초록 ▼

A connector adapted to form a fluid tight connection includes first and second housing sections defining a fluid path. A locking element is configured to selectively lock the first and second housing sections together. A slide seal is positioned generally between the first and second housing section

A connector adapted to form a fluid tight connection includes first and second housing sections defining a fluid path. A locking element is configured to selectively lock the first and second housing sections together. A slide seal is positioned generally between the first and second housing sections and is movable between a first, blocking position in which the slide seal blocks and seals the fluid path and a second, unblocking position in which the fluid path is unblocked.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A connector adapted to form a fluid tight connection, the connector comprising: first and second housing sections defining a fluid path;a locking element configured to selectively lock said first and second housing sections together;a slide seal positioned between said first and second housing se

1. A connector adapted to form a fluid tight connection, the connector comprising: first and second housing sections defining a fluid path;a locking element configured to selectively lock said first and second housing sections together;a slide seal positioned between said first and second housing sections and movable between a first, blocking position in which said slide seal blocks and seals the fluid path and a second, unblocking position in which the fluid path is unblocked; anda latch element pivotally coupled to at least one of the first or second housing sections, the latch element being configured to selectively latch said slide seal in the first, blocking position. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing sections further comprise: first and second fluid connector ports coupled respectively to said first and second housing sections, said first and second fluid connector ports each adapted to fluidly couple with respective first and second tubular fluid connecting elements configured to direct fluid along the fluid path. 3. The connector of claim 1, further comprising: a first connector port coupled to said first housing section;a first tubular fluid connector element configured to selectively couple with said first connector port; anda second tubular fluid connecting element integrally formed with said second housing section,said first and second tubular fluid connecting elements operative to direct fluid along the fluid path. 4. The connector of claim 1, wherein said slide seal includes a sealing portion and a grasping end opposite the sealing portion, said grasping end adapted to be grasped by a user to move the slide seal through and in fluid tight sealing engagement with the housing sections during movement between the first, blocking position and the second, unblocking position. 5. The connector of claim 4, wherein said first housing section includes a first sealing surface, and said second housing section includes a second sealing surface, said first and second sealing surfaces engaging each other in a fluid tight manner when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking element, and wherein said sealing portion of said slide seal further includes a sealing surface which contacts the first and second sealing surfaces when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking element and said slide seal is in the first, blocking position. 6. The connector of claim 1, wherein said slide seal further comprises a distal sealing tip and a proximal sealing end, and further including a stop element operative to stop said slide seal at the second, unblocking position such that distal sealing tip does not move to or past a location of the housing that is exposed to an unsealed environment. 7. The connector of claim 1, wherein said slide seal further comprises a vent for preventing vacuum from being formed in the fluid path as said slide seal is moved from the first, blocking position to the second, unblocking position. 8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first housing section includes a first sealing surface, and said second housing section includes a second sealing surface, said first and second sealing surfaces engaging each other in a fluid tight manner when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking element, and wherein said slide seal further comprises a sealing surface which contacts the first and second sealing surfaces when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking element and said slide seal is in the first, blocking position. 9. The connector of claim 8, wherein said slide seal is formed in first and second seal sections, and a first tapered space is formed between said first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second housing sections when said first and second housing sections are locked together, and a second tapered space is formed between said first and second seal sections when said first and second housing sections are positioned adjacent to each other in an unlocked condition, and when the locking element is moved to lock said first and second housing sections together, said first and second tapered spaces are closed to thereby force fluid and/or air away from contacting locations between the first and second seal sections of the slide seal and the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second housing sections. 10. The connector of claim 1, wherein said slide seal further comprises first and second slide seal sections, each of said first and second slide seal sections configured to be moved to the second, unblocking position in the respective first and second housing sections. 11. A connector adapted to form a fluid tight connection conditions, the connector comprising: first and second housing sections defining a fluid path;a locking collar coupled to said first and second housing sections in a sliding manner, and slidably movable between an unlocked position in which said first and second housing sections are separable, and a locked position in which said first and second housing sections are locked together in engagement with said locking collar; anda slide seal positioned between said first and second housing sections and movable between a first, blocking position in which said slide seal blocks and seals the fluid path and a second, unblocking position in which the fluid path is unblocked. 12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the first and second housing sections further comprise: first and second fluid connector ports coupled respectively to said first and second housing sections, said first and second fluid connector ports each adapted to fluidly couple with respective first and second tubular fluid connecting elements configured to direct fluid along the fluid path. 13. The connector of claim 11, further comprising: a first connector port coupled to said first housing section;a first tubular fluid connector element configured to selectively couple with said first connector port; anda second tubular fluid connecting element integrally formed with said second housing section,said first and second tubular fluid connecting elements operative to direct fluid along the fluid path. 14. The connector of claim 11, wherein said locking collar further comprises: a U-shaped element having a closed end and an opposite, open end, and said slide seal includes a sealing portion positioned adjacent the closed end of the U-shaped element when the slide seal is in the first, blocking position, and a grasping end opposite the sealing portion and adapted to be grasped by a user to move the slide seal through the open end of the U-shaped element during movement between the first, blocking position and the second, unblocking position. 15. The connector of claim 14, wherein said first housing section includes a first sealing surface, and said second housing section includes a second sealing surface, said first and second sealing surfaces engaging each other in a fluid tight manner when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking collar in said locked position, and wherein said sealing portion of said slide seal further includes a sealing surface which contacts the first and second sealing surfaces when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking collar in the locked position and said slide seal is in the first, blocking position. 16. The connector of claim 11, wherein said slide seal further comprises a distal sealing tip and a proximal sealing end, and further including a stop element operative to stop said slide seal at the second, unblocking position such that distal sealing tip does not move to or past a location of the housing that is exposed to an unsealed environment. 17. The connector of claim 11, further comprising a latch element on at least one of the first or second housing sections and operative to selectively latch the slide seal in the first, blocking position. 18. The connector of claim 11, wherein said slide seal further comprises a vent for preventing vacuum from being formed in the fluid path as said slide seal is moved from the first, blocking position to the second, unblocking position. 19. The connector of claim 11, wherein said first housing section includes a first sealing surface, and said second housing section includes a second sealing surface, said first and second sealing surfaces engaging each other in a fluid tight manner when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking collar in said locked position, and wherein said slide seal further comprises a sealing surface which contacts the first and second sealing surfaces when said first and second housing sections are locked together with said locking collar in the locked position and said slide seal is in the first, blocking position. 20. The connector of claim 19, wherein said slide seal is formed in first and second seal sections, and a first tapered space is formed between said first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second housing sections when said locking collar is in the unlocked position, and a second tapered space is formed between said first and second seal sections when said locking collar is in the unlocked position, and when the locking collar is moved to the locked position said first and second tapered spaces are closed to thereby force fluid and/or air away from contacting locations between the first and second seal sections of the slide seal and the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second housing sections. 21. The connector of claim 11, wherein said slide seal further comprises first and second slide seal sections, each of said first and second slide seal sections configured to be moved to the second, unblocking position in the respective first and second housing sections. 22. A method of making a fluid connection between first and second tubular fluid connector elements, comprising: blocking a fluid path at a location between first and second housing sections by moving a first slide seal section to a blocking position in the first housing section and moving a second slide seal section to a blocking position in the second housing section;locking the first and second housing sections and the first and second slide seal sections together while the first and second slide seal sections are in their blocking positions to seal the fluid path;moving the first and second slide seal sections to an unblocking position; andcoupling the first and second tubular fluid connector elements together for fluid communication along the fluid path by moving at least one of the first or second tubular fluid connector elements with respect to the other along the fluid path. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the first and second tubular fluid connector elements further comprises: directing the first and second tubular fluid connector elements respectively into first and second fluid connector ports of the respective first and second housing sections; andfluidly coupling the first and second tubular fluid connector elements to each other along the fluid path. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the first and second tubular fluid connector elements further comprises: directing the first tubular fluid connector element into a first fluid connector port of the first housing section; andfluidly coupling the first tubular fluid connector element to a second tubular fluid connector element which is fixed to the second housing section. 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising: sliding the first and second slide seal sections as a unitary slide seal through and in fluid tight sealing engagement with the housing sections during movement between the blocking position and the unblocking position. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first housing section includes a first sealing surface, and the second housing section includes a second sealing surface, and locking the first and second housing sections together further comprises: engaging the first and second sealing surfaces with each other in a fluid tight manner as the first and second housing sections are locked together. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first and second slide seal sections include respective first and second sealing surfaces, and the method further comprises: engaging the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second slide seal sections with the first and second sealing surfaces of the respective first and second housing sections when the first and second housing sections are locked together and the first and second slide seal sections are in their blocking positions. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: forming a first tapered space between the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second housing sections;forming a second tapered space between the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second seal sections; andclosing the first and second tapered spaces as the first and second housing sections are locked together to thereby force fluid and/or air away from contacting locations between the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second slide seal sections and the first and second sealing surfaces of the first and second housing sections. 29. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second slide seal sections further comprise a unitary slide seal when the first and second housing sections are locked together, the slide seal having a distal sealing tip and a proximal sealing end, and the method further comprises: stopping the slide seal at the unblocking position using a stop element such that distal sealing tip does not move to or past a location of first and second sealing surfaces that is exposed to an unsealed environment. 30. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second slide seal sections further comprise a unitary slide seal when the first and second housing sections are locked together, and the method further comprises: using a latch element on at least one of the first or second housing sections to selectively latch the slide seal in the blocking position. 31. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second slide seal sections further comprise a unitary slide seal when the first and second housing sections are locked together, and the method further comprises: venting the fluid path through a vent path in the slide seal as the slide seal is moved to the unblocking position.