Quick connect fluid conduit connector having latch with integral spring arms for button release

Abstract

A male connector includes a shaft including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The shaft defines a lumen extending between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. The distal end portion includes a sealing member that engages a female connector to create a fluid-tight seal when the distal end portion of the male connector is inside the female connector, a latch catch groove proximal to the sealing member, a grip extending from an outer surface of at least part of the shaft, and at least one lug extending distally from the grip partially along the outer surface of the shaft. The latch catch groove engages a latch of the female connector to retain the distal end portion of the male connector inside the female connector. The proximal end portion includes a barb that engages a section of tubing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A male connector, comprising:
 a shaft including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the shaft defining a lumen extending between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion, wherein:   the distal end portion comprises:
 a sealing member configured to engage a female connector to create a fluid-tight seal when the distal end portion of the male connector is inside the female connector; 
 a latch catch groove proximal to the sealing member, the latch catch groove configured to engage a latch of the female connector to retain the distal end portion of the male connector inside the female connector; 
 a grip extending from an outer surface of at least part of the shaft, the grip being proximal to the latch catch groove; and 
 at least one lug extending distally from the grip partially along the outer surface of the shaft; and 
   the proximal end portion comprises a barb configured to engage a section of tubing.   
     
     
         2 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lug comprises a first lug and a second lug opposing the first lug, the second lug extending distally from the grip partially along the outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The male connector of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one lug further comprises the first lug, the second lug, a third lug circumferentially between the first lug and the second lug, and a fourth lug opposing the third lug, the third lug and the fourth lug extending distally from the grip partially along the outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lug extends orthogonally from the outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lug is configured to engage a periphery of an opening in the female connector to at least partially transfer radial or side loads between the male connector and the female connector. 
     
     
         6 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion further comprises a latching flange extending radially from the outer surface of the shaft, the latching flange being directly distal of the latch catch groove. 
     
     
         7 . The male connector of  claim 6 , wherein the latching flange is perpendicular with respect to an axis of the lumen, and the latch catch groove is distally defined by the latching flange. 
     
     
         8 . The male connector of  claim 7 , wherein the latch catch groove is proximally defined by the grip, and includes a bottom region connecting the latching flange and the grip, with the bottom region being concentric and recessed radially inward with respect to the sealing member. 
     
     
         9 . The male connector of  claim 6 , wherein distal end portion further comprises at least one rib extending partially along the outer surface of the shaft from the sealing member to the latching flange. 
     
     
         10 . The male connector of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a first rib and a second rib opposing the first rib, the second rib extending partially along the outer surface of the shaft from the sealing member to the latching flange. 
     
     
         11 . The male connector of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one rib further comprises the first rib, the second rib, a third rib circumferentially between the first rib and the second rib, and a fourth rib opposing the third rib, the third rib and the fourth rib extending partially along the outer surface of the shaft from the sealing member to the latching flange. 
     
     
         12 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the grip extends radially from the outer surface of the shaft to define a flange around the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The male connector of  claim 12 , wherein the flange defines a contoured edge including a plurality of finger grips for facilitating gripping of the grip. 
     
     
         14 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion further comprises an annular channel that extends distally from the barb. 
     
     
         15 . The male connector of  claim 14 , wherein the annular channel has a constant outer diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The male connector of  claim 14 , wherein the proximal end portion further comprises a widening portion that extends distally from the annular channel, the widening portion gradually widening in outer diameter from the annular channel towards the grip. 
     
     
         17 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion further comprises a seal flange distal of the sealing member, the seal flange having a larger diameter than the latch catch groove. 
     
     
         18 . The male connector of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing member is received within a seal groove that is proximal of the seal flange. 
     
     
         19 . The male connector of  claim 1 , wherein the section of tubing is a tubing section of a blood pressure cuff. 
     
     
         20 . A quick connect fluid conduit connector, comprising:
 the male connector of  claim 1 ; and   the female connector comprising:
 a release button; 
 a latch plate extending from the release button and configured to be releasably retained in the latch catch groove of the male connector; and 
 at least one spring arm to bias the latch plate towards a latched position in which the latch plate engages the latch catch groove to prevent removal of the male connector from the female connector.