# US 11,306,857 B2 · Fluid line connector and assembly with securement detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,857 B2 - Document ID: US11306857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/227,624 - Filed: 2021-04-12 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-11 - Assignees: Norma U.S. Holding LLC - Applicants: Norma U.S. Holding LLC - Inventors: Manuel Baudoin; Brian T. Ignaczak; Mateusz Jarosz; René Schindler; Bruno Jacksteit - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306857B2 ## CPC - F16L 37/144: {the securing element being U-shaped} - F16L 55/07: Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T) - F16L 37/098: by means of flexible hooks - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - F16L 2201/10: Indicators for correct coupling - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A fluid line connector provides remote securement detection capabilities and is hence equipped for initial assembly, subsequent quality inspection, and subsequent service techniques that can be automated, robotic, and/or autonomous. The fluid line connector, in an embodiment, includes a body, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, and an actuator member. The body has a passage for fluid-flow therethrough. The RFID tag can communicate with an RFID interrogator and has a circuit with a break in the circuit. A portion or more, such as a surface, of the actuator member is composed of an electrically-conductive material. The electrically-conductive portion bridges the break when the actuator member is actuated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid line connector, comprising: a body, a passage residing in said body for fluid-flow therethrough; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag carried by said body, said RFID tag having a circuit with a break therein; and an actuator member situated adjacent said passage of said body, said actuator member having a working portion composed of an electrically-conductive material, said working portion confronting said circuit of said RFID tag adjacent said break and said working portion coming into contact with said RFID tag at said break upon actuation of said actuator member and bridging said break via the contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fluid line connector lacks a switch at said RFID tag. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said break of said circuit precludes communication between said RFID tag and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) interrogator, and wherein bridging said break of said circuit via the contact from said working portion enables communication between said RFID tag and the RFID interrogator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said RFID tag changes its state upon actuation of said actuator member and bridging said break via the contact. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said working portion is a working surface of said actuator member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein the electrically-conductive material is a conductive ink residing on said working surface of said actuator member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said working portion is a working surface of said actuator member, said working surface composed of the electrically-conductive material, and other portions of said actuator member being composed of a material that differs from the electrically-conductive material of said working surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said working portion is a base portion of said actuator member, said base portion composed of the electrically-conductive material, at least one prong portion depending from said base portion, said at least one prong portion composed of a material that differs from the electrically-conductive material of said base portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the entirety of said actuator member is composed of the electrically-conductive material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator member is a cam member situated at least partially within a pass-through residing in said body, said cam member having a base portion confronting said circuit of said RFID tag and having at least one prong portion suspended at least partially within said passage of said body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator member is displaced upon its actuation, displacement of said actuator member occurs in a first direction that is generally transverse to a second direction, fluid flows through said passage adjacent said actuator member in the second direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A fluid line connector assembly comprising the fluid line connector of claim 1, and comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) interrogator that communicates with said RFID tag of the fluid line connector. ### Claim 13 A fluid line connector, comprising: a body, a passage residing in said body for fluid-flow therethrough, and a pass-through residing in said body; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag carried by said body, said RFID tag having a circuit path with a discontinuity therein; and a cam member situated at least partially within said pass-through, said cam member having a base portion, said base portion having a surface, at least said surface being composed of an electrically-conductive material; wherein, when said cam member is in an unactuated position, said surface lacks contact with said circuit path at said discontinuity, and when said cam member is in an actuated position, said surface is in contact with said circuit path at said discontinuity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least said base portion is composed of the electrically-conductive material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein the electrically-conductive material is a conductive ink residing on said surface of said base portion of said cam member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein the contact between said surface of said base portion and said circuit path at said discontinuity is without a switch interposed therebetween. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein said cam member has at least one prong portion depending from said base portion, said at least one prong portion suspended at least partially within said passage of said body when said cam member is in the unactuated position, and said at least one prong portion located in said pass-through when said cam member is in the actuated position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein said cam member is displaced from the unactuated position and to the actuated position, the displacement occurring in a first direction, the first direction being generally transverse to a second direction in which fluid-flow travels in said passage adjacent said pass-through. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The fluid line connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein said circuit path has a first circuit path end and a second circuit path end, said discontinuity established between said first and second circuit path ends, said surface of said base portion being in contact with said first circuit path end and with said second circuit path end when said cam member is in the actuated position. ### Claim 20 A fluid line connector, comprising: a body, a passage residing in said body for fluid-flow therethrough, and a pass-through residing in said body; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag located at least adjacent said body, said RFID tag having a circuit path, said circuit path having a first circuit path end and a second circuit path end, a discontinuity established between said first circuit path end and said second circuit path end; and a cam member situated at least partially within said pass-through, said cam member having a base portion and at least one prong portion, said base portion having a surface, at least said surface of said base portion being composed of an electrically-conductive material, said surface coming into contact with said first and second circuit path ends at said discontinuity upon actuation of said cam member.