Male connector

A connection structure comprising:

• a female connector comprising an elastic valve body;
• and
• a male connector that is connectable to the female connector and comprises:
• a flow path pipe member having an opening at a portion on an axial distal side,
• an elastic opening and closing portion,
• a biasing portion configured to bias the elastic opening and closing portion toward the axial distal side,
• a housing comprising a housing restriction portion, and
• a movable body that comprises a movable body restriction portion and holds the elastic opening and closing portion, wherein:
• a form of the male connector is changed from a first form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is closed by the elastic opening and closing portion to a second form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is opened by a portion of the flow path pipe member on the axial distal side protruding from the elastic opening and closing portion to the axial distal side by a connection operation in which the elastic opening and closing portion and the movable body move to an axial proximal side with respect to the flow path pipe member against a biasing force by the biasing portion by pressing the elastic valve body against a distal end surface of the elastic opening and closing portion,
• the movable body restriction portion restricts movement of the female connector to the axial distal side with respect to the elastic opening and closing portion by moving inward in a radial direction due to a resistance force from the housing generated according to the connection operation, and
• the housing restriction portion restricts the movement of the female connector to the axial distal side with respect to the flow path pipe member through the movable body restriction portion by restricting movement of the movable body to the axial distal side with respect to the flow path pipe member according to a change from the first form to the second form.

A method of connecting a male connector to a female connector, the method comprising:

• providing a female connector comprising an elastic valve body;
• providing a male connector that is connectable to the female connector and comprises:
• a flow path pipe member having an opening at a portion on an axial distal side,
• an elastic opening and closing portion,
• a biasing portion configured to bias the elastic opening and closing portion toward the axial distal side,
• a housing comprising a housing restriction portion, and
• a movable body that comprises a movable body restriction portion and holds the elastic opening and closing portion;
• connecting the male connector to the female connector such that:
• the elastic opening and closing portion and the movable body move to an axial proximal side with respect to the flow path pipe member against a biasing force by the biasing portion by pressing the elastic valve body against a distal end surface of the elastic opening and closing portion, thereby causing a form of the male connector to be changed from a first form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is closed by the elastic opening and closing portion to a second form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is opened by a portion of the flow path pipe member on the axial distal side protruding from the elastic opening and closing portion to the axial distal side,
• the movable body restriction portion restricts movement of the female connector to the axial distal side with respect to the elastic opening and closing portion by moving inward in a radial direction due to a resistance force from the housing generated according to the connection operation, and
• the housing restriction portion restricts the movement of the female connector to the axial distal side with respect to the flow path pipe member through the movable body restriction portion by restricting movement of the movable body to the axial distal side with respect to the flow path pipe member according to a change from the first form to the second form.