Latching female fluid tubing coupler

• US 8,113,546 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordson Corporation
• Original Assignee: Value Plastics Incorporated (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Jensen, Jeffrey P., Pisula, James D. Jr., Burns, Ralph E., Townsend, Raymond, Cairns, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody, Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEE, FANNIE C
• Application Number:
  US12/853,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 285/305, 285307-308, 285/317, 604/284, 604533-536
• US Class Current: 285/307
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1016 Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1094 at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/00 Couplings of the quick-acting type radially binding sleeves F16L17/04, F16L21/06; connecting hoses to rigid members F16L33/00; connections made automatically when vehicles are brought together B60D, B61G; specially adapted for lubricating devices F16N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0985 the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part F16L37/0982 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0987 the flexible hook being progressively compressed by axial tensile loads acting on the coupling

Abstract

A latching female tubing coupler comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation member. The opening is adapted to guide a male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the latching female tubing coupler. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage a coupling feature of the male connector and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuator member is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male connector. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature on a male connector, a fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the latching female tubing coupler.

Claims

1. A latching female coupler for coupling fluid tubing comprising

a body defining an opening configured to receive therein a male connector, wherein the opening guides the male connector along a first line of action as the male connector is received into the opening;

an engagement feature that displaces along a second line of action that is different than the first line of action when the male connector is received in the opening and that engages the male connector to releasably couple the female connector to the male connector; and

an actuation member that displaces along a third line of action that is different than the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the male connector.

2. The latching female coupler of claim 1, wherein the actuation member further comprises a button.

3. The latching female coupler of claim 2 further comprising a housing, wherein the button is pivotally coupled to the housing.

4. The latching female coupler of claim 2 further comprising a housing substantially enclosing the engagement feature and supporting the button.

5. The latching female coupler of claim 2 further comprising

first and second biasing elements, wherein

the first biasing element acts against the engagement feature to bias the engagement feature into engagement with the male connector;

and

the second biasing element acts against the button to bias the actuation member away from the engagement feature.

6. A latching female coupler for coupling fluid tubing comprising

a body defining an opening;

an engagement feature adjacent the opening;

an actuation member adjacent the engagement feature; and

a fluid conduit extending through the body from a location near the opening, wherein

insertion of a male connector in a first direction into the opening causes the engagement feature to first move in a second direction and then move in a third direction different from the second direction as the engagement feature engages the male connector,

movement of the actuation member in a fourth direction causes the engagement feature to move in the second direction to disengage from the male connector, and

each of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction is different from each of the other directions.

7. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein engagement of the engagement feature with the male connector places the fluid conduit in fluid communication with the male connector.

8. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein the third direction is generally opposite the second direction.

9. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein the engagement feature is biased in the third direction.

10. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein the actuation member is biased in a fifth direction different from the fourth direction.

11. The latching female coupler of claim 10, wherein the engagement feature is biased in the third direction.

12. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

13. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein the first, and fourth directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

14. The latching female coupler of claim 6, wherein the first, second and fourth directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

15. A latching female coupler for coupling fluid tubing comprising

a housing with an opening defined therein configured to receive therein a male connector in a first direction;

a fluid conduit at least partially residing within the housing;

an engagement feature including a portion adjacent the opening that engages the male connector and maintains the male connector within the opening once received therein; and

an actuation member pivotal relative to the housing, wherein

displacement of the actuation member in a second direction causes the portion of the engagement feature to move in a third direction to disengage from the male connector, thereby freeing the male connector for removal from the opening.

16. The latching female coupler of claim 15, wherein the actuation member further comprises a pin and hinge arrangement that pivotably connects the actuation member to the housing.

17. The latching female coupler of claim 15, wherein the actuation member includes a button that is at least partially depressible within the housing to cause the engagement feature to disengage from the male connector.

18. The latching female coupler of claim 17, wherein the direction of movement for the portion of the engagement feature is substantially lateral to the direction of displacement for the actuation member and substantially perpendicular to the direction of depression of the button.

19. The latching female coupler of claim 15, wherein the engagement feature comprises a collet finger.

20. The latching female coupler of claim 15, wherein the direction of movement for the portion of the engagement feature is substantially lateral to the direction of displacement for the actuation member.