Granted Patent B2

US 12,337,134 · App. 17/826,508 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Inventors: Benjamin M. Davis (Woodstock, GA); David A. Doornbos (Woodstock, GA)

Assignee: Avent, Inc.

A61M39/10A61J1/2055A61J1/2075A61J1/2096A61J15/008A61J15/0084A61J15/0096A61M39/1011A61M39/20A61J1/1425A61J1/1481A61J2200/70A61M2039/1027A61M2039/1033A61M2039/205A61M2202/0482A61M2230/208A61M2230/432

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A component for coupling engagement with a vented connector comprising one or more vents, the component comprising:

a cylindrical body extending from a first end to a second end, and a lumen extending through the cylindrical body from the first end to the second end;

a coupling portion receiver defined at the first end;

at least one clip defined at the second end; and

a receiver formed within the cylindrical body between the first and second ends, wherein the receiver comprises an inner surface having a diameter that is tapered from a largest diameter adjacent to the inner surface of each of the at least one clip to a smallest diameter adjacent to the coupling portion receiver;

wherein the component can be configured for connecting with the vented connector in either of a vented configuration or a sealed configuration;

wherein in the vented configuration, a first engagement member positioned on an outer surface of the second end at a first height is engaged with an endwall of the vented connector so as to provide at least some space between the inner surface of the receiver and an outer surface of a body of the vented connector;

wherein in the sealed configuration, a second engagement member positioned on an outer surface of the second end at a second height is engaged with the endwall so as to provide a sealed, interference fit between the inner surface of the receiver and the outer surface of the body of the vented connector; and

wherein when the at least one clip is passed through the one or more vents, a component-attaching portion of the vented connector is interference fit within the receiver.

2. The component of claim 1 , wherein a body of the component-attaching portion comprises a male hub, the male hub being formatted to be compatible with the ISO 80369-3 design standard, and wherein the receiver is formatted to be compatible with the ISO 80369-3 design standard so as to provide complementary interengagement between the component and the vented connector.

3. The component of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement member has an engagement surface, the engagement surface configured for interfering with an endwall of a cylindrical collar of the vented connector when the receiver is interference fit with a body of the component-attaching portion.

4. The component of claim 1 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a pair of opposing clips defining a pair of elongate channels therebetween.

5. A component, for coupling engagement with a vented connector comprising one or more vents, the component comprising:

a cylindrical body extending from a first end to a second end, and a lumen extending through the body from the first end to the second end;

a coupling portion receiver defined at the first end;

at least one clip defined at the second end; and

a receiver formed within the cylindrical body between the first and second ends, wherein the receiver comprises an inner surface having a diameter that is tapered from a largest diameter adjacent to the inner surface of each of the at least one clip to a smallest diameter adjacent to the coupling portion receiver;

wherein when the at least one clip is passed through the one or more vents, a component-attaching portion of the vented connector is interference fit within the receiver;

wherein the second end of the cylindrical body comprises a first clip and a second clip;

wherein the first clip comprises a first engagement member formed on an outer surface thereof;

wherein the second clip comprises a second engagement member formed on an outer surface thereof;

wherein the first engagement member is positioned at a first height and the second engagement member is positioned at a second height, wherein when the first engagement member engages the vented connector, the receiver of the component and a male hub of the vented connector are in a sealed interference fit; and

wherein when the second engagement member engages the vented connector, the receiver and the male hub are spaced apart and permit venting thereby.

6. The component of claim 5 , wherein the one or more clips are configured for extension through the one or more vents.

7. The component of claim 5 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a pair of opposing clips defining a pair of elongate channels therebetween.

8. The component of claim 5 , wherein the male hub is formatted to be compatible with the ISO 80369-3 design standard, and wherein the receiver is formatted to be compatible with the ISO 80369-3 design standard so as to provide complementary interengagement between the component and the vented connector.

9. The component of claim 5 , wherein the second engagement member has an engagement surface, the engagement surface configured for interfering with an endwall of a cylindrical collar of the vented connector when the receiver is interference fit with a body of the component-attaching portion.

10. A component, for coupling engagement with a vented connector comprising one or more vents, the component comprising:

a cylindrical body extending from a first end to a second end, and a lumen extending through the body from the first end to the second end;

a coupling portion receiver defined at the first end;

at least one clip defined at the second end; and

a receiver formed within the cylindrical body between the first and second ends, wherein the receiver comprises an inner surface having a diameter that is tapered from a largest diameter adjacent to the inner surface of each of the at least one clip to a smallest diameter adjacent to the coupling portion receiver;

wherein when the at least one clip is passed through the one or more vents, a component-attaching portion of the vented connector is interference fit within the receiver;

wherein the at least one clip is a circular array of four space-apart clips, wherein at least one of the four clips comprises an engagement member extending from an outer surface thereof; and

wherein the four clips include a first pair of clips and a second pair of clips, the first pair of clips comprising a first engagement member formed on an outer surface thereof at a first height and the second pair of clips comprising a second engagement member formed on an outer surface thereof at a second height, wherein the first height is not identical to the second height.

11. The component of claim 10 , wherein a body of the component-attaching portion comprises a male hub, the male hub being formatted to be compatible with the ISO 80369-3 design standard, and wherein the receiver is formatted to be compatible with the ISO 80369-3 design standard so as to provide complementary interengagement between the component and the vented connector.

12. The component of claim 10 , wherein the second engagement member has an engagement surface, the engagement surface configured for interfering with an endwall of a cylindrical collar of the vented connector when the receiver is interference fit with a body of the component-attaching portion.

13. The component of claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a pair of opposing clips defining a pair of elongate channels therebetween.

Assignments (5)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (114)