Coupling systems including interlocking male and female members
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10034793-B2
Publication Date
2018-07-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
Coupling systems including interlocking male and female members are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first coupling including a sidewall having an annular spring. The example apparatus also includes a second coupling to be coupled to the first coupling. The second coupling has an annular wall including a seal. The seal is to sealingly engage the annular spring when the second coupling is coupled to the first coupling.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to coupling systems for ostomy medical appliance devices or wound care manifold devices that use interlocking male and female coupling members. The male coupling includes an annular sidewall having an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion separated by a recess acting as a tensioned spring to provide flexibility, and the male component is coupled to a body-side tape collar.
The female coupling includes an interior annular sidewall and a deflectable gas-odor seal that forms a variable recess. When the male inner wall portion and the female seal are mated, each deflects into their respective recesses to form a seal engagement. A protrusion on the female passes a peripheral extension on the male to lock the couplings and provide an audible click.
The female interior surface is positioned to minimize fecal retention by providing a clean transfer path through a passageway while maintaining sealing integrity during normal body movements. The flexible and resilient thermoplastic coupling rings cooperate so that the seal remains effective while allowing relative movement between the coupling members.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three coupling configurations for a pouch or similar ostomy-related interface, each using male and female couplings with complementary recesses, flexible seal engagement, and locking or interlocking features, together with thickness and geometric constraints.
Male and female coupling with complementary recesses and seal engagement
A male coupling with a first sidewall having a first wall portion, a second wall portion, and a first recess enabling relative movement; and a female coupling to be coupled to a pouch with a second sidewall and an interior wall having a flexible member so that the flexible member and interior wall provide a second recess smaller than the first recess. The male first sidewall is configured to be received between the second sidewall and the interior wall to form a seal between the second wall portion and the flexible member, wherein a thickness of the flexible member is smaller than a thickness of the interior wall.
Annular spring coupling with seal engaging annular spring and movable extension
A first coupling including a sidewall having an annular spring and an extension; and a second coupling to be coupled to the first coupling, the second coupling having a protrusion and an annular wall including a seal. The seal engages the annular spring and the extension is movable relative to the second coupling when the second coupling is coupled to the first coupling, wherein a thickness of the annular wall and a thickness of the seal are different.
Interlocking V-shaped and U-shaped sidewall couplings
A male coupling including a first sidewall having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional profile and a first recess; and a female coupling including a second sidewall having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile and a seal providing a second recess, wherein the first sidewall is configured to interlock with the second sidewall. The second sidewall is thicker than the seal, and the second recess is smaller than the first recess.
Across the independent claims, sealing is achieved by mating male and female coupling sidewalls that define a larger recess and a smaller recess, with flexible seal or annular wall and seal engagement. The claims also define thickness relationships between seal and adjacent walls and require mechanical interlocking and movable engagement of coupling features.
Stated Advantages
Minimizes fecal retention by providing a clean transfer path through a passageway while maintaining sealing integrity during normal body movements.
Documented Applications
Coupling systems for ostomy medical appliance devices or wound care manifold devices using male and female coupling members.
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