US 12,111,002 B1
Fluid distribution junctions and assembly methods
Richard Shor, Thousand Oaks, CA (US); Chris Ballew, Moorpark, CA (US); and Xin-Xin Trinh, Reseda, CA (US)
Assigned to SaniSure, Inc., Camarillo, CA (US)
Filed by SaniSure, Inc., Camarillo, CA (US)
Filed on May 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/661,592.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/501,760, filed on May 12, 2023.
Int. Cl. F16L 41/02 (2006.01); F16L 13/02 (2006.01); F16L 43/02 (2006.01); F16L 41/03 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 41/02 (2013.01) [F16L 13/0281 (2013.01); F16L 41/021 (2013.01); F16L 41/023 (2013.01); F16L 41/03 (2013.01); F16L 43/02 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for making a fluid junction assembly, comprising:
a) forming a subassembly by coupling a plurality of flexible tubular conduits to a plurality of fluid fittings of a fluid junction, the fluid junction having an inner fluid plenum chamber leading to the fluid fittings, each fluid fitting having an external circular bead with a diameter larger than an inner diameter of an associated tubular conduit;
b) sandwiching two flanking shells on opposite sides of the subassembly, the shells having mating concave receiving surfaces that together conform around each of the fluid fittings and clamp the tubular conduits onto the circular beads and the opposing shells having juxtaposed joint surfaces that come into contact with each other; and
c) bonding the juxtaposed joint surfaces together to make the fluid junction assembly, wherein the step of bonding comprises applying pressure and ultrasonic vibration to the sandwiched shells and subassembly, and the step of applying pressure and ultrasonic vibration includes placing the sandwiched shells and subassembly on a base and pressing an ultrasonic horn downward onto a block on the top of the sandwiched shells and subassembly.