Patent Application
20150345674
A broad object of a particular embodiment of the invention can be to provide a connector including a tubular inner surface defining a connector passageway which communicates between connector first and second open ends; and a barb inwardly extending from the tubular inner surface into the connector passageway proximate the connector first open end, the barb terminating in a barb tip which disposes away from the connector first open end. The barb tip is configured to engage with a conduit external surface of a conduit inserted into the connector first open end for receipt within the connector passageway.
Another broad object of a particular embodiment of the invention can be to provide the connector having the tubular inner surface and the barb formed as a one-piece construct.
Another broad object of a particular embodiment of the invention can be to provide a method of making a connector, the method including providing a tubular inner surface defining a connector passageway which communicates between connector first and second open ends; inwardly extending a barb from the tubular inner surface into the connector passageway proximate the connector first open end, the barb terminating in a barb tip; and disposing the barb tip away from the connector first open end. The barb tip is configured to engage with a conduit external surface of a conduit inserted into the connector first open end for receipt within the connector passageway.
Another broad object of a particular embodiment of the invention can be to provide a method of making the connector by forming the tubular inner surface and the barb as a one-piece construct.
Another broad object of a particular embodiment of the invention can be to provide a method of using a connector to connect to a conduit, the method including obtaining the connector comprising: a tubular inner surface defining a connector passageway which communicates between connector first and second open ends; and a barb inwardly extending from the tubular inner surface into the connector passageway proximate the connector first open end, the barb terminating in a barb tip which disposes away from the connector first open end; and fixedly securing the conduit within the connector passageway.
Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, and claims.
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Upon fixed securement of the conduit (8) within the connector passageway (3), a conduit passageway (10) defined by a conduit internal surface (11) fluidicly couples to the connector passageway (10) to provide a first portion of a fluid flow path (12). Accordingly, the method of using the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include flowing fluid (13) through the fluid flow path (12).
The term “conduit” for the purposes of the present invention means a tubular member, usually but not necessarily of circular cross section, having a wall thickness, usually but not necessarily uniform in thickness, disposed between a conduit external surface (9) and a conduit internal surface (11) which defines a conduit passageway (10) extending between conduit first and second open ends (14)(15).
A conduit (8) can be formed from a polymeric material, which can include as non-limiting examples: thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyester, thermoplastic polyamides; polypropylene, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride, polyether block amide, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or the like, or combinations thereof.
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The term “apparatus” for the purposes of the present invention means a device, usually but not necessarily a medical device, which can be coupled to the connector (1) proximate the connector second open end (5).
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As but one illustrative example, the tubular inner surface (2) can be configured to define a connector passageway (3) having a generally circular cross section, which can correspondingly insertingly receive a conduit (8) having a generally circular cross section.
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The term “barb” for the purposes of the present invention means a protrusion having a tip which extends in a first direction to preclude extraction in a second direction which opposes the first direction. Typically, the barb tip (7) disposes in oblique relation to the tubular inner surface (2) of the connector (1) having the barb (6).
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As to these particular embodiments, the annular barb (21) can be defined by a plurality of annular barb side walls (22), such as annular barb first and second side walls (23)(24), which inwardly taper to an annular barb tip (25). The annular barb side walls (22) can be linear, arcuate, or combinations thereof, and can have any of a numerous and wide variety of dimensions which inwardly taper to provide the annular barb tip (25) which disposes away from the connector first open end (4).
As but one illustrative example, the annular barb (21) can be defined by an annular barb first side wall (23) having a greater side wall length and disposing at a lesser angle (26) in relation to a longitudinal axis (27) of the connector passageway (3) (for example, an angle of) 30° relative to an annular barb second side wall (24), which has a lesser side wall length and disposes at a greater angle (26) in relation to the longitudinal axis (27) of the connector passageway (3) (for example, an angle of 60°), thereby providing an annular barb tip (25) which disposes away from the connector first open end (4) (as shown in the example of
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The helical barb (28) can be defined by a plurality of helical barb side walls (30), such as helical barb first and second side walls (31)(32), which inwardly taper to a helical barb tip (33), whereby the helical barb side walls (30) can be configured as described above for the annual barb side walls (22) of the annular barb (21).
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As but one illustrative example, the couplable barb (35) can slidably engage with the connector (1), whereby upon slidable engagement, the couplable barb (35) is received within the aperture element opening (38) to inwardly extend from the tubular inner surface (2) into the connector passageway (3) proximate the connector first open end (4). However, the invention need not be limited to slidable engagement.
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As but one illustrative example, the connector outer surface (39) proximate the connector second open end (5) can include spiral threads configured to matably engage with corresponding spiral threads disposed about an apparatus (16), such as a medical syringe barrel, upon rotational engagement of the medical syringe barrel with the connector (1).
As to particular embodiments, the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include one or more flange elements coupled to the connector outer surface (39), whereby the flange elements can facilitate gripping of the connector (1) to forcibly urge coupling of the connector (1) with a conduit (8), an apparatus (16), or combinations thereof.
A method of making a particular embodiment of the connector (1) includes providing a tubular inner surface (2) defining a connector passageway (3) which communicates between connector first and second open ends (4)(5); inwardly extending a barb (6) from the tubular inner surface (2) into the connector passageway (3) proximate the connector first open end (4), the barb (6) terminating in a barb tip (7); and disposing the barb tip (7) away from the connector first open end (4). The barb tip (7) is configured to engage with a conduit external surface (9) of a conduit (8) inserted into the connector first open end (4) for receipt within the connector passageway (3).
The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include inwardly extending a plurality of discrete barbs (19) from the tubular inner surface (2) into the connector passageway (3) proximate the connector first open end (4), each discrete barb (19) terminating in a discrete barb tip (20); and disposing each discrete barb tip (19) away from the connector first open end (4). As to particular embodiments, the method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include disposing the plurality of discrete barbs (19) in circumferentially spaced apart relation.
The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include configuring the barb (6) as an annular barb (21) circumferentially extending about the tubular inner surface (2).
The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include configuring the barb (6) as a helical barb (28) helically extending about the tubular inner surface (2).
The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include forming the tubular inner surface (2) and the barb (6) as a one-piece construct. As to particular embodiments, the tubular inner surface (2) and the barb (6) can be formed as a one-piece construct by injection molding.
However, the method of making the connector (1) need not be limited to injection molding, as particular embodiments of the connector (1) can be formed by other methods, such as compression molding, extrusion molding, fabrication, machining, printing, additive printing, three-dimensional printing, or the like, or combinations thereof, as a one-piece construct or a unitary construct.
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The connector (1) can be made any of a numerous and wide variety of materials, including polymeric material (49) or resin (50), which can include as non-limiting examples:
thermoplastics, such as acrylic, nylon, polybenzimidazole, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or the like; thermosets, such as polyester fiberglass, polyurethanes, rubber, polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, urea-formaldehyde foam, melamine resin, epoxy resin, polyimides, cynate esters, polycyanurates, polyester resin, or the like; elastomers, such as natural polyisoprene, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, chloropene rubber, butyl rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, perfluoroelastomers, polyether block amides, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, thermal plastic elastomer (TPE), or the like, or combinations thereof.
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As to particular embodiments, a heating profile can be set for the barrel (56) in which one or more temperature-controlled heater zones gradually increase the temperature of the barrel (56) from the barrel rear end (55) to the barrel front end (58). This allows the nurdles (52) of polymeric material (49) or resin (50) to melt gradually as they are forced along the length of the barrel (56) toward the barrel front end (58).
The screw (57) acting on the nurdles (52) generates an amount of pressure and friction which can generate an additional amount of heat. The heat of pressure and friction can be sufficient to achieve or maintain the melt point of the polymeric material (49) or resin (50) inside the barrel (56). The injection molder (51) can further include cooling elements, such as fans or water jackets, to maintain the temperature at or below a temperature set point.
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The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include configuring the barb (6) as a couplable barb (35) capable of coupling to the connector (1) to inwardly extend from the tubular inner surface (2) into the connector passageway (3) proximate the connector first open end (4), the couplable barb (35) terminating in a couplable barb tip (36); and disposing the couplable barb tip (36) away from the connector first open end (4).
The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include disposing at least one aperture element (37) in the connector (1), the aperture element (37) defining an aperture element opening (38) which communicates between a connector outer surface (39) and the connector passageway (3); whereby the aperture element opening (38) is configured to receive the couplable barb (35).
The method of making the connector (1) can, but need not necessarily, further include configuring the couplable barb tip (36) to penetrate a conduit external surface (9) of the conduit (8) received within the connector passageway (3).
A method of using the connector (1) to connect to a conduit (8) includes obtaining the connector (1) and fixedly securing the conduit (8) within the connector passageway (3), as described above. Following, the method can further include flowing fluid (13) through the fluid flow path (12), also as described above.
The method of using the connector (1) to connect to a conduit (8) can, but need not necessarily, further include coupling an apparatus (16) to the connector (1), as described above. Subsequently, the method can further include flowing fluid (13) through the fluid flow path (12), also as described above.
As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a connector having a tubular inner surface barb and methods for making and using such connectors having a tubular inner surface barb, including the best mode.
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “connector” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “connecting”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “connecting”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “connector” and even a “means for connecting”. Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. A numerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited numeric value or having the same function or result. Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly, the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have a range of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider as having the same function or result. When a particular element is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element forms another embodiment.
Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwise limited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the connectors having a tubular inner surface barb herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application, if any, provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
This United States Non-Provisional Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/006,719, filed Jun. 2, 2014, hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62006719 | Jun 2014 | US |
