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 connection assembly comprising
 a female fitting comprising
 a female shaft defining a lumen; and 
 a pair of catches integrally formed in and disposed about an outer surface of the female fitting; and 
   a male fitting comprising
 a base; 
 a male shaft extending from the base and defining a lumen; and 
 a pair of clasps extending from the base on lateral sides of the male shaft, each clasp comprising
 a tang having a hinge portion and a deflectable portion; and 
 a tab at a distal end of the tang having a tapered edge, wherein 
 
   the deflectable portion of the tang is configured to be received in and substantially enclosed within a corresponding catch of the female fitting and at least a portion of the tab is substantially not enclosed by the female fitting when the clasp is seated in the catch, and   the male shaft has an outside diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the lumen of the female shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male fitting further comprises a first coupling having a coupling barb at a distal end for connection with a first section of tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The connection assembly of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first coupling is located on a first side of the male fitting and the male shaft is located on a second side of the male fitting; and   the first side and the second side are diametrically opposed.   
     
     
         4 . The connection assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first coupling defines a lumen, and the lumen of the first coupling and the lumen of the male shaft together define a single continuous lumen axially disposed within the male fitting. 
     
     
         5 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male fitting further comprises a finger grip disposed about an outer surface of the fitting. 
     
     
         6 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the female shaft further comprises a second coupling having a coupling barb at a distal end for connection with a second section of tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The connection assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second coupling defines a lumen, and the lumen of the second coupling and the lumen of the female shaft together define a single lumen axially disposed within the female fitting. 
     
     
         8 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the female fitting and the male fitting are releasably coupled to each other when the pair of clasps is received in the corresponding catches. 
     
     
         9 . The connection assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least the tapered edges of the tabs deflect radially inward toward an axial center of the male fitting when the clasps are received in the catches. 
     
     
         10 . The connection assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tapered edges of the tabs deflect radially outward away from an axial center of the male fitting when the clasps are seated in the catches. 
     
     
         11 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the male shaft defines an annular recess. 
     
     
         12 . The connection assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising an O-ring seated in the annular recess of the male shaft to form a fluid tight seal when the female fitting receives the male shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tapered edges of the tabs at the distal ends of the tangs further comprises an inner taper portion having a surface that angles outwardly away from the male shaft as the tabs extend proximally. 
     
     
         14 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tapered edges of the tabs at the distal ends of the tangs further comprises an outer taper portion having a surface that angles inwardly toward the male shaft as the tabs extend proximally. 
     
     
         15 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male fitting is formed as a single unitary piece and the female fitting is formed as a single unitary piece. 
     
     
         16 . 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 base; 
 a male shaft extending from the base and defining a lumen; 
 a first coupling extending from the base and comprising a barbed end for connection with a first section of tubing; and 
 a pair of clasps, each clasp extending from the base substantially parallel to the male shaft, each clasp comprising
 a tang having a hinge portion and a deflectable portion; 
 a tab with a tapered edge at a distal end of the tang; and 
 a retention shelf formed at an intersection of the tang and the tab, 
 wherein the deflectable portion of the tang is configured to be received in and covered by a corresponding catch of a female fitting; and 
 
   a female fitting comprising
 a female shaft defining a lumen; 
 a pair of catches formed in an outer surface of the female fitting and configured to receive a corresponding tang of the male fitting; and 
 a second coupling comprising a barbed end for connection with a second section of tubing; wherein 
   the male shaft has an outside diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the lumen of the female shaft, and   the male shaft and the female shaft are releasably coupled to each other when the deflectable portions of the tangs are received in the corresponding catches and the retention shelves engage corresponding edges of the catches, thereby connecting a first section of tubing and a second section of tubing.   
     
     
         17 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least the tapered edges of the tabs deflect radially inward toward an axial center of the male fitting when being received in the catches. 
     
     
         18 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the tapered edges of the tabs are biased radially outward away from an axial center of the male fitting when seated in the catches. 
     
     
         19 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the tapered edges of the tabs at the distal ends of the tangs further comprise an inner taper portion having a surface that angles outwardly away from the male shaft as the tabs extend proximally. 
     
     
         20 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 19 , wherein each of the tapered edges of the tabs further comprises an outer taper portion having a surface that angles inwardly toward the male shaft as the tabs extend proximally. 
     
     
         21 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the outer taper portions of the tabs is substantially not covered by the female fitting when the clasps are seated in the catches. 
     
     
         22 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 16 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of the male shaft further defines an annular recess configured to receive an O-ring. 
     
     
         23 . The releasable connection assembly of  claim 16 , wherein an interface between the female shaft and the male shaft forms a fluid-tight seal.