US 12,144,955 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 Oct. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/971,966.
Application 17/971,966 is a continuation of application No. 16/415,640, filed on May 17, 2019, granted, now 11,478,626.
Application 16/415,640 is a continuation of application No. 15/447,033, filed on Mar. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,293,150, issued on May 21, 2019.
Application 15/447,033 is a continuation of application No. 15/410,636, filed on Jan. 19, 2017, granted, now 10,173,046, issued on Jan. 8, 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 2023/0181889 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16L 37/34 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); A61M 39/22 (2006.01); A61M 39/26 (2006.01); F16L 37/23 (2006.01); F16L 37/26 (2006.01); F16L 37/32 (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)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
providing a female coupler comprising:
a first conduit defining a first passageway;
a first valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said first passageway;
a fluid-tight seal between a first valve inner surface of said first valve and a first conduit outer surface of said first conduit;
disposing a first valve-biasing member outside of said first passageway and around at least a portion of said first valve, said first valve-biasing member operable to bias said first valve toward a first valve closed position; and
fixedly coupling a first seal assembly to said first conduit in axially spaced apart relation, wherein sealable engagement of said first valve with said first seal assembly provides said first valve closed position;
providing a male coupler comprising:
a second conduit defining a second passageway, said second conduit capable of longitudinal travel within said male coupler;
disposing a second conduit-biasing member outside of said second passageway, said second conduit-biasing member operable to bias said second conduit to provide a second passageway closed condition;
wherein upon releasable matable axial coupling of said female and male couplers, a connected condition of said connector system is achieved; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first valve is forcibly urged toward a first valve open position to allow fluid to flow through said first passageway and said second conduit is forcibly urged to provide a second passageway open condition to allow said fluid to flow through said second passageway; and
wherein in said connected condition, said first passageway fluidicly communicates with said second passageway to provide a fluid flow path through which said fluid can flow between connector system first and second ends.