Connector for flexible tubing
AssigneeEMD Millipore Corporation
InventorsStephen P. Proulx, Joseph Cianciolo, Brian Pereira, James Vigna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector is provided for connecting a flexible conduit with a second conduit having a barbed outer surface. The connector accommodates the end of the flexible conduit and the end of the second conduit in a manner which prevents removal of the flexible conduit and the second conduit from the connector. Optionally, the connector has a ring that may be used to apply additional pressure and security to the outer surface of the flexible conduit. additionally, the connector may have a wireless enabled communication and optionally, memory device such as a RFID tag attached or affixed to it.
Claims24
A connector system for a flexible conduit and a second conduit comprising a flexible conduit having a hollow inner pathway therethrough, a second conduit having a barbed outer surface with a step part and a bottom part and an opening between the bottom part and a farthermost portion of the barb from the bottom part, the second conduit barb portion being inserted within the inner hollow pathway of the flexible conduit, a connector for said flexible conduit and second conduit, the connector having a central annular opening through which the flexible conduit and barbed portion of the second conduit can be inserted, one or more tabs sized to contact the step part of the barb and to contact an inner surface of the flexible conduit and one or more flexible fingers sized to contact an outer surface of the flexible conduit.
A connector comprising:
- (i) an annular housing having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, the inner peripheral surface being of a size to accept an open end of a flexible conduit;
- (ii) a plurality of flexible fingers positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the annular housing;
- and
- (ii) one or more tabs on an inner peripheral surface of the annular housing,
- wherein the tabs are sized to contact a step of a barb on a second conduit having a barbed outer surface and to contact an inner surface of the flexible conduit and the fingers are sized to permit the flexible conduit to be positioned within the annular housing, wherein the connector connects the the flexible conduit and the second conduit having a barbed outer surface.
A connector system for transporting fluid wherein the connector system comprises, a flexible conduit, a second conduit having a barbed outer surface and a connector for connecting said flexible conduit and said second conduit having a barbed outer surface, wherein said connector comprises an annular housing having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, the inner peripheral surface being of a size to accept an open end of a flexible conduit, a plurality of flexible fingers on the outer peripheral surface of the annular housing and one or more tabs on the inner peripheral surface of the annular housing, wherein the tabs secure the second conduit within the connector by exerting a force on a bottom surface of the barbed outer surface, wherein the tabs are sized to contact a step of a barb on the second conduit and to contact an inner surface of the flexible conduit, thereby to exert a compressive force on the inner surface of the flexible conduit, and the fingers exert a compressive force on an outer surface of said flexible conduit, wherein fluid is transported between the flexible conduit and the second conduit having a barbed outer surface.
A connector system for transporting fluid, wherein the connector system comprises a flexible conduit having a hollow inner pathway therethrough, a second conduit having a barbed outer surface with a step part and a bottom part, a flange portion adjacent the barbed outer surface and an opening between the flange and the farthermost portion of the barb, the second conduit barb portion being inserted within the inner hollow pathway of the flexible conduit, a connector for said flexible conduit and second conduit, the connector having a central annular opening through which the flexible conduit and barbed portion of the second conduit can be inserted, one or more flexible tabs outside of and adjacent to the central annular opening and capable of interacting with the step part and bottom part of the barbed section and capable of contacting the inner hollow pathway of the flexible conduit , and one or more flexible fingers arranged outside of and adjacent to the one or more tabs to interact with an outer surface of the flexible conduit, wherein fluid is transported between the flexible conduit and the second conduit.
A process of securing a flexible conduit to a second conduit comprising the steps of providing a flexible conduit having an outer wall and an inner pathway therethrough, a second conduit having a flange portion and an outer barbed portion extending away from at least one side of the flange portion, the barbed portion having a step part and a bottom part, the second conduit having a first opening in the flange portion and a second opening in the barbed portion with a bore between the first and second openings, providing a connector formed of a central opening having an inner diameter that is greater to or equal to the outer diameter of the flexible conduit, and having one or more flexible fingers arranged outside of and adjacent to one or more tabs, inserting the barbed portion of the second conduit into the inner pathway of the flexible conduit so as to cause the one or more tabs to interact with the barbed portion of the second conduit and the one or more tabs to contact the inner pathway of the flexible conduit and the one or more flexible fingers to interact with a surface of the flexible conduit to produce a strong seal between the second conduit, the connector and the flexible conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.