Self-tightening soft tubing fitting and method of use

An improved connector for use with a soft tube fitting, comprising:

• stem means adapted at a first end for connection to the body of a fitting, said stem means having an axial passage defined therein and adapted for receiving a section of soft tubing over at least a portion thereof;
• radially extending flange means at a second end of said stem means for sealing against an inner wall of the tubing;
• sleeve means mounted for sliding movement on said stem means and having an annular contact surface defined thereon adapted for sealing against on outer wall of the tubing;
• the radial distance between said flange means and the contact surface of said sleeve means being less than the thickness of the soft tubing;
• stop means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve means toward the radially extending flange means;
• and
• means for releasably locking said sleeve means with respect to said stem means, whereby a section of soft tubing may be tightly secured, in communication with said passage, between said sleeve means and said flange means.

A method for connecting and disconnecting a section of soft tubing to a desired tube or fitting, comprising:

• providing a fitting having a body section in which an axial passage is defined, a stem extending from the body section and having a passage defined therein in communication with the body section passage, a flange on an end of the stem distal the body section, a sleeve axially slidable with respect to the stem and having a contact surface thereon which faces the flange and a releasable ratchet mechanism for constraining the sleeve from moving away from the flange;
• the radial distance between said flange and the contact surface of said sleeve being less than the thickness of the soft tubing;
• connecting the fitting to the desired tube or fitting;
• slipping the section of soft tubing over the flange;
• and
• pulling the sleeve toward the flange, whereby the soft tubing is secured between the flange and the contact surface in communication with the axial passage, and is held in place by the ratchet mechanism.

An improved fitting for use with soft tubing, comprising:

• a body section defining an axially extending passage therein;
• stem means adapted for receiving a section of soft tubing over at least a portion thereof, said stem means extending axially from said body section and having a passage defined therein which is in communication with said body section passage;
• radially extending flange means at an end of said stem means that is distal from said body section and adapted for sealing against an inner wall of the tubing;
• sleeve means mounted for sliding movement on said stem means and having an annular contact surface defined thereon adapted for sealing against an outer wall of the tubing;
• the radial distance between said flange means and the contact surface of said sleeve means being less than the thickness of the soft tubing;
• and
• means for releasably locking said sleeve means with respect to said stem means, whereby a section of soft tubing may be tightly secured, in communication with said passages, between said sleeve means and said flange means, said releasably locking means comprising ratchet means for constraining said sleeve means against movement away from said flange means, and means for releasing said ratchet means.

An improved connector for use with a soft tube fitting, comprising:

• stem means adapted at a first end for connection to the body of a fitting, said stem means having an axial passageway defined therein and adapted for receiving a section of soft tubing over at least a portion thereof;
• radially extending flange means at a second end of said stem means for sealing against an inner wall of the tubing;
• sleeve means mounted for sliding movement on said stem means and having an annular contact surface defined thereon adapted for sealing against an outer wall of the tubing;
• the radial distance between said flange means and the contact surface of said sleeve means being less than the thickness of the soft tubing;
• and
• means for releasably locking said sleeve means with respect to said stem means, whereby a section of soft tubing may be tightly secured, in communication with said passage, between said sleeve means and said flange means, said releasably locking means comprising ratchet means for constraining said sleeve means against movement away from said flange means and means for releasing said ratchet means.