Fluid conduit coupling assembly having male and female couplers with integral valves

A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising

• a first coupler including a first mating end, a first attachment end for attaching to the first fluid conduit, a first fluid flow path extending between the first mating end and the first attachment end, a first engagement lip extending from an exterior portion of the first mating end, and a first valve in the first fluid flow path;
• and
• a second coupler including a second mating end for mating with the first mating end, a second attachment end for attaching to the second fluid conduit, a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end, a ridge extending from an interior portion of the second mating end configured to receive the first engagement lip thereby securedly attaching the first and second couplers when the first and second mating ends are mated together, and a first member adapted to open the first valve when the first and second mating ends are mated together such that the first and second fluid flow paths are joined, and
• wherein the first valve includes a lever arm and the first member encounters the lever arm when the first and second mating ends are mated together, thereby causing the valve to pivot to the open position.

A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising a first coupler comprising

• a first housing defining a first engagement lip and a second engagement lip extending from opposite positions on a first mating end, the first housing including a first release mechanism and a second release mechanism on opposite positions on the first housing, wherein the first engagement lip is operatively connected to the first release mechanism and the second engagement lip is operatively connected to the second release mechanism;
• a first attachment end for attaching to the first fluid conduit;
• a first barrel at the first mating end forming a first fluid flow path extending between the first mating end and the first attachment end;
• a first valve in the first fluid flow path and including a lever arm;
• and
• a first valve actuator coupled to the lever arm of the first valve;
• and
• a second coupler comprising
• a second housing defining a ridge on an interior wall of the second housing at a second mating end for mating with the first mating end;
• a second attachment end for attaching to the second fluid conduit;
• and
• a second barrel at the second mating end forming a portion of a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end;
• a second valve in the second fluid flow path;
• and
• a second valve actuator operably coupled to the second valve;
• and
• at least one latch in either the first or second coupler extending from either the first or second mating end adjacent the first or second barrel, respectively;
• wherein either the first or second barrel of the first or second coupler opposing the at least one latch defines a circumferential groove in an outer wall at the first or second mating end, respectively;
• wherein when the first and second mating ends are mated together such that the first and second fluid flow paths are joined, the first and second engagement lips operably connect with the ridge on the second housing at the second mating end, the at least one latch mates with the circumferential groove, and the first valve actuator abuts against the second valve actuator of the second coupler and is displaced, thereby causing the first valve to open, and
• the second valve actuator abuts against the first valve actuator of the first coupler and is displaced, thereby causing the second valve to open.

A fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the fluid conduit coupling assembly comprising

• a first coupler for connecting to the first fluid conduit and comprising:
• a first housing including a cantilever button;
• a tab operably connected to and extending from the cantilever button at a first mating end;
• and
• a first valve, wherein the first valve comprises a first lever arm;
• and
• a second coupler for connecting to the second fluid conduit and comprising:
• a second housing including a ridge on an inner wall at a second mating end of the second coupler;
• and
• a second valve, wherein the second valve comprises a second lever arm,
• wherein when a force is applied to couple together the couplers, at least a portion of said force is communicated to each lever arm, thereby causing each valve to pivot from a closed position to an open position,
• wherein the first coupler further comprises a first structural member, the second coupler further comprises a second structural member, and when the couplers are coupled together, the first structural member extends into the second coupler to contact the second lever arm and the second structural member extends into the first coupler to contact the first lever arm, and
• wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are coupled together the tab securedly attaches to the ridge and when the cantilever button is depressed, the tab releases from the ridge.

A method of coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the method comprising

• providing a first coupler connected to the first fluid conduit and a second coupler connected to the second fluid conduit, wherein
• the first coupler includes a first housing, a first latch, an engagement tab, and a first valve having a lever arm;
• and
• the second coupler includes a second housing, a second latch, and a second valve having a lever arm;
• aligning a mating end of the first coupler with a mating end of the second coupler;
• operably connecting the first latch with mating end of the second coupler;
• operable connecting the second latch with the mating end of the first coupler;
• applying a force to the couplers to cause the mating ends to engage;
• engaging the engagement tab with second housing;
• and
• communicating at least a portion of the force to the lever arm of each the first and second valve to cause each the first and second valve to pivot from a closed position to an open position,
• wherein when the mating ends engage, a structural member of each coupler enters the other coupler and displaces the lever arm of said other coupler.

A coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the coupling assembly comprising

• a first coupler comprising
• a first attachment end configured to attach to the first fluid conduit;
• a first housing defining a first engagement lip and a second engagement lip extending from opposite positions on a first mating end, the first housing including a first button operatively connected to the first engagement lip and a second button operatively connected to the second engagement lip;
• a first barrel at the first mating end forming a portion of a first fluid flow path extending between the first attachment end and the first mating end, the first barrel defining a first circumferential groove in an outer wall at the first mating end;
• a first latch extending from the first mating end adjacent the first barrel;
• a second coupler comprising:
• a second attachment end configured to attach to the second fluid conduit;
• a second housing defining a ridge on an interior wall of the second housing at a second mating end for mating with the first mating end;
• a second barrel at the second mating end forming a portion of a second fluid flow path extending between the second mating end and the second attachment end, the second barrel defining a second circumferential groove in an outer wall of the second mating end;
• a second latch extending from the second mating end adjacent the second barrel;
• wherein when the first coupler and the second coupler are mated together such that the first and second fluid paths are joined, the first latch mates with the second circumferential groove, the second latch mates with the first circumferential groove, and the first and second engagement lips operably connect with the ridge on the second housing at the second mating end.

A coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, the coupling assembly comprising

• a first coupler comprising
• a first attachment end configured to attach to the first fluid conduit;
• a first mating end, the first mating end including a first fluid flow path extending between the first attachment end and the first mating end;
• and
• a first housing surrounding the first fluid flow path, the first housing including at least one button, wherein the at least one button includes a hook at a first end of the at least one button;
• a second coupler comprising
• a second attachment end configured to attach to the second fluid conduit;
• a second mating end, the second mating end including a second fluid flow path extending between the second attachment end and the second mating end;
• and
• a second housing surrounding the second fluid flow path, the second housing defining a groove configured to receive the hook on the at least one button of the first housing;
• wherein when the first coupler and the second coupler are mated together such that the first and second fluid paths are joined, the hook operably connects to the groove.