Patent ID: 6250921
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
In combination, a syringe tip and a fitting for releasably connecting the tip to a hand piece for delivering a fluid forward to a mouth of a patient, the hand piece having a passageway for delivering the fluid to a discharge end of the hand piece,the syringe tip comprising an elongate tube having an exterior surface and an interior passage extending through the tube for transporting the fluid to the patient, the exterior surface of the tip including a portion having a generally constant size and uniform shape, said portion having a substantially uniform diameter, andthe fitting comprising a body adapted to attach to the hand piece adjacent the discharge end, the body having a central opening sized and shaped for receiving said portion of the tip, and a gripping mechanism mounted in the opening having a plurality of locking fingers disposed around the opening, each of said plurality of fingers including a tooth extending inwardly into the opening and having a rearward facing point adapted to releasably engage said portion of the exterior surface of the tip when the tip is received in the opening, said points being resiliently biased inwardly to a diameter less than said uniform diameter of said tip portion thereby automatically engaging the tip upon insertion of the tip into the opening and preventing ejection of the tip from the opening due to forces applied to the tip by the fluid being transported through the tube to the patient, thereby automatically securing the tip to the hand piece when the tip is inserted into the opening of the fitting.