to be connected by pushing them together and disconnected by pulling them apart without excessive force. A gasket is provided between the connector halves having a configuration which provides an air-tight seal between the connector halves, but allows connection and disconnection of the halves without excessive force. The connection device is also able to connect to other types of polarized connection devices.

Claims

1. A polarized manifold connector for interconnection of a plurality of fluid conduits from a compression sleeve to a plurality of fluid conduits from a source of compressed air, comprising:

a male connector half and a female connector half;

said male connector half comprising;

a male housing having a plurality of fluid ports disposed therein for interconnection with said female connector half, said male housing having a top wall and a bottom wall generally opposed to said top wall and a pair of sidewalls interconnecting said top wall and said bottom wall, each of said sidewalls and said top wall being joined along a rounded outer edge, each of said sidewalls and said bottom wall being joined along a generally sharper outer edge, said sidewalls being angularly disposed to provide a tapered configuration between said top wall and said bottom wall, whereby said male housing has an asymmetrical outer cross-sectional configuration,

a first fence having a plurality of fluid ports disposed therein for connection to a first set of the plurality of fluid conduits, and

a bulkhead disposed between said male housing and said first fence, a plurality of fluid openings therethrough to interconnect said fluid ports in said male housing and said fluid ports in said first fence;

said female connector half comprising;

a female housing having a plurality of fluid ports disposed therein and having a configuration adapted to mate with said male housing, said female housing having a top wall and a bottom wall generally opposed to said top wall and a pair of sidewalls interconnecting said top wall and said bottom wall, each of said sidewalls and said top wall being joined along a rounded inner edge, each of said sidewalls and said bottom wall being joined along a generally sharper inner edge, said sidewalls being angularly disposed to provide a tapered configuration between said top wall and said bottom wall, whereby said asymmetrical configuration permits a single orientation when said female connector half is mated with said male connector half,

a second fence having a plurality of fluid ports disposed therein for connection to a second set of the plurality of fluid conduits, and

a bulkhead disposed between said second fence and said female housing, a plurality of fluid openings therethrough to interconnect said fluid ports in said female housing and said fluid ports in said second fence; and

a plurality of connections for sealingly interconnecting said fluid ports in said male housing and said fluid ports in said female housing.

2. The polarized manifold connector of claim 1 further comprising means for releasably locking said male connector half and said female connector half together.

3. The polarized manifold connector of claim 2 wherein said releasably locking means comprises an opening disposed in each of said sidewalls of said first female housing and a resilient finger formed in each of said sidewalls of said first male housing, a tab disposed at the end of each of said resilient fingers, said tabs configured to mate within respective ones of said openings in said first female housing.

4. The polarized manifold connector of claim 3 wherein each of said tabs has angled walls to facilitate insertion and removal from said first female housing.

5. The polarized manifold connector of claim 4, further comprising a recess having an angled wall formed in each of said sidewalls of said first female housing adjacent each of said openings to facilitate insertion of said tab into said first female housing.

6. The polarized manifold connector of claim 1 further comprising an opening disposed in each of said sidewalls of said first female housing and a resilient finger formed in each of said sidewalls of said first male housing, a tab disposed at the end of each of said resilient fingers, said tabs configured to mate within respective ones of said openings in said first female housing.

7. The polarized manifold connector of claim 6 wherein each of said tabs has angled walls to facilitate insertion and removal from said first female housing.

8. The polarized manifold connector of claim 7, further comprising a recess having an angled wall formed in each of said sidewalls of said first female housing adjacent each of said openings to facilitate insertion of said tab into said first female housing.

9. The polarized manifold connector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of recessed keyways formed in the outside of said first male housing, whereby said male connector half is matable with a female connector half having correspondingly located interiorly disposed upraised keys.

10. A male connector of a polarized manifold connection device for interconnection of a plurality of fluid conduits from a compression sleeve to a plurality of fluid conduits from a source of compressed air, said male connector comprising:

a male housing having a plurality of fluid ports disposed therein for interconnection with a corresponding female connector half of the polarized manifold connection device, said male housing having a top wall and a bottom wall generally opposed to said top wall and a pair of sidewalls interconnecting said top wall and said bottom wall, each of said sidewalls and said top wall being joined along a rounded outer edge, each of said sidewalls and said bottom wall being joined along a generally sharper outer edge, said sidewalls being angularly disposed to provide a tapered configuration between said top wall and said bottom wall, whereby said male housing has an asymmetrical outer cross-sectional configuration;

a fence having a plurality of fluid ports disposed therein for connection to a set of the plurality of fluid conduits; and

a bulkhead disposed between said male housing and said fence, a plurality of fluid openings therethrough to interconnect said fluid ports in said male housing and said fluid ports in said fence.

11. The polarized manifold connector of claim 10 further comprising a resilient finger formed in each of said sidewalls of said male housing, and a tab disposed at the end of each of said resilient fingers to cooperate with openings on the corresponding female connector half.

12. The polarized manifold connector of claim 11 wherein each of said tabs has angled walls to facilitate insertion and removal from the female connector half.

13. The polarized manifold connector of claim 11 wherein each of said resilient fingers are fully surrounded by each of said respective sidewalls of said male housing.

14. The polarized manifold connector of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of recessed keyways formed in the outside of said male housing, whereby said male connector half is matable with correspondingly located interiorly disposed upraised keys on a female connector half.

15. A polarized manifold connector for interconnection to a plurality of fluid conduits for a compression device, comprising:

a male connector half having a male housing;

a female connector half having a female housing sized to mate with said male housing;

a plurality of first fluid ports on said male connector half for connection to a first set of the plurality of fluid conduits and a plurality of second fluid ports disposed within said male housing and in fluid communication with respective ones of said first fluid ports;

a plurality of third fluid ports on said female connector half for connection to a second set of the plurality of fluid conduits and a plurality of fourth fluid ports disposed within said female housing and in fluid communication with respective ones of said third fluid ports; and

a sealing gasket to sealingly interconnect respective ones of said plurality of second fluid ports within said male housing with respective ones of said fourth fluid ports within said female housing when said connector halves are in a mating configuration, said gasket comprising a plurality of fluid conduits, each conduit comprising a first connection portion for overlying one of said plurality of second and fourth fluid ports, and a second connection portion for overlying another of said plurality of second and fourth fluid ports in fluid alignment with said one of said second and fourth fluid ports, said first connection portion having a thinner wall thickness than said second connection portion.

16. The polarized manifold connector of claim 15, further comprising a web member interconnecting each of said plurality of fluid conduits.

17. The polarized manifold connector of claim 15 further comprising a O-ring interiorly disposed within said first connection portion of each of said fluid conduits to seal said one of said plurality of second and fourth fluid ports when said connector members are in a mating configuration.

18. The polarized manifold connector of claim 15 wherein said second portion of each of said plurality of fluid conduits is fixedly attached to a respective one of said another of said second and fourth fluid ports.