Tubing and connector assembly

• US 7,093,859 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Steele, Rick Alan, Warburton-Pitt, Stephen Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M.
• Application Number:
  US10/785,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 285/FOR.138, 285/133.11, 285/285.1, 285/293.1, 285/131.1, 285/423, 604/284, 128/214.R
• US Class Current: 285/131.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/087 Tools for handling tubes, e.g. crimping tool for connecting tubes to a connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14336 Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/02 Welded joints; Adhesive joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/32 Branch units, e.g. made in one piece, welded, riveted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/66 Interfitted members with external bridging piece

Abstract

A connector and tubing assembly including a multi-lumen molded connector having at least three flexible tubes also molded into the connector. The connector may be “Y” shaped and include three flexible tubes. A process of making the connector and tubing assembly involves forming a first part of the connector with two tubes molded therein and then removing an internal mold member prior to molding the final connector portion and third tube in place.

Claims

1. A mold and tubing assembly comprising:

at least three silicone, hollow, flexible tubes each including a free end;

a mold having first and second mold portions engaged to form a substantially closed cavity and supporting at least a portion of the three free ends within the mold;

a passage forming assembly including rod portions disposed within the free ends of each of the three tubes; and

curable liquid silicone disposed in the cavity about the portions of the three ends and at least a portion of the passage forming assembly, wherein the passage forming assembly is configured to form a generally smooth passage between the three tubes after the liquid silicone is cured and the rod portion is removed.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rod portions include at least first, second and third rod members.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rod portions form a “

Y”

shaped assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the “

Y”

-shaped assembly is a single-piece.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the rod portions include (i) first and second rod portions forming the Y-shaped assembly, and further include (ii) a third rod portion comprising a straight rod.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the passage forming assembly is non-silicone.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the passage forming assembly is metallic.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the passage forming assembly is stainless steel.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mold portions includes at least one port.

10. A mold and tubing assembly comprising:

at least three silicone, flexible tubes each including a free end with an interior surface having respective interior diameters;

a mold having first and second mold portions engaged to form a substantially closed cavity and supporting at least a portion of the three free ends within the mold;

a passage forming assembly including at least three rod members, with a portion of each of the rod members being disposed within a respective free end of the three tubes; and

liquid silicone disposed in the cavity about the portions of the three ends and at least a portion of the passage forming assembly.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the passage forming assembly is configured to form a generally smooth passage between the three tubes after the liquid silicone is cured and the passage forming assembly is removed.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one of the mold portions includes at least one port.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the rod members form a “

Y”

-shaped assembly.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the “

Y”

-shaped assembly is a single-piece.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the rod members include (i) first and second rod members forming the Y-shaped assembly, and further include (ii) a third rod member comprising a straight rod.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the rod members are non-silicone.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the rod members are metallic.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the rod members are stainless steel.