GB2177310A

GB2177310A - Pipe connection for breathing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2177310A
Application number: GB08615050A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-20
Filing date: 1986-06-20
Publication date: 1987-01-21
Also published as: GB8615050D0; GB2177310B

Abstract

In a pipe connection, for example for connecting a pipe 110 in the socket 116 of a face mask 112, the pipe 110 is tapered and fits a complementary taper of the socket 116. The pipe 110 has fingers 124-127 which engage a shoulder 132 of the socket 116 and are deformable so that they can be forced past the shoulder upon mating of the tapers and when the parts are pulled apart. but are sufficiently rigid to prevent the connection working loose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe connection for breathing apparatus This invention relates to pipe connections for breathing apparatus, for example resuscitation apparatus.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a known elbow joint 100 connected to a a face mask 102. The connection is usually, as illustrated, a 1:40 push taper fit as required by British Standards Institution publication BS 38 49. The elbow has a tapered end 104 which fits into a complementary tapered socket 106 in a socket member 108 on the face mask. The tapered end and socket rely on friction to secure the joint. The elbow and socket member are made of hard rubber which deforms slightly when the joint is made to provide a joint which is sufficiently secure for most purposes. However, occasionally the joint works loose and thus the air or oxygen line to the face mask is broken, with possible very dangerous consequences. Lives have been lost due to these connections working loose.

A further problem with the known connection described above is that, since the parts are made of rubber, the parts are not suitable for sterilising in an autoclave. If made of certain plastics material the parts could be autoclaved, but then the resilience of the parts would not be sufficient for the taper fit to secure the parts firmly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe connection for breathing apparatus which can be made of a less resilient, autocalvable material and which provides a simple way of ensuring that the tapered joint does not become dislodged accidentally, but which enables the joint to be forced apart when desired.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pipe connection between first and second parts of a breathing apparatus, the first part having an external tapered surface which tapers towards an end of the part and the second part having a complementary tapered socket which tapers away from the mouth of the socket, and into which the tapered surface of the first part can be fitted, the smaller end of the socket having a shoulder facing away from the mouth of the socket and the first part being provided with at least two spaced apart fingers which engage the shoulder when the tapers are mated to lock the connection, the fingers being resiliently deformable so that the fingers can be forced past the shoulder both upon mating of the tapers and when the parts are pulled apart, and the fingers being sufficiently rigid to prevent the connection working loose.

A specific embodiment of a pipe connection will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 2 is a perspective view of an elbow constituting the first part of the connection; and Figure 3 is a sectioned side view of the elbow mated with a face mask which constitutes the second part of the connection.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, there are shown an elbow 110 and to a face mask 112, each being a single moulding of rigid plastics material. The elbow 110 has a tapered end 114 with a 1:40 taper. The face mask 112 has a complementary tapered socket 116. The end 114 of the elbow 110 is fitted to the socket 116 by insertion into the mouth 118 of the socket, and when pushed fully home the end edge 120 of the elbow stops just short of the open smaller end 122 of the socket.

Four spaced apart fingers 124 to 127 are formed on the end edge 120 of the elbow.

As shown in the detail part of Fig. 3, each finger comprises a relatively thin portion 128 projecting from the end edge 120 of the elbow to a thickened portion 130.

The face mask around the smaller end 122 of the socket provides a shoulder 132 which is engaged by complementary surface 134 of the thickened portion of each finger 124 to 127.

The thin portions 128 of the fingers permit the fingers to be distorted radially inwardly as they move past the smaller end 122 of the socket when the tapered end of the elbow is forceably inserted or withdrawn into or from the socket. Once the tapered end of the elbow has been inserted fully into the socket, the fingers relax and move radially outwardly, and the surfaces 134 on the thickened portions of the fingers by engaging the shoulder 132 prevent the connection working loose.

In the known face mask 102 shown in Fig.

1, the rubber socket member 108 serves also to secure to the face mask a metal ring 140 having a number of radially projecting arms 142 with hooked ends. These hooked ends serve as attachment points for elasticated bands which pass around the back of the user's head to hold the face mask in position. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of integrally moulded pegs project from the face mask to serve as such attachment points.

Thus, whereas the known mask comprises four separate parts, the face mask shown in Fig. 3 is formed by a single moulding.

Claims

1. A pipe connection between first and second parts of a breathing apparatus, the first part having an external tapered surface which tapers towards an end of the part and the second part having a complementary tapered socket which tapers away from the mouth of the socket and into which the tapered surface of the first part can be fitted, the smaller end of the socket having a shoul der facing away from the mouth of the socket and the first part being provided with at least two spaced apart fingers which engage the shoulder when the tapers are mated to lock the connection, the fingers being deformable so that the fingers can be forced past the shoulder both upon mating of the tapers and when the parts are pulled apart, and the fingers being sufficiently rigid to prevent the connection working loose.

2. A connection as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least three and preferably four of said fingers are provided.

3. A connection as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each finger comprises a portion projecting from the end of the first part in the direction of the axis of the taper and a surface extending outwardly from the projecting portion to engage the shoulder on the second part.

4. A connection as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first part is made of rigid plastics material, the fingers being integral therewith and the cross section of the axially projecting portions of the fingers being sufficiently small to permit the projecting portions to distort upon mating of the tapers and when the tapers are pulled apart.

5. A connection as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said second part is a face mask having a face covering portion, the socket being integrally moulded with the face covering portion.

6. A pipe connection between first and second parts of a breathing apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.