Connector system for releasably connecting fluid conduits
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a connector system for releasably connecting together tubes, for example medical tubing, and methods of making and using such a connector system, whereby the connector system includes a female coupler having a first passageway, a male coupler having a second passageway, a catch movably coupled to the female coupler, and a catch-receiving element coupled to the male coupler. The connector system further includes a release element movably coupled to the female coupler, whereby travel of the release element along or over a female coupler outer surface of the female coupler disengages the catch from the catch-receiving element to achieve a disconnected condition of the connector system. Further disclosed herein are embodiments of a connector system for releasably connecting together tubes, whereby the connector system includes at least one valve biased by a valve-biasing member disposed external to or outside of the fluid flow path.
1. A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
a female coupler comprising:
a first conduit defining a first passageway;
a first seal assembly fixedly coupled to said first conduit in axially spaced apart relation;
a first o-ring at least partially recessed within a first seal assembly outer surface of said first seal assembly;
a first valve telescopingly disposed about said first conduit, said first valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said first passageway; and
a first valve-biasing member disposed outside of said first passageway, said first valve-biasing member operable to bias said first valve toward a first valve closed position, said first valve-biasing member disposed about at least a portion of said first valve; and
a male coupler comprising:
a second conduit defining a second passageway;
a second seal assembly fixedly coupled to said second conduit in axially spaced apart relation;
a second o-ring at least partially recessed within a second seal assembly outer surface of said second seal assembly; and
a second conduit-biasing member disposed outside of said second passageway, said second conduit-biasing member operable to bias said second conduit to provide a second passageway closed condition.
2. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein upon releasable matable axial coupling of said female and male couplers, a connected condition of said connector system is achieved; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first valve is forcibly urged toward a first valve open position to allow fluid to flow through said first passageway and said second conduit is forcibly urged to provide a second passageway open condition to allow said fluid to flow through said second passageway; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first passageway fluidicly communicates with said second passageway to provide a fluid flow path through which said fluid can flow between connector system first and second ends.
3. The connector system of claim 2 , wherein said first valve is capable of longitudinal travel over said first conduit.
4. The connector system of claim 3 , wherein a first valve inner surface of said first valve disposes adjacent a first conduit outer surface of said first conduit.
5. The connector system of claim 1 , said second conduit-biasing member disposed about at least a portion of said second conduit.
6. A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
a female coupler comprising:
a first conduit defining a first passageway;
a first seal assembly fixedly coupled to said first conduit in axially spaced apart relation;
a first o-ring at least partially recessed within a first seal assembly outer surface of said first seal assembly;
a first valve telescopingly disposed about said first conduit, said first valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said first passageway; and
a first valve-biasing member disposed outside of said first passageway, said first valve-biasing member operable to bias said first valve toward a first valve closed position, said first valve-biasing member disposed about at least a portion of said first valve; and
a male coupler comprising:
a second conduit defining a second passageway;
a second seal assembly fixedly coupled to said second conduit in axially spaced apart relation;
a second o-ring at least partially recessed within a second seal assembly outer surface of said second seal assembly;
a second valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said second passageway, said second valve fixedly coupled to said second conduit; and
a second valve-biasing member disposed outside of said second passageway, said second valve-biasing member operable to bias said second valve toward a second valve closed position.
7. The connector system of claim 6 , wherein upon releasable matable axial coupling of said female and male couplers, a connected condition of said connector system is achieved; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first valve is forcibly urged toward a first valve open position to allow fluid to flow through said first passageway and said second valve is forcibly urged toward a second valve open position to allow said fluid to flow through said second passageway; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first passageway fluidicly communicates with said second passageway to provide a fluid flow path through which said fluid can flow between connector system first and second ends.
8. The connector system of claim 7 , wherein said first valve is capable of longitudinal travel over said first conduit.
9. The connector system of claim 8 , wherein a first valve inner surface of said first valve disposes adjacent a first conduit outer surface of said first conduit.
10. The connector system of claim 6 , said second valve-biasing member disposed about at least a portion of said second valve.
11. A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
a female coupler comprising:
a first conduit defining a first passageway;
a first seal assembly fixedly coupled to said first conduit in axially spaced apart relation;
a first o-ring at least partially recessed within a first seal assembly outer surface of said first seal assembly;
a first valve telescopingly disposed about said first conduit, said first valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said first passageway; and
a first valve-biasing member disposed outside of said first passageway, said first valve-biasing member operable to bias said first valve toward a first valve closed position, said first valve-biasing member disposed about at least a portion of said first valve; and
a male coupler comprising:
a second conduit defining a second passageway;
a second seal assembly fixedly coupled to said second conduit in axially spaced apart relation;
a second o-ring at least partially recessed within a second seal assembly outer surface of said second seal assembly; and
a second conduit-biasing member disposed (i) about said second conduit and (ii) outside of said second passageway, said second conduit-biasing member operable to bias said second conduit to provide a second passageway closed condition.
12. The connector system of claim 11 , wherein upon releasable matable axial coupling of said female and male couplers, a connected condition of said connector system is achieved; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first valve is forcibly urged toward a first valve open position to allow fluid to flow through said first passageway and said second conduit is forcibly urged to provide a second passageway open condition to allow said fluid to flow through said second passageway; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first passageway fluidicly communicates with said second passageway to provide a fluid flow path through which said fluid can flow between connector system first and second ends.
13. The connector system of claim 12 , wherein said first valve-biasing member biases said first valve toward said first seal assembly.
14. The connector system of claim 13 , wherein said first valve-biasing member comprises a resiliently compressible member.
15. The connector system of claim 14 , wherein said resiliently compressible member comprises a spring.
16. The connector system of claim 11 , said second conduit-biasing member disposed about at least a portion of said second conduit.