US 10,267,445 B2 · Releasable valved coupler

Abstract

A releasable valved coupler and a method of producing and using such a coupler including a coupler body having a first valve element and a coupler insert having a second valve element, wherein a first valve tip of the first valve element can engage a second valve tip of the second valve element upon insertion of the coupler insert inside of a tubular chamber of the coupler body, whereby the first valve element disengages a first valve seat and the second valve element disengages a second valve seat to open a flow path through the coupler. By moving the coupler body and the coupler insert in outward opposed axial directions, the first and second valve tips can disengage, correspondingly engaging the first valve element with the first valve seat and engaging the second valve element with the second valve seat to close the flow path through the coupler.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A coupler, comprising:

a coupler body including:
a coupler body internal surface which communicates between a coupler body first open end and a coupler body second open end, said coupler body internal surface proximate said coupler body second open end defining a tubular chamber;
an annular groove disposed in said coupler body internal surface of said tubular chamber;
a coupler insert including:
a coupler insert external surface insertable inside of said tubular chamber;
and
a plurality of radially extending members disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relation about said coupler insert external surface, said plurality of radially extending members disposable in said annular groove to allow releasable retentive arrest of said coupler insert inside of said tubular chamber.

4 more elements

A method of producing a coupler, comprising:

configuring a coupler body, including:
a coupler body internal surface which communicates between a coupler body first open end and a coupler body second open end, said coupler body internal surface proximate said coupler body second open end defining a tubular chamber;
an annular groove disposed in said coupler body internal surface of said tubular chamber;
configuring a coupler insert, including:
a coupler insert external surface insertable inside of said tubular chamber;
and
a plurality of radially extending members disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relation about said coupler insert external surface, said plurality of radially extending members disposable in said annular groove to allow releasable retentive arrest of said coupler insert inside of said tubular chamber.

4 more elements

A method of using a coupler, the method comprising:

obtaining a coupler body, including:
a coupler body internal surface which communicates between a coupler body first open end and a coupler body second open end, said coupler body internal surface proximate said coupler body second open end defining a tubular chamber;
an annular groove disposed in said coupler body internal surface of said tubular chamber;
obtaining a coupler insert, including:
a coupler insert external surface insertable inside of said tubular chamber;
and
a plurality of radially extending members disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relation about said coupler insert external surface,
inserting said coupler insert into said tubular chamber of said coupler body;
and
disposing said plurality of radially extending members in said annular groove allowing releasable retentive arrest of said coupler insert inside of said tubular chamber.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/696,001Filed 5 Sep 2017 · continuation

Priority

28 Mar 2014

Published

US 2017/0363240 A121 Dec 2017

Granted

23 Apr 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F16L 37/32
With fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings: at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
A61M 39/26
Valves or arrangement of valves: valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof
A61M 2039/1027
Tube connectors or tube couplings: quick-acting type connectors
A61M 2039/1094
Tube connectors or tube couplings: at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection

Family

Application29/486,449Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Mar 2014

Application14/481,500Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Sep 2014

US D746,447 S1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Dec 2015

US 2017/0363240 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Dec 2017

US 9,752,714 B2Parent of this continuation

Application14/481,500Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2015/0276111 A1Published application

US 10,267,445 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Releasable valved coupler

Life of this patent

Releasable valved coupler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26