Magnetic quick connect

Abstract

A magnetic quick connect for a fluid delivery system includes a male coupling member and a female coupling member. The male coupling member defines a first outer fluid communication path and includes a first magnetic material. A first inner member is disposed within the first outer fluid communication path and defines a first inner communication path. The female coupling member defines a second outer fluid communication path and includes a second magnetic material. A second inner member is disposed within the second outer fluid communication path and defines a second inner communication path. The male and female coupling members are detachably held together by an attractive force between the first and second magnetic materials such that the first and second outer communication paths are held in fluid communication, and the first and second inner communication paths are held in fluid communication.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A magnetic quick connect for a fluid delivery system, the magnetic quick connect comprising:
 a male coupling member having a first end and a second mating end, the male coupling member having an interior wall defining a first outer fluid communication path extending within the male coupling member, the male coupling member further comprising:
 a first inner member disposed within the first outer fluid communication path, the first inner member defining a first inner communication path extending within the first outer fluid communication path, and 
 a first magnetic material disposed adjacent to the second mating end; and 
   a female coupling member having a first end and a second mating end, the female coupling member having an interior wall defining a second outer fluid communication path extending within the female coupling member, the female coupling member further comprising:
 a second inner member disposed within the second outer fluid communication path, the second inner member defining a second inner communication path extending within the second outer fluid communication path, and 
 a second magnetic material disposed adjacent to the second mating end; 
   wherein in a coupled configuration, the male and female coupling members are detachably held together by an attractive force between the first and second magnetic materials such that the first and second outer communication paths are held in fluid communication, and the first and second inner communication paths are held in fluid communication.   
     
     
         2 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first inner communication path of the male coupling member extends coaxially within the first outer fluid communication path of the male coupling member. 
     
     
         3 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second inner communication path of the female coupling member extends coaxially within the second outer fluid communication path of the female coupling member. 
     
     
         4 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the first inner member of the male coupling member includes a tapered protrusion, and wherein the second inner member of the female coupling member includes a tapered recess adapted to receive the tapered protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 4 , wherein the first inner member includes an inner O-ring disposed about the tapered protrusion, the inner O-ring forming a liquid-tight seal between the tapered protrusion and the tapered recess of the second inner member when the male and female coupling members are in the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the female coupling member further comprises an outer O-ring, the outer O-ring forming a fluid-tight seal between the male coupling member and the female coupling member when the male and female coupling members are in the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         7 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 6 , wherein the outer O-ring is seated in an annular groove formed in a mating surface of the female magnetic coupling member. 
     
     
         8 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 7 , wherein the annular groove is C-shaped so that the opening of the annular groove is narrower than the diameter of the O-ring. 
     
     
         9 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the female coupling member further comprises a magnet cap disposed adjacent to the second magnetic material. 
     
     
         10 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 9 , wherein the magnet cap includes an annular groove for seating an O-ring for forming a fluid-tight seal between the male coupling member and the female coupling member when the male and female coupling members are in the coupled configuration 
     
     
         11 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the first outer and inner fluid communication paths extend coaxially with the first magnetic material, and the second outer and inner fluid communication paths extend coaxially with the second magnetic material. 
     
     
         12 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic material is ring-shaped and extends around the first outer fluid communication path, and wherein the second magnetic material is ring-shaped and extends around the second outer fluid communication path. 
     
     
         13 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         14 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a ferromagnetic material and ferrimagnetic material. 
     
     
         15 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial pull force that is greater than 48 ounce-force and less than 128 ounce-force between the male coupling member and female coupling member is required to decouple the male and female coupling members. 
     
     
         16 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial pull force that is greater than 64 ounce-force and less than 96 ounce-force between the male coupling member and female coupling member is required to decouple the male and female coupling members. 
     
     
         17 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial pull force that is greater than 72 ounce-force and less than 88 ounce-force between the male coupling member and female coupling member is required to decouple the male and female coupling members. 
     
     
         18 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the male coupling member further comprises a first collar disposed at the second mating end of the male coupling member, and the female coupling member further comprises a second collar disposed at the second mating end of the female coupling member. 
     
     
         19 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 18 , wherein the first magnetic material is disposed within the first collar and the second magnetic material is disposed within the second collar. 
     
     
         20 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first collar and second collar defines an annular channel that is open towards a mating surface of the other coupling member. 
     
     
         21 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 20 , wherein the first magnetic material is disposed within an annular channel defined by the first collar, and the second magnetic material is disposed within an annular channel defined by the second collar. 
     
     
         22 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 20 , wherein the first collar defines at least part of a surface of the male coupling member that abuts the female coupling member when the male and female coupling members are coupled together, and the second collar defines at least part of a surface of the female coupling member that abuts the male coupling member when the male and female coupling members are coupled together 
     
     
         23 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the male coupling member and female coupling member further comprises a clamp portion removably securable to the first end of at least one of the male coupling member and female coupling member, the clamp portion adapted to secure a fluid conduit to the at least one coupling member. 
     
     
         24 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first inner member and second inner member further comprises a barbed hose connector adapted to secure a hose to the at least one inner member. 
     
     
         25 . A magnetic quick connect according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first inner member and second inner member further comprises a female connector adapted to secure a hose to the at least one inner member.