Method and apparatus for an improved luer fitting connection

A method of assembling a luer fitting connector assembly comprising a locking member and a male or female luer fitting member, the method comprising:

• providing one of a male or female luer fitting members comprising a conical restraining surface, the conical restraining surface comprising a rim providing an end surface facing distally that is approximately orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said one of the male or female luer fitting members, said luer fitting member having a rotary mount adjacent said rim defining a recess with a cylindrical rotational surface;
• providing a one-piece locking member comprising a hollow central lumen, an annular, inwardly protruding plateau shaped protrusion providing an end surface facing proximally that is approximately orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said lumen, and a body that extends axially beyond at least a portion of the conical restraining surface and toward a forward end of said one of the male or female luer fitting member when the locking member is mounted upon said one of the male or female luer fitting members;
• and
• mounting the locking member upon said one of the male or female luer fitting members from a rear of said one of the male or female luer fitting members, with said protrusion snapping over said conical restraining surface so as to position said rim end surface and said protrusion end surface to engage each other to provide a positive stop against separation of the locking member from the luer fitting member and to position said protrusion in said recess such that said locking member is freely rotatable with respect to said rotational surface.

A luer fitting connector assembly comprising:

• a male or female luer fitting member having a longitudinal axis and adapted for connection at a forward end thereof with a female or male luer fitting, respectively, the luer fitting member comprising a conical restraining surface, the conical restraining surface comprising a rim providing a distally-facing surface, said luer fitting member having a rotary mount adjacent said rim defining a recess with a cylindrical rotational surface;
• and
• a one-piece locking member comprising a hollow central lumen, an annular, inwardly protruding plateau shaped protrusion providing a proximally-facing surface, and a body that extends axially beyond at least a portion of the conical restraining surface and toward the forward end of the luer fitting member;
• wherein the locking member can in assembly of the connector assembly be moved from a rearward end of the luer fitting member toward the forward end thereof, with said protrusion snapping over said conical restraining surface and positioned in said recess such that said locking member has a freely rotatable fit with respect to the rotational surface when said rim is proximal of said protrusion and wherein said proximally-facing surface is adapted in use of the connection to engage said distally-facing surface as a positive stop.