A connector assembly, comprising:
- a first connector having an outer tube having a tubular shape and including a hollow pin having a lumen provided in an inner side thereof and functioning as a first flow path through which liquid can pass, and an inner tube having a tubular shape and including a first valve body made of an elastic material for opening and closing the first flow path, the inner tube being disposed for rotation around an axis thereof in the outer tube and for movement along the direction of the axis;
- a second connector including a tubular second connector main body having a lumen which functions as a second flow path through which liquid can pass, and a second valve body disposed in the second connector main body and made of an elastic material for opening and closing the second flow path;
- locking means for connecting the inner tube and the second connector main body in an assembled state in which the first connector and the second connector are assembled;
- and
- unlocking means for releasing the connection between the inner tube and the second connector main body by the locking means,
- wherein the assembled state includes:
- a first state in which the inner tube and the second connector main body are connected by the locking means, and the inner tube and the second connector main body are rotatable around an axis of the outer tube with respect to the outer tube but are not movable in an axial direction while the first flow path is closed by the first valve body and the second flow path is closed by the second valve body;
- a second state which is established by rotating the inner tube and the second connector main body around the axis of the outer tube with respect to the outer tube from the first state, and in which the inner tube and the second connector main body are movable in the axial direction with respect to the outer tube;
- and
- a third state which is established by moving the inner tube and the second connector main body in the axial direction with respect to the outer tube from the second state so as to approach thereto, and in which the pin is inserted through the first valve body and the second valve body to communicate the first flow path and the second flow path with each other,
- wherein the connection between the inner tube and the second connector main body by the locking means is capable of being released by the unlocking means when the connector assembly is in the first state, whereas the connection is not capable of being released by the unlocking means when the connector assembly is in any of the second state and the third state,
- wherein the connector assembly further comprises blocking means for blocking inadvertent rotation of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube around the axis of the outer tube when the connector assembly is in the first state,
- wherein the locking means comprises a first engaging portion provided on an outer circumferential portion of the inner tube and a second engaging portion provided on an inner circumferential portion of the second connector main body for engaging with the first engaging portion,
- wherein the first engaging portion is formed of an elastic piece that is elastically deformable inward, and
- wherein the unlocking means comprises a pressing piece provided on the outer tube which, when pressed inward against the elastic piece, causes the first engagement portion to be separated away from the second engagement portion.