Fluid conduit coupling assembly having male and female couplers with integral valves

• US 7,806,139 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nordson Corporation
• Original Assignee: Value Plastics Incorporated (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Niven, Gregg D., Packham, Trent Turner, Hofheins, Leonard L., Townsend, Raymond L., Lombardi, Francis J., Elshof, Robert J., Cairns, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US11/336,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.03, 137/614.04, 137/614.05, 137/614.02, 137/614, 251/231, 251/232, 251/236, 251/149.1, 251/149.6, 251/149.2, 251/149.5
• US Class Current: 137/614.05
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/226 Spindles or actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/229 Stopcocks
• 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 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• 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: F16L 37/32 at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

The present invention is a fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit. The fluid conduit coupling assembly comprises a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler is for connecting to the first fluid conduit and comprises a first housing and a first valve. The first valve comprises a first lever arm. The second coupler is for connecting to the second fluid conduit and comprises a second housing and a second valve. The second valve comprises a second lever arm. When a force is applied to couple together the couplers, at least a portion of said force is communicated to each lever arm, thereby causing each valve to pivot from a closed position to an open position. The first valve and first lever arm are contained within the first housing, and the second valve and second lever arm are contained within the second housing.

Claims

1. A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising

a first coupler comprising

a first housing defining a pair of engagement lips extending from opposite positions on a first mating end;

a first attachment end for attaching to the first fluid conduit;

a first barrel at the first mating end forming a portion of a first fluid flow path extending between the first mating end and the first attachment end;

a first valve in the first fluid flow path; and

a second coupler comprising

a second housing defining a ridge on an interior wall of the second housing at a second mating end for mating with the first mating end;

a second attachment end for attaching to the second fluid conduit;

a second barrel at the second mating end forming a portion of a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end;

a second valve in the second fluid flow path; and

a second valve actuation member in contact with the second valve; and

at least one latch in either the first or second coupler extending from either the first or second mating end adjacent the first or second barrel, respectively;

wherein either the first or second barrel of the first or second coupler opposing the at least one latch defines a circumferential groove in an outer wall at the first or second mating end, respectively;

wherein the first and second valve actuation members open the first and second valves, respectively, when the first and second mating ends are mated together such that the first and second fluid flow paths are joined; and

wherein the pair of engagement lips operably connect with the ridge on the second housing at the second mating end and the at least one latch mates with the groove when the first and second mating ends are mated together.

2. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first valve and second valve is pivotal between an open position and a closed position.

3. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch further comprises a plurality of latches extending from either the first or second mating end and the plurality of latches is arranged circumferentially around the first or second mating end.

4. A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising

a first coupler including a first mating end, a first attachment end for attaching to the first fluid conduit, a first fluid flow path extending between the first mating end and the first attachment end, a first engagement lip extending from an exterior portion of the first mating end, and a first valve in the first fluid flow path;

and

a second coupler including a second mating end for mating with the first mating end, a second attachment end for attaching to the second fluid conduit, a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end, a ridge extending from an interior portion of the second mating end configured to receive the first engagement lip thereby securedly attaching the first and second couplers when the first and second mating ends are mated together, and a first member adapted to open the first valve when the first and second mating ends are mated together such that the first and second fluid flow paths are joined, and

wherein the first valve includes a lever arm and the first member encounters the lever arm when the first and second mating ends are mated together, thereby causing the valve to pivot to the open position.

5. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 4, wherein the first valve is biased to the closed position.

6. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 5, wherein the first valve is biased via a helical spring.

7. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 4, wherein the first valve is a stopcock, plug valve or ball valve.

8. A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising a first coupler comprising

a first housing defining a first engagement lip and a second engagement lip extending from opposite positions on a first mating end, the first housing including a first release mechanism and a second release mechanism on opposite positions on the first housing, wherein the first engagement lip is operatively connected to the first release mechanism and the second engagement lip is operatively connected to the second release mechanism;

a first attachment end for attaching to the first fluid conduit;

a first barrel at the first mating end forming a first fluid flow path extending between the first mating end and the first attachment end;

a first valve in the first fluid flow path and including a lever arm; and

a first valve actuator coupled to the lever arm of the first valve; and

a second coupler comprising

a second housing defining a ridge on an interior wall of the second housing at a second mating end for mating with the first mating end;

a second attachment end for attaching to the second fluid conduit; and

a second barrel at the second mating end forming a portion of a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end;

a second valve in the second fluid flow path; and

a second valve actuator operably coupled to the second valve; and

at least one latch in either the first or second coupler extending from either the first or second mating end adjacent the first or second barrel, respectively;

wherein either the first or second barrel of the first or second coupler opposing the at least one latch defines a circumferential groove in an outer wall at the first or second mating end, respectively;

wherein when the first and second mating ends are mated together such that the first and second fluid flow paths are joined, the first and second engagement lips operably connect with the ridge on the second housing at the second mating end, the at least one latch mates with the circumferential groove, and the first valve actuator abuts against the second valve actuator of the second coupler and is displaced, thereby causing the first valve to open, and

the second valve actuator abuts against the first valve actuator of the first coupler and is displaced, thereby causing the second valve to open.

9. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 8, wherein the first valve is pivotal between an open position and a closed position.

10. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein the first valve is a stopcock, plug valve or ball valve.

11. The fluid conduit coupling assembly of claim 8, wherein the first valve actuator telescopically displaces about the first fluid flow path upon abutting against the second valve actuator of the second coupler.

12. A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising

a first coupler for connecting to the first fluid conduit and comprising:

a first housing including a cantilever button;

a tab operably connected to and extending from the cantilever button at a first mating end; and

a first valve, wherein the first valve comprises a first lever arm; and

a second coupler for connecting to the second fluid conduit and comprising;

a second housing including a ridge on an inner wall at a second mating end of the second coupler; and

a second valve, wherein the second valve comprises a second lever arm,

wherein when a force is applied to couple together the couplers, at least a portion of said force is communicated to each lever arm, thereby causing each valve to pivot from a closed position to an open position,

wherein the first coupler further comprises a first structural member, the second coupler further comprises a second structural member, and when the couplers are coupled together, the first structural member extends into the second coupler to contact the second lever arm and the second structural member extends into the first coupler to contact the first lever arm, and

wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are coupled together the tab securedly attaches to the ridge and when the cantilever button is depressed, the tab releases from the ridge.

13. A method of coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the method comprising

providing a first coupler connected to the first fluid conduit and a second coupler connected to the second fluid conduit, wherein

the first coupler includes a first housing, a first latch, an engagement tab, and a first valve having a lever arm;

and

the second coupler includes a second housing, a second latch, and a second valve having a lever arm;

aligning a mating end of the first coupler with a mating end of the second coupler;

operably connecting the first latch with mating end of the second coupler;

operable connecting the second latch with the mating end of the first coupler;

applying a force to the couplers to cause the mating ends to engage;

engaging the engagement tab with second housing; and

communicating at least a portion of the force to the lever arm of each the first and second valve to cause each the first and second valve to pivot from a closed position to an open position,

wherein when the mating ends engage, a structural member of each coupler enters the other coupler and displaces the lever arm of said other coupler.

14. A coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the coupling assembly comprising

a first coupler comprising

a first attachment end configured to attach to the first fluid conduit;

a first housing defining a first engagement lip and a second engagement lip extending from opposite positions on a first mating end, the first housing including a first button operatively connected to the first engagement lip and a second button operatively connected to the second engagement lip;

a first barrel at the first mating end forming a portion of a first fluid flow path extending between the first attachment end and the first mating end, the first barrel defining a first circumferential groove in an outer wall at the first mating end;

a first latch extending from the first mating end adjacent the first barrel;

a second coupler comprising;

a second attachment end configured to attach to the second fluid conduit;

a second housing defining a ridge on an interior wall of the second housing at a second mating end for mating with the first mating end;

a second barrel at the second mating end forming a portion of a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end, the second barrel defining a second circumferential groove in an outer wall of the second mating end;

a second latch extending from the second mating end adjacent the second barrel;

wherein when the first coupler and the second coupler are mated together such that the first and second fluid paths are joined, the first latch mates with the second circumferential groove, the second latch mates with the first circumferential groove, and the first and second engagement lips operably connect with the ridge on the second housing at the second mating end.

15. The coupling assembly of claim 14, wherein when the first coupler and second coupler are mated together, depressing the first button detaches the first engagement lip from the ridge on the second housing and depressing the second button detaches the second engagement lip from the ridge on the second housing.

16. The coupling assembly of claim 14, wherein when the first coupler and the second coupler are mated together, the first latch mates to the second circumferential groove and the second latch mates to the first circumferential groove before the first engagement lip and the second engagement lip operably connect with the ridge on the second housing at the second mating end.

17. A coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the coupling assembly comprising

a first coupler comprising

a first attachment end configured to attach to the first fluid conduit;

a first mating end, the first mating end including a first fluid flow path extending between the first attachment end and the first mating end; and

a first housing surrounding the first fluid flow path, the first housing including at least one button, wherein the at least one button includes a hook at a first end of the at least one button;

a second coupler comprising

a second attachment end configured to attach to the second fluid conduit;

a second mating end, the second mating end including a second fluid flow path extending between the second attachment end and the second mating end; and

a second housing surrounding the second fluid flow path, the second housing defining a groove configured to receive the hook on the at least one button of the first housing;

wherein when the first coupler and the second coupler are mated together such that the first and second fluid paths are joined, the hook operably connects to the groove.

18. The coupling assembly of claim 17, wherein when the hook is operably connected to the groove, the at least one button is angled away from the first housing.