Hose connecting piece with adjusting mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a hose connector with an adjusting mechanism, which is used for hermetically connecting a patient interface assembly and a machine in CPAP treatment, and comprises a first connector connected with an external tubular connector, a second connector connected with a hose and a side wall surrounding the first connector and the second connector, the side wall is provided with an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part is provided with an adjusting mechanism. The outer part is provided with a grabbing part; the first connector is configured to be connected with an external tubular connector and comprises a partial side wall of the tubular connector, a cavity for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening, a stop surface and a retaining structure, and at least one adjusting mechanism is arranged on the opening; the second connector is configured to be connected with a hose; and the first connector of the hose connecting piece with the adjusting mechanism is made of an elastic first material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to one or more of the treatment and improvement of respiratory-related disorders, and provides a hose connector with an adjustment mechanism to ensure a sealed connection between the patient interface assembly and the machine during CPAP treatment and is easier to use. Background Art

[0002] Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep apnea syndrome caused by obstructive lesions in the upper respiratory tract, defined as an adult having at least 30 episodes of apnea during a 7-hour night's sleep, and each episode of apnea lasting at least 10 seconds or more; or the average number of apneas per hour being greater than 5. OSAS is manifested by loud snoring, short episodes of gasping, and alternating episodes of apnea lasting more than 10 seconds during sleep. Apnea can cause the patient to experience suffocation and sometimes suddenly wake up, and can fall asleep again after breathing resumes. The sleep quality is thus severely affected, and the patient often feels fatigued and sleepy during the day. In patients with a long course of the disease, manifestations such as anxiety and depression may occur. The patient experiences repeated hypoxia during sleep, and over time, multiple organs and viscera are damaged, and gradually developing will lead to complications in the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, endocrine system, urinary system, etc. According to the severity, OSAS can be divided into mild, moderate, and severe degrees. The main purpose of treating OSAS is to increase the tension of the respiratory airway, enable normal gas exchange in the respiratory tract, bring oxygen from the external environment into the body, and at the same time discharge carbon dioxide produced by metabolism out of the body. The methods for treating OSAS are generally the following five methods: developing good living habits, drug treatment, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral orthosis, and surgical treatment. Among the five methods, the CPAP treatment method is the preferred choice for most people. The patient needs to wear the corresponding equipment and connect to a machine that provides positive pressure gas to provide sufficient pressurized gas for the patient to breathe.

[0003] There are many challenges in the design of hose connectors in the equipment. a. Sealing: The connector head of the hose connector needs to be able to seal and connect to external components to ensure that gas does not leak during transmission, thereby maintaining the effectiveness of positive pressure ventilation therapy. b. Firmness: During sleep, the patient moves and the hose connector moves with him. If the hose connector is not firmly connected to the external component, it is easy to fall off due to external force, and the patient's continuous use of the CPAP machine treatment may not be guaranteed. c. Ease of use: In order to enhance the sealing of some existing products on the market, the inner diameter of the tubular connector is reduced to make it tighter when connected to the external component, but this also makes it difficult to connect the hose connector to the external component; or the connector head of some pipe connectors is made of steel. The hose connector is made of flexible materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, etc. Although the characteristics of this type of material are relatively stable, it is also not easy to deform, which makes it difficult to easily connect the hose connector to the external component; d. Durability: The outer diameter of the external component on the market is usually 15mm or 22mm. Therefore, the inner diameter of the connector head of the existing hose connector is usually slightly larger than the outer diameter of the external component in the patient component. The purpose is to enable the external component to be smoothly connected to the hose connector. Some hose connectors are usually made of flexible materials. Due to the need for repeated installation, disassembly and use of the equipment, the flexible material is prone to fatigue deformation or material aging, gradually losing elasticity and affecting the sealing. The patient has to replace the new hose connector to maintain the airtightness during the treatment process.

[0004] Therefore, in order to obtain a more sealed, more secure, easier to use and more durable hose connector, it is necessary to focus on the design of the hose connector and conduct a comprehensive design of its shape, size, etc. Summary of the invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a hose connector 1 with an adjustment mechanism 221 to address the above-mentioned deficiencies.

[0006] A hose connector 1 with an adjustment mechanism 221, comprising:

[0007] The side wall 4 is configured to surround and form the first connector 2 and the second connector 3, wherein the side wall 4 has an inner portion and an outer portion, and the outer portion has a gripping portion 5;

[0008] The first connector 2 is configured to connect to an external tubular connector, comprising a chamber 21 for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening 22 for allowing the external tubular connector to enter the chamber 21, and a stop surface 23 for limiting the displacement of the external tubular connector;

[0009] A second connector 3, configured to connect a hose, including a space for accommodating the hose;

[0010] Wherein, at least one adjustment mechanism 221 is arranged on the opening 22;

[0011] Wherein, the first connector 2 is made of a first elastic material 6;

[0012] Wherein, the first connector 2 has a non-uniform wall thickness from the stop surface 23 to the opening 22, and the wall thickness at the stop surface 23 is thicker than that at the opening 22.

[0013] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the opening 22 of the first connector 2 does not exceed 22 mm.

[0014] In one embodiment, the overall height range of the hose connector 1 is 15 - 45 mm.

[0015] In one embodiment, the wall thickness at the opening 22 of the first connector 2 is not less than 2 mm.

[0016] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the second connector 3 is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector 2.

[0017] The present invention also provides a hose connector 1 with an adjustment mechanism 221, comprising:

[0018] A side wall 4 configured to surround and form the first connector 2 and the second connector 3, wherein the side wall 4 has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part has a gripping portion 5;

[0019] A first connector 2 configured to connect an external tubular connector, including a chamber 21 for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening 22 allowing the external tubular connector to enter the chamber 21, and a retaining structure 24 for enhancing the fixing ability;

[0020] A second connector 3 configured to connect a hose, including a space for accommodating the hose;

[0021] Wherein, at least one adjustment mechanism 221 is provided on the opening 22;

[0022] Wherein, the retaining structure 24 has one or more of the following features:

[0023] a. The inner diameter is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector;

[0024] b. It is in a form protruding towards the central axis of the hose connector 1;

[0025] c. The retaining structure 24 is in an inverted conical shape;

[0026] d. The retaining structure 24 is made of a second material.

[0027] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the second connector 3 is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector 2.

[0028] In one embodiment, the height of the inverted conical holding structure 24 is equal to the depth of the chamber 21.

[0029] In one embodiment, for the inverted conical holding structure 24, the maximum inner diameter of the cone is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector.

[0030] In one embodiment, the depth of the chamber 21 is at least 12 mm.

[0031] In one embodiment, the protruding height of the protruding holding structure 24 is less than the depth of the chamber 21.

[0032] The present invention also provides a hose connector 1 with an adjustment mechanism 221, comprising:

[0033] A side wall 4 configured to surround and form a first connector 2 and a second connector 3, wherein the side wall 4 has an interior and an exterior, and the exterior has a gripping portion 5;

[0034] A first connector 2 configured to connect to an external tubular connector, including a chamber 21 for receiving the external tubular connector, an opening 22 allowing the hose connector 1 to enter the chamber 21, and a stop surface 23 restricting the displacement of the hose connector 1;

[0035] A second connector 3 configured to connect to a hose, including a space for receiving the hose;

[0036] Wherein, at least one adjustment mechanism 221 is provided on the opening 22;

[0037] Wherein, the inner diameter of the second connector 3 is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector 2;

[0038] Wherein, the depth of the chamber 21 is at least 12 mm.

[0039] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the first connector 2 is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector.

[0040] In one embodiment, the first connector 2 has a holding structure 24, and the inner diameter of the holding structure 24 is less than the inner diameter of the first connector 2.

[0041] In one embodiment, the gripping portion 5 is in the form of a groove or a protrusion.

[0042] In one embodiment, the depth of the notch does not exceed 1 / 2 of the depth of the chamber 21.

[0043] The present invention also provides a hose connector 1 with an adjustment mechanism 221, comprising:

[0044] The side wall 4 is configured to surround and form the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. Among them, the side wall 4 has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part has a gripping portion 5;

[0045] The first connector 2 is configured to connect to an external tubular connector, including a chamber 21 for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening 22 allowing the hose connector 1 to enter the chamber 21, and a stop surface 23 for restricting the displacement of the hose connector 1;

[0046] The second connector 3 is configured to connect to a hose and includes a space for accommodating the hose;

[0047] Among them, the first connector 2 is made of a first elastic material 6;

[0048] Among them, at least one adjusting mechanism 221 is provided on the opening 22;

[0049] Among them, the adjusting mechanism 221 has one or more of the following characteristics:

[0050] a. The depth does not exceed 1 / 2 of the depth of the chamber 21;

[0051] b. The width is less than 2 / 3 of the inner diameter of the opening 22.

[0052] In one embodiment, the adjusting mechanism 221 is in the form of a notch or a third material 7 different from the first material 6.

[0053] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the first connector 2 is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector.

[0054] In one embodiment, the root of the adjusting mechanism 221 has an arc shape.

[0055] Implementing a hose connector 1 with an adjusting mechanism 221 according to the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0056] 1) Design of the adjusting mechanism 221: The inner diameter of the connection head of most hose connectors on the market is usually designed to be larger than the outer diameter of the external components (including external tubular connectors) connected to it, so that the external components can be smoothly connected to the hose connector; to improve the durability of the hose connector 1, some hose connectors choose to use rigid materials, such as plastic materials like polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, etc., and some hose connectors choose to use elastic materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers like silicone and rubber, in order to enhance the user experience and product comfort. Elastic materials have the characteristics of being soft and having strong deformation ability. Therefore, the experience effect of using rigid materials is not as good as that of using elastic materials. However, since the connection head needs to be frequently installed and disassembled with external components, the elastic materials are prone to fatigue deformation or material aging due to repeated stress loading and unloading, gradually losing their original shape and elasticity, and ultimately resulting in the failure of the sealing effect and easy slippage. The present invention innovatively combines the notch effect principle and sets an adjusting mechanism 221 with a certain depth and width at the opening 22 of the first connection head 2, making it easier to deform and connect to the external tubular connector. The notch effect causes stress concentration at the opening 22 when the external tubular connector contacts the discontinuous opening 22 with the adjusting mechanism 221, reaching the yield strength of the material. Elastic deformation occurs in the area near the root of the adjusting mechanism 221 to obtain a larger opening 22 to achieve the purpose of quickly and easily accommodating external components, and through reasonable material selection and design, it is ensured that the adjusting mechanism 221 can restore its original size and shape after expansion to seal and connect external components, ensuring that when the patient uses the hose connector 1, the hose connector 1 has a comfortable experience effect, a good sealing function, and a long service life. The connection head of the hose connector 1 is made of an elastic material with a comfortable feel, and the inner diameter of the connection head is designed to be less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component, and at least one adjusting mechanism 221 is designed at the opening 22: a. Compared with the hose connectors on the market that reduce the inner diameter of the connection head, the connection head is designed to have at least one adjusting mechanism 221 and an inner diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component. While ensuring the same degree of extending the service life of the hose connector 1, it can also provide a flexible structure for it, increasing the operability and adaptability of the connection head, enabling the original connection head with an equal or smaller inner diameter to deform into a larger opening 22 through the adjusting mechanism 221, allowing the external component to enter smoothly, and avoiding the inability to connect with other external components due to the too small inner diameter of the connection head.b. Compared with the hose connectors on the market that expand the inner diameter of the connector, the proportion of the effective sealing part in the connector of the present invention is larger. For most hose connectors on the market, due to the expansion of the inner diameter of the connector, it can be more smoothly connected to external components. However, at the same time, it also results in a certain distance between the effective sealing part and the inner diameter of the end face, indirectly reducing the proportion of the effective sealing part in the chamber for accommodating external components. While the connector with at least one adjusting mechanism 221 has a 100% proportion of the sealing part in the chamber 21 for accommodating the external connecting component after connection, with a larger contact area with the external component, achieving a better sealing effect.

[0057] 2) Installation and disassembly experiments verify that the structural design of the connector of the hose connector 1 with the adjusting mechanism 221 and the material selection can extend the service life of the connector: Due to the use of variable elastic materials, the elastic materials used in the connector undergo fatigue deformation due to long-term and frequent installation and disassembly, resulting in the connector becoming loose and unable to achieve sealing. Therefore, the inner diameter of the connector in the present invention is designed to be less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component. Through installation and disassembly experiments, following the principle of comparison and the method of controlling variables, relevant experiments on the durability of the connector are carried out. The general process of the experiment is as follows:

[0058] a. Prepare the required equipment and experimental materials, including: as Figure 13 shown, five types of hose connectors (with chambers for accommodating external components having the same depth, and the models are Resmed-ClimatelineAir with chamfers on the end face of the connector TM and Philips Respironics-DreamStation, plastic connectors made of rigid materials, Standard CPAP Hose with an inner diameter of the end face of the connector less than or equal to 22 mm, and hose connector 1 with an adjusting mechanism 221 on the end face of the connector and an inner diameter less than or equal to 22 mm), as Figure 14 shown, test instruments (a fixture with a 22 cm outer diameter annular protrusion and an installed displacement sensor), a computer or a data acquisition and analysis system.

[0059] b. Simulate the scenario of patients using the hose connector. Under the environment of maintaining the same temperature (25 ± 3 °C) and humidity (40%-50%), the five types of hose connectors are respectively set as five experimental comparison groups (Group A is Resmed-ClimatelineAir TM, Group B is Philips Respironics - DreamStation, Group C is a plastic connector, Group D is a Standard CPAP Hose, and Group E is a hose connector 1) with an adjusting mechanism 221; Measure the pushing distance of the connector of the hose connector in the five experimental comparison groups under the action of the same force (such as 50 N) in the vertical direction and the deformation degree of the inner diameter after multiple installations and removals, and confirm that the test equipment meets the following requirements: The test equipment models are the same and the debugging parameters are the same (the force during installation, the force during removal, the number of times 360); The starting positions of the jigs are the same (that is, the distances from the jigs to the annular protrusion are the same).

[0060] c. Measure the inner diameter of the opening of the initial hose connector in each of the five experimental comparison groups and record it.

[0061] d. As Figure 15 shown, fix the hose connector to the jig of the test instrument at the same position, and confirm that the axis of the hose connector of the jig coincides with the axis of the annular protrusion.

[0062] e. The test instrument drives the hose connector to repeat installation and removal according to the same set program, and the displacement sensor of the jig measures and records the displacement data of the jig during the experiment.

[0063] f. Remove the hose connector that has completed the installation and removal experiment, and measure the inner diameter of the opening of the hose connector after the test in each of the five experimental comparison groups, and record and compare with the initial inner diameter data.

[0064] g. Repeat more than three samples for each group of samples, and repeat the above experimental steps more than three times to avoid accidental phenomena.

[0065] h. Data analysis: 1. The jig displacement value of Group E is the largest, medium in Groups A, B, and C, and the smallest in Group D. 2. The inner diameter measured after the experiments in Groups D and E is the smallest, the second smallest in Group C, and the largest in Groups A and B. Conclusion: The connector of Group E with an adjusting mechanism 221 and an inner diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component is the most durable.

[0066] Through data calculation and comparison, the connector with an adjusting mechanism 221 and an inner diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component can effectively extend the life of the hose connector 1 by about 30%. The extension of the life of the hose connector 1 means that the frequency of users replacing the hose connector 1 can be reduced, which is more economical and affordable for users, and reduces the discard of waste for society, making it more environmentally friendly. Description of the Drawings

[0067] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 2 Top view of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 3 Side view of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0070] Figure 4 Cross-sectional view of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0071] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the number of notches of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0072] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the form of the notch of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0073] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the inner diameter size of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0074] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the form of the stop surface of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0075] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the form of the holding structure of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0076] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the form of the gripping part of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0077] Figure 11 Installation schematic diagram of the hose connector with a notch in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0078] Figure 12 Structure schematic diagram of the hose connector in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0079] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of step a of the installation and disassembly experiment of the hose connector with a notch of the present invention;

[0080] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of the experimental instrument for the installation and disassembly experiment of the hose connector with a notch of the present invention;

[0081] Figure 15 Schematic diagram of the experimental instrument for the installation and disassembly experiment of the hose connector with a notch of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0082] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the following provides a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0083] In combination with the notch design in the structural design, the present invention analyzes and considers the forces acting inside and outside the hose connector 1, as well as the material properties, to ensure the structural stability of the connection head of the hose connector 1 and make it less susceptible to fatigue damage. As Figure 1 shown, innovatively, the opening 22 of the first connection head 2 of the hose connector 1 is designed in a form with an adjustment mechanism 221 (i.e., the opening 22 of the first connection head 2 is discontinuous), and the inner diameter of the opening 22 of its first connection head 2 is designed to be less than or equal to the outer diameter of an external component (such as an external tubular connector). On the premise of maintaining the sealing performance of the hose connector 1, as Figure 11 shown, it is made easier to assemble and disassemble with the external component and extend the overall service life. However, at the same time, the design of the adjustment mechanism 221 is subject to certain limitations. Since stress is concentrated at the adjustment mechanism 221, if the material is too brittle or the shape of the adjustment mechanism 221 is too sharp, it may cause cracks to initiate at the root of the adjustment mechanism 221 and become a fracture source. To obtain a user-friendly and durable hose connector 1, the present invention comprehensively considers the boundary conditions of the structure of the adjustment mechanism 221 (i.e., the interaction mode with other parts, such as the assembly and disassembly of the opening 22 of the first connection head 2 with the external component), the mechanical properties of the material (such as yield strength, elastic modulus, fatigue limit, etc.), environmental factors (such as temperature, humidity, etc.), deformation and displacement (such as flexure, extension, torsion, etc.), assembly and manufacturing tolerances, and the maximum load that the first connection head 2 can withstand, etc., and determines that the hose connector 1 in the present invention is made of an elastic material with a hardness of Shore A 30 - 70, and the root of the adjustment mechanism 221 is in a smooth form without sharp intersection points. During use, stress concentration occurs at the adjustment mechanism 221 of the first connection head 2, and elastic deformation is more likely to occur to generate a larger opening 22 for efficient assembly with the external component, and the size and shape of the opening 22 are restored through the elastic characteristics of the material to achieve the purpose of sealing and connecting the external component.

[0084] The following illustrates several structures of the hose connector 1 with the adjustment mechanism 221 of the present invention with specific examples.

[0085] Example 1

[0086] As Figures 1-3 and Figure 10As shown, the hose connector 1 includes a first connector head 2 configured to connect to an external tubular connector, a second connector head 3 configured to connect to a hose, and a side wall 4 surrounding and forming the first connector head 2 and the second connector head 3. Among them, the side wall 4 has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part is configured to provide a sufficient gripping area for the patient, namely a gripping portion 5. The gripping portion 5 can be in the form of a groove or a protrusion, and the friction is increased by setting concave or protruding patterns. The form of the patterns can be circular, oval, square, triangular, etc., or any other patterns that can increase friction; the side wall 4 of the hose connector 1 is made of a first elastic material 6. The first material 6 can be rubber, silica gel, thermoplastic elastomer, etc. with a hardness of Shore A 30 - 70; the overall height of the hose connector 1 is about 15 - 45 mm, the overall inner diameter does not exceed 22 mm, and the overall thickness is not less than 1 mm.

[0087] As Figures 1-9As shown, the first connector 2 is configured to connect and accommodate an external tubular connector, and the inner diameter of the first connector 2 is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector. It includes a partial side wall 4 of the hose connector 1, a chamber 21 for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening 22 allowing the external tubular connector to enter the chamber 21, a stop surface 23 restricting the displacement of the external tubular connector, and a holding structure 24: The partial side wall 4 of the hose connector 1 ranges from the opening 22 to the stop surface 23 of the first connector 2. The partial side wall 4 has a non-uniform wall thickness. To avoid the first connector 2 being easily broken due to frequent assembly and disassembly, the wall thickness at the stop surface 23 is thicker than that at the opening 22, and the wall thickness of the side wall 4 at the stop surface 23 is at least 2 mm; A chamber 21 for accommodating the external tubular connector is formed inside the side wall 4. To ensure a stable connection between the external tubular connector and the first connector 2, the chamber 21 needs to provide sufficient contact surface for the external tubular connector, and the depth of the chamber 21 is at least 12 mm; The opening 22 of the first connector 2 is configured to interact with the external tubular connector (i.e., allow the external tubular connector to enter the chamber 21). To ensure the airtightness of the hose connector 1, the inner diameter of the opening 22 does not exceed 22 mm. To facilitate the deformation of the opening 22, at least one adjusting mechanism 221 is provided on the opening 22. To avoid cracks being easily generated at the adjusting mechanism 221 or breakage occurring during use, considering stress design and characteristics such as the yield strength of the selected material, the wall thickness at the opening 22 is not less than 2 mm. The depth is comprehensively considered and adjusted according to the hardness, thickness, other characteristics of the material used and the width of the adjusting mechanism 221, but does not exceed 1 / 2 of the depth of the chamber 21, preferably does not exceed 2 / 5 of the depth of the chamber 21, and more preferably 1 / 4, and the width is less than 2 / 3 of the inner diameter of the opening 22; In other embodiments, the width is less than 1 / 2 of the inner diameter of the opening 22; In other embodiments, the width is less than 1 / 3 of the inner diameter of the opening 22.At least a part of the root of the adjusting mechanism 221 has an arc shape, and its general form can be an arc, a square with rounded corners, a V shape with rounded corners (in other embodiments, the thickness of the adjusting mechanism 221 is not less than 2 mm, the depth does not exceed 2 / 5 of the depth of the chamber 21, the width is less than 1 / 2 of the inner diameter of the opening 22, and the root of the adjusting mechanism 221 may not have an arc shape); the stopping surface 23 is configured to extend from a partial side wall 4 of the hose connector 1 towards the central axis of the hose connector 1, dividing the hose connector 1 into a first connector head 2 and a second connector head 3. In order to effectively limit the distance that the external tubular connector enters the first connector head 2 and ensure the overall air permeability, the width range of the extension of the stopping surface 23 is 1-10 mm, and the height is at least 1 mm (in other embodiments, the tubular connector may not have the stopping surface 23); the holding structure 24 extends from a partial side wall 4 of the hose connector 1 towards the central axis of the hose connector 1, and is configured to contact the external tubular connector and further enhance the fixing ability (the connection ability with the external tubular connector) of the first connector head 2. Among them, the inner diameter of the holding structure 24 is smaller than the outer diameter of the external tubular connector, and it can be in a form protruding towards the central axis of the hose connector 1, or in an inverted conical shape (the inner diameter gradually decreases from the opening 22 to the stopping surface 23). To avoid the inner diameter being too small and the external tubular connector not being able to enter the chamber 21 completely, the protrusion does not exceed 3 mm, the maximum inner diameter of the cone is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector, the inner diameter of the holding structure 24 is not less than 16 mm, and when the holding structure 24 is in an inverted conical shape, the height can be equal to the depth of the chamber 21, and when in a protruding form, the height is less than the depth of the chamber 21, and it can be a step with a height of 1-5 mm. In other embodiments, the holding structure 24 can be made of a second material with a hardness greater than that of the first material 6, and the second material can be silicone, rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, etc. with a hardness of Shore A 60-80; in other embodiments, the first connector head 2 may not have the holding structure 24.

[0088] The second connector head 3 is configured to connect a hose, including a partial side wall 4 of the hose connector 1 and a space for accommodating the hose; in this embodiment, the structure of the second connector head 3 is different from that of the first connector head 2, and the difference lies in that the inner diameter of the second connector head 3 is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector head 2. In other embodiments, the inner diameter of the first connector head 2 is larger than the inner diameter of the second connector head 3.

[0089] In this embodiment, the patient can, at the adjusting mechanism 221, combine the external tubular connector with the hose connector 1 at a certain angle, such as Figure 11 shown, and this method is more conducive to the deformation of the adjusting mechanism 221.

[0090] In other embodiments, the structure of the second connector head 3 is different from that of the first connector head 2, and the second connector head 3 may have other holding structures 24 such as clips, snap buttons, etc. to firmly connect with the hose.

[0091] In other embodiments, the tubular connector can be made of a rigid material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, etc., and the deformation ability of the first connector 2 is enhanced by the adjusting mechanism 221.

[0092] Example 2

[0093] The hose connector 1 includes a first connector 2 configured to connect to an external tubular connector, a second connector 3 configured to connect to a hose, and a side wall 4 surrounding and forming the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. Among them, the side wall 4 has an inner and an outer side, and the outer side is configured to provide a sufficient gripping area for the patient, namely the gripping portion 5; the first connector 2 is configured to connect and accommodate the tubular connector, including a part of the side wall 4 of the hose connector 1, a chamber 21 for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening 22 for allowing the external tubular connector to enter the chamber 21, a stop surface 23 for restricting the displacement of the external tubular connector, and a holding structure 24. The difference between the hose connector 1 provided in this embodiment and the hose connector 1 in Embodiment 1 is that: the opening 22 of the first connector 2 does not have an adjusting mechanism 221. As Figure 12 shown, the side wall 4 of the hose connector 1 in this embodiment is jointly made of a first elastic material 6 and a third material 7 that is softer than the first material 6. The third material 7 can be rubber, silica gel, thermoplastic elastomer, etc. with a hardness of Shore A20-40. The third material 7 is provided at the opening 22 of the first connector 2, so that the opening 22 is more likely to deform to accommodate the external tubular connector.

[0094] Implementing a hose connector 1 with an adjusting mechanism 221 of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0095] 1) Design of the adjustment mechanism 221: The inner diameter of the connector of most hose connectors on the market is usually designed to be larger than the outer diameter of the external components (including external tubular connectors) connected thereto, so that the external components can be smoothly connected to the hose connector; in order to improve the durability of the hose connector 1, some hose connectors choose to use rigid materials, such as plastic materials like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonate, and some hose connectors choose to use elastic materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers like silicone and rubber, in order to enhance the user experience and product comfort. Elastic materials have the characteristics of being soft and having strong deformation ability. Therefore, the experience effect of using rigid materials is not as good as that of using elastic materials. However, since the connector needs to be frequently installed and disassembled with external components, the elastic materials are prone to fatigue deformation or material aging due to repeated stress loading and unloading, gradually losing their original shape and elasticity, ultimately resulting in the failure of the sealing effect and easy slippage. The present invention innovatively combines the principle of notch effect, and an adjustment mechanism 221 with a certain depth and width is provided at the opening 22 of the first connector 2, making it easier to deform and connect to the external tubular connector. The notch effect causes stress concentration at the discontinuous opening 22 with the adjustment mechanism 221 when the external tubular connector contacts it, reaching the yield strength of the material. Elastic deformation occurs in the area near the root of the adjustment mechanism 221, resulting in a larger opening 22 to achieve the purpose of quickly and easily accommodating the external component. And through reasonable material selection and design, it is ensured that the adjustment mechanism 221 can restore its original size and shape after expansion to seal and connect the external component, ensuring that when the patient uses the hose connector 1, the hose connector 1 has a comfortable experience effect, a good sealing function, and a long service life. The connector of the hose connector 1 is made of an elastic material with a comfortable feel, and the inner diameter of the connector is designed to be less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component, and at least one adjustment mechanism 221 is designed at the opening 22: a. Compared with the hose connectors on the market with a reduced inner diameter of the connector, the connector is designed to have at least one adjustment mechanism 221 and an inner diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component. While ensuring the same degree of extending the service life of the hose connector 1, it can also provide a flexible structure for it, increasing the operability and adaptability of the connector, enabling the connector with an originally equal or smaller inner diameter to deform into a larger opening 22 through the adjustment mechanism 221, allowing the external component to enter smoothly, and avoiding the inability to connect with other external components due to the too small inner diameter of the connector.b. Compared with the hose connectors on the market that expand the inner diameter of the connector, the proportion of the effective sealing part in the connector of the present invention is larger. Most hose connectors on the market expand the inner diameter of the connector, enabling them to be connected to external components more smoothly. However, this also results in a certain distance between the effective sealing part and the inner diameter of the end face, indirectly reducing the proportion of the effective sealing part in the chamber for accommodating external components. The connector with at least one adjustment mechanism 221 has a 100% proportion of the sealing part in the chamber 21 for accommodating the external connecting component after connection, with a larger contact area with the external component, achieving a better sealing effect.

[0096] 2) Installation and disassembly experiments verify that the structural design of the connector of the hose connector 1 with the adjustment mechanism 221 and the material selection can extend the service life of the connector: Due to the use of variable elastic materials, the elastic materials used in the connector undergo fatigue deformation due to long-term and frequent installation and disassembly, resulting in the connector becoming loose and unable to achieve sealing. Therefore, the inner diameter of the connector in the present invention is designed to be less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component. Through installation and disassembly experiments, following the principle of comparison and the method of controlling variables, relevant experiments on the durability of the connector are carried out. The general process of the experiment is as follows:

[0097] i. Prepare the required equipment and experimental materials, including: As Figure 13 shown, five types of hose connectors (with chambers for accommodating external components of the same depth, the models are Resmed-ClimatelineAir with chamfers at the end face of the connector TM and Philips Respironics-DreamStation, plastic connectors made of rigid materials, Standard CPAP Hose with an inner diameter of the end face of the connector less than or equal to 22 mm, and hose connector 1 with an adjustment mechanism 221 at the end face of the connector and an inner diameter less than or equal to 22 mm), as Figure 14 shown, test instruments (a fixture with a 22 cm outer diameter annular protrusion and a displacement sensor installed), a computer or a data acquisition and analysis system.

[0098] j. Simulate the scenario of a patient using the hose connector. Under the environment of maintaining the same temperature (25 ± 3 °C) and humidity (40% - 50%), set the five types of hose connectors as five experimental comparison groups (Group A is Resmed-ClimatelineAir TM, Group B is Philips Respironics - DreamStation, Group C is the plastic connector, Group D is the Standard CPAP Hose, and Group E is the hose connector 1) with the adjustment mechanism 221; Measure the pushing distance of the connector of the hose connector in the five experimental comparison groups under the action of the same force (such as 50N) in the vertical direction and the deformation degree of the inner diameter after multiple installations and removals, and confirm that the test equipment meets the following requirements: the test equipment models are the same and the debugging parameters are the same (the force during installation, the force during removal, 360 times); the starting positions of the jigs are the same (that is, the distances from the jigs to the annular protrusion are the same).

[0099] k. Measure and record the inner diameters of the openings of the initial hose connectors in the five experimental comparison groups respectively.

[0100] l. As Figure 15 shown, fix the hose connector to the jig of the test instrument at the same position, and confirm that the axis of the hose connector of the jig coincides with the axis of the annular protrusion.

[0101] m. The test instrument drives the hose connector to repeat installation and removal according to the same set program, and the displacement sensor of the jig measures and records the displacement data of the jig during the experiment.

[0102] n. Remove the hose connectors that have completed the installation and removal experiments, and measure and record the inner diameters of the openings of the hose connectors after the test in the five experimental comparison groups respectively, and compare with the initial inner diameter data.

[0103] o. Repeat more than three samples for each group of samples, and repeat the above experimental steps more than three times to avoid accidental phenomena.

[0104] p. Data analysis: 1. The jig displacement value of Group E is the largest, those of Groups A, B, and C are medium, and that of Group D is the smallest. 2. The inner diameters measured after the experiments of Groups D and E are the smallest, that of Group C is the second smallest, and those of Groups A and B are the largest. Conclusion: The connector of Group E with the adjustment mechanism 221 and the inner diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component is the most durable.

[0105] Through data calculation and comparison, the connector with the adjustment mechanism 221 and the inner diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external component can effectively extend the life of the hose connector 1 by about 30%. The extension of the life of the hose connector 1 means that the frequency of users replacing the hose connector 1 can be reduced, which is more economical and affordable for users, and reduces the discard of waste for society and is more environmentally friendly.

Claims

1. A hose connector with an adjustment mechanism, characterized in that, Comprising: A side wall configured to surround and form a first connector and a second connector, wherein the side wall has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part has a gripping portion; A first connector configured to connect to an external tubular connector, including a chamber for receiving the external tubular connector, an opening for allowing the external tubular connector to enter the chamber, and a stop surface for restricting the displacement of the external tubular connector; A second connector configured to connect to a hose, including a space for receiving the hose; Wherein at least one adjusting mechanism is provided on the opening; Wherein the first connector is made of a first elastic material; Wherein the first connector has a non-uniform wall thickness from the stop surface to the opening, and the wall thickness at the stop surface is thicker than that at the opening; 2. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the opening of the first connector does not exceed 22 mm.

3. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The overall height range of the hose connector is 15 - 45 mm.

4. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wall thickness at the opening of the first connector is not less than 2 mm.

5. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the second connector is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector.

6. A hose connector with an adjusting mechanism, characterized in that, Comprising: A side wall configured to surround and form a first connector and a second connector, wherein the side wall has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part has a gripping portion; A first connector configured to connect to an external tubular connector, including a chamber for receiving the external tubular connector, an opening for allowing the external tubular connector to enter the chamber, and a holding structure for enhancing the fixing ability; A second connector configured to connect to a hose, including a space for receiving the hose; Wherein at least one adjusting mechanism is provided on the opening; Wherein the holding structure has one or more of the following features: a. The inner diameter is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector; b. It is in the form of protruding towards the central axis of the hose connector; c. The holding structure is in an inverted conical shape; d. The material of the holding structure is a second material.

7. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the second connector is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector.

8. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The height of the inverted conical holding structure is equal to the depth of the chamber.

9. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, For the inverted conical holding structure, the maximum inner diameter of the cone is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector.

10. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The depth of the chamber is at least 12 mm.

11. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that, The protruding height of the holding structure in the form of protruding is less than the depth of the chamber.

12. A hose connector with an adjusting mechanism, characterized in that, Comprising: A side wall configured to surround and form a first connector and a second connector, wherein the side wall has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part has a gripping portion; A first connector configured to connect to an external tubular connector, including a chamber for receiving the external tubular connector, an opening for allowing the hose connector to enter the chamber, and a stop surface for restricting the displacement of the hose connector; A second connector configured to connect to a hose, including a space for receiving the hose; Wherein at least one adjusting mechanism is provided on the opening; Wherein the inner diameter of the second connector is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the first connector; Wherein the depth of the chamber is at least 12 mm.

13. The hose connector with an adjustment mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the first connector is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector.

14. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first connector has a holding structure, and the inner diameter of the holding structure is less than the inner diameter of the first connector.

15. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The gripping portion is in the form of a groove or a protrusion.

16. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The notch depth does not exceed 1 / 2 of the chamber depth.

17. A hose connector with an adjusting mechanism, characterized in that Comprising: The side wall is configured to surround and form a first connector and a second connector. Among them, the side wall has an inner part and an outer part, and the outer part has a gripping portion. The first connector is configured to connect an external tubular connector, including a chamber for accommodating the external tubular connector, an opening allowing a hose connector to enter the chamber, and a stop surface for restricting the displacement of the hose connector. The second connector is configured to connect a hose, including a space for accommodating the hose. Among them, the first connector is made of a first material with elasticity. Among them, at least one adjusting mechanism is provided on the opening. Among them, the adjusting mechanism has one or more of the following characteristics: a. The depth does not exceed 1 / 2 of the depth of the chamber. b. The width is less than 2 / 3 of the inner diameter of the opening.

18. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 17, characterized in that, The adjusting mechanism is in the form of a notch or a third material different from the first material.

19. The hose connector with an adjustment mechanism according to claim 17, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the first connector is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the external tubular connector.

20. The hose connector with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 17, characterized in that, The root of the adjusting mechanism has an arc.

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