E. R. Squibb Sons, Inc.

Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

Howard Barratt

Peter L Steer

Graham E Steer

Keith G Hollands

Ronald A Plass

Graham Emery Steer

David R Hame

A tube coupling is shown, particularly but not exclusively intended for use in joining tubes which have medical and surgical uses. A coupling according to the invention may be used to connect an ostomy bag to a drainage tube, or to connect an incontinence urine collection device to a drainage tube, or to connect a drainage tube to a drainage bag, or a catheter to a drainage tube. A tube coupling has a male part and a female part. The former has a radially extending external peripheral rib near its free end. The female part is made in one piece and comprises a tubular shell of a relatively rigid plastics material provided with an annular internal recess. The recess has molded therein a hollow tubular member of a relatively soft plastics material. The female part has no loose parts to become detached, can be made inexpensively by a 'two-shot' molding process, and provides extremely good security against leakage.

Tube coupling

It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring. In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 50, 60 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 70. A plurality of tabs 71 symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 70, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by an upward pull on the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The ring 70 is generally circular in its unstressed condition.

Ostomy coupling

It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring. In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 20, 40 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 30. A plurality of tabs 31, 32, symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 30, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The ring 30 is generally circular in its unstressed condition.

It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring. In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 80, 90 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 100. A plurality of tabs 101 symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 100, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The split ring 100 is for the most part circular in its unstressed condition.

Growing community of inventors

Surrey, United Kingdom

Howard Barratt