Pipe joints or couplings – For branched path – Y-type
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-11
2001-09-18
Nicholson, Eric K. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
For branched path
Y-type,
C285S423000, C285S293100, C285S285100, C604S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290265
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to tubing and connector assemblies and, specifically, to those assemblies utilizing multi-lumen connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tubing assemblies including flexible tubing and multi-lumen connectors have been used in many applications, including those that require a high degree of assurance that contamination will not enter the system by way of the connector. Applications of such systems include closed systems in the medical field in which the flexible tubing may be clipped into a peristaltic pump used for medical purposes. Past tubing and connector assemblies have required various means for securing the connectors to the flexible tubing, including mechanical connectors or adhesive. These systems are therefore susceptible to contaminants entering the system at the point of connection.
Connectors have been molded directly to two tubes, however, to Applicant's knowledge, there has never been an acceptable method of directly molding a multi-lumen connector to three or more flexible tubes. In general, this is due to the problems associated with maintaining fluid passages within the connector and between the multiple tubes during and after the molding process.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a tubing and connector assembly as well as a method of molding such an assembly in a cost-efficient manner to produce an integral tubing and connector assembly that maintains a high degree of system integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore generally provides an integral connector and tubing assembly including a one-piece, multi-lumen connector having at least three connector portions and at least three tubes. Each of the tubes is molded into one connector portion, and a fluid path extends within each connector portion and communicates between each of the three tubes. The connector may be “Y” shaped with three connector portions respectively receiving three flexible tubes. The connector assembly may also have additional connector portions and a like number of additional flexible tubes. The connector is preferably molded from liquid silicone while the tubes are preferably flexible and formed from a thermoset silicone.
A method of molding a connector and tubing assembly of the present invention generally includes molding first and second portions of a connector around respective ends of first and second tubes while maintaining fluid passages through the first and second portions and in communication with internal fluid bores of the first and third tubes and then molding a second portion of the connector around an end of a third tube and connected with the first and second portions while maintaining a fluid passage between the end of the third tube and the fluid passages in the first and second portions. Preferably, first and second rod members are placed in the respective ends of the first and second tubes prior to molding the first and second portions and a third rod member is placed in the end of the third tube prior to molding the third portion. Prior to molding the third portion, the first and second rod members are removed from the first and second portions of the connector. The first and second rod members may be part of a “Y” shaped member and each molding step may be performed in a single mold.
A more specific and preferred method of making the connector and tubing assembly according to this invention includes the steps of: connecting the internal fluid bores of respective ends of first and second tubes to first and second rod members; placing the rod members and the ends of the first and second tubes into a first mold cavity; filling the first mold cavity with curable material to form a first and second connector portions around the ends of the first and second tubes and the first and second rod members such that the first and second rod members form fluid passages through the connector; withdrawing the first and second rod members; inserting a third rod member into the internal fluid bore in an end of a third tube; placing the end of the third tube into a second mold cavity and in engagement with at least one of the fluid passages; filling the second mold cavity with additional curable material to form a third connector portion; and removing the third rod member.
Preferably, the first and second mold cavities communicate with one another in the same mold. The mold may be an injection mold. For allowing the use of a single mold, a mold insert may be placed within the second mold cavity prior to filling the first mold cavity with the curable material. This prevents the curable material from filling the second mold cavity during this initial molding step. The mold insert is generally solid but preferably includes a central hole. The first and second rod members may be part of a “Y” shaped member. In this case, the second step further includes placing a third leg of the “Y” shaped member within the central hole of the insert and placing the insert within the second mold cavity. The mold insert may have a protrusion surrounding the hole and this protrusion may then form a recess in communication with the passages in the initially formed connector portions. This recess can be used to locate or receive the third tube prior to the second molding step, i.e., prior to filling the second mold cavity with additional curable material.
Various objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill upon review of the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Steele Rick Alan
Warburton-Pitt Stephen Ronald
Nicholson Eric K.
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
Wood Herron & Evans L.L.P.
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