Patent Application
20220235887
The disclosure relates to a connector for joining flexible tubing. More particularly a connector for securely joining flexible tubing or different sizes.
A secure connection of flexible tubing is vital in preventing leakage, especially in health care and laboratory environments. Often flexible tubing of different sizes need to be joined together in order to complete a fluid communication circuit. Connectors of the prior art tend to have complex latching arrangements that are difficult to manufacture and use. Prior art solutions also include the use of couplings with barded ends of different sizes. However, if the barb is too tight, then assembly and disassembly of the tubing and connector is difficult. If the barb is too loose, then there is a risk of the tubing separating from the connector. Snap fittings that include latching members are also employed however, they can be difficult to secure and remove. Since such fittings rely on deflecting of plastic material, multiple secure and removal cycles can result in permanent deformation and thus damage and weaken the connection. In addition, repeated and continued use of the deflecting members may be so that the connecting members do not effectively return to their unbiased state. This, in turn, can result in a reduced latching force that can be inadvertently overcome.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a system for coupling tubing that is easy to manufacture, assemble and use that provides consistent connection between tubing of differing sizes.
The present disclosure provides a system for joining tubing of different sizes including a first connector including a first and a second projection and a lumen extending therethrough. The first projection has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second projection. A first coupling includes a first and second coupling member. The first coupling member has a first body including a first aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof, the first body including threads. The second coupling member includes a second body having a second aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof. The second body includes threads complimentary with the threads of the first coupling member permitting the first and second member to be threadedly engaged, and the first aperture has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second aperture.
The present disclosure also provides a system for joining tubing of different sizes including a first connector including first and second projection and a lumen extending therethrough. The first projection has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second projection. A second connector has a third and fourth projection and a lumen extending therethrough. The third projection having an outer diameter substantially similar to the outer diameter of the second projection and the fourth projection has an outer diameter different from the outer diameter of the first and second projections. A first coupling includes a first and second coupling member. The first coupling member includes a first aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof. The first coupling member has a first joining element. The second coupling member includes a second aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof. The second coupling member includes a second joining element complimentary with the first joining element of the first coupling member permitting the first and second coupling members to be secured together. The first aperture has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second aperture. A second coupling has a third and a fourth coupling member, and the third coupling member have an aperture therethrough with a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the aperture in the second coupling member. The fourth coupling member has an aperture with a diameter different from the diameter of the apertures in the first, second, and third coupling members.
The present disclosure further provides a method for joining tubing of different sizes including, providing a first connector including first and second projection and a lumen extending therethrough, the first projection having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second projection;
providing a first coupling including a first and second coupling member, the first coupling member including a first aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof, the first coupling member having a threaded portion, the second coupling member including a second aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof, the second coupling member including a threaded portion complimentary with the threads of the first coupling member threaded portion permitting the first and second coupling members to be threadedly engaged, and the first aperture having a diameter larger than a diameter of the second aperture;
inserting a first tube first end into the first projection;
inserting a second tube first onto the second projection, wherein the second tube has an inner diameter size different that an inner diameter of the first tube;
inserting the first tube through the aperture in the first coupling member;
inserting the second tube through the aperture in the second coupling member; and
advancing the first coupling and second coupling member and threading the first coupling and second coupling member together to secure the first tube and second tube to the first connector.
With reference to
With reference to
The first and second projections 16 and 18 are inserted into the tubing openings 26 until the end of the tubing abuts the central body 20 which acts as a stopper. The outer surface has a stepped taper 24 and increases in diameter and facilitates the sliding of the tubing into the first and second projections. Therefore the first and second projections each include portions having differing outer diameter sizes. The projections may be sized to be slightly larger in outer diameter than the inner diameter of the tubing. The tubing may be formed of a flexible material, e.g., PVC, PU, nylon, silicone, or rubber, such that it expands and elastically engages the connector. In one embodiment, the first projection 16 may have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter for the second projection 18. This permits tubing of different internal diameters to be connected together.
The system 10 further includes a first coupling 30 including a first coupling member 32 and a second coupling member 34. The first and second coupling members 32 and 34 may be joined and secured together. The first coupling member 32 includes a body 36 having an aperture 38 extending therethrough along its length. The aperture is defined by an annular sidewall 33 extending the length of the first coupling member 32. The first coupling member body 36 includes a joining element in the form of an externally threaded portion 40. The first coupling member has a first end 35 for receiving the tubing 12 and a second end 37 from which the tubing exits.
The second coupling member 34 includes a body 46 having an aperture 48 extending therethrough along its length. The aperture 48 is defined by a first annular sidewall 39 having a diameter sized to closely receive the tubing 12 therethrough and a second annular sidewall 41 having a diameter larger than the diameter of first annular sidewall. An annular step 43 is formed between the first and second annular sidewalls and forms an annular edge 45. The second coupling member body 46 includes a joining element in the form of an internally threaded portion 50 that threadedly receives the first coupling member external threads 40, thus joining the first and second coupling members together. While a threaded portions are shown and described herein for securing the first and second coupling members together, it is contemplated that other joining elements and devices could be used, for example, bayonet connections, snap connections, interlocking resilient members, clips, etc. As shown in
In order to secure two pieces of tubing 12a and 12b together, the first and second coupling members 32 and 34 are slid onto their respective piece of tubing as shown in
The tubing pieces 12 can be separated by unthreading the first coupling member 32 from the second coupling member 34 and sliding them apart. The pieces of tubing 12a and 12b may then be pulled apart from the first connector 14.
It is contemplated that the connectors and couplings can be formed in a variety of sizes to accommodate various sizes of tubing. As shown in
It is further contemplated that a member of connectors and couplings sets could be provided in the system to permit tubing of more than three different sizes to be joined. In order to accommodate the various tubing sizes, connectors may be formed with different sized projections and couplings can be formed with different sizes apertures. The connectors and couplings may be formed as described above but with different dimensions to accommodate the particular tubing being joined together.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different apparatus and systems. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments and the following claims.
