US 11,883,624 B2
Connector system for releasably connecting fluid conduits
Paul C. Ciccone, Wellington, CO (US); William A. Coulson, Fort Collins, CO (US); and Marcia Coulson, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to WilMarc Holdings, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by WilMarc Holdings, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/086,833.
Application 18/086,833 is a continuation of application No. 17/341,131, filed on Jun. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,534,594.
Application 17/341,131 is a continuation of application No. 16/802,412, filed on Feb. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,027,111, issued on Jun. 8, 2021.
Application 16/802,412 is a continuation of application No. 16/024,414, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, granted, now 11,478,625, issued on Oct. 25, 2022.
Application 16/024,414 is a continuation of application No. 15/410,636, filed on Jan. 19, 2017, granted, now 10,173,046, issued on Jan. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/299,499, filed on Feb. 24, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/280,354, filed on Jan. 19, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0134482 A1, May 4, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 39/26 (2006.01); F16L 37/32 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); F16L 37/34 (2006.01); A61M 39/22 (2006.01); F16L 37/23 (2006.01); F16L 37/26 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/1011 (2013.01) [A61M 39/10 (2013.01); A61M 39/22 (2013.01); A61M 39/26 (2013.01); F16L 37/23 (2013.01); F16L 37/26 (2013.01); F16L 37/32 (2013.01); F16L 37/34 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1016 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1027 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1044 (2013.01); A61M 2039/268 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0205 (2013.01); A61M 2205/581 (2013.01); A61M 2205/582 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
providing first and second valves;
biasing said first and second valves with corresponding first and second resiliently flexible members, said first resiliently flexible member comprising a first plurality of resiliently flexible members which dispose in circumferentially spaced-apart relation to define a first internal space therebetween, said second resiliently flexible member comprising a second plurality of resiliently flexible members which dispose in circumferentially spaced-apart relation to define a second internal space therebetween;
wherein:
in a non-flexed condition, said first resiliently flexible member biases said first valve toward a first valve closed position;
in a non-flexed condition, said second resiliently flexible member biases said second valve toward a second valve closed position;
in a flexed condition, said first resiliently flexible member allows said first valve to travel toward a first valve open position to provide a first passageway open condition; and
in a flexed condition, said second resiliently flexible member allows said second valve to travel toward a second valve open position to provide a second passageway open condition;
wherein said first and second valves abuttingly engage to dispose first and second passageways in fluidic communication to provide a fluid flow path.