Patent ID: 6916051

Claim:
A coupler for first and second lengths of flexible tube, comprising: a first and second lengths of flexible tube; a first channeled member having a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, a generally semicircular cross-section and a first longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a second channeled member having a generally semicircular cross-section and a second longitudinal axis extending therethrough, wherein the first longitudinal axis is generally parallel to the second longitudinal axis; a hinge connecting a first length of the first channeled member and a first length of the second channeled member; a lateral axis generally bifurcating the first length of the first channeled member and the first length of the second channeled member; a plurality of barbs disposed in each of the first and second lateral portions, wherein each barb extends generally toward an intersection of the first longitudinal axis and the lateral axis; and a locking member securing a second length of the first channeled member to a second length of the second channeled member to enable the first and second lengths of flexible tube to be retained within a chamber formed when the second length of the first channeled member is secured to the second length of the second channeled member such that the barbs in the first lateral portion engage the first length of flexible tube and the barbs in the second lateral portion engage the second length of flexible tube.