Female connector

1 . A female connector configured to connect to a male connector, the male connector comprising a lock claw and a channel connection portion having a hollow rod shape that defines a first channel in the channel connection portion, the female connector comprising:

a cap;

a housing; and

a valve; wherein:

the cap comprises:

a top wall comprising an opening configured to receive the channel connection portion, and

a peripheral wall extending from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall;

the housing comprises:

a cylindrical wall having an inner peripheral surface that defines a second channel, and

an engaging protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall to form a lower surface configured to engage with the lock claw to connect the male connector to the female connector and put the male connector into a locked state; and

the valve comprises:

a sandwiched portion sandwiched between the top wall and the cylindrical wall, and

a penetration portion located in the opening in a top view and penetrating the valve in an up-and-down direction;

the engaging protrusion and the peripheral wall form a boundary between a flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion and a lower end face of the peripheral wall;

an outer diameter of the lower end face of the peripheral wall is less than an outer diameter of the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion; and

the engaging protrusion has an outer peripheral surface including a tapered surface that extends directly from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion, the tapered surface having a diameter that increases downward from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion.

2 . The female connector according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall has an outer peripheral surface including a fixed diameter portion having a constant outer diameter extending upward from the boundary.

3 . The female connector according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall has an outer peripheral surface including a lower edge having a tapered surface or a protruding curved surface with a diameter that increases upward from the boundary.

4 . The female connector according to claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheral surface of the engaging protrusion has a fixed outer diameter in a circumferential direction.

5 . A connector set comprising:

a male connector comprising:

a lock claw, and

a channel connection portion having a hollow rod shape that defines a first channel in the channel connection portion; and

a female connector configured to connect to the male connector, the female connector comprising:

a cap;

a housing; and

a valve; wherein:

the cap comprises:

a top wall comprising an opening configured to receive the channel connection portion, and

a peripheral wall extending from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall;

the housing comprises:

a cylindrical wall having an inner peripheral surface that defines a second channel, and

an engaging protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall to form a lower surface configured to engage with the lock claw to connect the male connector to the female connector and put the male connector into a locked state; and

the valve comprises:

a sandwiched portion sandwiched between the top wall and the cylindrical wall, and

a penetration portion located in the opening in a top view and penetrating the valve in an up-and-down direction;

the engaging protrusion and the peripheral wall form a boundary between a flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion and a lower end face of the peripheral wall;

an outer diameter of the lower end face of the peripheral wall is less than an outer diameter of the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion; and

the engaging protrusion has an outer peripheral surface including a tapered surface that extends directly from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion, the tapered surface having a diameter that increases downward from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion.

6 . The connector set according to claim 5 , wherein the peripheral wall has an outer peripheral surface including a fixed diameter portion having a constant outer diameter extending upward from the boundary.

7 . The connector set according to claim 5 , wherein the peripheral wall has an outer peripheral surface including a lower edge having a tapered surface or a protruding curved surface with a diameter that increases upward from the boundary.

8 . The connector set according to claim 5 , wherein the outer peripheral surface of the engaging protrusion has a fixed outer diameter in a circumferential direction.

9 . A method comprising:

providing a male connector comprising:

a lock claw, and

a channel connection portion having a hollow rod shape that defines a first channel in the channel connection portion; and

providing a female connector comprising:

a cap;

a housing; and

a valve; wherein:

the cap comprises:

a top wall comprising an opening configured to receive the channel connection portion, and

a peripheral wall extending from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall;

the housing comprises:

a cylindrical wall having an inner peripheral surface that defines a second channel, and

an engaging protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall to form a lower surface configured to engage with the lock claw; and

the valve comprises:

a sandwiched portion sandwiched between the top wall and the cylindrical wall, and

a penetration portion located in the opening in a top view and penetrating the valve in an up-and-down direction;

the engaging protrusion and the peripheral wall form a boundary between a flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion and a lower end face of the peripheral wall;

an outer diameter of the lower end face of the peripheral wall is less than an outer diameter of the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion; and

the engaging protrusion has an outer peripheral surface including a tapered surface that extends directly from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion, the tapered surface having a diameter that increases downward from the flat upper surface of the engaging protrusion; and

connecting the male connector to the female connector such that the lower surface of the engaging protrusion engages with the lock claw, thereby putting the male connector into a locked state.