Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 93/20379 2 1 3 3 ~ O ~ Pcr/us92/o27o~
aUlCK CONNECTOR WITH ONE-PIECE RETAINER
CROSS REFERENCF TC) RE0 ATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Serial No. 465,773, filed January
1, 1990, entitled "Snap and Lock Quick Connector" by Bartholomew which is assigned to
5 the assignee of the present invention.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector assembly which provides a snap and
lock quick connection and which utilizss a one-piece retaining member. The one-piece
retaining member helps to prevent the blow out of the O-rings and bushings.
In the automotive industry, as well as many other industries, there is a great need
for low cost, reliable and easy to assemble cornponents. This need is especially apparent
with respect to providing a connection between fluid-carrying conduits, such as fuel or
refrigerant iines. In older threaded connectors, substantial assembly time could be
accumulated in screwing on a cap to a fitting and tightening the cap down to the proper
1~ torque needed to provide a fluid-tight seal. Further, an inventory would have to be
maintained to keep track o~ the number of caps and fittings, and any liners or other
components that may be necessary. Aiso, retightening of the caps may be required to
maintain the seal after the automobile or other system has been put in use.
It is also desired in the case where the retaining member is pre-installed in the
20 female to have the retaining member formed such that it is spread open by the male upon
insertion. The retaining member accommodates tolerances of the male and permits
movement of the male without seriously aFfecting the abutting function, because of the
separated spring portion of the r~taining member.
tt is also desirable to have a one-p~ec~ retaining mernber which has a means for2~ receiving and retaining a bushing between a male membPr and the interior of a female
member, since a bushing not retained between a male member and female member tends
to be expelled by the action of confined pressure.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
connector assembly which utilizes a one-piece retaining member for providing a quick
30 connection be~ween fluid conveying conduits.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a preassembled connector
housing and one-piece retaining member so that a connection to a tubular fluid conveying
conduit may be made in one step without resorting to any tools.
W O 93/20379 A ~ - 2- PC~r/US92/02703
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pre-assembled connector
housing and one-piece retaining member assembly so that a snapping connection may
be made to a tubular fluid conveying conduit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pre-assembled connector
S conduit unit which requires only a one-step snapping connection to be joined to a
connector housing.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved one-piece
retaining member.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved one-piece
10 retaining member which operates to both secure the conduit in the axial bore of the
housing and position the sealing means within the axial bore of the housing.
It is also a more specific object of the present invention to provide a connector
assembly which uses a shoulder portion to secure the retaining member inside thehousing.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a one-piece retaining
member which helps to prevent the high pressure blowout of the O-rings and bushings
;- and which helps to torm a fluid tight seal.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a snap and lockconnecitor assembly which generally comprises a tubular conduit, a housing, and a one-
20 piece retaining member with ~NO pairs of arms having shoulder-like portions. The tubular
conduit is adapted to convey fluid. The housing is tormed with an axial bore for receiving
the conduit at a first end and for providing a fluid path at a second end. The retaining
member is disposed within the axial bore of the housing for providing a fluid tight seal
between the confronting tubular conduit portions. In addition, the retaining member is
25 adapted to be in contact with the housing to provide a locking rnechanism. The housing
also includes radially inward turned flange portions which abut the shoulder-like portions
on the arms of the retaining member. Thus, the housing locks in the retaining member
until the retaining member is released. The retaining member can be released by
depressing the end portions, which causes flexion of the strips at the ring portion, which
30 allows clearance between the inward turned flange portion of the housing and the
shoulder-like portions of the arms.
In addition, the retainer can also be made and inserted within the housing such that
the retaining member can only be released from the housing with the use of a special tool.
:
Wo 93/20379 2 1 3 3 ~ o 3 Pcr/US92,02703
From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded pers,tertive view partially in section of the connector
assembly.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a retaining member in accordance with the present
invention.
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the retaining member inserted into the housing
1 0 member.
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the retaining member inserted into the housing
member.
Figure 5 is a sectional view, in cross-secfion, of the retaining member inserted into
the housing member.
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the ret~ining rnember and housing member
being separated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ~MBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly, and
Figure 2 a perspective view of the retaining member, of the present invention, is shown.
20 The connector assembly 20 is generatly comprised of a female housing 26 and a one-
piece retaining member 60. The housing 26 includes an a~(iai bore 30 passing through the
housing 26. The connector assembly ~0 also includes a concluit 22 having an outward
extending annular flange 24, positioned at a predetermined distance from the end of the
conduit 22. The housing 26 has a radially inward turned tlange 44 which coacts with the
2~ retaining member 60 and the annular flange 24 to retain the conduit 22 and the retaining
member 60 within the female housing 26.
The saaling and bushing means 38 generaliy includes a pair of elastomeric O-rings
50 and 52 separated by a washer 54. The O-rings 50 and 52 and washer 54 are retained
by a bushing 56. The O-rings 50 and 52 seal the tip of the conduit 22 within the housing
30 26.
The one piece retaining member 60 includes a ring portion 74 and two pairs of
extending arms. The first pair of arms includes 76 and 78. The second pair of arms
includes 64 and 66. The ring portion 74 is substantially flat and planar and one side 82
WO 93/20379 2 1 3 3 4 0 3 PCI/US92/0270~
- 4 - :
of the ring portion 74 abuts the bushing 56 to maintain the bushing 56 in position. The
first pair of arms 76 and 78 extend substantially perpendicular from the other side of the
ring portion 74. Although the one-piece retaining member 60 is a one piece molded
element, joints 32 exist where the arms 76 and 78 extend from the ring portion 74, and the
5 joints 32 help to allow for flexion as pressure is applied to the depressible end portions 92.
The first pair of arms 76 and 78 have substantially identical configurations. Each arm is
formed from a pair of extending strips 84 and 86. The strips 84 and 86 are connected by
a leg portion 88 having an outwardly extendin~ flange 90. The combination of the leg
portion 88 and the flange 90 forms the end portion 92. The end portion 92 and a
10 shoulder-like portion 98 provide an overall 'T' shape. The end portion 92 which connects
the strips 84 and 86 acts as the cross member of the 'T'. In addition, the outwardly
angularly extending shoulder-like portion 98 acts as the body portion of the "T".
The shoulder-like portion 98 has an overall shape that serves as a means for
abutting the flange 24 to help retain the cond~uit 22 within the housing 26. In addition,
15 shoulder-like portion 98 helps to maintain the retaining member 60 within the housing. The
leading edge 106 of the shoulder portion 98 abuts the flange 24 of the conduit 22 once
the conduit 22 is i.nserted into the housing 26. The shoulder-like portion 98 also has an
opposing surface 100 which comes into relatively flat contact with the radially inward
tumed flangs 44 of the housing 26, when the retaining member 60 is inserted into the
20 housing 26.
The second pair of arms 64 and 66 also extend substantially perpendicuiar from
the ring portion 74 on the same side as the first pair of arms 76 and 78. The second pair
of arms 64 and 66 are located alternately between the first pair of arms 76 and 78. The
arms 64 and 66 have substantially identical configurations and have a substantially planar
25 shape. The body portion B0 of the arms 76 and 78 is substantially planar. The one-piece
retaining member 60 is molded with the second pair of arms 64 and 66 extending from the
ring portion 74.
Near the approximate middle portion of the body portion 80 of the arms 76 and 78is a means 70 for abutting the radially inward turned flange 44 to help maintain the
30 retaining member 60 within the housing 26. The means 70 is shoulder-like. The shoulder-
like portion 70 has an overall shape that extends from the substantially planar arms 64 and
66. The shoulder-like portion 70 helps to retain the retaining member 60 in a position
within the housing 26 which in turn maintains the bushing 56, washer 54 and 0-rings 50
and 52 wHhin the housing 26.
WO 93/20379 PCr/lJS92/0270~
- 5- 2133~03
Referring to Figure 3 a side elevational view of the retaining member 60 inserted
within the housing 26 is illustrated. As the insertion of the retaining member 60 occurs,
once the second pair of arms 64 and 66 clear the radially inward turned flange 44, the
shoulder-like portion 70 of the second pair of arims 64 and 66 contacts the inward turned
5 flange 44 of the housing 26. At this time the retaining member 60 is locked within the
housing 26 and helps to prevent the high pressure blowout of the O-rings 50 and 52 and
bushing 56. The O-rings S0 and 52 seal the tip of the conduit ~2 within the housing 26.
Figure 4, also illustrates the side elevational view of the retaining member 60
inserted within the housing ?6. Figure 4 is a cross-section of the retair,ing member 60
10 inseri~ed within the housing 26, rotated ninety degrees (9OQ) from the illustration in Figure
3. In Figure 4 the shoulder-like portions 98 of the first pair of arms 76 and 78 are abutting
the inward turned flange 44 of the housing 26. The outwardly extending flange 90 of the
end portion 92 may extend outside the housing 26.
A second embodiment of this invention would include a retaining member 60
15 having arms 76 and 78 wherein the arms 76 and 78 do not contain extending flanges 92
which extend outside of the housing 26.
Figure 5 is an end view, of the retaining member inserted within the hou,ing
member. The shoulder-like portions 98 of the first pair of arms 76 and 78 are abutting the
annular flange 24 of the conduit 22. The shoulder-like portions 70 of the second pair of
20 arms 64 and 66 do not come into contact with the conduit 22.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the retaining member 60 and the housing 26
upon separation. In order to separate the retaining member 60 and the housing member
26, pressure must be applied to the two end portions 92 of the retaining member 60 in
order to pinch together the end portions 92. As the end portiorls 92 are pinched together,
25 the shoulder portions 98 are provided with an adequate clearance of the radially inward
turned flange 44. Thus, by simultaneously depressing the end portions ~2 and puiling the
retaining member 60 away from the housing 26, disconnection will occur.
In the second embodiment of this invention, the arms 76 and 78 do not contain
extended flanges 92 which extend outside of the housing 26. Therefore, in order to
30 separate the retaining member 60 and the housing member ~6 a special tool must be
utiiized.
While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiments of the
present invention, it will be understood that the present invention is suspectable to
modification, variation and alteration without deviating from the scope and fair meaning cf
35 the subjoined claims.
