Ventilator having an oscillatory inspiratory phase and method

Claim 1

In a quick disconnect assembly, a female fitting having a socket formed therein, a male fitting having an integral bayonet adapted to fit in said socket, cooperative sealing means carried by said female and male fittings for forming an airtight seal between the bayonet and the socket and releasable retaining means carried by one of said fittings for retaining said fittings in engagement with each other, said releasable retaining means being circumferential in form and having first and second ends, said first end having axially extending slots therein to provide segmental lips, said first end being provided with an inwardly annular extending lip, said female fitting being provided with an annular recess receiving said annular lip, said second end having an annular shoulder, said male fitting having an annular recess adapted to receive said annular shoulder, said male fitting being provided with an inclined camming surface for camming said annular shoulder carried by said segmental lips outwardly during movement of the male fitting into the female fitting to expand said first end of the releasable retaining means to clear said inclined camming surface and to drop into the annular recess provided on the male fitting to provide the sole means independent of forces created by the sealing means for retaining said male fitting in engagement with the female fitting, said male fitting and said annular shoulder of retaining means having cooperative surfaces whereby when said male fitting is pulled away from said female fitting said segmental lips are cammed outwardly to permit a quick disconnect between the male and female fittings.