Barbed tubular connectors
AssigneeEpic Technical Group, Inc.
InventorRobert M. Crandall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a connector for joining flexible tubular members. The connector has a cylindrical body having an outer diameter and at least one circumferential recess. At least one barb member is positioned and retained at least partially in the recess. The barb member has first and second ends with at least one of the ends having a diameter which extends beyond the outer diameter of the tubular body. The first end has a diameter which is greater than that of the second end and a rigid edge for engaging a flexible tubular member. The barb member provided with the connector can resist pull-off of the tubular member from the connector. The present invention also relates to a method for forming such a connector.
Claims18
A connector for joining flexible tubular members comprising:
- a tubular body having an outer diameter, a free end, an end member, and at least one circumferential recess, wherein a portion of the end member has a greater diameter than that of the tubular body and a first tapered surface extending from the free end of the connector to the greater diameter portion of the end member to assist in engaging a flexible tubular member and for retaining the flexible tubular member in engagement with the connector;
- and
- at least one barb member positioned and retained at least partially in the recess, the barb member comprising first and second ends with the second end positioned in the recess and having an outer diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tubular body to provide a relatively smooth transition therebetween, and with the first end having an outer diameter which is greater than that of the second end and a rigid edge for engaging the flexible tubular member and for resisting pull-off of the tubular member from the connector.
A method for forming a connector comprising the steps of:
- providing a cylindrical body having an outer diameter and a free end;
- providing onto the cylindrical body at least one barb member adapted to be loosely fit thereon, said barb member comprising first and second ends with the second end having an outer diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical body to provide a relatively smooth transition therebetween, and with the first end having an outer diameter which is greater than that of the second end and a rigid edge for engaging a flexible tubular member;
- fixing the barb member in position on the cylindrical body spaced from the first free end thereof with the first end of the barb member facing away from the first free end of the cylindrical body and the second end of the barb member facing the first free end of the cylindrical body;
- and
- forming an end member between the first free end of the tubular body and the barb member, wherein a portion of the end member has a greater outer diameter than that of the tubular body, thus forming a connector for engaging the flexible tubular member, whereby the rigid edge of the barb member resists pull-off of the flexible tubular member from the connector.
A connector for joining flexible tubular members comprising:
- a body member having a first free end and a first end portion having an outer diameter;
- a barb member spaced from the first free end of the body member and positioned and retained on the first end portion thereof, the barb member comprising a first end having an outer diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the body member first end portion, and a second end which has an outer diameter that is greater than that of the first end of the barb member, said second end including a rigid edge for engaging a flexible tubular member;
- and
- an end member positioned between the first free end of the body member and the barb member, with a portion of the end member having a greater outer diameter than that of the body member to assist in retaining the flexible tubular member in engagement with the connector,
- wherein the first end of the barb member faces the first free end of the body member and the second end of the barb member faces away from the first free end of the body member to provide a relatively smooth transition between the first end portion of the body member and the barb member to facilitate sliding insertion of the flexible tubular member onto the connector and over the barb member, with the rigid edge of the barb member to further assist in retaining the flexible tubular member in engagement with the connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.