Tubing end-piece and connector

摘要

A tubing end-piece (10) interconnects a free end (12) of a piece of tubing (14) and a tubing connector or fitting so that a fluid can flow between the tubing (14) and the fitting or connector. The tubing end-piece (10) includes a body member (20) extending along a longitudinal axis with a bore (22) extending longitudinally therethrough. The body member (20) has an elongated body portion (24), a doughnut-shaped head portion (32) and a frustoconically-shape tail portion (40). The body portion (24) has an outer body surface (26) configured in a shape of a frustum that tapers from a first end (28) and towards a second end (30). The doughnut-shaped head portion (32) is connected to the first end (28) of said body portion (24) and extends radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis to form in cross section an outer curved surface (34) commencing from the first end (28) and terminating in an outer peripheral edge (36) which defines a first opening (38) into the bore (22). A frustoconically-shaped tail portion (40) is connected to the second end of the body portion (24) and tapers from the second end (30) and towards a second opening (42) into the bore (22). The body member (20) has an inner first surface (44) and an inner second surface (46) defining the bore (22) and has a plurality of splines (54) which are spaced apart from one another and extend longitudinally along and outwardly from the outer body surface (26). The present invention also includes a connector adapted to interconnect a pair of tubing end-pieces so that the fluid can flow between and through the respective pieces of tubing and the pair of tubing connectors, and present a connection which resists snagging when trailed from a portable or fixed source of oxygen gas to an ambulatory patient.