JP7724123B2 - Male connector cover - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a male connector cover that is detachably attached to a male connector.

Tube feeding, in which liquids including nutrients and medications are injected directly into the digestive tract, such as the stomach and intestines, via a tube, is a well-known method of administering liquids to patients who are no longer able to take food orally. Because liquids must be administered to patients periodically, the tube that delivers the liquid is inserted and left in place within the patient. A male connector is provided at the upstream end of the tube. When administering the liquid, the male connector is connected to a female connector provided at the downstream end of the tube, which is connected to a container (e.g., a bag) that stores the liquid.

The male connector, along with the tubing, remains in place in the patient for long periods of time. When the patient turns over in bed, the male connector may be crushed under the patient's face or body. If the male connector is made of a hard material, the patient may feel pain from the male connector. Furthermore, the male connector may cause bedsores by continuously compressing the patient's skin and soft tissue.

Patent Document 1 describes a detachable cover for a male connector. It also describes that the cover may be made of a soft material such as elastomer or foam. By attaching the cover to the male connector except when providing tube feeding, it is possible to reduce the possibility of the patient feeling pain or developing a bedsore, even if the male connector is crushed by the patient.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-029753

The cover in Patent Document 1 needs to be removed from the male connector when connecting or disconnecting the female connector from the male connector. Once removed, the cover may be lost. Furthermore, there is a risk of forgetting to reattach the removed cover to the male connector after tube feeding is completed.

The cover in Patent Document 1 has a recess that can accommodate a male connector. Attaching and detaching the cover to and from the male connector is accomplished by inserting and removing the male connector into and from the recess in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the male connector (radial direction) with a cap attached to the tip of the male connector. When the cover is attached to the male connector, one radial side of the male connector is exposed to the outside world along the entire length of the male connector. The cover has the advantage of being easy to attach and detach from the male connector. However, there is a high possibility that the cover will unintentionally separate from the male connector due to external forces.

The first object of the present invention is to reduce the pain felt by a patient when the male connector is crushed under it. The second object of the present invention is to enable the female connector to be connected to and disconnected from the male connector while the cover is attached to the male connector. The third object of the present invention is to provide a detachable cover for the male connector, which reduces the possibility of the cover unintentionally separating from the male connector when the male connector with the cover attached is placed in a patient.

The male connector cover of the present invention can be attached and detached to a male connector comprising a connector body having a cylindrical connector main portion at one end and a base end from which a flexible tube is led out at the other end, a cap that can be attached and detached to the tip of the connector main portion, and a band that connects the connector body or the tube to the cap. The cover is made of a cushioning material. The cover comprises a housing that can house the connector main portion, and a connecting portion that is provided to extend circumferentially along the connector main portion when the cover is attached to the male connector. When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main portion, the cover can expose the tip of the connector main portion to the outside in the axial direction of the male connector, and the band is positioned on the base end side relative to the connecting portion.

The cover of the present invention is made of a cushioning material. The cover can be attached to the male connector so that the connector main body is housed in the housing of the cover. Therefore, if a patient falls on a male connector with the cover of the present invention attached, the pain felt by the patient is reduced.

When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main portion, the tip of the connector main portion can be exposed to the outside in the axial direction of the male connector. Therefore, with the cover of the present invention attached to the male connector, it is possible to connect and disconnect the female connector to and from the male connector.

When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector body, the band is positioned on the proximal end side of the coupling portion. When the cap is attached to the connector body to place the male connector in a patient, the coupling portion is surrounded by the connector body and the band. Therefore, when a male connector equipped with the cover of the present invention is placed in a patient, the cover is unlikely to unintentionally separate from the male connector.

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing a male connector and a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 1A. Fig. 2A is a front view of the cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side, and Fig. 2B is a side view of the cover of Fig. 2A. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main body. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a state in which the cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a male connector and a cap is attached to a connector main portion. FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 4A as seen from the rear side. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4D is a front view of FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a state in which a female connector is connected to a male connector equipped with a cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover of Figure 6. Figure 7B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover of Figure 6 along another plane. Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C are front, front, and second side views of the cover of Figure 6, respectively. FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a male connector and a cap is not attached to a connector main portion. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9A. FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along another plane of FIG. 9A. FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a male connector and a cap is attached to a connector main portion. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10A. Fig. 11A is a perspective view of a cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 11B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover of Fig. 11A. Fig. 12A is a perspective view of the cover according to the third embodiment of the present invention as seen from another direction, and Fig. 12B is a front view of the cover of Fig. 12A as seen from the front side. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover according to the third embodiment of the present invention is attached to a male connector and a cap is not attached to a connector main portion. FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover according to the third embodiment of the present invention is attached to a male connector and a cap is attached to a connector main portion. FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 14A. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a cover according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 16A is a perspective view of the cover of Figure 15 as seen from another direction. Figure 16B is a front view of the cover of Figure 15 as seen from the front side. Fig. 17A is a perspective view showing a modified example of the cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 17B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover of Fig. 17A.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include a cover main body that is generally arc-shaped when viewed along the axis of the cover. The connecting portion may connect opposing end faces of the cover main body. The cover main body and the connecting portion may form the storage portion. This aspect simplifies the configuration of the cover. Note that "generally arc-shaped" includes not only "circular arcs" but also curved shapes that cannot strictly be considered arcs (for example, part of an ellipse).

In one aspect of the present invention, the band may extend from the connector body. According to this aspect, when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector body, the band bends and necessarily straddles the connecting portion.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector body, the band may extend across the connecting portion toward the distal end of the connector body. This aspect is advantageous in reducing the possibility of the cover unintentionally separating from the male connector when the male connector with the attached cover is placed in a patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include a groove whose bottom surface is the outer surface of the connecting portion. When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion, the band may be housed in the groove. This aspect is advantageous for reducing pain inflicted on a patient by the band of the male connector if the patient falls under the male connector with the cover attached.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include a radially extending recess. The recess may engage with the band to prevent the cover from rotating relative to the male connector when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main portion. According to this aspect, if the recess engages with the band, there is no need to axially align the cover relative to the male connector when the cap is subsequently attached to the connector main portion.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cap may include a circular sealing plate that can cover the tip of the connector main portion and a tab that protrudes radially outward from the sealing plate. The band may be connected to the sealing plate at a position opposite the tab. When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion, the tab may not protrude radially outward from the cover. The tab on the cap makes it easy to remove the cap from the connector main portion. This aspect is advantageous for reducing pain inflicted on a patient by the tab on the male connector if the male connector with the attached cover is crushed by the patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may have a third outer dimension along a third direction parallel to the axis of the cover, a first outer dimension along a first direction perpendicular to the third direction, and a second outer dimension along a second direction perpendicular to the first and third directions. The cover may have a flat shape in which the first outer dimension is smaller than the second and third outer dimensions. According to this aspect, the cover attached to the male connector is likely to be oriented so that the first direction of the cover is vertical on bedding or the like. Therefore, the cover and male connector can be stably oriented in the desired direction.

In one aspect of the present invention, the base end may have a long axis perpendicular to the axis of the male connector. The cover may be attachable to the male connector with the second direction of the cover parallel to the long axis of the base end. According to this aspect, when the male connector with the cover attached is placed under a patient with the first direction of the cover facing up or down, the long axis of the base end faces horizontally. This is advantageous in reducing pain inflicted on the patient by the base end.

In one aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion may extend parallel to the first direction. According to this aspect, when a patient places a cover-attached male connector under the male connector with the first direction of the cover facing up or down, the band protrudes horizontally. This is advantageous in reducing pain inflicted on the patient by the band.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include a skirt configured to radially face the base end when the cover is attached to the male connector. This aspect is advantageous in reducing pain inflicted on a patient by the base end of the male connector if the male connector with the attached cover is crushed by the patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may have a third outer dimension along a third direction parallel to the axis of the cover, a first outer dimension along a first direction perpendicular to the third direction, and a second outer dimension along a second direction perpendicular to the first and third directions. The cover may have a flat shape in which the first outer dimension is smaller than the second and third outer dimensions. The skirt may have a pair of opposing portions spaced apart in the first direction. When the cover is attached to the male connector, the base end may be located between the pair of opposing portions. According to this aspect, when the male connector with the attached cover is placed under a patient with the first direction of the cover facing up or down, the opposing portions will be located above and below the base end. This is advantageous for reducing pain inflicted by the base end on the patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include a collar configured to radially face the cap when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion. This aspect is advantageous in reducing pain inflicted on a patient by the cap of the male connector if the male connector with the attached cover is crushed by the patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may have a third outer dimension along a third direction parallel to the axis of the cover, a first outer dimension along a first direction perpendicular to the third direction, and a second outer dimension along a second direction perpendicular to the first and third directions. The cover may have a flat shape in which the first outer dimension is smaller than the second and third outer dimensions. When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion, the collar may face the cap in the first direction. According to this aspect, when the male connector with the attached cover is placed under a patient with the first direction of the cover facing up or down, the collar faces the cap in the up or down direction. This is advantageous for reducing pain caused by the cap to the patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include an engagement structure that engages with a step between the connector main portion and the base end portion of the male connector. This aspect is advantageous in preventing the cover from moving forward relative to the male connector (in the direction from the base end toward the connector main portion) when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main portion.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the cover attached to the male connector is viewed in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the cover and the connecting portion, the connector body does not protrude from the cover. This aspect is advantageous in reducing pain inflicted on a patient if the male connector with the cover attached is crushed by the patient.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may be provided with a through-hole that penetrates the cover to allow the connector main part housed in the housing to be seen. According to this aspect, for example, information printed on the outer surface of the connector main part can be seen through the through-hole when the cover is attached to the male connector.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the cover is viewed in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the cover and the connecting portion, the cover may be asymmetric with respect to the axis of the cover. This aspect is advantageous for recognizing the position for inserting and removing the male connector from the cover.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may further include a skirt configured to radially face the base end when the cover is attached to the male connector. The cover may also include a notch so that the outer peripheral edge of the skirt is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the cover when the cover is viewed in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the cover and the connecting portion. According to this aspect, when the male connector is inserted into the cover, the notch can be used to position the male connector relative to the cover. This is advantageous for improving the attachability of the cover to the male connector.

In one aspect of the present invention, the cover may have a pair of side surfaces facing opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cover. Each of the pair of side surfaces may be a convex curved surface. The pair of side surfaces may be connected via a flat surface. This aspect is advantageous for facilitating the manufacture of the cover when the cover is manufactured by molding using a mold.

In one aspect of the present invention, holes may be provided on the outer surface of the cover. This aspect is advantageous for reducing the weight of the cover and adjusting the cushioning properties of the cover.

The present invention will be described in detail below, illustrating preferred embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For the sake of convenience, the drawings referred to in the following description show simplified views of the main components constituting the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention may include any components not shown in the following drawings. Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, the components shown in the following drawings may be modified or omitted. In the drawings referred to in the description of each embodiment, components corresponding to components shown in the drawings referred to in the preceding embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those used in the drawings of the preceding embodiment. Duplicate descriptions of such components will be omitted, and the descriptions of the preceding embodiment should be taken into consideration as appropriate.

In this invention, the "axis" of a component (e.g., a cover or male connector) refers to the central axis of the component. The "axis" passes through the center of a circle included in the component and/or coincides with the central axis of a cylinder included in the component. The direction along a straight line perpendicular to the axis is called the "radial direction." In the radial direction, the side closer to the axis is called the "inner" side, and the side farther from the axis is called the "outer" side. The direction of rotation around the axis is called the "circumferential direction."

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a male connector 900 and a cover 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention immediately before being attached to the male connector 900. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 1A. The cross section of FIG. 1B includes axes (not shown) of the coaxially arranged cover 1 and male connector 900. For convenience of the following description, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system as shown in the figure is set for each of the cover 1 and the male connector 900. The Z axis is parallel to the axes of the cover 1 and the male connector 900. The Z axis direction may be simply referred to as the "axial direction." In the axial direction (Z axis direction), the side of the arrow on the Z axis (upper side in FIG. 1A) is referred to as the "front" side, and the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 1A) is referred to as the "rear" side.

First, we will explain the male connector 900. The male connector 900 is used for nasogastric tube feeding. The male connector 900 has a connector body 901 with a cylindrical connector main portion 910 at one end and a base end portion 920 at the other end from which a tube 909 extends.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the connector main portion 910 includes a hollow, cylindrical male member 911 and an outer tube 915 surrounding the male member 911. The outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 is a tapered surface (a so-called male taper surface) whose outer diameter decreases toward the tip of the male member 911. The male member 911 has a tip tapered surface 913, located distally of the outer peripheral surface 912 and having a larger taper angle than the outer peripheral surface 912. The tip of the male member 911 (particularly the tip tapered surface 913) protrudes axially beyond the tip of the outer tube 915. The tip tapered surface 913, protruding beyond the outer tube 915, facilitates connection of the cap 930 and female connector 950 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B, described below) to the male connector 900. The male member 911 has a flow path 919 penetrating the male member 911 along its longitudinal direction (the Z-axis direction). The outer cylinder 915 has a generally cylindrical shape and is arranged coaxially with the male member 911, spaced apart from the male member 911 in the radial direction. A female thread 916 is provided on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 915 facing the male member 911.

The base end 920 includes a connecting tube 921 that is coaxial with the male member 911. The connecting tube 921 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is connected to the male member 911. As shown in FIG. 1A, the base end 920 further includes a grip portion 923 that surrounds the connecting tube 921. In this embodiment, the grip portion 923 has an approximately rectangular prism shape overall. The cross-sectional shape of the grip portion 923 along a plane perpendicular to the XY plane is approximately rectangular. The base end 920 has a long axis that is parallel to the long side of the approximately rectangular shape of the grip portion 923. The long axis is parallel to the Y axis. The long axis of the base end 920 is the axis along the direction in which the outer dimension of the base end 920 is greatest in a plane (XY plane) perpendicular to the axis of the male connector 900 (this axis is defined by the central axes of the male member 911, outer tube 915, and connecting tube 921). The direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the long axis and the axis of the male connector 900 is referred to as the "thickness direction" of the base end 920. The dimension of the base end 920 along the long axis (Y-axis direction) is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the outer tube 915. The dimension of the base end 920 along the thickness direction (X-axis direction) is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube 915 and approximately the same as the outer diameter of the connecting tube 921. The base end 920 (grip portion 923) has a grip surface 924 that is a flat surface parallel to the YZ plane. An operator can grip the base end 920 in the thickness direction at the grip surface 924. The base end 920, which has a long axis, makes it easy for an operator to apply a rotational force around its axis to the male connector 900.

A flexible, hollow tube 909 extends from the base end 920. As shown in FIG. 1B, the tube 909 is inserted into a connecting tube 921 and fixed to the connecting tube 921 with adhesive or the like. The flow path 919 of the male member 911 is in communication with the tube 909. The tube 909 may be a nasal catheter inserted through the patient's nasal cavity into the stomach or esophagus. Alternatively, the tube 909 may be a tube (extension tube) connected to a nasal catheter. The outer diameter of the tube 909 can be adjusted as needed depending on the patient's physique, etc., and is generally approximately 1 to 5 mm.

The male connector 900 further includes a cap 930 and a band 935. The cap 930 includes a generally disc-shaped sealing plate 931 and a cylindrical sealing tube 932 protruding from the sealing plate 931. A tab 933 protrudes radially outward from the circular outer periphery of the cap 930 (or sealing plate 931). A band 935 extends parallel to the Y-axis from a position on the outer periphery of the cap 930 opposite the tab 933. The band 935 connects the cap 930 to a ring 937 fixed to the connector body 901. In this embodiment, the ring 937 is fixed between the connector main portion 910 and the base end portion 920. The ring 937 has an annular shape with approximately the same outer diameter as the outer tube 915. The rear end of the ring 937 (the end on the base end 920 side) forms a step 905 that protrudes radially outward relative to the grip surface 924 (see Figure 4B, described below).

The cap 930 can be repeatedly attached and detached to the tip of the connector main part 910. When nasogastric tube feeding is not being performed, the male connector 900 is left in place on the patient with the cap 930 attached to the connector main part 910 (see Figure 4A, described below). The cap 930 can be easily removed from the connector main part 910 by hooking a finger on the tab 933. The band 935 prevents the cap 930 from being lost once it has been removed from the connector main part 910.

The connector body 901 can be integrally molded as a single component using a hard material. The hard material preferably has sufficient mechanical strength (rigidity) to prevent substantial deformation due to external forces. Specifically, hard materials include resin materials such as polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polystyrene, polyamide, polyethylene, and hard polyvinyl chloride. The connector body 901 may also be constructed by combining multiple separately manufactured components (e.g., two components: the outer tube 915 and the portion excluding the outer tube 915). In this case, the materials constituting the multiple components may be the same or different, and each may be selected from the hard materials listed above.

The cap 930, tab 933, band 935, and ring 937 can be molded as a single unit using a soft material that is more easily deformed than the connector body 901. Soft materials that can be used for this integrated product, including the cap 930, include relatively hard resin materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene, or soft materials with rubber elasticity (so-called elastomers) such as rubber (e.g., isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber) or thermoplastic elastomers (e.g., styrene-based elastomers, olefin-based elastomers, polyurethane-based elastomers).

The configuration of the male connector 900 is merely illustrative, and the configuration of parts not directly involved in connection with the female connector 950 (see Figures 5A and 5B, described below) may be modified as appropriate. For example, in this embodiment, the ring 937 is located between the connector main portion 910 and the base end 920, but the location of the ring 937 is not limited thereto. For example, the ring 937 may be attached anywhere between the tip (front end) and rear end (end near the base end 920) of the connector main portion 910 (outer tube 915). In this case, the rear end of the connector main portion 910 (outer tube 915) forms a step 905 that protrudes radially outward relative to the grip surface 924. The configuration for connecting the band 935 to the male connector 900 is not limited to the ring 937. For example, the base end of the band 935 may be embedded in the connector main portion 910 by two-color molding or the like. In this case, the ring 937 is not necessary. The configuration of the cap 930 may also be modified as desired. The cap 930 does not have to have the tab 933.

We will now explain the cover 1. Figure 2A is a front view of the cover 1, and Figure 2B is a side view of the cover 1.

The cover 1 has an overall hollow cylindrical shape. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A , the cover 1 includes a cover body 15 that has a generally C-shaped arc shape when viewed along the Z axis, and a connecting portion 11 that connects two end faces of the cover body 15 that face each other in the X axis direction. The inner cavity of the cover 1, surrounded by the cover body 15 and the connecting portion 11, is the accommodating portion 10 that can accommodate the connector main portion 910. The inner circumferential surface of the accommodating portion 10 is a cylindrical surface, which is composed of the cover body 15 and the connecting portion 11. The central axis of the cylindrical surface of the accommodating portion 10 is parallel to the Z axis and defines the axis of the cover 1 (not shown). The inner diameter of the cylindrical surface is preferably approximately the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the connector main portion 910 (or outer cylinder 915). If the inner diameter of the cylindrical surface of the accommodating portion 10 is smaller than the outer diameter of the connector main portion 910, the cover 1 is less likely to fall off the male connector 900 when attached to the male connector 900 (see Figures 3A and 3B). The accommodating portion 10 is open on both sides in the Z-axis direction. The outer peripheral surface 16 of the cover main body 15 is a cylindrical surface coaxial with the axis of the cover 1. The radial thickness of the cover main body 15 is approximately constant. The front end surface 17a and rear end surface 17b (see Figure 2B) of the cover main body 15 are flat surfaces parallel to the XY plane. The Z-axis dimension of the cover main body 15 is preferably the same as or larger than the Z-axis dimension of the connector main portion 910 of the male connector 900; in this embodiment, it is approximately the same as the Z-axis dimension from the tip of the outer tube 915 to the step 905.

The connecting portion 11 has a smaller radial thickness than the cover body 15. Therefore, the connecting portion 11 is recessed radially inward from the outer peripheral surface 16 of the cover body 15, and a groove 12 extending in the Z-axis direction is formed along the connecting portion 11. The outer surface of the connecting portion 11 (the surface facing radially outward) forms the bottom surface of the groove 12. The connecting portion 11 also has a smaller Z-axis dimension than the cover body 15. Specifically, the connecting portion 11 is recessed in the Z-axis direction from the rear end surface 17b of the cover body 15, and a recess 18 extending in the radial direction is formed in the rear end surface 17b (see Figure 4B). The recess 18 is connected to the groove 12. The connecting portion 11 is also recessed in the Z-axis direction from the front end surface 17a of the cover body 15. The Z-axis dimension of the connecting portion 11 is preferably equal to or smaller than the length along the Z-axis from the tip of the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915) to the band 935. This makes it easier to attach the cap 930 to the tip of the connector main part 910.

The cover 1 is made of a cushioning (or elastic, compressible) material (hereinafter referred to as "cushioning material") that can be deformed relatively easily by external force and immediately returns to its pre-deformation state (initial state) when the external force is removed. While there are no limitations on the cushioning material that can be used, foam materials (sponges) are preferred, and examples of resin materials include silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and polyethylene foam. Polyurethane foam is particularly preferred. Alternatively, thermoplastic elastomers, rubber, soft polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, etc. may also be used as cushioning materials. The cover 1 can be manufactured as a single unit using the above materials. A bitter ingredient (e.g., denatonium benzoate) may be applied to the cover 1 to prevent children from accidentally swallowing it.

This section explains how to attach the cover 1 to the male connector 900.

As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the rear end surface 17b of the cover 1 is positioned opposite the tip of the connector main part 910 without the cap 930 attached. The cover 1 is positioned coaxially with the male connector 900. The connecting part 11 of the cover 1 is aligned with the direction in which the band 935 extends from the cover body 15 (Y-axis). Then, the connector main part 910 is inserted into the cover 1.

Figure 3A is a perspective view of the cover 1 attached to the male connector 900. The cap 930 is not attached to the connector body 901. This state is referred to as the "cover attached/cap not attached state." Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view along the YZ plane of Figure 3A. The connector main portion 910 (outer tube 915) and ring 937 are housed in the housing portion 10 (see Figure 1A) of the cover 1. The connecting portion 11 extends circumferentially around the connector main portion 910 (outer tube 915) and faces the connector main portion 910 (outer tube 915) radially. The tip of the outer tube 915 is approximately flush with the front end surface 17a of the cover body 15. The step 905 (see Figure 1A) of the male connector 900 is approximately flush with the rear end surface 17b of the cover body 15 (see Figure 4B described below). The band 935 of the male connector 900 is located on the base end 920 side (rear side) of the connecting portion 11 of the cover 1, is housed in the recess 18, and faces (or abuts) the connecting portion 11 in the axial direction. The axial abutment of the band 935 against the connecting portion 11 limits the insertion depth of the male connector 900 (connector main portion 910) into the cover 1. The band 935 extends along the Y axis so as to protrude radially outward beyond the connecting portion 11. The tip of the connector main portion 910 is not covered by the cover 1 and is exposed to the outside in the axial direction. In this specification, "the tip of the connector main portion 910 is exposed to the outside in the axial direction" means that the tip of the male member 911 and the tip of the outer tube 915 constituting the connector main portion 910 are exposed to the outside (toward the front), and the flow path 919 of the male member 911 and the gap 918 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 915 are open to the outside (toward the front). Therefore, the cap 930 can be attached to the tip of the connector main part 910 from the state shown in Figures 3A and 3B (cover attached, cap not attached).

Figure 4A is a perspective view from the front showing the state in which the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 is attached to the connector main body 910. This state is called the "cover attached/cap attached state." Figure 4B is a perspective view from the rear of the state in Figure 4A. Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of Figure 4A, and Figure 4D is a front view of Figure 4A.

The cover 1 covers the outer surface of the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915) of the male connector 900 and the outer surface of the ring 937. The cap 930 protrudes forward beyond the front end surface 17a of the cover 1. The base end portion 920 of the male connector 900 protrudes rearward beyond the rear end surface 17b of the cover 1.

As shown in Figure 4C, the sealing tube 932 of the cap 930 is inserted into the gap 918 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 915 of the male connector 900. The male member 911 is inserted into the sealing tube 932, and the inner surface of the sealing tube 932 is in liquid-tight contact with the outer surface 912 of the male member 911. The cap 930 closes the flow path 919 and gap 918 of the male connector 900. The sealing plate 931 has approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of the outer tube 915. The tab 933 and band 935 protrude radially outward beyond the sealing plate 931 and outer tube 915. The band 935 curves and extends toward the tip of the connector main part 910, straddling the connecting portion 11 of the cover 1. The connecting portion 11 is surrounded by the band 935 and the outer tube 915.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the tab 933 and band 935 protrude in opposite directions from the cap 930 (sealing plate 931) along the Y-axis direction. However, the tab 933 does not protrude radially outward beyond the cover body 15. Furthermore, the band 935 is housed in a groove 12 along the connecting portion 11 of the cover 1, and does not substantially protrude radially outward beyond the cover body 15. In other words, it is the cover 1 (particularly its cover body 15), not the tab 933 and band 935, that protrudes radially outward the most.

As can be seen from Figure 4A, the cap 930 and tab 933 are not covered by the cover 1, so the cap 930 can be removed from the connector main part 910 (see Figures 3A and 3B). That is, the cap 930 can be repeatedly attached (see Figures 4A to 4D) and removed (see Figures 3A and 3B) from the connector main part 910 while the cover 1 remains attached to the male connector 900. With the cap 930 separated from the connector main part 910 (see Figures 3A and 3B), the male connector 900 can be pulled rearward along the Z axis from the cover 1 to separate the cover 1 from the male connector 900 (see Figures 1A and 1B). The cover 1 can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the male connector 900.

Cover 1 can be used, for example, as follows:

The cover 1 can be attached to the male connector 900 at any time. For example, the cover 1 can be attached to the male connector 900 before the tube 909 (see FIG. 1A) is inserted into the patient. Alternatively, the cover 1 can be attached to the male connector 900 after the tube 909 is inserted into the patient, i.e., while the male connector 900 and the tube 909 are still indwelling in the patient. The cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) with the cap 930 separated from the connector main part 910 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). Next, the cap 930 is attached to the connector main part 910 (see FIGS. 4A to 4D). In this state (cover-attached/cap-attached state), the cover 1 is left indwelling in the patient together with the male connector 900 and the tube 909. Although the male connector 900 and cover 1 are connected to the patient via the tube 909, they are not fixed to the patient's body surface and can move freely away from the patient.

When performing nasogastric tube feeding, the cap 930 is separated from the connector main body 910 (see Figures 3A and 3B). Then, as shown in Figure 5A, the female connector 950 is connected to the male connector 900. Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the YZ plane of Figure 5A. The female connector 950 includes a female member 951 having a hollow cylindrical shape. The inner surface 952 of the female member 951 is a tapered surface whose inner diameter increases toward the tip of the female member 951. A male thread 956 is provided on the outer surface of the female member 951. The female member 951 is inserted into the gap 918 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 915. The male thread 956 of the female member 951 threadably engages with the female thread 916 of the outer tube 915. The male member 911 is inserted into the female member 951. The outer peripheral surface (male tapered surface) 912 of the male member 951 and the inner peripheral surface (female tapered surface) 952 of the female member 951 are fitted together in a liquid-tight tapered manner.

The female connector 950 further includes a connecting tube 961 coaxial with the female member 951. A pair of grip portions 963 (only one grip portion 963 is visible in Figures 5A and 5B) protrude radially outward from the connecting tube 961. Similar to the grip portion 923 of the male connector 900, the grip portion 963 makes it easy for the operator to apply a rotational force around its axis to the female connector 950.

The connecting tube 961 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is connected to the female member 951. A flexible, hollow tube 959 is inserted into the connecting tube 961 and fixed to the connecting tube 961 with adhesive or the like. The base end (not shown) of the tube 959 is connected to a container (e.g., a bag) that stores a liquid.

In the state shown in Figures 5A and 5B, nasogastric tube feeding can be performed by sequentially flowing liquid through tube 959, female connector 950, male connector 900, and tube 909 to administer to the patient.

Then, the female connector 950 is separated from the male connector 900 (see Figures 3A and 3B). Any liquid adhering to the male connector 900 is wiped off. The cap 930 is attached to the connector main body 910 (see Figures 4A to 4D). In this state (with the cover and cap attached), the male connector 900 is placed in the patient together with the tube 909.

As described above, the cover 1 of this embodiment 1 is placed on a patient together with the male connector 900, with the cover 1 attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 attached to the tip of the connector main portion 910 (cover-attached/cap-attached state, see Figures 4A to 4D). The cover 1 includes a housing 10 capable of housing the connector main portion 910. The connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915), which is the rigid portion of the male connector 900 that protrudes most radially outward, is housed within the cover 1. The cover 1 protrudes radially outward further than the connector main portion 910. Therefore, even if the male connector 900 with the cover 1 attached is crushed by a patient, the male connector 900 is unlikely to come into contact with the patient. Furthermore, because the cover 1 is made of a cushioning material, it deforms appropriately depending on the patient's weight. The cover 1 relieves localized pressure that the patient receives from the male connector 900. Therefore, the cover 1 can reduce the pain felt by the patient if the male connector 900 is pinned down by the patient. Even if the male connector 900 remains pinned down by the patient for a long period of time, the patient is unlikely to develop a bedsore.

When the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 is not attached to the tip of the connector main part 910 (cover attached/cap not attached state, see Figures 3A and 3B), the tip of the connector main part 910 is exposed to the outside in the axial direction (Z-axis direction) of the male connector 900. Therefore, unlike the conventional cover described in Patent Document 1, with the cover 1 attached to the male connector 900, both the cap 930 and the female connector 950 can be connected and disconnected to the male connector 900 any number of times. To perform nasogastric tube feeding, it is necessary to remove the cap 930 from the connector main part 910 and instead connect the female connector 950 to the connector main part 910 (male connector 900). Using the cover 1 of this embodiment 1 eliminates the need to separate the cover 1 from the male connector 900 prior to performing nasogastric tube feeding. This prevents problems such as losing the cover 1 or forgetting to reattach it, which can occur when the cover 1 is separated from the male connector 900. Even if the cap 930 falls off the connector main part 910 when the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 4A to 4D), the cap 930 can be firmly reattached by pushing it into the connector main part 910 without removing the cover 1 from the male connector 900.

When the cover is attached and the cap is not attached (see Figures 3A and 3B), the band 935 is positioned on the base end 920 side of the connecting portion 11. The connecting portion 11 restricts the cover 1 from moving rearward relative to the male connector 900. When the cap 930 is then attached to the tip of the connector main portion 910, the band 935 curves and extends across the connecting portion 11 toward the tip of the connector main portion 910 (see Figure 4C). The connecting portion 11 is surrounded by the connector body 901 (particularly the connector main portion 910) and the band 935. The band 935 restricts the connecting portion 11 (and further the cover 1) from moving in the Z-axis direction relative to the male connector 900. Therefore, when the male connector 900 with the cover and cap attached (see Figures 4A to 4D) is placed in a patient, the cover 1 is unlikely to unintentionally separate from the male connector 900. For example, even if a pulling force is applied to the tube 909 while the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 4A to 4D), and a force is applied to the male connector 900 in a direction (backward) that pulls it out of the cover 1, the male connector 900 is unlikely to shift position relative to the cover 1 and ultimately come out of the cover 1. Therefore, the cover 1 can reliably reduce the pain felt by a patient if the male connector 900 falls on the patient.

The connecting portion 11 constitutes part of the inner circumferential surface that defines the accommodating portion 10. As a result, the connecting portion 11 functions to radially position the connector main portion 910 within the cover 1. In addition, when the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 4A to 4D), the connecting portion 11 also functions to axially position the male connector 900 relative to the cover 1 by engaging with the band 935. Because the connecting portion 11 combines these two functions, the configuration of the cover 1 is simplified.

The band 935 extends from a position between the connector main portion 910 and the base end portion 920 of the connector body 901 (see Figures 1A and 1B). When the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 is attached to the tip of the connector main portion 910, the band 935 bends and inevitably straddles the coupling portion 11 (see Figure 4C). This makes the cover 1 a good match for this type of male connector 900.

When the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900, the connecting portion 11 is positioned forward of the band 935 (toward the tip of the connector main portion 910) (see Figures 3A and 3B). To achieve this, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B, when attaching or detaching the cover 1 to or from the male connector 900, the connector main portion 910 is inserted or removed from the opening in the cover 1 rearward of the connecting portion 11 (the opening on the rear end surface 17b side). To attach or detach the cover 1 to or from the male connector 900, it is not necessary to insert or remove the tube 909 from the cover 1. Therefore, the cover 1 can be attached or detached from the male connector 900 with the tube 909 already connected to the male connector 900 and inserted into the patient. For example, if the cover 1 becomes dirty, it is possible to replace just the cover 1 with a new one while leaving the male connector 900 and tube 909 in place on the patient.

A groove 12 is formed on the outer surface 16 of the cover 1, extending along the connecting portion 11 (see FIG. 1A). When the cover and cap are attached (see FIGS. 4A-4D), the band 935 is curved and accommodated within the groove 12. Therefore, even if the curved band 935 protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical outer surface of the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915), the band 935 is prevented from protruding radially outward from the cover 1. This is advantageous in reducing the pain felt by the patient due to the curved band 935 if the male connector 900 falls on the patient. Even if the male connector 900 remains pinned by the patient for a long period of time, the patient is less likely to develop a bedsore. The radial depth of the groove 12 is preferably equal to or greater than the thickness of the band 935 (the radial dimension of the portion of the band 935 that radially faces the connecting portion 11 in FIG. 4C). It is preferable that the band 935 housed in the groove 12 not protrude radially outward from the cover 1, but it may protrude slightly. Unlike the connector main part 910, the band 935 is soft and easily deformable, so the pain felt by the patient from the band 935 is less than the pain caused by the connector main part 910.

A radial recess 18 is provided on the rear end surface 17b of the cover 1. The recess 18 is connected to the groove 12, and the two are continuous. When the cover is attached and the cap is not attached, the band 935 is accommodated in the recess 18 (see Figures 3A and 3B). The recess 18 engages with the band 935, restricting axial rotation of the cover 1 relative to the male connector 900. If the cap 930 is then attached to the connector main part 910 with the band 935 accommodated in the recess 18, the band 935 will be securely accommodated in the groove 12. If the band 935 is engaged in the recess 18 when the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900 (see Figures 3A and 3B), there is no need to axially align the cover 1 relative to the male connector 900 when attaching the cap 930 to the connector main part 910.

When the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 4A to 4D), the tab 933 of the cap 930 does not protrude radially outward from the cover 1. This is advantageous in reducing the pain felt by the patient from the tab 933 if the male connector 900 falls on the patient. Even if the male connector 900 remains pinned down by the patient for a long period of time, the patient is unlikely to develop a bedsore.

When the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 4A to 4D), the cap 930 and base end 920 protrude in the axial direction (Z-axis direction) beyond the cover 1 (see Figures 4A to 4C). However, if a patient were to fall on the male connector 900, the patient is unlikely to feel pain from the cap 930 and base end 920. This is because, when the male connector 900 is fallen on by a patient, the long axis of the male connector 900 (the axis along which the outer dimension is greatest, i.e., the Z-axis) is typically oriented horizontally, and the cover 1 protrudes radially outward beyond the cap 930 and base end 920.

Embodiment 1 is merely an example, and embodiment 1 can be modified as appropriate.

In this first embodiment, a step in the Z-axis direction is formed between the connecting portion 11 and the front end surface 17a of the cover 1 (see Figure 1A), but this step is not essential to the present invention. For example, the connecting portion 11 and the front end surface 17a may be along a common plane parallel to the XY plane.

The cover 1 does not have to have a recess 18. For example, the connecting portion 11 and the rear end surface 17b may be aligned along a common plane parallel to the XY plane. The Z-axis dimension of the connecting portion 11 may be the same as the Z-axis dimension of the cover body 15.

The Z-axis dimension of the cover body 15 can be modified as needed. The Z-axis dimension of the cover body 15 is preferably larger than the Z-axis dimension of the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915), and more preferably equal to or greater than the Z-axis dimension from the tip of the outer tube 915 to the bottom end of the ring 937 (or step 905). This is because it reduces the likelihood that the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915), which is made of a relatively hard material, will come into contact with the patient. Therefore, when the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900, it is preferable that the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915) does not protrude forward from the front end surface 17a of the cover body 15, and it is also preferable that the ring 937 (or step 905) does not protrude rearward from the rear end surface 17b of the cover body 15. When the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900, the cover 1 may extend rearward beyond the ring 937 (or step 905) so that it radially covers part or all of the base end portion 920. However, in the present invention, when the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900, the tip of the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915) may protrude forward from the front end surface 17a of the cover body 15. Furthermore, when the cover 1 is attached to the male connector 900, the ring 937 (or step 905) may protrude rearward from the rear end surface 17b of the cover body 15. Even if the connector main portion 910 (or outer tube 915) and/or the ring 937 (or step 905) protrudes axially from the cover body 15, if the protruding length from the cover body 15 is small, the protruding portion is unlikely to come into contact with the patient if the male connector 900 is crushed by the patient. Furthermore, even if the ring 937, which is made of a relatively soft material, comes into contact with the patient, the pain felt by the patient from the ring 937 is relatively small.

The shape of the outer peripheral surface 16 of the cover body 15 when viewed along the Z axis does not need to be circular, and may be, for example, approximately elliptical, similar to the cover body 215 of embodiment 2 described below. In this case, as in embodiment 2, it is preferable that the connecting portion 11 be positioned on the major axis of the approximately elliptical shape.

The cover 1 may also have a through hole 19 similar to that of the cover 2 of embodiment 2 described below.

(Embodiment 2)
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover 2 taken along the YZ plane, and Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover 2 taken along the XZ plane. Fig. 8A is a front view of the cover 2 taken from the front side, Fig. 8B is a side view of the cover 2 taken along the X axis, and Fig. 8C is a side view of the cover 2 taken along the Y axis.

8A, the cover 2 includes a cover body 215 that has a generally C-shaped arc when viewed along the Z axis, and a connecting portion 11 that connects two end surfaces of the cover body 215 that face each other in the X axis direction. The inner cavity of the cover 2, surrounded by the cover body 215 and the connecting portion 11, is the accommodating portion 10 that can accommodate the connector main portion 910. The inner circumferential surface of the accommodating portion 10 is a cylindrical surface that is formed by the cover body 215 and the connecting portion 11. The central axis of the cylindrical surface of the accommodating portion 10 is parallel to the Z axis and defines the axis of the cover 2 (not shown). A groove 12 extending in the Z axis direction is formed along the connecting portion 11. The outer surface of the connecting portion 11 (the surface facing radially outward) forms the bottom surface of the groove 12. As described in detail below, the cover 2 differs in shape from the cover 1.

The cover 2 includes a skirt 220 extending rearward from the cover body 215. The skirt 220 has a generally U-shaped cross section along the XY plane, which opens toward the same side of the XY plane as the cover body 215 (the side opposite the Y-axis arrow, hereinafter referred to as the "connecting portion 11 side"). The opposing portions 221 are the portions of the skirt 220 that are spaced apart and facing each other in the X-axis direction. The gap between the pair of opposing portions 221 opens toward the connecting portion 11 side and rearward, and is also connected to the storage portion 10, groove 12, and recess 18. The opposing surfaces of the pair of opposing portions 221 (the inner surfaces of the opposing portions 221) are generally flat surfaces parallel to the YZ plane. The distance along the X-axis direction between the pair of opposing portions 221 is approximately the same as the thickness dimension of the base end 920 (or grip portion 923, see FIG. 1A) of the male connector 900, and is also the same as the inner dimension of the groove 12 and recess 18 in the X-axis direction, and is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical surface that defines the accommodating portion 10. Therefore, a step surface 225 is formed between the accommodating portion 10 and the opposing portions 221 due to the difference in the inner dimensions in the X-axis direction (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). The step surface 225 is a flat surface parallel to the XY plane.

The cover 2 further includes a pair of collars 230 that protrude forward from the cover body 215. The collars 230 are ribs that extend along the Y axis. The pair of collars 230 are spaced apart and face each other in the X axis direction. The gap between the pair of collars 230 is open toward the front and communicates with the storage section 10 and groove 12.

A through-hole 219 is formed in the cover body 215, penetrating the cover body 215 in the X-axis direction. The through-hole 219 connects the storage unit 10 to the outside world.

As shown in Figures 8A to 8C, the overall external shape of the cover 2 is a flat shape in which the first outer dimension L1 along the X-axis direction is smaller than the second outer dimension L2 along the Y-axis direction and the third outer dimension L3 along the Z-axis direction (L1<L2, L1<L3). The two side surfaces 216 facing outward in the X-axis direction are both smooth, convex surfaces that bulge outward in a dome shape. The two side surfaces 216 are symmetrical with respect to the YZ plane that includes the axis of the cover 2.

The cover 2 can be attached to and detached from the male connector 900 described in embodiment 1 (see Figures 1A and 1B). The cover 2 can be attached to and detached from the male connector 900 by inserting and removing the connector main part 910 of the male connector 900 into and from the skirt 220 (or between the pair of opposing parts 221). Unlike embodiment 1, when viewed along the X axis, the connector main part 910 can be inserted and removed obliquely to the axis of the cover 2 on the connecting part 11 side of the axis of the cover 2. The distance between the pair of opposing parts 221 is smaller than the outer diameter of the connector main part 910 (outer tube 915). However, because the cover 2 is made of a cushioning material, the skirt 220 easily deforms when the connector main part 910 passes over the skirt 220, expanding the distance between the pair of opposing parts 221.

Figure 9A is an oblique view of the cover 2 attached to the male connector 900. The cap 930 is not attached to the connector main part 910 (cover attached, cap not attached state). Figure 9B is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9A along the YZ plane, and Figure 9C is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9A along the XZ plane. The connector main part 910 (outer tube 915) and ring 937 are housed in the housing portion 10 of the cover 2 (see Figures 7A, 7B, and 8A). The connecting portion 11 faces the connector main part 910 (outer tube 915) in the radial direction. The step 905 (see Figure 1A) of the male connector 900 faces (or abuts) the step surface 225 of the cover 2 (see Figures 7B and 7C) in the Z-axis direction. The connector main part 910 (outer tube 915) is exposed to the outside world through a through-hole 219 provided in the cover 2. The band 935 of the male connector 900 is located on the base end 920 side (rear side) of the connecting portion 11 of the cover 2, is housed in the recess 18, and faces (or abuts) the connecting portion 11 in the axial direction. The band 935 extends along the Y axis so as to protrude radially outward beyond the connecting portion 11. The base end 920 of the male connector 900 is disposed within the skirt 220 (or between a pair of opposing portions 221) and is substantially covered by the skirt 220. The skirt 220 (or opposing portion 221) faces the grip surface 924 of the base end 920 (see FIG. 1A ) in the X axis direction. The tube 909 extending from the base end 920 is led out from the skirt 220 (or between the pair of opposing portions 221) along the Z axis. A pair of collars 230 protrude forward beyond the tip of the connector main portion 910 (outer cylinder 915). However, as in embodiment 1, the tip of the connector main part 910 is not covered by the cover 2 and is exposed axially (toward the front) toward the outside. When viewed along the X-axis, the connector body 901 is housed within the cover 2 without protruding beyond the outer edge of the cover 2. The cap 930 can be attached to the connector main part 910 from the state shown in Figures 9A to 9C (cover attached, cap not attached).

Figure 10A is a perspective view from above showing the state in which the cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 is attached to the connector main body 910 (cover-attached/cap-attached state). Figure 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along the YZ plane of Figure 10A.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the band 935 is housed in a groove 12 that runs along the connecting portion 11 of the cover 2, and curves as it straddles the connecting portion 11 of the cover 2 and extends toward the tip of the connector main portion 910. The connecting portion 11 is surrounded by the band 935 and the outer tube 915. It is the cover 2, not the tab 933 or band 935, that protrudes most radially outward. When viewed along the X axis, the male connector 900 does not protrude beyond the outer peripheral edge of the cover 2, except for a portion of the cap 930.

As in embodiment 1, the cap 930 can be removed from the connector main part 910 (see Figures 9A to 9C). That is, the cap 930 can be repeatedly attached (see Figures 10A and 10B) and removed (see Figures 9A to 9C) from the connector main part 910 while the cover 2 remains attached to the male connector 900. With the cap 930 separated from the connector main part 910 (see Figures 9A to 9C), the cover 2 can be separated from the male connector 900 by pulling the male connector 900 out from the skirt 220 (or between the pair of opposing parts 221). The cover 2 can be repeatedly attached and detached to and from the male connector 900.

The cover 2 can be used in the same manner as the cover 1 of embodiment 1. The cover 2 is placed on the patient with the cover 2 attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 attached to the connector main body 910 (cover-attached/cap-attached state, see Figures 10A and 10B). When performing nasogastric tube feeding, the cap 930 is separated from the connector main body 910 (see Figures 9A to 9C). Then, although not shown, the female connector 950 (see Figures 5A and 5B) is connected to the male connector 900. After completing nasogastric tube feeding, the female connector 950 is separated from the male connector 900 (see Figures 9A to 9C), and the cap 930 is attached to the connector main body 910 instead (see Figures 10A and 10B). The male connector 900 is placed on the patient in this state (cover-attached/cap-attached state) together with the tube 909.

The cover 2 of this second embodiment includes a skirt 220 extending rearward from the cover main body 215 that constitutes the storage section 10. The male connector 900 is inserted into and removed from the cover 2 via the skirt 220 (or between the pair of opposing sections 221). More specifically, the male connector 900 is inserted into the skirt 220, in the order of the connector main section 910 and the base end section 920. The male connector 900 is then withdrawn from the skirt 220, in the order of the base end section 920 and the connector main section 910.

When the cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900, the skirt 220 faces radially toward the base end 920. Therefore, if a patient falls on the male connector 900 with the cover 2 attached, the possibility of the base end 920 coming into contact with the patient is even lower than in embodiment 1. The skirt 220 is advantageous in reducing the pain that the base end 920 inflicts on the patient if the male connector 900 with the cover 2 attached falls on the patient.

The cover 2 further includes a pair of collars 230 extending forward from the cover body 215. In the cover-attached/cap-attached state (see FIGS. 10A and 10B), the pair of collars 230 face radially toward the cap 930, sandwiching the cap 930 between them. Therefore, if a patient falls on the male connector 900 with the cover 2 attached, the likelihood of the cap 930 coming into contact with the patient is even lower than in embodiment 1. The collars 230 are advantageous in reducing the pain that the cap 930 inflicts on the patient if the male connector 900 with the cover 2 attached falls on the patient.

As such, the cover 2 of this second embodiment includes the skirt 220 and collar 230 in addition to the cover body 215. Therefore, the cover 2 can further reduce the pain felt by the patient if the male connector 900 falls on the patient. Even if the male connector 900 remains pinned down by the patient, the likelihood of the patient developing a bedsore is further reduced.

The distance between the pair of collars 230 increases toward the front. This allows the operator easy access to the cap 930 (sealing plate 931) and tab 933 when the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 10A and 10B). This makes it easy to remove the cap 930 from the connector main body 910.

When the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 10A and 10B), the tab 933 is spaced apart in the Z-axis direction from the front end surface 17a of the cover 2 (see Figure 10B). Therefore, even though the collar 230 protrudes forward from the front end surface 17a, it is easy to hook a finger onto the tab 933 to separate the cap 930 from the connector main part 910.

As in embodiment 1, when the cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 is not attached to the tip of the connector main part 910 (cover attached/cap not attached state, see Figures 9A to 9C), the tip of the connector main part 910 is exposed to the outside in the axial direction (Z-axis direction) of the male connector 900. Therefore, with the cover 2 attached to the male connector 900, both the cap 930 and the female connector 950 can be connected and disconnected from the male connector 900 any number of times.

As in embodiment 1, when the cover is attached and the cap is not attached (see Figures 9A to 9C), the band 935 is positioned on the base end 920 side of the connecting portion 11. When the cap 930 is then attached to the tip of the connector main portion 910, the band 935 curves and extends across the connecting portion 11 toward the tip side of the connector main portion 910 (see Figure 10B). The connecting portion 11 is surrounded by the connector body 901 (particularly its connector main portion 910) and the band 935. When the male connector 900 with the cover and cap attached (see Figures 10A and 10B) is placed in a patient, the cover 2 is unlikely to unintentionally separate from the male connector 900.

The cover 2 has a stepped surface 225 (engagement structure) between the storage section 10 and the skirt 220 (or its opposing section 221). When the cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900, the stepped surface 225 engages with a stepped portion 905 of the male connector 900 in the Z-axis direction. The stepped portion 905 functions to prevent the cover 2 from moving forward relative to the male connector 900 when the cover is attached but the cap is not attached (see Figures 9A to 9C). This prevents the cover 2 from unintentionally falling off the male connector 900, for example, when the cap 930 is separated from the connector main section 910 to perform nasogastric tube feeding. Furthermore, when the female connector 950 is connected to the male connector 900 and nasogastric tube feeding is being performed, the cover 2 can be prevented from moving toward the female connector 950.

The stepped surface 225 is formed based on the difference in the internal dimensions in the X-axis direction between the storage section 10 and the skirt 220. This stepped surface 225 functions as an engagement structure with which the male connector 900 engages. Therefore, there is no need to provide a special engagement structure. This is advantageous for simplifying the structure of the cover 2.

The cover 2 has a flattened shape in which the first outer dimension L1 along the X-axis is smaller than the second outer dimension L2 along the Y-axis and the third outer dimension L3 along the Z-axis (see Figures 8A to 8C). Therefore, when the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 10A and 10B), the cover 2 (see Figures 10A and 10B) is likely to be oriented on bedding or the like so that the X-axis direction of the cover 2, which has a relatively small outer dimension, is vertical.

The cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900 so that the Y axis of the cover 2 is parallel to the long axis of the base end 920 (i.e., the Y axis of the male connector 900). Therefore, when the X axis of the cover 2 is oriented vertically on bedding or the like, the long axis of the base end 920 (grip portion 923) is parallel to the horizontal direction. This is advantageous for reducing pain inflicted on a patient by the base end 920 of the male connector 900 being crushed, compared to when the long axis of the base end 920 (grip portion 923) is parallel to the vertical direction.

The skirt 220 of the cover 2 has a pair of opposing portions 221 that face each other in the X-axis direction. When the cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900, the base end 920 is positioned between the pair of opposing portions 221. Therefore, when the X-axis of the cover 2 is oriented in the vertical direction on bedding or the like, the opposing portions 221 are positioned above and below the base end 920. This is advantageous in reducing the pain that the base end 920 inflicts on a patient if the male connector 900 with the cover 2 attached is crushed under the patient.

The cover 2 has a pair of collars 230 facing each other in the X-axis direction. When the cover and cap are attached (see Figures 10A and 10B), the cap 930 is positioned between the pair of collars 230. Therefore, when the X-axis of the cover 2 is oriented in the vertical direction on bedding or the like, the collars 230 are positioned above and below the cap 930. This is advantageous in reducing the pain that the cap 930 inflicts on a patient if the male connector 900 with the cover 2 attached is crushed under the patient.

The connecting portion 11 extends in the X-axis direction and connects the end faces of the cover body 215 that face each other in the X-axis direction (see Figure 8A). Therefore, when the male connector 900 (see Figures 10A and 10B) with the cover and cap attached is placed under a patient with the X-axis of the cover 2 facing up or down, the band 935 protrudes horizontally. This is advantageous for reducing the pain that the band 935 inflicts on the patient compared to when the band 935 protrudes up or down. Similarly, the tab 933 provided on the sealing plate 931 also protrudes horizontally. This is advantageous for reducing the pain that the tab 933 inflicts on the patient.

When the cover 2 attached to the male connector 900 is viewed along the X axis, the connector body 901 does not protrude from the outer edge of the cover 2 (see Figure 10B). Therefore, if the male connector 900 with the cover and cap attached (see Figures 10A and 10B) is placed under a patient with the X axis direction of the cover 2 facing up or down, the possibility of the hard connector body 901 coming into contact with the patient is further reduced. This is advantageous for reducing pain inflicted by the connector body 901 on the patient if the male connector 900 is placed under the patient.

The male connector 900 (particularly the connector main portion 910) accommodated in the lumen 10 can be visually confirmed through the through hole 19 (see Figures 9A, 9C, and 10A). Information regarding the dimensions of the male connector 900 or the tube 909 may be printed on the outer surface of the connector main portion 910 (outer tube 915). In such cases, this information can be visually confirmed through the through hole 19 when the cover 2 is attached to the male connector 900. Note that the number of through holes 19 does not need to be two; one may also be used. In the present invention, the through hole 19 may be omitted.

Embodiment 2 is merely an example, and can be modified as appropriate.

For example, when the cover 2 attached to the male connector 900 is viewed along the X axis, part of the base end may extend beyond the outer edge of the skirt 220. When the male connector 900 with the cover and cap attached (see Figures 10A and 10B) is viewed along the X axis, the collar 230 may obscure the cap 930.

The engagement structure of the cover 2 that can engage with the male connector 900 is not limited to the stepped surface 225 (see FIGS. 6B and 6C) that engages with the step 905 (see FIG. 1A) of the male connector 900. For example, the engagement structure may engage with the rear end of the base end 920 (particularly its grip portion 923) of the male connector 900 in the Z-axis direction.

The cover does not have to have an engagement structure (step surface 225). For example, a cylindrical surface that is continuous with the storage section 10 may be formed within the skirt 220.

The cover 2 may not have either the skirt 220 or the collar 230. If the cover 2 does not have the collar 230, when the male connector 900 with the cover attached and the cap removed is viewed along the X-axis and/or Y-axis, part of the connector main body may be exposed to the outside world without being covered by the cover.

The exterior shape of the cover 2 can be changed as desired.

For example, the external shape of the cover is not limited to a flat shape with a relatively small first external dimension L1 along the X-axis direction. For example, the first external dimension L1 along the X-axis direction and the second external dimension L2 along the Y-axis direction may be approximately the same. Specifically, the external shape of the cover 2 may be a cylinder, a polygonal prism (e.g., a square prism or a hexagonal prism), a cube, a sphere, a rugby ball, or the like. The X-axis direction of a cover of this shape does not always face up or down when placed on bedding or the like. However, by increasing the radial dimension (thickness) of the cover, it is possible to reduce the pain felt by a patient when the connector 900 is crushed under the patient, regardless of the orientation of the cover.

The shape of the cover 2 when viewed along the X-axis may also be oval (or elliptical), rectangular, diamond, hexagonal, octagonal, track-shaped, etc. Generally, the long axis of the connector 900 is in the axial direction, so it is preferable that the cover 2 have its long axis in the axial direction (Z-axis direction).

The collar 230 may extend further forward so that when the female connector 950 is connected to the male connector 900, the collar 230 faces radially opposite the female connector 950.

The collar 230 may be continuous along the front end surface 17a of the cover body 215 in a generally "U" shape (or generally "C" shape).

The gap between the pair of collars 230 may be constant in the axial direction, or may become smaller toward the front. The collar 230 may be curved toward its tip so that it approaches the axis of the cover. For example, when the male connector 900 with the cover attached and the cap removed is viewed along the axis of the cover, part or all of the connector main section 910 may be covered by the collar 230. Even in this case, because the cover is made of a cushioning material, the collar 230 can be deformed radially outward to expose the tip of the connector main section 910 to the outside in the axial direction. Therefore, as with the second embodiment above, the cap 300 and female connector 950 can be connected and disconnected to the male connector 900 with the cover attached to the male connector 900.

This second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above. The explanation for the first embodiment also applies to this second embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
Fig. 11A is a perspective view of the cover 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cover 3 taken along the YZ plane. Fig. 12A is a perspective view of the cover as seen from another direction. Fig. 12B is a front view of the cover 3 as seen from the front side. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cover 3 attached to the male connector 900. The cap 930 is not attached to the connector main part 910 (cover attached, cap not attached state). Fig. 14A is a perspective view showing the state in which the cover 3 is attached to the male connector 900 and the cap 930 is attached to the connector main part 910 (cover attached, cap attached state). Fig. 14B is a cross-sectional view taken along the YZ plane of Fig. 14A.

In this third embodiment, a notch 323 is provided in the skirt 220 of the cover 3. When viewed along the X axis, the notch 323 forms a concave curve on the outer periphery of the facing portion 221 (see Figure 14B). When viewed along the X axis, the notch 323 is located on the connecting portion 11 side of the axis of the cover 3 (which coincides with the axis of the cylindrical storage portion 10) and behind the connecting portion 11. The distance from the outer periphery of the facing portion 221 to the storage portion 10 is approximately minimum at the position of the notch 323.

Like the cover 2 of embodiment 2, the cover 3 can be attached to and detached from the male connector 900 (see Figures 1A and 1B) described in embodiment 1. Attachment and detachment are achieved by inserting and removing the male connector 900 (particularly the connector main portion 910) into and from the skirt 220 (or between the pair of opposing portions 221).

When viewed along the X axis, the cover 2 of the second embodiment described above is symmetrical about the axis of the cover 2 (which is defined by the central axis of the cylindrical storage portion 10) (see Figure 8B). Therefore, simply looking along the X axis makes it unclear on which side of the cover 2 (the right or left side in Figure 8B) the connecting portion 11 is located. It is necessary to slightly rotate the cover 2 around the axis to confirm the connecting portion 11.

In contrast, the cover 3 of this third embodiment is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the cover 3 when viewed along the X axis. The connecting portion 11 is located on the same side of the axis of the cover 3 as the notch 323. Therefore, when inserting the male connector 900 into the cover 3, for example, hold the male connector 900 with your right hand and the cover 3 with your left hand so that the notch 323 faces the male connector 900 (right side). When withdrawing the male connector 900 from the cover 3, for example, hold the cover 3 with your left hand so that the notch 323 faces the right side, and grasp the base end 920 via the notch 323 with your right hand. In this way, the notch 323 makes it possible to determine the position for inserting or removing the male connector 900 relative to the cover 3 simply by viewing the cover 3 along the X axis.

When inserting the male connector 900 into the cover 3, the connector main part 910 can be pressed against the concave curve on the outer periphery of the opposing part 221 formed by the cutout 323. The connector main part 910, which has a diameter larger than the gap between the pair of opposing parts 221, can be positioned on the opposing part 221 without sliding along the outer periphery of the opposing part 221. This improves the attachability of the cover 3 to the male connector 900.

Furthermore, when attaching the cover 3 to the male connector 900, inserting the connector main part 910 into the cover 3 from the position of the notch 323 allows the connector main part 910 to reach the accommodating part 10 in the shortest distance. Similarly, when detaching the cover 3 from the male connector 900, moving the connector main part 910 toward the notch 323 allows the connector main part 910 to be pulled out from the accommodating part 10 in the shortest distance. In this way, by using the notch 323 as a guide when attaching or detaching the cover 3 to or from the male connector 900, the distance that the connector main part 910, which has a larger diameter, must pass between the pair of opposing parts 221 is shortened. This improves the ease of attaching or detaching the cover 3 to or from the male connector 900.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the cover 3 has a flat surface 327 on its outer surface. The flat surface 327 is located on the opposite side of the connecting portion 11 (or groove 12) in the Y-axis direction. The flat surface 327 is a plane parallel to the XZ plane. A pair of side surfaces 216, each of which is a convex curved surface, are connected via the flat surface 327. The flat surface 327 is advantageous for facilitating the manufacture of the cover 3 when the cover 3 is manufactured by molding using a mold. The reasons for this are as follows.

The cover of the present invention can be manufactured by injection molding a resin material in a mold. The mold is constructed by assembling multiple mold pieces. In this case, mold pieces may become misaligned or gaps may form between adjacent mold pieces. These can cause burrs to form on the molded cover. In this third embodiment, the mold can be designed so that the mating surfaces (commonly called parting surfaces) of adjacent mold pieces are positioned on flat surface 327. This makes it easier to manufacture a mold that is less likely to develop misalignments or gaps, and reduces the occurrence of burrs on the cover.

In this third embodiment, the flat surface 327 is parallel to the XZ plane, but is not limited to this. In general, it is preferable that the flat surface 327 be parallel to the parting direction of the mold used to mold the cover 3 (e.g., the X-axis direction, i.e., the extension direction of the connecting portion 11).

The cover 3 may also have the through-hole 19 that the cover 2 of embodiment 2 had.

This embodiment 3 is the same as embodiments 1 and 2 except for the above. The explanations for embodiments 1 and 2 also apply to this embodiment 3.

(Embodiment 4)
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the cover 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16A is a perspective view of the cover 4 as seen from another direction. Fig. 16B is a front view of the cover 4 as seen from the front side.

The cover 4 of this fourth embodiment differs from the cover 3 of the third embodiment in its external shape. As can be easily seen by comparing FIG. 16A with FIG. 12A showing the cover 3, the X-axis dimension of the flat surface 427 (corresponding to the flat surface 327 of the cover 3) of the cover 4 is reduced. A pair of side surfaces 216, which are convex curved surfaces, extend opposite the connecting portion 11 (or groove 12) and connect to the narrow flat surface 427. Therefore, as can be seen by comparing FIG. 16B with FIG. 8A and FIG. 12B, the outer surface of the cover 4 opposite the connecting portion 11 (or groove 12) is a substantially smooth convex curved surface without sharp corners. The cover 4 is advantageous in reducing the pain felt by a patient if the male connector 900 to which the cover 4 is attached is crushed by the patient.

The cover 4 may also have the through-hole 19 that the cover 2 of embodiment 2 had.

This embodiment 4 is the same as embodiment 3 except for the above. The explanation of embodiment 3 and the explanations of embodiments 1 and 2 that apply to embodiment 3 also apply to this embodiment 4.

The above embodiments 1 to 4 are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments 1 to 4 and can be modified as appropriate.

The number of connecting portions 11 provided on the cover is not limited to one. For example, the cover may have two connecting portions 11 arranged symmetrically about its axis. In this case, the cover may be two-fold rotationally symmetric about its axis (i.e., a shape that matches the shape before rotation when rotated 180 degrees around the axis). If the cover has multiple connecting portions 11, axial alignment of the cover to the male connector 900 is simplified when attaching the cover to the male connector 900.

In addition to the through holes (first holes) 19 of embodiment 2 (see Figures 6, 7A, and 7B), holes (second holes) may be provided on the outer surface of the cover of the present invention. Figures 17A and 17B show cover 1' of embodiment 1, in which multiple holes 119 are provided on the outer surface of cover 1. The holes 119 penetrate cover 1' (particularly its cover body 15) along the Z-axis direction. When viewed along the Z-axis, the holes 119 each have a regular hexagonal shape in plan view and are arranged in a honeycomb pattern on the cover body 15. The holes that can be provided on the outer surface of the cover of the present invention are not limited to holes 119. In Figures 17A and 17B, holes 119 are through holes that penetrate cover 1', but holes that can be provided on the cover of the present invention may be non-through holes (so-called blind holes) that do not penetrate the cover. The depth of the non-through holes is arbitrary, and the depth of the holes may be deeper or shallower than the opening diameter of the holes. The planar shape of the holes is not limited to a regular hexagon and may be, for example, a circle or any polygon (e.g., a rectangle, an octagon, etc.). The arrangement of the holes is not limited to a honeycomb arrangement. The holes may be provided on the outer surface of the cover other than the cover body 15 (e.g., the connecting portion 11). The holes may be provided on the outer surface of the cover other than the end face (17a or 17b) substantially perpendicular to the Z axis (e.g., the outer peripheral surface 16 of the cover 1 in FIG. 1A). The holes may extend along any direction other than the Z axis direction (e.g., the radial direction). The number of holes is arbitrary. Multiple holes do not need to be evenly distributed on the cover, and may be distributed only in specific regions of the cover. Providing such holes on the outer surface of the cover is advantageous for reducing the weight of the cover and adjusting the cushioning properties of the cover without substantially changing the outer dimensions or external shape of the cover. Similar holes may be provided on the outer surfaces of covers 2 to 4 of embodiments 2 to 4.

The configuration of the male connector 900 to which the cover is attached is not limited to the above embodiment. The cover may be modified as appropriate depending on the male connector. For example, in the cap 930, the tab 933 may protrude from the sealing plate 931 along the axis of the cap 930 rather than protruding radially from the sealing plate 931. The cap 930 may not be provided with the tab 933. The sealing plate 931 of the cap 930 may have an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the outer tube 915. The cap 930 may be provided with a protrusion (sealing protrusion) that is inserted into the flow path 919 of the male member 911 and adheres liquid-tightly to the inner surface of the male member 911 when the cap 930 is attached to the connector main body 910 (see Figures 4C, 10B, and 14B). If the cap 930 includes this sealing protrusion, it may or may not further include a sealing tube 932. The band 935 does not have to extend from the connector body 901. For example, a ring (annular body) similar to ring 937 may be provided at the base end of band 935, and tube 909 may be inserted into the ring. In this case, the ring may be freely movable along the longitudinal direction of tube 909, or may be immovable. Grip portion 923 does not need to have a generally rectangular prism shape; for example, it may be a pair of thin plates extending in opposite directions from cylindrical connecting tube 921 along the longitudinal axis (Y-axis direction). Alternatively, grip portion 923 may have a cylindrical shape surrounding connecting tube 921. The base end portion 920 may not include grip portion 923 and may simply be composed of cylindrical connecting tube 921. The entire connector body 901 does not need to be made of a hard material. For example, a portion not directly involved in connection with female connector 950 (e.g., base end portion 920) may be made of a soft material that is relatively easily deformed.

In the above embodiment, the cover is attached to and detached from the male connector 900 used for nasogastric tube feeding, but the present invention is not limited to this. The male connector to which the cover of the present invention is applied may be any male connector provided on a tube left indwelling in a patient. Specifically, the male connector may be, for example, a male connector provided on a tube used for tube feeding other than a nasogastric tube. Alternatively, the male connector may be a male connector provided on the upstream end of a tube (extension tube) that is connected to a tube left indwelling in a patient. The cover of the present invention may also be applied to a male connector that is not left indwelling in a patient.

The present invention can be used in a wide range of applications in the medical field. In particular, the present invention can be used as a cover that can be removably attached to a male connector provided at the upstream end of a tube that is placed in a patient.

1, 1', 2, 3, 4 Cover 10 Storage section 11 Connecting section 12 Groove 15 Cover body 18 Recessed section 119 Hole 216 Side surface of cover 219 Through-hole 220 Skirt 221 Opposing section 225 Step surface (engagement structure)
230 Collar 323 Notch 327, 427 Flat surface 900 Male connector 901 Connector body 905 Connector step 909 Tube 910 Connector main portion 920 Base end portion 923 Grip portion 924 Grip surface (surface along the long axis of the base end portion)
930 Cap 931 Sealing plate 933 Tab 935 Band L1 First outer dimension L2 Second outer dimension L3 Third outer dimension

Claims (19)

A male connector cover that can be attached to and detached from a male connector, the male connector comprising: a connector body having a cylindrical connector main portion at one end and a base end from which a flexible tube is led out at the other end; a cap that can be attached and detached to the tip of the connector main portion; and a band that connects the connector body or the tube to the cap,
The cover is made of a cushioning material,
The cover includes a cover body having a generally arc-shaped shape when viewed along the axis of the cover, a connecting portion connecting opposing end surfaces of the cover body, and an accommodating portion capable of accommodating the connector main portion,
the cover body and the connecting portion constitute the storage portion,
the connecting portion is provided so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the connector main portion when the cover is attached to the male connector,
When the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main portion, the cover can expose a tip of the connector main portion to the outside in the axial direction of the male connector, and the band is arranged on the base end side with respect to the connecting portion ,
the cover further includes a groove having a bottom surface on the outer surface of the connecting portion,
A cover for a male connector, characterized in that when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector body, the band is housed in the groove . 2. The male connector cover according to claim 1 , wherein the band extends from the connector body. 3. A male connector cover according to claim 1, wherein when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion, the band extends across the connecting portion toward the tip side of the connector main portion. The cover further includes a radial recess.
A cover for a male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is not attached to the connector main portion, the recess engages with the band to prevent the cover from rotating relative to the male connector. The cap includes a circular sealing plate capable of covering the tip of the connector main portion, and a tab protruding radially outward from the sealing plate,
the band is connected to the sealing plate at a position opposite to the tab;
A cover for a male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion, the tab does not protrude radially outward from the cover. the cover has a third outer dimension along a third direction parallel to an axis of the cover, a first outer dimension along a first direction perpendicular to the third direction, and a second outer dimension along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the third direction;
The male connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the cover has a flat shape in which the first outer dimension is smaller than the second outer dimension and the third outer dimension. the proximal end has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of the male connector;
The cover for a male connector according to claim 6 , wherein the cover can be attached to the male connector with the second direction of the cover parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base end portion. The male connector cover according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the connecting portion extends parallel to the first direction. The cover for a male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , further comprising a skirt configured to radially face the base end when the cover is attached to the male connector. the cover has a third outer dimension along a third direction parallel to an axis of the cover, a first outer dimension along a first direction perpendicular to the third direction, and a second outer dimension along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the third direction;
the cover has a flat shape in which the first outer dimension is smaller than the second outer dimension and the third outer dimension,
the skirt includes a pair of opposing portions spaced apart from each other in the first direction,
The cover for a male connector according to claim 9 , wherein the base end portion is disposed between the pair of opposing portions when the cover is attached to the male connector. A cover for a male connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the cover further comprises a collar configured to radially face the cap when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion. the cover has a third outer dimension along a third direction parallel to an axis of the cover, a first outer dimension along a first direction perpendicular to the third direction, and a second outer dimension along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the third direction;
the cover has a flat shape in which the first outer dimension is smaller than the second outer dimension and the third outer dimension,
12. The cover for a male connector according to claim 11 , wherein when the cover is attached to the male connector and the cap is attached to the connector main portion, the collar faces the cap in the first direction. The male connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , further comprising an engagement structure that engages with a step between the connector main portion and the base end portion of the male connector. A cover for a male connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 13 , wherein when the cover attached to the male connector is viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the cover and the connecting portion, the connector body does not protrude from the cover. A cover for a male connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 14 , wherein a through hole that passes through the cover is provided in the cover so that the connector main part accommodated in the accommodating part can be seen. A cover for a male connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein when the cover is viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the cover and the connecting portion, the cover is asymmetric with respect to the axis of the cover. The cover further includes a skirt configured to radially face the base end when the cover is attached to the male connector,
A cover for a male connector as described in claim 16, wherein the cover has a notch so that the outer peripheral edge of the skirt is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the cover when the cover is viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the cover and the connecting portion . The cover has a pair of side surfaces facing opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cover,
Each of the pair of side surfaces is a convex curved surface,
The male connector cover according to any one of claims 1 to 17 , wherein the pair of side surfaces are connected via a flat surface. The cover for a male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 18 , wherein holes are provided on the outer surface of the cover.