US 12,215,810 B2
Single-use genderless aseptic fluid couplings
Patrick T. Gerst, Oakdale, MN (US); Krista A. Vangsgard, Oakdale, MN (US); Michael J. Maleski, Coon Rapids, MN (US); and Randall S. Williams, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Colder Products Company, Roseville, MN (US)
Filed by Colder Products Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/240,105.
Application 18/240,105 is a continuation of application No. 16/895,919, filed on Jun. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,781,687.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/948,607, filed on Dec. 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/892,491, filed on Aug. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0035600 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. F16L 55/105 (2006.01); F16L 33/035 (2006.01); F16L 37/084 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 33/035 (2013.01) [F16L 37/084 (2013.01); F16L 55/105 (2013.01); A61M 39/1011 (2013.01); F16L 2201/44 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aseptic fluid coupling comprising: a main body defining a longitudinal axis and a bore, wherein a fluid flow path is defined along the longitudinal axis, the main body comprising: two protrusions extending outwardly opposite to one another; a front face; a termination that is at an opposite end of the main body in comparison to the front face; an alignment post extending from the front face at one of the two protrusions; and a single alignment guide defining internal space configured to slidably receive an alignment post of another aseptic fluid coupling when two of the aseptic fluid couplings are mated together, the single alignment guide formed in the protrusion opposite the alignment post, wherein the alignment post and the single alignment guide each include attachment features whereby the alignment post latches with an engaged alignment guide and the single alignment guide latches with an engaged alignment post; a seal member including a portion disposed within the bore and a portion extending from the front face around the longitudinal axis; and a flexible membrane attached to a portion of the front face around the seal member to block contaminants from entering the fluid flow path, the membrane also including a tail end portion that is at an opposite end of the membrane in comparison to the portion attached to the front face, wherein the portion of the front face to which the flexible membrane is attached is coplanar with the portion of the front face from which the alignment post extends, and wherein: (i) a centerline of the alignment post, (ii) a centerline of the single alignment guide, and (iii) the longitudinal axis of the main body are coplanar.