Swivel connector for endotracheal tube or the like

Claim 1

A junction fitting for an endotracheal tube or the like comprising, in combination, a hollow cylindrical female member having a cylindrical recess at one end, a hollow cylindrical male member, having one end dimensioned to swivel freely in the recess in telescoped relation, the male member having an angular lead-off, the female member having a land surface and a shallow annular groove adjacent the mouth of the recess, the female member further having an annular centering surface spaced axially inwardly from the groove at an offset distance which greatly exceeds the width of the groove, the male member having at its tip an annular guide surface and having a shallow annular ridge spaced axially inwardly therefrom by an amount equal to the axial offset in the female member so that when the ridge is alined with the groove the guide surface is opposite the centering surface thereby to preventing cocking of the members with respect to one another, the ridge having an interfering fit with the land surface adjacent the mouth of the recess, at least one of the members being formed of relatively soft resilient plastic capable of deforming accommodation when the members are pressed together, and the ridge being narrower than the groove so that the ridge clicks past the land surface and into register with the groove with detent action is permanently assembled swivelling relation accompanied by movement of the guide surface into position opposite the centering surface.