Capped fluidic connector

Claim 2

A capped fluid connector, which includes: (a) a connector body including: (1) an inner tubular member with a proximal tapered male end and a distal, externally-threaded end; (2) an inner tubular member bore extending coaxially therethrough and open at said proximal and said distal ends; (3) said inner tubular member including a proximal section terminating at said proximal end and a distal section terminating at said distal end; (4) an outer tubular member including a bore with internal, female threads, said bore being sealed and terminating at an annular plug with a distal face, said annular plug connected to said inner tubular member between the proximal and distal sections thereof, said outer tubular member having a proximal end, said outer tubular member bore being open at its proximal end; (5) said inner tubular member proximal end being located within said outer tubular member bore; and (6) said distal face including first connecting means; (7) said inner tubular member distal section projecting distally from said annular plug distal face; and (8) an annular clearance space between said outer tubular member and said inner tubular member proximal section within said outer tubular member bore; and (b) a cap including: (1) a closed top; (2) a sidewall extending from said top to a free, annular bottom edge; (3) a bore including a closed end adjacent to said top and an open end adjacent to said sidewall free edge, said bore being annularly surrounded by said sidewall; (4) said side wall including second connecting means adjacent said cap bore, said second connecting means comprising an annular groove open inwardly adjacent to said sidewall free edge; (5) a flexible hinge strap extending between said outer tubular member distal end and said sidewall; (6) a finger tab extending outwardly from said connector cap top; (7) said cap being movable through an arc of approximately 180° between an open position spaced outwardly from said connector body and a closed position with said first connecting means releasably received in said cap sidewall groove and said inner tubular member distal section received in said cap bore; and (8) said cap bore having a depth greater than a length of said inner tubular member distal section.

Claim 3

In combination with a three-way stopcock including an inlet port, an outlet port and a tubular, externally-threaded sampling port, the improvement of a capped connector, which comprises: (a) a connector body including: (1) an inner tubular member with a proximal tapered male end and a distal, externally-threaded end; (2) an inner tubular member bore extending coaxially therethrough and open at said proximal and said distal ends; (3) said inner tubular member including a proximal section terminating at said proximal end and a distal section terminating at said distal end; (4) an outer tubular member including a bore with internal, female threads, said bore being sealed and terminating at an annular plug with a distal face, said annular plug connected to said inner tubular member between the proximal and distal sections thereof, said outer tubular member having a proximal end, said outer tubular member bore being open at its proximal end; (5) said inner tubular member proximal end being located within said outer tubular member bore; and (6) said distal face including first connecting means; (7) said inner tubular member distal section projecting distally from said annular plug distal face; and (8) an annular clearance space between said outer tubular member and said inner tubular member proximal section within said outer tubular member bore; and (b) a cap including: (1) a closed top; (2) a sidewall extending from said top to a free, annular bottom edge; (3) a bore including a closed end adjacent to said top and an open end adjacent to said sidewall free edge, said bore being annularly surrounded by said sidewall; (4) said side wall including second connecting means adjacent said cap bore, said second connecting means comprising an annular groove open inwardly adjacent to said sidewall free edge; (5) a flexible hinge strap extending between said outer tubular member distal end and said sidewall; (6) a finger tab extending outwardly from said connector cap top; (7) said cap being movable through an arc of approximately 180° between an open position spaced outwardly from said connector body and a closed position with said first connecting means releasably received in said cap sidewall groove and said inner tubular member distal section received in said cap bore; and (8) said cap bore having a depth greater than a length of said inner tubular member distal section.

Claim 4

In combination with a three-way stopcock including an inlet port, an outlet port and a tubular, externally-threaded sampling port, the improvement of a capped connector, which comprises: (a) a connector body including: (1) an inner tubular member with a proximal tapered male end and a distal, externally-threaded end; (2) an inner tubular member bore extending coaxially therethrough and open at said proximal and said distal ends; (3) said inner tubular member including a proximal section terminating at said proximal end and a distal section terminating at said distal end; (4) an outer tubular member including a bore with internal, female threads, said bore being sealed and terminating at an annular plug with a distal face, said annular plug connected to said inner tubular member between the proximal and distal sections thereof, said outer tubular member having a proximal end, said outer tubular member bore being open at its proximal end; (5) said inner tubular member proximal end being located within said outer tubular member bore; and (6) said distal face including first connecting means; (7) said inner tubular member distal section projecting distally from said annular plug distal face; and (8) an annular clearance space between said outer tubular member and said inner tubular member proximal section within said outer tubular member bore; and (b) a cap including: (1) a closed top; (2) a sidewall extending from said top to a free, annular bottom edge; (3) a bore including a closed end adjacent to said top and an open end adjacent to said sidewall free edge, said bore being annularly surrounded by said sidewall; (4) said side wall including second connecting means adjacent said cap bore, said second connecting means comprising an annular groove open inwardly adjacent to said sidewall free edge; (5) a flexible hinge strap extending between said outer tubular member distal end and said sidewall; (6) a finger tab extending outwardly from said connector cap top; (7) said cap being movable through an arc of approximately 180° between an open position spaced outwardly from said connector body and a closed position with said first connecting means releasably received in said cap sidewall groove and said inner tubular member distal section received in said cap bore; and (8) said cap bore having a depth greater than a length of said inner tubular member distal section.