Patent ID: 7357782

Claim:
An adapter for connecting a vacuum source to a breast shield with tubing comprising: a housing attachable to the vacuum source including an internal chamber in communication with the vacuum source; one or more female coupling components, each of said one or more female coupling components defined by an interior sidewall surface of said housing, said interior sidewall surface including an upper well with a first sidewall diameter and a lower well with a second sidewall diameter, said second sidewall diameter being less than said first sidewall diameter, and a rim portion between said upper well and said lower well connecting said upper well and said lower well, said lower well including one or more ports formed therein allowing communication of said lower well with said internal chamber, and one or more channels formed therein communicating between said port and an opening in said rim portion; and one or more male coupling components, each of said one or more male coupling components including a first end, a second end, and a passageway extending between said first end and said second end, said first end being sized and shaped to be attached to the tubing, said second end being sized and shaped to be received in one of said one or more female coupling components and having a first end diameter, each of said one or more male coupling components further including a sealing portion between said first end and said second end, said sealing portion having a sealing surface formed about a periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a second end diameter, said second end diameter being greater than said first end diameter, said sealing portion being sized and shaped to be received in said upper well of said female coupling component such that said connector sealing surface is in a substantially airtight engagement with said interior sidewall surface, and thereby sealing said one or more channels from ambient air.