US 12,111,001 B2
Fluid transport coupling
Bryan L. Cassiday, Beaverton, MI (US); Mitchell L. Snyder, Hope, MI (US); Nicolas Nadenoff, Beaverton, MI (US); and Thomas R. Nixon, Au Gres, MI (US)
Assigned to SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION, Solon, OH (US)
Filed by SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION, Solon, OH (US)
Filed on Dec. 9, 2016, as Appl. No. 15/374,857.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/265,861, filed on Dec. 10, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2017/0167652 A1, Jun. 15, 2017
Int. Cl. F16L 37/56 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); F16L 39/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/56 (2013.01) [A61M 39/105 (2013.01); F16L 39/00 (2013.01); F16L 2201/44 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sanitary fluid transport coupling comprising:
a plurality of fluid conduits, each fluid conduit consisting of a distal end, a proximal end, and a length extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid conduits comprises an enclosed tube along the entirety of its length; and
a fluid connector comprising a body end, and a connecting end, wherein the fluid connector is overmolded to secure the plurality of fluid conduits at the proximal ends of the plurality of fluid conduits, wherein the connecting end of the fluid connector comprises a fitting that forms or is adapted to form a fluid connection with another fluid conduit, fluid container, or isolated environment, wherein the body end of the fluid connector consists of a substantially flat circular surface without axial projections, and at least one port in the circular surface extending from the body end to the connecting end, wherein the at least one port makes a watertight fluid connection with a corresponding fluid conduit, wherein the fitting comprises an axial flange tapering to an outermost axial edge of the fluid transport coupling, and
wherein the connecting end is overmolded onto a circular support element and the circular support element is configured to arrange and secure a spaced relationship between the plurality of fluid conduits.