Patent ID: 8197466
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A connector comprising: a male connector section having a cavity; a female connector section having a cavity to which another male connector section the same as the male connector section can be connected; a male lock section or a female lock section, disposed adjacent to the male connector section so that the connection direction thereof is parallel to that of the male connector section; a female lock section disposed adjacent to the female connector section so that the connection direction thereof is parallel to that of the female connector section, and to which another male lock section the same as the male lock section can be coupled, or a male lock section disposed adjacent to the female connector section so that the connection direction thereof is parallel to that of the female connector section, and to which another female lock section the same as the female lock section can be coupled; and a seal member formed from an elastic material, for maintaining liquid-tightness of the connection between the other male connector section and the female connector section in a locked condition where the other male lock section and the female lock section are coupled to each other, wherein: the male lock section includes a pair of claw parts, which are capable of moving toward and away from each other, and an urging part provided on one end side of both the claw parts and operative to urge the claw parts so as to move the claw parts away from each other on the other end side; the female lock section includes engaging parts capable of engagement respectively with the claw parts of the other male lock section, which are the same as those of the male lock section, and an operating part operable to cause both the claw parts of the other male lock section, which are the same as those of the male lock section, to move toward each other; each of the claw parts includes a stepped part provided at another end portion thereof, with a claw part side first surface being substantially parallel to the direction in which the claw parts move toward and away from each other, and with a claw part side second surface being substantially perpendicular to the claw part side first surface, and an acute angle part having a claw part side third surface, which is adjacent to the claw part side first surface and which forms an acute angle with the claw part side first surface; and the engaging part has an engaging part side first surface, which makes contact with the claw part side first surface in the locked condition, and an engaging part side second surface, which makes contact with the claw part side second surface in the locked condition; and wherein, by operating the operating part in the locked condition, the claw part side first surface of the stepped part is caused to ride over the engaging part side first surface, for generating an unlocking sound which enables recognition of unlocking.