Catch Assembly For Releasably Connecting Fluid Conduits
AssigneeWilMarc Holdings, LLC
InventorsPaul C. Ciccone, William A. Coulson, Marcia Coulson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a connector system for releasably connecting together tubes, for example medical tubing, and methods of making and using such a connector system, whereby the connector system includes a female coupler having a first passageway; a male coupler having a second passageway; and a catch assembly comprising a catch movably coupled to the female coupler, a catch-biasing member which biases the catch, and a follower responsive to a cam, whereby the catch is responsive to the follower and correspondingly, the cam.
Claims90
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler having a first passageway;
- a male coupler having a second passageway;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member which biases said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- wherein said catch is responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam.
A method of making a connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- providing a female coupler having a first passageway;
- providing a male coupler having a second passageway;
- and
- providing a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member which biases said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- wherein said catch is responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam.
A method of using a connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- obtaining said connector system comprising:
- a female coupler having a first passageway;
- a male coupler having a second passageway;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member which biases said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- wherein said catch is responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- coupling a first tube to said female coupler;
- coupling a second tube to said male coupler;
- and
- releasably coupling said female and male couplers to achieve a connected condition of said connector system in which said first and second passageways dispose in fluidic communication to provide a fluid flow path.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler having a first passageway;
- a male coupler having a second passageway;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- and
- said catch assembly comprising a one-piece construct.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler having a first passageway;
- a male coupler having a second passageway;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- and
- said catch movably coupled to said female coupler such that said catch is capable of:
- inward movement toward a female coupler inner space defined by a female coupler inner surface of said female coupler;
- and
- outward movement away from said female coupler inner space.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler having a first passageway;
- a male coupler having a second passageway;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- and
- said cam provided by a release element which is movably coupled to said female coupler.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler having a first passageway;
- a male coupler having a second passageway;
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- a first valve disposed within said female coupler, said first valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said first passageway;
- and
- a second valve disposed within said male coupler, said second valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said second passageway.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- and
- said catch assembly comprising a one-piece construct.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- and
- said catch movably coupled to said female coupler such that said catch is capable of:
- inward movement toward a female coupler inner space defined by a female coupler inner surface of said female coupler;
- and
- outward movement away from said female coupler inner space.
A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
- a female coupler;
- and
- a catch assembly comprising:
- a catch movably coupled to said female coupler;
- a catch-biasing member comprising a pair of resiliently flexible arms which outwardly extend from said catch;
- and
- a follower responsive to a cam;
- said catch responsive to said follower and correspondingly, said cam;
- and
- said cam provided by a release element which is movably coupled to said female coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.