# US 2014/0152000 A1 · Tube fitting and tube fitting set having the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152000 A1 - Document ID: US20140152000A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/908,958 - Filed: 2013-06-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: National Cheng Kung University - Applicants: National Cheng Kung University - Inventors: Chao-Lin Chen; How-Ran Guo; Jin-Jia Hu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152000A1 ## CPC - F16L 3/237: for two pipes - A61M 5/1418: {Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads} - A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings - F16L 37/098: by means of flexible hooks - F16L 41/021: {T- or cross-pieces (F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence)} - A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)} - A61M 2039/1027: {Quick-acting type connectors} - A61M 2039/1077: {Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A tube fitting includes a multi-way tube member and a coupler. The multi-way tube member includes three interconnected tube-connecting segments, one of which has two locking portions disposed at a distal end thereof. The coupler includes a cap section covering one of the tube-connecting segments having the locking portions, two resilient retaining portions snapped respectively to the locking portions, a guide tube section extending from the cap section into the one of the tube-connecting segments, and a connecting tube section extending from the cap section in a direction away from the guide tube section for connection with an additional coupler. A curable filler can be filled among the multi-way tube member, the coupler, and a tube for fixing the tube within the multi-way tube member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tube fitting adapted to be connected to a tube, said tube fitting comprising: a multi-way tube member including three tube-connecting segments in fluid communication with each other and each having a distal end formed with an end opening, said distal end of at least one of said tube-connecting segments having two locking portions and at least one overflow notch; and a coupler mounted removably to and in fluid communication with one of said tube-connecting segments having said locking portions and including a cap section covering said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments, two spaced-apart resilient retaining portions extending from said cap section and permitting said locking portions to be snapped respectively thereto so as to position said cap section relative to said one of said tube-connecting segments, a guide tube section that extends from said cap section into said one of said tube-connecting segments to guide said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments into a space between said resilient retaining portions and that is adapted to connect with one of the tubes extending into said one of said tube-connecting segments to retain said one of the tubes thereon, and a connecting tube section extending from said cap section in a direction away from said guide tube section and adapted for connection with an additional coupler, said cap section being formed with a connecting hole in spatial communication with said guide tube section and said connecting tube section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said resilient retaining portions is configured as a flap extending from said cap section of said coupler, and has an engaging hole formed therethrough, and each of said locking portions of said one of said tube-connecting segments of said multi-way tube member is configured as a tongue that extends from said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments and that is snapped into a respective one of said engaging holes of said resilient retaining portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said resilient retaining portions further has an inclined inner side surface facing toward said one of said tube-connecting segments and spaced apart from said one of said tube-connecting segments by a distance that increases gradually in a direction away from said cap section for guiding said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments into a space between said resilient retaining portions to contact said cap section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide tube section of said coupler has a frustoconical head portion at an end distal from said cap section, and a neck portion disposed between said cap section and said head portion, said frustoconical head portion having a diameter that reduces gradually in a direction away from said cap section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a curable filler that is adapted to be filled among said multi-way tube member, said coupler, and the tube for preventing movement of the tube within said multi-way tube member. ### Claim 6 A tube fitting set comprising: two multi-way tube members, each of said multi-way tube members including three tube-connecting segments in fluid communication with each other and each having a distal end formed with an end opening, said distal end of at least one of said tube-connecting segments of each of said multi-way tube members having two locking portions and at least one overflow notch; and two couplers each mounted removably to and in fluid communication with one of said tube-connecting segments of a corresponding one of said multi-way tube members having said locking portions and including a cap section covering said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments, two spaced-apart resilient retaining portions extending from said cap section and permitting said locking portions to be snapped respectively thereto so as to position said cap section relative to said one of said tube-connecting segments, a guide tube section that extends from said cap section into said one of said tube-connecting segments to guide said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments into a space between said resilient retaining portions and that is adapted to connect with one of the tubes extending into said one of said tube-connecting segments to retain said one of the tubes thereon, a connecting tube section extending from said cap section in a direction away from said guide tube section and adapted for connection with the other of said couplers, and a connecting hole formed through said cap section and in spatial communication with said guide tube section and said connecting tube section, said connecting tube section of one of said couplers having an internally threaded portion, said connecting tube section of the other of said couplers having an externally threaded portion engaging said internally threaded portion, so that said couplers are interconnected removably. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said resilient retaining portions of said couplers is configured as a flap extending from said cap section of a corresponding one of said couplers, and has an engaging hole formed therethrough, and each of said locking portions of said one of said tube-connecting segments of said multi-way tube members is configured as a tongue that extends from said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments and that is snapped into a respective one of said engaging holes of said resilient retaining portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said resilient retaining portions of said couplers further has an inclined inner side surface facing toward said one of said tube-connecting segments of a corresponding one of said multi-way tube members and spaced apart from said one of said tube-connecting segments of said corresponding one of said multi-way tube members by a distance that increases gradually in a direction away from said cap section of a corresponding one of said couplers for guiding said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments of said corresponding one of said multi-way tube members into a space between said resilient retaining portions of said corresponding one of said couplers to contact said cap section of said corresponding one of said couplers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide tube section of each of said couplers has a frustoconical head portion at an end distal from said cap section of a corresponding one of said couplers, and a neck portion disposed between said head portion and said cap section of said corresponding one of said couplers, said frustoconical head portion of said guide tube section of each of said couplers having a diameter that reduces gradually in a direction away from said cap section of said corresponding one of said couplers. ### Claim 10 A tube fitting set comprising: two multi-way tube members, each of said multi-way tube members including three tube-connecting segments in fluid communication with each other and each having a distal end formed with an end opening, said distal end of at least one of said tube-connecting segments of each of said multi-way tube members having two locking portions and at least one overflow notch; two couplers each mounted removably to and in fluid communication with one of said tube-connecting segments of a corresponding one of said multi-way tube members having said locking portions and including a cap section covering said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments, two spaced-apart resilient retaining portions extending from said cap section and permitting said locking portions to be snapped respectively thereto so as to position said cap section relative to said one of said tube-connecting segments, a guide tube section that extends from said cap section into said one of said tube-connecting segments to guide said cap section to be sleeved on said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments and that is adapted to connect with one of the tubes extending into said one of said tube-connecting segments to retain said one of the tubes thereon, a connecting tube section extending from said cap section in a direction away from said guide tube section and adapted for connection with the other of said couplers, and a connecting hole formed through said cap section and in spatial communication with said guide tube section and said connecting tube section, said connecting tube section of one of said couplers having an internally threaded portion, said connecting tube section of the other of said couplers having an externally threaded portion engaging said internally threaded portion, so that said connecting tube sections of said couplers being interconnected removably; and at least one clamp disposed between and clamping removably said multi-way tube members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of said connecting tube sections of said couplers has an inner tubular portion and an outer tubular portion disposed around and spaced apart from said inner tubular portion and having said internally threaded portion, and the other of said connecting tube sections is inserted into a space between said inner and outer tubular portions of said one of said connecting tube sections, and has said externally threaded portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said resilient retaining portions of said couplers is configured as a flap extending from said cap section of a corresponding one of said couplers, and has an engaging hole formed therethrough, and each of said locking portions of said one of said tube-connecting segments of said multi-way tube members is configured as a tongue that extends from said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments and that is snapped into a respective one of said engaging holes of said resilient retaining portions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said resilient retaining portions of said couplers further has an inclined inner side surface facing toward said one of said tube-connecting segments of a corresponding one of said multi-way tube members and spaced apart from said one of said tube-connecting segments of said corresponding one of said multi-way tube members by a distance that increases gradually in a direction away from said cap section of a corresponding one of said couplers for guiding said distal end of said one of said tube-connecting segments of said corresponding one of said multi-way tube members into a space between said resilient retaining portions of said corresponding one of said couplers to contact said cap section of said corresponding one of said couplers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 10, wherein said guide tube section of each of said couplers has a frustoconical head portion at an end distal from said cap section, and a neck portion disposed between said cap section and said head portion, said frustoconical head portion having a diameter that reduces gradually in a direction away from said cap section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 10, wherein said clamp has two C-shaped clamping portions and a bridging portion connected between said C-shaped clamping portions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of said tube-connecting segments of each of said multi-way tube members has an outer surface formed with an axially extending anti-rotation projection, each of said C-shaped clamping portions having an abutment surface abutting against said outer surface of a corresponding one of said tube-connecting segments, said abutment surface being formed with an engaging groove that engages said anti-rotation projection of a corresponding one of said multi-way tube members for preventing rotation of a corresponding one of said C-shaped clamp portions relative to said corresponding one of said tube-connecting segments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tube fitting set as claimed in claim 16, wherein said outer surface of said at least one of said tube-connecting segments is formed with two said anti-rotation projections, one of which is engaged within said engaging groove in a corresponding one of said C-shaped clamping portions and the other of which has two opposite side surfaces abutting respectively against two opposite end surfaces of said corresponding one of said C-shaped clamping portions.