Patent Publication Number: US-2022235887-A1

Title: System for connecting tubing

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a connector for joining flexible tubing. More particularly a connector for securely joining flexible tubing or different sizes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A secure connection of flexible tubing is vital in preventing leakage, especially in health care and laboratory environments. Often flexible tubing of different sizes need to be joined together in order to complete a fluid communication circuit. Connectors of the prior art tend to have complex latching arrangements that are difficult to manufacture and use. Prior art solutions also include the use of couplings with barded ends of different sizes. However, if the barb is too tight, then assembly and disassembly of the tubing and connector is difficult. If the barb is too loose, then there is a risk of the tubing separating from the connector. Snap fittings that include latching members are also employed however, they can be difficult to secure and remove. Since such fittings rely on deflecting of plastic material, multiple secure and removal cycles can result in permanent deformation and thus damage and weaken the connection. In addition, repeated and continued use of the deflecting members may be so that the connecting members do not effectively return to their unbiased state. This, in turn, can result in a reduced latching force that can be inadvertently overcome. 
     It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a system for coupling tubing that is easy to manufacture, assemble and use that provides consistent connection between tubing of differing sizes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a system for joining tubing of different sizes including a first connector including a first and a second projection and a lumen extending therethrough. The first projection has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second projection. A first coupling includes a first and second coupling member. The first coupling member has a first body including a first aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof, the first body including threads. The second coupling member includes a second body having a second aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof. The second body includes threads complimentary with the threads of the first coupling member permitting the first and second member to be threadedly engaged, and the first aperture has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second aperture. 
     The present disclosure also provides a system for joining tubing of different sizes including a first connector including first and second projection and a lumen extending therethrough. The first projection has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second projection. A second connector has a third and fourth projection and a lumen extending therethrough. The third projection having an outer diameter substantially similar to the outer diameter of the second projection and the fourth projection has an outer diameter different from the outer diameter of the first and second projections. A first coupling includes a first and second coupling member. The first coupling member includes a first aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof. The first coupling member has a first joining element. The second coupling member includes a second aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof. The second coupling member includes a second joining element complimentary with the first joining element of the first coupling member permitting the first and second coupling members to be secured together. The first aperture has a diameter larger than a diameter of the second aperture. A second coupling has a third and a fourth coupling member, and the third coupling member have an aperture therethrough with a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the aperture in the second coupling member. The fourth coupling member has an aperture with a diameter different from the diameter of the apertures in the first, second, and third coupling members. 
     The present disclosure further provides a method for joining tubing of different sizes including, providing a first connector including first and second projection and a lumen extending therethrough, the first projection having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second projection; 
     providing a first coupling including a first and second coupling member, the first coupling member including a first aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof, the first coupling member having a threaded portion, the second coupling member including a second aperture extending therethrough along a length thereof, the second coupling member including a threaded portion complimentary with the threads of the first coupling member threaded portion permitting the first and second coupling members to be threadedly engaged, and the first aperture having a diameter larger than a diameter of the second aperture; 
     inserting a first tube first end into the first projection; 
     inserting a second tube first onto the second projection, wherein the second tube has an inner diameter size different that an inner diameter of the first tube; 
     inserting the first tube through the aperture in the first coupling member; 
     inserting the second tube through the aperture in the second coupling member; and 
     advancing the first coupling and second coupling member and threading the first coupling and second coupling member together to secure the first tube and second tube to the first connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the system showing three pieces of tubing connected. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of coupling members being placed on the tubing pieces. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of connector being placed between the tubing pieces. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of tubing pieces joined by the connector. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of tubing pieces joined by the connector and secured together by the coupling members. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a connecting system  10  is shown. The system  10  joins together flexible tubing pieces, collectively identified as reference number  12 , of either similar or dissimilar sizes in a manner which provides a secure connection that may be easily and repeatable removed and re-secured. The connecting system  10  may have a wide variety of application and is especially useful in laboratory and medical applications where secure connections of the flexible tubing are important to prevent leakage. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 , the system  10  includes a first connector  14  including first and second cylindrical projections  16  and  18  extending in opposite directions from a central body  20 . A lumen  22  extends though the first and second projections and body. Each of the first and second projections  16  and  18  includes a smooth surface, which has a decreasing diameter as it extends outwardly from the body  20 . The change in outer diameter is achieved by way of a stepped taper that permits the tubing to slide there over. The first and second projections do not include barbs. The first and second projections  16  and  18  may have different outer diameters to permit tubes of different inside diameters to be joined. The first connector  14  may be formed of a plastic material such as a polycarbonate-ABS or other material known in the art. 
     The first and second projections  16  and  18  are inserted into the tubing openings  26  until the end of the tubing abuts the central body  20  which acts as a stopper. The outer surface has a stepped taper  24  and increases in diameter and facilitates the sliding of the tubing into the first and second projections. Therefore the first and second projections each include portions having differing outer diameter sizes. The projections may be sized to be slightly larger in outer diameter than the inner diameter of the tubing. The tubing may be formed of a flexible material, e.g., PVC, PU, nylon, silicone, or rubber, such that it expands and elastically engages the connector. In one embodiment, the first projection  16  may have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter for the second projection  18 . This permits tubing of different internal diameters to be connected together. 
     The system  10  further includes a first coupling  30  including a first coupling member  32  and a second coupling member  34 . The first and second coupling members  32  and  34  may be joined and secured together. The first coupling member  32  includes a body  36  having an aperture  38  extending therethrough along its length. The aperture is defined by an annular sidewall  33  extending the length of the first coupling member  32 . The first coupling member body  36  includes a joining element in the form of an externally threaded portion  40 . The first coupling member has a first end  35  for receiving the tubing  12  and a second end  37  from which the tubing exits. 
     The second coupling member  34  includes a body  46  having an aperture  48  extending therethrough along its length. The aperture  48  is defined by a first annular sidewall  39  having a diameter sized to closely receive the tubing  12  therethrough and a second annular sidewall  41  having a diameter larger than the diameter of first annular sidewall. An annular step  43  is formed between the first and second annular sidewalls and forms an annular edge  45 . The second coupling member body  46  includes a joining element in the form of an internally threaded portion  50  that threadedly receives the first coupling member external threads  40 , thus joining the first and second coupling members together. While a threaded portions are shown and described herein for securing the first and second coupling members together, it is contemplated that other joining elements and devices could be used, for example, bayonet connections, snap connections, interlocking resilient members, clips, etc. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first and second coupling members  32  and  34  are slidable along the tubing that extends though their respective apertures  38  and  48 . The coupling member bodies  36  and  46  may each also include a gripping portion  54  that permits the respective members to  12  be gripped by hand or a tool to facilitate threading the first and second coupling members  32  and  34  together. In one embodiment, the gripping portion  54  could be a hex configuration. Alternatively, it is contemplated that gripping portion  54  could be a knurled surface or other surface to facilitate secure holding thereof. 
     In order to secure two pieces of tubing  12   a  and  12   b  together, the first and second coupling members  32  and  34  are slid onto their respective piece of tubing as shown in  FIG. 6 . The tubing ends  26  are then urged onto the first and second connector projections  16  and  18  as shown in  FIG. 7 . This insertion causes the tubing ends  26  to expand, thereby increasing the outer diameter of the tubing ends. The increased diameter is greater than the diameter of the coupling aperture  38  and  48  through which the tubing extends. The first and second coupling members  32  and  34  may then be slid along the tubing toward each other until the outer thread  40  engages the internally threaded portion  50 . The first and second coupling members  32  and  34  may then be rotated relative to each other to thread the inner and outer members together as shown in  FIG. 5 . As the first and second coupling members are drawn together, the annular sidewalls  33  and  39  defining the aperture of the first and second coupling members engage the tubing outer diameter. This exerts a hoop force F on the tubing that urges the tubing against the respective first and second projections. The joined pieces of tubing  12   a  and  12   b  are therefore securely retained on the first connector  14  and secured together in fluid communication with each other. In addition, the second coupling member edge  45  engages and elastically deforms, or pinches, the tubing  12   b  outer surface and urges the tubing  12   b  toward and against the central body  20 . The first coupling second end  37  engages and elastically deforms the tubing  12   a  extending there through and urges the tubing  12   a  into engagement against the central body  20 . Accordingly, the action of threading the first and second coupling members  32 ,  34  together both urges the tubing pieces  12  fully onto the connector  14  and exerts a hoop force F to sealingly secure the tubing onto the connector. 
     The tubing pieces  12  can be separated by unthreading the first coupling member  32  from the second coupling member  34  and sliding them apart. The pieces of tubing  12   a  and  12   b  may then be pulled apart from the first connector  14 . 
     It is contemplated that the connectors and couplings can be formed in a variety of sizes to accommodate various sizes of tubing. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a plurality of tube pieces  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  each having different sizes can all be joined together. Thus, the connector system  10  can accommodate a wide range of tubing sizes. For example, three pieces of tubing  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  each of different sizes, e.g. different inner diameters may be joined together. The system  10  may include two connectors, each having the ability to join tubing pieces of different sizes. The first connector  14  joins tubing pieces  12   a  and  12   b  as described above. In a similar manner, the second connector  70  joins tube piece  12   b  to  12   c . Two sets of couplings may also be provided. The first set includes first and second coupling members  32  and  34 , which is used in combination with the first connector  14  for securing together tube pieces  12   a  to  12   b . A second coupling  72  including third and fourth coupling member  74  and  76  are used with the second connector  70  that joins tubing  12   a  to  12   c  in a similar manner as described above. 
     It is further contemplated that a member of connectors and couplings sets could be provided in the system to permit tubing of more than three different sizes to be joined. In order to accommodate the various tubing sizes, connectors may be formed with different sized projections and couplings can be formed with different sizes apertures. The connectors and couplings may be formed as described above but with different dimensions to accommodate the particular tubing being joined together. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different apparatus and systems. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments and the following claims.