Pipe joints or couplings – Particular interface – Tapered
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2001-12-25
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Particular interface
Tapered
C285S354000, C604S285000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332633
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to luer-type connectors, and more specifically it is concerned with an improved male component of such connectors, which is fitted with a locking collar, the latter at times referred to also as a “hub”.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a variety of medical products it is required to provide fast connecting means for connecting fluid transferring tubes to one another, for connecting tubes to branching devices and to different medical devices, as well as to a variety of flow control valves, etc.
For these and many other purposes, a variety of luer-type connectors are commonly utilized, which connectors provide on the one hand fast connecting and disconnecting, and on the other hand, provide reasonable reliability and security which is a critical requirement of such connectors to prevent un-intentional disconnection between the components, which under certain circumstances may be fatal for the patient or for the medical staff which may be exposed to contaminated body fluids. Still another problem which may occur in a connector non-tightly coupled is entry of air into the system which may be fatal.
Luer-type connectors are thus commonly in use. Various designs of luer-type connectors are available in which a tapered nozzle of a male-component is dimensioned to snugly, frictionally fit into a tapered socket of a female-component of the fitting, with a collar member rotatably retained over the male component and adapted for screw coupling with an annular threaded flanged portion of the female-component.
A variety of luer-type connectors are available and special consideration has been given to increased connecting force which at times may be required, e.g. to facilitate high pressure fluid flow through the connection and to prevent ingress of air into the system or, for extra precaution to prevent leakage of high risk fluids such as contaminated body fluids. However, excessive rotational force applied to the collar may eventually lead to disengagement of the collar from the male-component, entailing de-coupling of the connection which may result in a hazardous outcome.
In particular, the problem of disengagement of the collar from the male-component may occur while transferring fatty solutions which have a lubricating effect on the coupling, or even in case of unintentional excessive force applied to the collar, e.g. in case of stress of the medical staff. Evenmore, silicone oil is often applied at the zone of the selecting valve of such connectors.
Several attempts have been made to prevent unintentional disengagement of the rotatable collar from the male component. Such U.S. Pat. Nos. are for example: 4,296,949; 4,452,473; 4,639,019; 5,047,021; 5,303,964; 5,620,427; and 5,702,374.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a luer-type connector in of the aforementioned type with an improved male-component wherein locking of the male and female components is improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a A luer-type connector comprising a male-component formed with a locking nozzle having a coaxially extending nozzle lumen, and a locking collar rotatable over said nozzle, said locking collar having a rear end and is formed with an internal thread for screw coupling with a corresponding thread of a radially extending annular lug of a mating female-component of the connector; the nozzle being formed with a ridge having a radially extending abutting wall surface facing the rear end of the locking collar and a peripheral surface extending forward from the abutting wall; an annular rim behind said abutting wall, the rim having a first diameter; and an annular notch intermediate the abutting wall and the annular rim, said annular notch having a second diameter lesser than that of the first diameter; the locking collar being formed with a radially extending wall surface engageable with the abutting wall surface of the ridge for restricting forward axial displacement of the locking collar with respect to the nozzle; and an annular bulge behind said radial wall surface having a third diameter lesser than said first diameter, said annular bulge having an axial length lesser than an axial length of the annular notch; and at least one locking surface of the locking collar having a diameter for interference fit with the corresponding peripheral surface and the annular rim of the nozzle.
The arrangement of the invention is such that there is provided a definite locking position and wherein unlocking thereof is unlikely to occur unintentionally.
Preferably, the third diameter of the annular bulge is greater than the second diameter of the annular notch of the nozzle.
Still preferably, the locking collar is formed with a front locking surface forward of said radially extending wall surface for interference locking engagement with the peripheral surface of the nozzle. Alternatively or in combination, the locking collar is formed with a rear locking surface backward of the annular bulge for locking engagement with the annular rim of the nozzle.
By a preferred design, the third diameter of the annular bulge is lesser than the second diameter of the annular notch of the nozzle, for constituting interference fit therebetween.
According to a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the peripheral surface, annular notch and annular rim of the nozzle and the annular bulge and the at rear and front locking surfaces of the locking collar, are cylindrical.
In order to facilitate locking and unlocking of the locking collar with the female-component of the connector, the annular rim of the nozzle has chamfered front and rear edges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4296949 (1981-10-01), Muetterties et al.
patent: 4452473 (1984-06-01), Ruschke
patent: 4639019 (1987-01-01), Mittleman
patent: 5047021 (1991-09-01), Utterberg
patent: 5303964 (1994-04-01), Yi
patent: 5620427 (1997-04-01), Werschmidt et al.
patent: 5651776 (1997-07-01), Appling et al.
patent: 5702374 (1997-12-01), Johnson
patent: 5894373 (1999-11-01), Fitoussi et al.
Amir Elisha
Fitoussi Gilles
Elcam Plastic Kibbutz Bar-Am
Luu Teri Pham
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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