Multiple conduit connector apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A multiple-conduit connector comprising:
- a first coupling part comprising a plurality of first connectors, wherein each of said plurality of first connectors comprises a corresponding conduit passage;
a second coupling part comprising a main body and a disk that is rotatable relative to said main body, wherein said disk comprises a plurality of second connectors to pair with said plurality of first connectors, wherein each of said plurality of second connectors comprises a corresponding conduit passage, wherein each conduit passage of said second coupling part is associated with a corresponding conduit passage of said first coupling part when said first coupling part and said second coupling part are detachably connected together;
a guide projection located on a primary one of said first coupling part and said disk at a position separate from any conduit passage;
a guide recess to receive said guide projection and disposed at a corresponding location in a secondary one of said first coupling part and second coupling part, wherein insertion of said guide projection in said guide recess promotes alignment of said each conduit passage of said second coupling part with said corresponding conduit passage of said first coupling part, the guide projection being a fixed member;
a securing means which locks said first coupling part together with said second coupling part when said first coupling part including said plurality of first connectors and said disk including said plurality of second connectors are axially rotated relative to said main body in a first direction about an axis parallel with the plurality of first and second connectors, wherein corresponding ones of said plurality of first connectors and said plurality of second connectors are interconnected so as to provide a corresponding plurality of flow paths through said first coupling part and said second coupling part, and said securing means allows for separation of said first coupling part and said second coupling part when said first coupling part including said plurality of first connectors and said disk including said plurality of second connectors are axially rotated in a second direction about the axis,wherein said securing means comprises a first member extending radially outward from one of said first coupling part and said main body, and a second member extending longitudinally from one of said first coupling part and said main body, wherein said second member comprises a slot disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of said second member, wherein said slot receives said first member when said first coupling part is axially rotated relative to said main body in the first direction.
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Abstract
A multiple-conduit connector includes a first coupling part that includes multiple first connectors associated with a corresponding conduit and a second coupling part that includes multiple second connectors associated with a corresponding conduit. Each conduit of the second coupling part communicates with a corresponding conduit of the first coupling part when the first coupling part and the second coupling part are detachably connected together. The multiple-conduit connector includes a guide projection located on one coupling part and a guide recess to receive the guide projection and disposed at a corresponding location in the other coupling part.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multiple-conduit connector comprising:
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a first coupling part comprising a plurality of first connectors, wherein each of said plurality of first connectors comprises a corresponding conduit passage; a second coupling part comprising a main body and a disk that is rotatable relative to said main body, wherein said disk comprises a plurality of second connectors to pair with said plurality of first connectors, wherein each of said plurality of second connectors comprises a corresponding conduit passage, wherein each conduit passage of said second coupling part is associated with a corresponding conduit passage of said first coupling part when said first coupling part and said second coupling part are detachably connected together; a guide projection located on a primary one of said first coupling part and said disk at a position separate from any conduit passage; a guide recess to receive said guide projection and disposed at a corresponding location in a secondary one of said first coupling part and second coupling part, wherein insertion of said guide projection in said guide recess promotes alignment of said each conduit passage of said second coupling part with said corresponding conduit passage of said first coupling part, the guide projection being a fixed member; a securing means which locks said first coupling part together with said second coupling part when said first coupling part including said plurality of first connectors and said disk including said plurality of second connectors are axially rotated relative to said main body in a first direction about an axis parallel with the plurality of first and second connectors, wherein corresponding ones of said plurality of first connectors and said plurality of second connectors are interconnected so as to provide a corresponding plurality of flow paths through said first coupling part and said second coupling part, and said securing means allows for separation of said first coupling part and said second coupling part when said first coupling part including said plurality of first connectors and said disk including said plurality of second connectors are axially rotated in a second direction about the axis, wherein said securing means comprises a first member extending radially outward from one of said first coupling part and said main body, and a second member extending longitudinally from one of said first coupling part and said main body, wherein said second member comprises a slot disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of said second member, wherein said slot receives said first member when said first coupling part is axially rotated relative to said main body in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A multiple-conduit connector comprising:
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a first coupling part comprising; a plurality of first connectors, wherein each of said plurality of first connectors comprises a corresponding conduit passage, a fixed guide projection at a position separate from any conduit passage, and a first member extending from said first coupling part in a direction radially outward from an axis parallel with the plurality of first connectors; and a second coupling part comprising; a disk comprising a plurality of second connectors to pair with said plurality of first connectors, wherein each of said plurality of second connectors comprises a corresponding conduit passage, wherein each conduit of said second coupling part is associated with a corresponding conduit passage of said first coupling part when said first coupling part and said second coupling part are detachably connected together, and a guide recess to receive said guide projection disposed at a corresponding location in said second coupling part, wherein insertion of said guide projection in said guide recess promotes alignment of said each conduit passage of said second coupling part with said corresponding conduit passage of said first coupling part, and a main body comprising a second member extending longitudinally from said main body which comprises a slot disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of said second member, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive said first member, wherein said disk is rotatable relative to said main body; wherein said first coupling part and said second coupling part are secured together when said first coupling part including said plurality of first connectors and said disk including said plurality of second connectors are axially rotated in a first direction about said axis causing said first member to engage said slot of said second member, wherein corresponding ones of said plurality of first connectors and said plurality of second connectors are interconnected so as to provide a corresponding plurality of flow paths through said first coupling part and said second coupling part when secured together; and wherein said first coupling part and said second coupling part are separable when said first coupling part including said plurality of first connectors and said disk including said plurality of second connectors are axially rotated in a second direction about the axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification