Female connector

A connector set comprising:

• a male connector comprising:
• a lock claw, and
• a channel connection portion having a hollow rod shape that defines a first channel in the channel connection portion;
• and
• a female connector configured to connect to the male connector, the female connector comprising:
• a cap;
• a housing;
• and
• a valve;
• wherein:
• the cap comprises:
• a top wall comprising an opening configured to receive the channel connection portion, and
• a peripheral wall extending from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall;
• the housing comprises:
• a cylindrical wall having an inner peripheral surface that defines a second channel, and
• an engaging protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall to form a lower surface configured to engage with the lock claw to connect the male connector to the female connector and put the male connector into a locked state;
• and
• the valve comprises:
• a sandwiched portion sandwiched between the top wall and the cylindrical wall, and
• a penetration portion located in the opening in a top view and penetrating the valve in an up-and-down direction;
• the engaging protrusion and the peripheral wall form a boundary between a flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion and a lower end face of the peripheral wall;
• an outer diameter of the lower end face of the peripheral wall is less than an outer diameter of the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion;
• and
• the engaging protrusion has an outer peripheral surface including a tapered surface that extends directly from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion, the tapered surface having a diameter that increases downward from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion.

A method comprising:

• providing a male connector comprising:
• a lock claw, and
• a channel connection portion having a hollow rod shape that defines a first channel in the channel connection portion;
• and
• providing a female connector comprising:
• a cap;
• a housing;
• and
• a valve;
• wherein:
• the cap comprises:
• a top wall comprising an opening configured to receive the channel connection portion, and
• a peripheral wall extending from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall;
• the housing comprises:
• a cylindrical wall having an inner peripheral surface that defines a second channel, and
• an engaging protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall to form a lower surface configured to engage with the lock claw;
• and
• the valve comprises:
• a sandwiched portion sandwiched between the top wall and the cylindrical wall, and
• a penetration portion located in the opening in a top view and penetrating the valve in an up-and-down direction;
• the engaging protrusion and the peripheral wall form a boundary between a flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion and a lower end face of the peripheral wall;
• an outer diameter of the lower end face of the peripheral wall is less than an outer diameter of the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion;
• and
• the engaging protrusion has an outer peripheral surface including a tapered surface that extends directly from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion, the tapered surface having a diameter that increases downward from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion;
• and
• connecting the male connector to the female connector such that the lower surface of the engaging protrusion engages with the lock claw, thereby putting the male connector into a locked state.