Patent ID: 8448994

Claim:
A connector assembly for coupling together first and second fluid conduits, the assembly comprising a first connector including a proximal end for coupling with the first fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a first housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the first housing has opposing major faces and peripheral sidewalls connecting the major faces; and the first housing defines a slot in each of the major faces open to an inner cavity within the first housing that at least partially defines a respective cantilevered release button within each of the major faces of the first housing extending distally to a free end of the cantilevered release button from a fixed end of the cantilevered release button; and a second connector including a proximal end for coupling with the second fluid conduit, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a fluid pathway between the proximal and distal ends, and a second housing extending about at least a portion of the fluid pathway, wherein the second housing has opposing major walls each defining a cantilevered region therein extending proximally to a free end of the cantilevered region from a fixed end of the cantilevered region with an engagement feature near the free end of the cantilevered region; and wherein when the distal ends of the connectors are moved towards each other in opposed fashion, the cantilevered regions pass underneath the slots to allow the engagement features to engage the slots and connect the first connector to the second connector.