Female connector, and fluid storage container and pre-filled container for liquid food
The female connector design addresses the issue of connectors disconnecting due to tube twisting by utilizing an expanded diameter portion to create frictional force with the male connector, ensuring secure connections and improved safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2021053984
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-03-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-03-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing connectors that comply with ISO80369-3 may disconnect when the tube with the male connector is twisted, leading to potential misconnections and safety issues.
A female connector design featuring a cylindrical base portion and a cylindrical portion with a distal hollow portion, screw rib, and an expanded diameter portion that restricts the male connector from detaching by creating a frictional force through sliding contact with the male connector's threaded protrusion.
The female connector effectively prevents the male connector from detaching, ensuring secure connections and reducing the risk of misconnections, thereby enhancing safety and reliability in fluid supply systems.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a female connector capable of restricting separation of a male connector, as well as to a fluid storage container and a container filled with a liquid food product. [Background technology]
[0002] When supplying (administering) a fluid such as a medicinal liquid or liquid food to a patient, a container containing the fluid is connected to a tube connected to the patient to which the fluid is to be supplied via a pair of female and male connectors.
[0003] In recent years, in order to prevent the risk of missupplying various fluids to patients, efforts have been made to standardize connectors (female and male connectors) compatible with various fluids and to physically prevent misconnections. For example, the international standard ISO (IEC) 80369 series classifies connector connections that may occur at the bedside and specifies their mutual non-mating, and ISO080369-3 has been specified with the aim of preventing misconnections in gastrostomy and nasogastric tubes in the field of enteral nutrition. The decision has already been made to introduce ISO80369-3 in Japan, and the switchover of connectors has begun in the field.
[0004] Accordingly, improvements are being made to connectors compatible with ISO80369-3, and technologies such as those in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 are disclosed. Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2015-119837) discloses an invention of a male connector conforming to ISO80369-3, in which a through hole is formed in the outer tube or bottom plate of the male connector in order to improve the cleanability of the male connector. In addition, Patent Document 2 (JP Patent Publication No. 2019-201996) discloses that a container nozzle (female connector) to which an ISO80369-3 screw-in connector (male connector) can be applied is provided with a slide member in the container nozzle in order to easily open the nozzle and smoothly allow the contents to flow out. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-119837 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-201996 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] However, there is still room for improvement in connectors that can comply with ISO 80369-3 as described above. In particular, the inventors have noticed that when a tube equipped with a male connector is twisted, the connector may become disconnected (the male connector may come off from the female connector). Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a female connector that can be attached to a container that stores a fluid and connected to a male connector, and that can prevent the male connector from being detached, as well as a fluid storage container and a container filled with liquid food. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The above objectives are achieved by the following: (1) A female connector that is attached to a container that stores a fluid and can be connected to a male connector, the male connector includes a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion that encases the first cylindrical portion, and a screwing protrusion that is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion and forms a screwing groove; The female connector includes a cylindrical base portion and a cylindrical portion protruding from the base portion toward a tip end thereof, the cylindrical portion includes a tip-side hollow portion into which the tip portion of the first tubular portion of the male connector can enter or into which the tip portion of the first tubular portion of the male connector can be inserted; a screwing rib formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tip-side hollow portion and capable of screwing into the screwing groove portion; and an enlarged diameter portion provided closer to the base portion than the screwing rib, the enlarged diameter portion having an outer diameter larger than a portion of the tip-side hollow portion where the screwing rib is not present and a height smaller than the screwing rib. As the screwing of the male connector and the female connector progresses, the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion slides against the top of the screwing protrusion of the male connector, and the contact between the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion and the top of the screwing protrusion prevents the male connector from coming off the female connector.
[0008] (2) A female connector as described in (1) above, wherein the cylindrical portion includes a sealing portion extending from the tip side hollow portion toward the tip side, and a breakable portion for opening provided between the sealing portion and the tip side hollow portion, and by breaking the sealing portion, the tip side hollow portion becomes accessible to the tip end of the first tubular portion of the male connector. (3) A female connector according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the distal end hollow portion of the female connector has substantially the same inner diameter. (4) The female connector according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the enlarged diameter portion is a thick-walled portion. (5) A female connector as described in any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the enlarged diameter portion extends a predetermined length with approximately the same outer diameter, the cylindrical portion has a tapered portion that narrows in diameter from the enlarged diameter portion toward the tip, and the screwing rib is provided on the tapered portion. (6) A female connector according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the cylindrical portion extends in a tip direction from the tapered portion and has a tip portion having substantially the same outer diameter.
[0009] The above objective is also achieved by the following: (7) A fluid storage container comprising a container body having an outlet, the outlet being fitted with a female connector according to any one of (1) to (6) above.
[0010] The above objective is also achieved by the following: (8) A container filled with liquid food, in which liquid food is stored in the fluid storage container described in (7) above. Effect of the Invention
[0011] The female connector of the present invention comprises a cylindrical base portion and a cylindrical portion protruding from the base portion toward the tip, the cylindrical portion comprising a tip hollow portion into which the tip portion of the first cylindrical portion of the male connector can enter or can be made enterable, a screwing rib formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tip hollow portion and capable of being screwed into the screwing groove portion, and an expanded diameter portion provided on the base portion side from the screwing rib and having a larger outer diameter than the non-existent portion of the tip hollow portion and a lower height than the screwing rib, the outer surface portion of the expanded diameter portion comes into sliding contact with the top of the screwing protrusion of the male connector as the male connector and the female connector are screwed together, and the outer surface portion of the expanded diameter portion comes into contact with the top of the screwing protrusion. This generates a frictional force between the male connector (the screwing protrusion) and the female connector (the expanded diameter portion), and the male connector can be prevented from coming off the female connector.
[0012] The fluid storage container of the present invention includes a container body having an outlet, and the above-mentioned specified female connector is attached to the outlet, which generates a frictional force between the male connector (screw-engagement protrusion) and the female connector (expanded diameter portion), thereby preventing the male connector from coming off the female connector.
[0013] The container filled with liquid food of the present invention contains liquid food in the specified fluid storage container. This generates a frictional force between the male connector (the screw-engagement protrusion) and the female connector (the enlarged diameter portion), which prevents the male connector from coming off the female connector. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0014] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a container filled with liquid food having a female connector of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion A in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion corresponding to FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a male connector that can be connected to a female connector of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the connection between the female connector and the male connector of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the connection between the female connector and the male connector of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 for explaining another embodiment of a female connector of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial explanatory sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing an embodiment in which a breaking cap is attached to a female connector of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The female connector, fluid storage container, and container filled with liquid food of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0016] As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the female connector 30 of the present invention is a female connector 30 that is attached to a container (container body 11 of fluid storage container 10) that stores a fluid (liquid food 20) and can be connected to a male connector 50. The male connector 50 includes a first tubular portion 51, a second tubular portion 52 that encases the first tubular portion 51, and a screwing protrusion 54 that is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second tubular portion 52 and forms a screwing groove portion 53. The female connector 30 includes a tubular base portion 31 and a cylindrical portion 32 that protrudes toward the tip from the base portion 31. The cylindrical portion 32 includes a tip side hollow portion 33 into which the tip portion 55 of the first tubular portion 51 of the male connector 50 can enter or can be made in a state where it can enter, a screwing rib 34 that is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip side hollow portion 33 and can be screwed into the screwing groove portion 53, and a tip side hollow portion 34 that is provided on the base portion 31 side from the screwing rib 34 and can be screwed into the screwing groove portion 53. The hollow portion 33 has an expanded diameter portion 35 which has an outer diameter larger than the portion where the screwing rib 34 is not present and which is shorter in height than the screwing rib 34, and as the male connector 50 and the female connector 30 are screwed together, the outer surface of the expanded diameter portion 35 comes into sliding contact with the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50, and the contact (pressure welding) between the outer surface of the expanded diameter portion 35 and the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 prevents the male connector 50 from coming off the female connector 30.
[0017] 1 to 3, the fluid storage container 10 of the present invention comprises a container body 11 having an outlet 12, and the above-mentioned female connector 30 is attached to the outlet 12. The fluid food-filled container 1 of the present invention has fluid food 20 stored in the above-mentioned fluid storage container 10 (container body 11).
[0018] The container body 11 is in the form of a flexible bag, and contains the liquid food 20 therein. An outlet 12 is provided at the top of the container body 11 to communicate the inside and outside of the container body 11 (to discharge the liquid food 20 contained inside the container body 11 to the outside). A female connector 30 is attached to the outlet 12 of the container body 11.
[0019] 2 and 3, the female connector 30 includes a cylindrical base portion 31. A diamond-shaped plate-like portion 36 and a boat-shaped mounting portion 37 (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 2) are provided on the further base end side (container body 11) of the base portion 31. The female connector 30 is attached to the outlet 12 of the container body 11 at the mounting portion 37. More specifically, the mounting portion 37 is housed inside the outlet 12, and the inner surface of the outlet 12 is fixed (by adhesion, heat welding, etc.) to the outer surface of the mounting portion 37 in a liquid-tight manner.
[0020] In the female connector 30 of this embodiment, the plate-like portion 36 is a flat plate extending outward from the base end of the base portion 31. The lower surface of the plate-like portion 36 abuts against the upper surface of the outlet 12 of the container body 11 to seal the outlet 12. The plate-like portion 36 is preferably substantially diamond-shaped as in this embodiment, but may also be circular, elliptical, or polygonal.
[0021] The mounting portion 37 is tubular and extends a predetermined length below the lower surface of the plate-like portion 36. The outer edge shape of the upper end of the mounting portion 37 is smaller than the outer edge shape of the lower surface of the plate-like portion 36, and the plate-like portion 36 has an annular protruding portion protruding from the mounting portion 37 on the lower surface. In the female connector 30 of this embodiment, the mounting portion 37 is boat-shaped, specifically, the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction is rhombic-shaped. The mounting portion 37 may be cylindrical, elliptical, or polygonal. In the female connector 30 of this embodiment, the mounting portion 37 has a convex portion and a concave portion on the outer surface.
[0022] The female connector 30 includes a cylindrical portion 32 that protrudes toward the tip from a base portion 31. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 32 includes a tip-side hollow portion 33, a sealing portion 38, and a breakable portion 39.
[0023] The tip side hollow portion 33 of the cylindrical portion 32 has a hollow cylindrical shape. A tip portion 55 of a first tubular portion 51 of a male connector 50 (male connector tip portion 55), which will be described later in detail, can enter the inside of the tip side hollow portion 33.
[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the tip hollow portion 33 of the female connector 30 has a substantially uniform inner diameter. In other words, the inner surface of the tip hollow portion 33 is a substantially parallel straight surface (a cylindrical surface extending with a substantially uniform inner diameter) along the axial direction. Note that "substantially the same inner diameter (substantially parallel straight surfaces)" here means that an inclination of the extent of the draft angle set when molding the female connector 30 is permitted. This makes it easier to mold the female connector 30 having the sealing portion 38, which will be described in detail later.
[0025] A screwing rib 34 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tip-side hollow portion 33. The screwing rib 34 is a spiral rib that protrudes outward and is capable of screwing into a screwing groove portion 53 of a male connector 50, which will be described in detail later.
[0026] An expanded diameter portion 35 is provided in a portion of the tip-side hollow portion 33 closer to the base portion 31 than the screwing rib 34. As shown in Fig. 6, the outer diameter D1 of the expanded diameter portion 35 is larger than the outer diameter D2 of a portion where the screwing rib 34 does not exist [for example, the tip portion 40 (female connector tip portion 40) described in detail later)], and as shown in Fig. 4, the height H1 of the expanded diameter portion 35 [here, the protruding height from the portion where the screwing rib 34 does not exist (the tip portion 40)] is smaller than the height H2 of the screwing rib 34.
[0027] In this embodiment, the expanded diameter portion 35 is a thick portion. Since the inner diameter is substantially the same in the tip side hollow portion 33, the expanded diameter portion 35 is thicker than the portion (tip portion 40) where the screwing rib 34 is not present because the outer diameter is larger.
[0028] As shown in Fig. 4, the enlarged diameter portion 35 extends a predetermined length (L) with substantially the same outer diameter. The cylindrical portion 32 (tip side hollow portion 33) has a tapered portion 41 that decreases in diameter from the enlarged diameter portion 35 toward the tip, and the screwing rib 34 is provided on the tapered portion 41. In other words, the tapered portion 41 is connected to the tip of the enlarged diameter portion 35, and the outer diameter of the tapered portion decreases toward the tip. The screwing rib 34 is not limited to being provided entirely on the tapered portion 41, and a part of the screwing rib 34 may be provided on the enlarged diameter portion 35 or the tip portion 40, which will be described later in detail.
[0029] The cylindrical portion 32 (tip side hollow portion 33) includes a tip portion 40 (female connector tip portion 40) that extends in the tip direction from the tapered portion 41 and has approximately the same outer diameter. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the tip portion 40 is connected to the tip of the tapered portion 41 and extends a predetermined length at an outer diameter: D2 smaller than the outer diameter: D1 of the expanded diameter portion 35.
[0030] The cylindrical portion 32 includes a sealing portion 38 extending toward the tip side from the tip side hollow portion 33, and a breakable portion 39 for opening provided between the sealing portion 38 and the tip side hollow portion 33. By breaking the sealing portion 38 at the breakable portion 39, the tip side hollow portion 33 becomes accessible to a tip portion 55 of a first tubular portion 51 of a male connector 50.
[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the sealing portion 38 is connected to the tip of the tip side hollow portion 33 (tip portion 40) and is a cylinder having a closed portion with the tip side portion closed. When the sealing portion 38 is present (not broken at the breakable portion 39), the tip side hollow portion 33 is closed (the fluid storage container 10 is sealed). Also, a rib 42 for breaking operation that protrudes outward is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the sealing portion 38. Here, a pair of ribs 42, 42 for breaking operation that protrude in opposite directions are formed on the sealing portion 38.
[0032] A breakable portion 39 is provided between the sealing portion 38 and the tip side hollow portion 33. In other words, the sealing portion 38 is connected to the tip side hollow portion 33 via the breakable portion 39. The breakable portion 39 is a thin-walled portion, and has a lower breaking strength than other portions of the sealing portion 38. By breaking the sealing portion 38 at the breakable portion 39 (separating the sealing portion 38 from the tip side hollow portion 33), the tip side hollow portion 33 is opened (the fluid storage container 10 is unsealed), and the tip portion 55 of the first tubular portion 51 of the male connector 50 can enter the tip side hollow portion 33.
[0033] The material for forming the female connector 30 may be a hard synthetic resin, such as polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyester (PET), polystyrene, polyamide, hard polyvinyl chloride, ABS resin, etc. The material for forming the female connector 30 is preferably high density polyethylene (HDPE). The female connector 30 may be integrally molded, for example, by injection molding. The female connector 30 is preferably one that complies with ISO80369-3.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the male connector 50 connectable to the female connector 30 includes a first tubular portion 51 connectable to the female connector 30, a second tubular portion (lock adapter) 52 that encases the first tubular portion 51, and a screwing protrusion 54 formed on the inner surface of the second tubular portion 52 and forming a screwing groove portion 53.
[0035] In particular, the male connector 50 shown in Fig. 5 includes a first cylindrical portion 51 having an opening at its tip, a second cylindrical portion 52 enclosing the first cylindrical portion 51, a connector portion 57 for connecting a tube having an opening at its rear end, and a flange portion 58 provided between the first cylindrical portion 51 and the connector portion 57 for connecting a tube. As shown in Fig. 7, a liquid injection tube 70 can be connected to the connector portion 57.
[0036] The first cylindrical portion 51 has a tapered shape in which the outer diameter decreases toward the tip. Specifically, the first cylindrical portion 51 has a nozzle shape with a 6% Luer taper in accordance with ISO 594. The first cylindrical portion 51 is capable of connecting not only the female connector of the present invention but also other medical devices (e.g., connectors, three-way stopcocks).
[0037] The second cylindrical portion 52 is a cylindrical member and is attached to the first cylindrical portion 51, and the tip of the first cylindrical portion 51 protrudes beyond the tip of the second cylindrical portion 52. The second cylindrical portion 52 has an annular rib provided at its base end and extending toward the center. This annular rib enters an annular recess provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 51. Therefore, the second cylindrical portion 52 is rotatably attached to the first cylindrical portion 51.
[0038] The second cylindrical portion 52 has an inner peripheral surface formed with a screwing protrusion 54 that forms a screwing groove 53. The screwing protrusion 54 is a helical protrusion (a so-called thread ridge) that protrudes inward. The screwing protrusion 54 forms the screwing groove 53 (a so-called thread valley). The screwing groove 53 can be screwed into the screwing rib 34 of the female connector 30.
[0039] 5, the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 of this embodiment has a trapezoidal cross section, and the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 is a surface parallel to the axial direction. The inner diameter D3 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 is equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the enlarged diameter portion 35 of the female connector 30.
[0040] The material for forming the male connector 50 may be a hard synthetic resin, such as polyolefins such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, and polyethylene, polyester (PET), polystyrene, polyamide, hard polyvinyl chloride, and ABS resin. The material for forming the male connector 50 is preferably high density polyethylene (HDPE). The male connector 50 may be integrally molded, for example, by injection molding. The male connector 50 is preferably one that complies with ISO80369-3.
[0041] Next, a manner in which the female connector 30 and the male connector 50 are connected will be described.
[0042] First, as shown in Fig. 6, the sealing portion 38 of the female connector 30 is broken (separated) to open (unseal) the tip side hollow portion 33. Here, the pair of breaking operation ribs 42, 42 provided on the sealing portion 38 are gripped and the sealing portion 38 is twisted (rotated), thereby breaking the sealing portion 38 at the breakable portion 39. By opening the tip side hollow portion 33, the tip portion 55 of the first tubular portion 51 of the male connector 50 can enter the tip side hollow portion 33.
[0043] Then, as shown in Figure 7, by inserting the tip portion 55 of the first tubular portion 51 of the male connector 50 into the tip side hollow portion 33 of the female connector 30 and rotating the second tubular portion 52, the screwing rib 34 of the female connector 30 and the screwing groove portion 53 of the male connector 50 are screwed together.
[0044] As the female connector 30 (the screwing rib 34) and the screwing groove 53 of the second tubular portion 52 of the male connector 50 screw together, the male connector 50 moves toward the female connector 30 (the tip 55 moves inside the tip hollow portion 33). Here, since the tip 55 of the first tubular portion 51 of the male connector 50 is tapered, the outer surface of the tip 55 comes into contact (or is pressed against) with the inner surface of the tip hollow portion 33 of the female connector 30, and engages liquid-tightly. This allows the female connector 30 (the tip hollow portion 33) and the male connector 50 (the first tubular portion 51) to communicate with each other, and the fluid (liquid food 20) in the fluid storage container 10 (container body 11) can be supplied to a patient via the female connector 30 and the male connector 50.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 7, as the female connector 30 (the screwing rib 34) and the male connector 50 (the screwing groove 53) are screwed together, the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 35 of the female connector 30 slides against the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 (the second cylindrical portion 52), and the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 35 and the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 come into contact (pressure contact). This makes it possible to restrict the male connector 50 from being removed from the female connector 30. In this embodiment, since the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 is a surface parallel to the axial direction, the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 35 and the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 come into surface contact (pressure contact). This makes it possible to more strongly restrict the male connector 50 from being removed from the female connector 30.
[0046] In this embodiment, the tip hollow portion 33 has substantially the same inner diameter. Therefore, the outer surface of the tip portion 55 of the first cylindrical portion 51 of the male connector 50 and the inner surface of the tip hollow portion 33 of the female connector 30 are unlikely to come into surface contact (they tend to remain in line contact), and in this respect, the male connector 50 is unlikely to be restricted from being removed from the female connector 30. In contrast, by bringing the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 35 of the female connector 30 into contact (pressure welded) with the top portion 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50, it is possible to restrict the male connector 50 from being removed from the female connector 30 while ensuring the moldability of the female connector 30 [particularly, the female connector 30 having the sealing portion 38 (and the breakable portion 39)].
[0047] Furthermore, in the female connector 30 of this embodiment, the tapered portion 41 guides the progress of screwing between the female connector 30 (screw-engagement rib 34) and the second tubular portion 52 (screw-engagement groove portion 53) of the male connector 50. That is, the screw-engagement protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 reaches the expanded diameter portion 35 while sliding against the outer surface of the tapered portion 41. This makes it possible to more reliably bring the top 56 of the screw-engagement protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 into sliding contact with the expanded diameter portion 35, and bring the outer surface of the expanded diameter portion 35 into contact (pressure weld) with the top 56 of the screw-engagement protrusion 54.
[0048] The enlarged diameter portion of the female connector is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as in the female connector 30a (cylindrical portion 32a, tip side hollow portion 33a) shown in FIG. 8, the enlarged diameter portion 35a of the female connector 30a may be tapered. Here, the enlarged diameter portion 35a is tapered and continues from the tapered portion 41a. It is preferable that the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 35a is equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the screwing protrusion 54 at a portion where the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50 can reach. By bringing the outer surface of such enlarged diameter portion 35a into contact (pressure weld) with the top 56 of the screwing protrusion 54 of the male connector 50, it is possible to prevent the male connector 50 from being removed from the female connector 30a. In addition, the top of the screwing protrusion of the male connector may be a surface (parallel to the enlarged diameter portion 35a) corresponding to the tapered enlarged diameter portion 35a. This allows the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 35a and the top of the screwing protrusion to come into surface contact (surface pressure contact), making it possible to more strongly restrict separation of the male connector from the female connector 30a.
[0049] In order to increase the force preventing the male connector from being disengaged from the female connector, it is preferable that the enlarged diameter portion of the female connector extend a predetermined length with substantially the same outer diameter. Also, in order to increase the force preventing the male connector from being disengaged from the female connector, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the female connector be larger than the inner diameter of the screwing protrusion of the male connector.
[0050] The male connector to be connected to the female connector of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the screw-engagement projection of the male connector may have a rectangular or triangular cross section.
[0051] The inner surface of the distal hollow portion of the female connector may be tapered to match the shape (tapered shape) of the distal end of the first cylindrical portion of the male connector. In this case, the female connector does not need to have a sealing portion (and a breakable portion), and a separate sealing cap may be attached to the female connector.
[0052] 9, a break cap 60 may be attached to the female connector 30 having the sealing portion 38. The break cap 60 has cap side ribs 61, 61 formed therein for engaging with the break operation ribs 42, 42, and the sealing portion 38 can be easily broken by gripping the outwardly protruding blade portions 62, 62 and twisting (rotating) the break cap 60. Note that such a break cap may be fixed to the tip of the sealing portion by heat welding or the like. [Explanation of symbols]
[0053] 1. Liquid food pre-filled containers 10 Fluid storage container 11 Container body 12 Outlet 20 Liquid foods 30 female connector 31 Base 32 Cylindrical section 33 Hollow part on the tip side 34 Threaded rib 35 Expanded diameter part 50 Male Connector 51 First cylindrical portion 52 Second cylindrical section 53 Screw groove 55 Tip 56 Top
Claims
1. A female connector attached to a container for storing a fluid and connectable to a male connector, the male connector includes a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion that encases the first cylindrical portion, and a screwing protrusion that is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion and forms a screwing groove, The female connector includes a cylindrical base portion and a cylindrical portion protruding from the base portion toward a tip end thereof, the cylindrical portion includes a tip-side hollow portion into which the tip portion of the first tubular portion of the male connector can enter or into which the tip portion of the first tubular portion of the male connector can be inserted; a screwing rib formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tip-side hollow portion and capable of screwing into the screwing groove portion; and an enlarged diameter portion provided closer to the base portion than the screwing rib, the enlarged diameter portion having an outer diameter larger than a portion of the tip-side hollow portion where the screwing rib is not present and a height smaller than the screwing rib. an outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion comes into sliding contact with a top of the screwing protrusion of the male connector as the screwing of the male connector and the female connector progresses, and the contact between the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion and the top of the screwing protrusion prevents the male connector from being removed from the female connector; The enlarged diameter portion extends for a predetermined length with substantially the same outer diameter, the cylindrical portion includes a tapered portion whose diameter decreases from the enlarged diameter portion toward the tip, and the screwing rib is provided on the tapered portion. Female connector.
2. The cylindrical portion includes a sealing portion extending from the tip side hollow portion toward the tip side, and a breakable portion for opening provided between the sealing portion and the tip side hollow portion, and by breaking the sealing portion, the tip side hollow portion becomes accessible to the tip end of the first tubular portion of the male connector. The female connector according to claim 1 .
3. The distal hollow portion of the female connector has substantially the same inner diameter.
3. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The enlarged diameter portion is a thick portion. The female connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. the cylindrical portion extends in a distal direction from the tapered portion and has a tip portion having substantially the same outer diameter; The female connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. A container body having an outlet, the female connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5 being attached to the outlet. Fluid containment vessel.
7. A liquid food product is stored in the fluid storage container according to claim 6. Liquid food pre-filled containers.
Citation Information
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