IP Library Granted Patent US 12,410,877
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,877 · App. 17/982,847 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Tube coupling

Inventors: Shigeyoshi Matsui (Osaka, JP); Toshihiko Matsuda (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
F16L37/252F16L37/248
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,877
App. No.
17/982,847
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tube coupling is configured to connect and couple two tubes for fluid flow. The tube coupling includes: a male connector including an insertion part having a protruding shape protruding in an axial direction that is an insertion direction; and a female connector including an insertion receiving part having a recessed shape recessed in the axial direction and configured to be coupled to the insertion part upon insertion of the insertion part into the insertion receiving part. The insertion part includes a projection on a side surface of the male connector. The insertion receiving part includes a through hole on a side surface of the female connector. The through hole extends in a direction inclined with respect to the axial direction, and is configured to allow the projection to move in the through hole.

Claims (43)

1. A tube coupling configured to connect and couple two tubes for fluid flow, the tube coupling comprising:

a male connector including an insertion part having a protruding shape, the insertion part protruding in an axial direction that is an insertion direction;

a female connector including an insertion receiving part having a recessed shape, the insertion receiving part being recessed in the axial direction and configured to be coupled to the insertion part upon insertion of the insertion part into the insertion receiving part; and

an outer seal member configured to seal the male connector and the female connector,

wherein:

the insertion part includes a projection on a side surface of the male connector;

the insertion receiving part includes a through hole on a side surface of the female connector, the through hole being configured to receive the projection;

the male connector is configured to be connected to the female connector by inserting the projection into the through hole of the female connector;

the male connector includes a first seal member and a first outer peripheral member;

the female connector includes a second seal member and a second outer peripheral member;

the second seal member is configured to contact the second outer peripheral member in a closed state such that a flow path in the tube coupling is closed;

the outer seal member is configured to contact the second outer peripheral member in the closed state; and

the outer seal member is configured to contact the first outer peripheral member in an open state such that the flow path in the tube coupling is open.

2. The tube coupling according to claim 1 , wherein:

the through hole is a first through hole which extends in a direction inclined with respect to the axial direction;

the insertion receiving part further includes a second through hole extending in a circumferential direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, the second through hole extending from an end of the first through hole along the side surface of the female connector; and

the male connector is configured to be connected to the female connector when the projection is fixed in the axial direction by the second through hole.

3. The tube coupling according to claim 2 , wherein:

the male connector is configured to be connected to the female connector by inserting the male connector into the female connector while the male connector is rotated in the direction in which the first through hole extends; and

the projection is configured to cause a position of the projection in the circumferential direction to be adjusted by being guided from the first through hole to the second through hole.

4. The tube coupling according to claim 3 , wherein:

the first through hole is one of a plurality of first through holes included in the insertion receiving part; and

a degree of freedom of the projection in an insertion position in a rotation direction of the projection is adjustable, the insertion position corresponding to a position of one of the plurality of first through holes.

5. The tube coupling according to claim 3 ,

the second through hole extends equal to or more than 20° with respect to an axis of the axial direction.

6. The tube coupling according to claim 1 , wherein the outer seal member has an X-shaped cross section.

7. A tube coupling configured to connect and couple two tubes for fluid flow, the tube coupling comprising:

a male connector including an insertion part having a protruding shape, the insertion part protruding in an axial direction that is an insertion direction;

a female connector including an insertion receiving part having a recessed shape, the insertion receiving part being recessed in the axial direction and configured to be coupled to the insertion part upon insertion of the insertion part into the insertion receiving part; and

an outer seal member configured to seal the male connector and the female connector,

wherein:

the insertion part includes a projection on a side surface of the male connector;

the insertion receiving part includes: (i) a first through hole on a side surface of the female connector, the first through hole extending in a direction inclined with respect to the axial direction, and the first through hole being configured to allow the projection to move in the first through hole; and (ii) a second through hole extending in a circumferential direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, the second through hole extending from an end of the first through hole along the side surface of the female connector;

the male connector is configured to be connected to the female connector when the projection is fixed in the axial direction by the second through hole;

the second through hole extends equal to or more than 20° with respect to an axis of the axial direction;

the male connector includes a first seal member and a first outer peripheral member;

the female connector includes a second seal member and a second outer peripheral member;

the second seal member is configured to contact the second outer peripheral member in a closed state such that a flow path in the tube coupling is closed;

the outer seal member is configured to contact the second outer peripheral member in the closed state; and

the outer seal member is configured to contact the first outer peripheral member in an open state such that the flow path in the tube coupling is open.

8. The tube coupling according to claim 7 , wherein:

the first through hole is one of a plurality of first through holes included in the insertion receiving part; and

a degree of freedom of the projection in an insertion position in a rotation direction of the projection is adjustable, the insertion position corresponding to a position of one of the plurality of first through holes.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC PROJECTOR & DISPLAY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 074988/0945 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 074984/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2023
From: MATSUI, SHIGEYOSHI; MATSUDA, TOSHIHIKO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062366/0031 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-182619 · Nov 9, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230143867A1 · May 11, 2023
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