Value Plastics, Inc.

Nordson Corporation

Jeffrey P Jensen

Ralph E Burns

Richard W Cairns

Raymond L Townsend

James D Pisula, Jr

A latching female tubing coupler comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation member. The opening is adapted to guide a male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the latching female tubing coupler. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage a coupling feature of the male connector and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuator member is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male connector. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature on a male connector, a fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the latching female tubing coupler.

Latching female fluid tubing coupler

A fluid connector system may include a female connector for releasable coupling with a male connector. The male connector defines a fluid conduit and includes a male end adapted to be received within the female connector. The male end includes a coupling feature. The female connector comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation element. The opening is adapted to guide the male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the female connector. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage the coupling feature of the male end and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuation element is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male end. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature, the fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the female connector.

Female connector for releasable coupling with a male connector defining a fluid conduit

A female connector for releasable coupling with a male connector is disclosed herein. The male connector defines a fluid conduit and includes a male end adapted to be received within the female connector. The male end includes a coupling feature. The female connector comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation element. The opening is adapted to guide the male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the female connector. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage the coupling feature of the male end and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuation element is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male end. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature, the fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the female connector.

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Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Jeffrey P Jensen