Protective cap for preventing contamination of a needle-free connector

An intravenous (IV) catheter assembly comprising:

• a catheter adapter;
• a catheter coupled to the catheter adapter and extending out distally therefrom, so as to be positionable intravenously within a patient;
• an extension line coupled to the catheter adapter and extending out proximally therefrom;
• a luer hub positioned at a proximal end of the extension line, the luer hub in fluid communication with the catheter through the extension line and the catheter adapter;
• a needle-free connector comprising a distal connector end and a proximal connector end, the distal connector end coupled to the luer hub;
• and
• a protective cap, comprising:
• a frustoconical body member having a first end and a second end, the frustoconical body member defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, with the first opening having a first circumference and the second opening having a second circumference that is smaller than the first circumference,
• wherein the frustoconical body member includes a gripper defining the second opening, the gripper comprising a plurality of flexible legs that are configured to deflect radially outward when coupled with the needle-free connector, with each of the plurality of flexible legs including a first leg portion angled radially inward, a second leg portion formed integrally with the first leg portion, and a clip portion positioned at a location where the first leg portion joins the second leg portion, the clip portion oriented orthogonally to the second leg portion and extending radially inward into the second opening;
• wherein the protective cap is coupled to the proximal connector end of the needle-free connector.