Releasable tubing connector

• US 7,153,296 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin S. Mitchell
• Original Assignee: Martin S. Mitchell
• Inventors: Mitchell, Martin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Catherine S.
• Application Number:
  US10/702,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/249, 604/256, 604533-535, 604538-539, 604/905, 251/149.3, 251/149.6, 251/149.7, 251/149.9
• US Class Current: 604/533
• 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: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A releasable tubing connector including a male part that can be selectively fastened to a female part. The male and female parts are provided with internal valve assemblies that cooperate with one another to permit fluid to flow through the tubing connector. When the male and female parts are fastened together, fluid can flow through the releasable tubing connector. On the other hand, when the male and female parts are unfastened, fluid can flow through neither.

Claims

1. A releasable tubing connector, comprising:

a male part including a first tubular body having a plug with a peripheral groove at one end thereof and a first tubing insert at the other end thereof, said first tubular body also having a first fluid flow passageway extending through said plug and said first tubing insert; and

,

a female part including;

a second tubular body having a socket portion at one end thereof and a second tubing insert at the other end thereof, said second tubular body also having a second fluid flow passageway extending through said socket portion and said second tubing insert, said second fluid flow passageway in said socket portion being adapted to receive said plug;

a locking key being slidably secured to said socket portion so as to cross said second passageway, said locking key having an opening of sufficient size therein to permit the passage of said plug into said second passageway so that said locking key can enter said peripheral groove, said locking key also having a tapered slot adjacent said opening, and said slot having a length and a width that gradually and uniformly decreases along said length;

a spring-biased pin secured to said second tubular body, said pin having a tapered shaft positioned within said tapered slot, a first end of said tapered shaft having a width sufficient to wedge against said locking key and retain said locking key outside said peripheral groove, a second end of said tapered shaft having a width that is relatively narrower than that of said first end thereby permitting said locking key to enter said peripheral groove when said second end is positioned in said tapered slot, and said tapered shaft gradually and uniformly decreasing in diameter from said first end to said second end; and

,

a spring secured to said second tubular body for urging said locking key into said peripheral groove.

2. The releasable tubing connector according to claim 1 wherein said male and female parts include internal valve assemblies that cooperate with one another to selectively permit fluid to flow through said tubing connector.

3. The releasable tubing connector according to claim 2 wherein said first fluid flow passageway includes opposed valve and spring seats and said internal valve assembly of said male part comprises:

a hollow stem being positioned within said first fluid flow passageway and extending through said plug so as to normally project outwardly therefrom, said stem having a tube with an enlarged cap affixed to one end thereof, said tube having a peripheral groove with at least one opening therein offering fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said tube; and

,

a compressed spring is positioned within said first fluid flow passageway, one end of said compressed spring being fitted within said spring seat and the other end of compressed spring being secured to said enlarged cap so as to urge said enlarged cap toward said valve seat and urge said tube from said plug.

4. The releasable tubing connector according to claim 2 wherein said internal valve assembly of said female part comprises:

a sealing portion being positioned within said second fluid flow passageway and having an inwardly extending, annular flange, one side of said flange defining a valve seat and the other side of said flange defining a spring seat;

a piston slidably extending through said sealing portion, said piston having a tube with an enlarged cap affixed to one end thereof and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the other end thereof, said fins slidably engaging said socket portion thereby centering said piston in said second fluid flow passageway, said tube having an opening between said enlarged cap and said fins; and

,

a compressed spring being positioned within said second fluid flow passageway and about said tube, one end of said compressed spring pressing against said spring seat and the other end of said the compressed spring pressing against said fins.

5. A releasable tubing connector, comprising:

a male part and a female part being adapted for selectively attaching two lengths of tubing to one another, said male part being provided with a first internal valve assembly located within a first fluid flow passageway and said female part being provided with a second internal valve assembly located within a second fluid flow passageway, said first and second internal valve assemblies being adapted to engage one another to permit fluid to flow through said tubing connector; and

wherein a locking key with a uniformly tapered slot along its length on either of the male part and female part can enter a peripheral groove on the other part and where a tapered spring biased pin is positioned in the uniformly tapered slot;

said first internal valve assembly including;

opposed, first, valve and spring seats in said first fluid flow passageway;

a hollow stem normally projecting outwardly from said male part, said stem having a first tube with a first enlarged cap affixed to one end thereof, said first tube having a first peripheral groove with a first opening therein offering fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said first tube; and

,

a first compressed spring having one of its ends engaging said first spring seat and the other of its ends engaging said first enlarged cap so as to urge said first enlarged cap toward said first valve seat and urge said first tube from said male part;

said second internal valve assembly including;

an annular flange projecting into said second fluid flow passageway, one side of said flange defining a second valve seat and the other side of said flange defining a second spring seat;

a piston slidably extending through said annular flange, said piston having a second tube with a second enlarged cap affixed to one end thereof and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the other end thereof, said second tube having a second opening between said second enlarged cap and said fins; and

,

a second compressed spring being positioned about said second tube, one end of said second compressed spring engaging said spring seat and the other end of said second compressed spring engaging said fins;

whereby attaching said male part to said female part causes said hollow stem and said piston to engage one another and to displace one another such that said first enlarged cap disengages said first valve seat in said second enlarged cap disengages said second valve seat to permit fluid to flow through said first fluid flow passageway and said second fluid flow passageway.

6. A releasable tubing connector, comprising:

a male part including;

a first tubular body having a plug with a peripheral groove at one end thereof and a first tubing insert at the other end thereof, said first tubular body also having a first fluid flow passageway extending through said plug and said first tubing insert, said first fluid flow passageway being configured to contain a first valve seat and a first spring seat located in opposition to said first valve seat;

a hollow stem projecting from said plug, said stem having a first tube with a first enlarged cap affixed to one end thereof, said first tube having a first peripheral groove with a first opening therein offering fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said first tube; and

,

a first compressed spring having one of its ends engaging said first spring seat and the other of its ends engaging said first enlarged cap so as to urge said first enlarged cap toward said first valve seat and to urge said first tube from said plug; and

,

a female part including;

a second tubular body having a socket portion at one end thereof and a second tubing insert at the other end thereof, said second tubular body also having a second fluid flow passageway extending through said socket portion and said second tubing insert, said second fluid flow passageway in said socket portion being adapted to receive said plug, said second fluid flow passageway also having an annular flange, one side of said annular flange defining a second valve seat and the other side of said flange defining a second spring seat;

a locking key being slidably secured to said socket portion so as to cross said second passageway, said locking key having an opening of sufficient size therein to permit the passage of said plug into said second passageway so that said locking key can enter said peripheral groove, said locking key also having a uniformly tapered along it'"'"'s length slot adjacent said opening;

a spring-biased pin secured to said second tubular body, said pin having a tapered shaft positioned within said tapered slot, a first end of said tapered shaft having a width sufficient to wedge against said locking key and retain said locking key outside said peripheral groove, a second end of said tapered shaft having a width that is relatively narrower than that of said first end thereby permitting said locking key to enter said peripheral groove when said second end is positioned in said tapered slot;

a piston slidably extending through said annular flange, said piston having a second tube with a second enlarged cap affixed to one end thereof and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the other end thereof, said second tube having a second opening between said second enlarged cap and said fins; and

,

a second compressed spring being positioned about said second tube, one end of said second compressed spring engaging said spring seat and the other end of said second compressed spring engaging said fins;

whereby attaching said male part to said female part causes said hollow stem and said piston to engage one another and to displace one another such that said first enlarged cap disengages said first valve seat in said second enlarged cap disengages said second valve seat to permit fluid to flow through said first fluid flow passageway and said second fluid flow passageway.