Patent ID: 8142406

Claim:
An ostomy appliance coupling comprising: a. a body-side coupling member; b. an appliance-side coupling member capable of coupling to and decoupling from the body-side coupling member, the appliance-side coupling member including a plurality of flexible fastener lugs for latching engagement with the body-side coupling member, each of said fastener lugs being capable of flexing independently of the other lugs; c. an annular, continuous, non-dynamic, and integral bracing member on the body-side coupling member moveable so as to be positionable in a bracing position or a non-bracing position, in a bracing position the bracing member braces said flexible fastener lugs so as to resist outward flexing of the flexible lugs and brace said appliance-side and body-side coupling members together, in a non-bracing position the bracing member is demounted from the appliance-side coupling member so as not to brace the flexible fastener lugs and permit decoupling of the coupling members; and d. a grippable tab projecting outwardly from said bracing member proximate to at least one fastener lug, said tab being grippable and manipulatable for applying a flexing force to said at least one fastener lug for separating the appliance-side coupling member from said body-side coupling member.