Releasable connection assembly for joining tubing sections

Abstract

A connection assembly for creating a releasable fluid seal connection between two or more sections of tubing includes a male fitting and a female fitting. Connection assemblies generally include the male fitting having a pair of clasps that releasably interact with corresponding catch structures on the female fitting. Interactions between the female and male fittings can be rotatable with respect to the male and/or female fittings. Buckle structures are also disclosed having connection capabilities for a plurality of sections of tubing.

1 . A releasable connection assembly for connecting a first section of tubing with a second section of tubing, the assembly comprising: 
 a male fitting comprising: 
 a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough;  
 a pair of clasps disposed on an outer surface thereof; and  
 a sealing member; and  
   a female fitting comprising: 
 a female shaft defining a lumen therethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the female shaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; and  
 a pair of catches disposed on an outer surface thereof for interfacing with and releasably retaining the pair of clasps respectively;  
   wherein the sealing member engages an inner surface of the female shaft to create a fluid-tight seal between the male fitting and the female fitting.    
   
   
       2 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male fitting further comprises a first coupling for connecting the male fitting with a first section of tubing.  
   
   
       3 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the female fitting further comprises a second coupling for connecting the female fitting with a second section of tubing.  
   
   
       4 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said clasps are rotatable with respect to the male shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said catches are rotatable with respect to the female shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 5  wherein said clasps are rotatable with respect to the male shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The releasable connection assembly for connecting a first section of tubing with a second section of tubing, the assembly comprising: 
 a male fitting comprising: 
 a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough;  
 at least one clasp operably associated therewith; and  
   a female fitting including a female shaft defining a lumen therethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the female shaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; and at least one catch is disposed on an outer surface thereof for interfacing with and releasably retaining the clasp.    
   
   
       8 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said clasp is rotatably connected to said male shaft.  
   
   
       9 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said catch is rotatably connected to said female shaft.  
   
   
       10 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said female shaft and said male shaft fit together to form a sealed engagement.  
   
   
       11 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said female shaft includes a tapered cannula and said male shaft includes a tapered internal diameter, said cannula and said internal diameter engaging to form a seal.  
   
   
       12 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said male shaft has a seal formed over said lumen; said female shaft includes a sharp; and wherein when said connection assembly is assembled, said sharp pierces said seal.  
   
   
       13 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said female shaft has a seal formed over said lumen; said male shaft includes a sharp; and wherein when said connection assembly is assembled, said sharp pierces said seal.  
   
   
       14 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said catch has an at least partial circumferentially extending engagement surface with said clasp formed therein to allow said clasp to rotate along said surface.  
   
   
       15 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said catch is a shroud, and said engagement surface is a slot.  
   
   
       16 . The releasable connection assembly for connecting a plurality of first sections of tubing with a plurality of second sections of tubing, the assembly comprising: 
 a first plate containing at least two male fittings, each male fitting further comprising: 
 a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough;  
 at least one clasp operably associated with said first plate; and  
   a second plate containing at least two female fittings, each female fitting including a female shaft defining a lumen therethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the female shaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; and at least one catch is operably associated with the second plate for interfacing with and releasably retaining the clasp on the first plate.    
   
   
       17 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first plate contains  6  male fittings and the second plate contains  6  female fittings.  
   
   
       18 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first plate contains  10  male fittings and the second plate contains  10  female fittings.  
   
   
       19 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one clasp defines a tang for a retainment in said catch.  
   
   
       20 . The releasable connection assembly for connecting a first section of tubing with a second section of tubing, the assembly comprising: 
 a male fitting comprising: 
 a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough;  
 a first shut-off valve housed within the lumen for preventing fluid flow through the lumen when in a closed position;  
   a female fitting comprising: 
 a female shaft defining a lumen therethrough;  
 a second shut-off valve housed within the lumen for preventing fluid flow through the lumen when in a closed position;  
 and wherein the first and second shut-off valves are in an open position when the male and female fittings are operatively associated and in the closed position when the male and female fittings are not operatively associated.