Patent ID: 8920956

Claim:
A manifold assembly, comprising: a manifold member having a plastic tubular wall with a first end and a second end, the plastic tubular wall further having an inner surface defining a first central aperture that extends from the first end to the second end, the plastic tubular wall further having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the manifold member further having a plurality of tubular port members disposed on the tubular wall over the plurality of apertures, the manifold member further having a first elastomer sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the plastic tubular wall and extending inwardly from the inner surface into the first central aperture, the first elastomer sealing member being further disposed proximate to the first end, and a male connecting portion extending from the second end; a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and a tubular body, the abutment ring being disposed on and around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from an end of the tubular coupling portion, the tubular coupling portion configured to be removably coupled to the first end of the manifold member within the first central aperture such that the first elastomer sealing member of the manifold member contacts the outer surface of the tubular coupling portion and the abutment ring abuts against the first end of the manifold member; and a retaining member configured to removably hold the connecting fitting on the first end of the manifold member, the retaining member having a ring-shaped portion, first and second finger portions, and at least first and second tabs, the first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the ring-shaped portion, the ring-shaped portion having a second central aperture extending therethrough, the first and second tabs extending inwardly from the ring-shaped portion into the second central aperture, the tubular body of the connecting fitting being received through the second central aperture of the ring-shaped portion, a diameter of the second central aperture being less than a diameter of the abutment ring.