Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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QUICK CO~.~OR HAVING RING
FOR C~ ~Ilr._ PROPBR CONNECTION
R~CR~QUND OF THE lNv~loN
This invention relates generally to a conduit coupling
through which fluid flows. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a quick connector which retains a male
conduit within a female receptacle and which includes a
ring for confirming proper connection.
In the automotive industry (as well as for many other
industries) the need always exists for low cost, reliable,
and easy-to-assemble components. This need is especially
apparent with respect to providing a connection between
fluid conveying conduits, such as fuel, brake, or
refrigerant lines. Traditionally, such a connection is
comprised of a male conduit being retained within a female
receptacle through use of threaded fittings, flare
fittings, or through bolted-on flanges.
More recently, a variety of snap together quick
connect retainers have been used in place of the
conventional methods. These quick connectors typically
have a plurality of flexible legs which engage an annular
bead attached to a male conduit and also engage an undercut
groove formed within a female member. Two such examples
are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,601,497 entitled
"Swivelable Quick Connector Assembly" which issued on July
22, 1986, and U.S. Patent No. 4,778,203 entitled
"Swivelable Quick Connector for High Temperature
Connection" which issued on October 18, 1988, both of which
were invented by the inventor of the present invention and
are incorporated by reference herewithin. Another quick
connector is flat with pairs of annular arms extending
therearound which are radially flexible. Other quick
connectors which were invented by the inventor of the
present invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos.
4,524,995 and 4,423,892, both of which are entitled
"Swivelable Quick Connector Assembly" and which issued on
June 25, 1985, and January 23, 1984, respectively, and are
incorporated by reference herewithin.
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While the aforementioned quick connectors present
significant improvements in the art, each leg member of
these devices must typically resist longitudinal pull out
forces and must generate radial retention forces.
Moreover, the legs are radially compressed during
installation. Accordingly, in order to enhance the ability
to either withstand forces in the longitudinal direction or
generate radially directed forces, the part must often be
compromised with regard to the other forces perpendicular
thereto. Furthermore, the aforementioned quick connectors
fail to provide a method by which proper connection of the
male and female components may be readily determined.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a quick connector
which can be easily installed and removed, is inexpensive
to manufacture and which has separate segments for
withstanding longitudinal pull out forces and generating
radial retention forces, but which can be much shorter than
conventional connectors by reducing the length inside the
female portion of the connector to the length currently
realized with threaded connectors. It is also desirable to
have a quick connector that provides a feature by which the
installer can verify that a proper connection has been
made.
8U~M~RY OF THE PRE~ENT l~.V~.. lON
In accordance with the present invention, a number of
embodiments of a new and useful quick connector are
provided to couple a male conduit within the bore of a
female receptacle and to allow the installer to verify that
the male and female components are properly connected. The
quick connector has a pair of waist segments, a latch
segment, a body segment with an aperture therein, and a leg
or spring segment. The leg segment is defined by a pair of
projecting elements which urge the waist segments radially
outward for engagement with the female receptacle. The
projecting elements are also partially compressible toward
one another thereby allowing the pair of waist segments to
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be moved toward one another for installation and
disassembly.
In one general embodiment~ a confirmer ring is
provided that is axially movable along the projecting
elements between a lock-verifying or seated position and an
unlocked or unseated position. After the ~uick connector
of the present invention is moved to its receptacle-
engaging position, the confirmer ring is moved from its
unseated position to a seated position. Confirmation that
lo the connector is properly locked in place is made when the
ring is fully seated within a portion of the open end of
the female receptacle.
In an alternate general embodiment, the confirmer ring
does not slide relative to the projecting elements, but
rather is relatively fixed. In this general embodiment the
ring is still used to confirm the connection and is
additional used to assist in installation.
These two general embodiments are presented in various
forms that all incorporate the confirmer ring, a latch
portion for engagement with a female component, and a
spring portion for effecting engagement of the latch
portion with the female component. The various forms of the
present invention include:
1. A quick connector comprising a confirmer ring and
a separate spring-latch combination, made from more than
one type of material, where the ring prevents the
disengagement of the latch portion from the female
component:
2. a quick connector comprising a confirmer ring and
a separate spring-latch combination, all made from more
than one type of material, where the ring installs the
spring-latch combination and confirms the correct
installation of the male component in the female component;
.
3. a quick connector comprising a confirmer ring-
spring combination of a first material and a latch portion
of a second material;
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4. a quick connector comprising a confirmer ring-latch
combination of a first material and a spring portion of a
second material; and
5. a quick connector comprising a unified ring-spring-
latch combination.
The quick connector of the present invention offers
several advantages over the prior art quick connectors.
Among these advantages is that the waist segment and latch
segment are optimized to withstand radially compressive
insertion and removal forces while transmitting
longitudinal retention forces that would otherwise separate
male and female components in association with the female
receptacle. Concurrently, the body segment is optimized to
withstand longitudinal pull-out forces between the attached
male conduit and the adjacent waist segments.
Furthermore, both the confirmer ring and the connector
of the present invention can be easily attached and
unattached from the female receptacle, thus providing an
inexpensive-to-assemble system.
With respect to the first general embodiment, easy
insertion is accomplished by axially moving the confirmer
ring to its unseated position along the projecting elements
of the connector, at least partially compressing the
projecting elements of the leg segment toward one another
by engagement against a lead-in chamfer in the female
portion of the connector, inserting the body into the
female receptacle, releasing compressive tension on the
projecting elements whereby the compressed engaging lugs
attached to the waist sections are expanded into a cavity
having a larger diameter, and sliding the confirmer ring
into its lock-verifying or seated position with the
confirming ring in the lock verifying position in which the
lock-in lugs cannot be uncoupled in this first embodiment.
Alternatively, and according to the second general
embodiment, the confirmer ring does not slide, and by
providing a graspable region, acts to assist in the
installation of the male portion into the female portion of
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the connector. In this embodiment the confirmer ring still
functions to confirm that the installation is properly
made. The connection can be uncoupled with the confirmer
ring in the forward position in its second form (as set
forth above) and up to its fifth form (also as set forth
above).
Additional advantages of the present quick connector
over the prior art include low manufacturing costs and
broad application. The latter advantage is evident in that
the present quick connector is operable with most
conventional non-swivelable and swivelable male conduits
and with many traditional female receptacles so as to
convert a rigidly fixed conduit of conventional threaded
connectors to a swivel-type connection.
The quick connectors of the present invention have
separated the springing radial re~uirement from the
requirement to longitudinally abut a wall in the female
receptacle. This is accomplished through use of the
aforementioned legs as the springing member, through a
separate springing member, or through a combination of the
confirmer ring with a latch and spring. The quick
connector of the present invention maintains the male
conduit in alignment within the female receptacle thereby
providing proper registry of a seal, the correctness of
which can be easily verified by the confirmer ring.
The present invention is also beneficial since it
allows the male conduit and female receptacle to
incorporate longitudinally smaller sealing and retaining
areas than those associated with traditional quick connect
couplings.
BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWING8
The above-noted advantages as well as other advantages
of the present invention will become apparent to one
skilled in the art by reading the following specification
and subjoined claims in conjunction with reference to the
following drawings in which:
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Figure 1 is an elevated side view showing a first
preferred embodiment of a quick connector of the present
invention in relation to interlocked male and female
components with the confirmer ring not shown;
Figure 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the
present invention quick connector illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the
quick connector of the present invention shown in Figure 1
in relation to a male conduit and a female receptacle with
the confirmer ring and a spring-latch combination;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the quick connector
embodiment of Figure 1 situated between male and female
components;
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a preferred
embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention
with a spring-latch combination;
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a radial spring
member portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a body segment
of the embodiment shown in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is an end view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention quick connector as seen
from the radial member;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a confirmer ring for
use with the spring portion of the legs of the previous
figures;
Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to that of
Figure 3 but showing the confirmer ring positioned in x
spaced apart relation from the female receptacle;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention quick connector in a
relation to the male conduit and the female receptacle;
Figure 12 is an exploded view of the quick connector
embodiment of Figure 11 situated between the male and
female components;
Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a different
preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present
invent on: ¦
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Figure 14 is a sectional view similar to that of
Figure 11 but showing a pair of pliers to remove the quick
connector from the female component;
Figure 15 is an isometric view of a retainer body of
5an alternate embodiment;
Figure 16 is an isometric view of a wire form used in
association with the retainer body of Figure 15;
Figure 17A is an isometric view of a first side of a
confirmer ring-spring combination composed of the same type
10of material;
Figure 17B is an isometric view of a second side of
the combination of Figure 17A:
Figure 18 is an isometric view of the assembled
components of Figures 16, 17A, and 17B and the retainer
15body of Figure 15 that transfers forces from the male
portion to the female portion of the connection;
Figure 19 is a spring usable in relation with an
additional alternate embodiment of the confirmer ring of
the present invention;
20Figure 20 is an isometric view of the additional
alternate embodiment of the present invention having a
confirmer ring that incorporates the spring of Figure 19;
Figure 21 is an isometric view of an additional
alternate embodiment that comprises the spring of Figure
2519, the confirmer ring of Figure 20, and the retainer body
of Figure 15;
Figure 22 is yet an additional embodiment of the quick
connector assembly of the present invention in which the
latch, the spring, and the ring body are composed of a
30single type of material; and
Figure 23 is a sectional top view of an embodiment of
a method of preventing the disengagement of the male
portion of the connection from the female portion of the
connection.
DETAI~ED DE~CRIPTION OF THE ~K~K~ED EMBODIMENTS
In general, the present invention is directed to a
connector for coupling a male tubular member or conduit to
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a female receptacle. The present invention finds utility
in, for example, coupling the tubing disposed between
elements of a hydraulic system. It may be used with
plastic or metal conduit. The connector of the present
invention also finds application in external oil lines and
hoses as well as in hydraulic brake systems. The present
connector may also be used in vehicle fuel systems between,
for example, the fuel tank and the fuel pump and the fuel
pump and the carburetor or fuel injection system.
While having particular usefulness in motor vehicles,
the connector of the present invention may also find
application in virtually any situation in which male and
female fluid-carrying lines must be connected.
Very generally, Figures 1 through 10 illustrate an
embodiment having a separate confirmer ring and a spring,
connected permanently to a washer-shaped front body, that
provides latching movement. Figures 11 through 14
illustrate an alternate embodiment of the connector of
Figures 1 through 10 which provides a confirmer-installer
ring with wire used as the combined spring-latch. The
combined spring-latch of Figures 1 through 10 could be
formed from wire, just as the combined spring-latch of
Figures 11 through 14 could be formed from a stamped and
formed strip of springy material. A separate confirmer
ring is provided in the embodiments of Figures 1 through
14.
In the embodiments of Figures 15 through 18, the
confirmer ring is combined with the springing function, and
a separate wire form is attached to the combined confirmer
ring-spring. To prohibit axial movement along the tube,
the front (washer-shaped) body of the front body of Figures
1 through 14 include tabs that engage the combined
confirmer ring-spring and assembled formed wire latch. The
separation force between the male and female components is
transferred by this front body from the male to the female.
In Figures 19 through 21 there is shown a quick
connector assembly formed from a single type of material
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that combines the confirmer ring and latching
characteristic, with a separate spring.
In Figure 22 an embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated which comprises a confirmer ring, a latch
portion, and a spring portion that are all formed from the
same type of material.
In Figure 23 there is shown a device that prevents the
disengagement of the male and female portions of the
connector after the male portion with confirmer ring has
been engaged and locked into the female receptacle. This
is a separate device (a removal-preventing element) which
is moved into a detented position, thus inhibiting movement
of the latching lugs, thereby locking the male portion to
the female receptacle to prevent the uncoupling of the male
from the female portion. This preventing element must be
moved away from its detented position to allow decoupling.
While the embodiments of Figures 1 through 22 can be
formed in a variety of ways, each of the varied embodiments
provides a device that is captured by the male, and
confirms that a connection has been properly made in
Figures 3 and 5 through 22.
With specific reference to Figures 1 through 10, a
preferred embodiment of a quick connector 10 is used to
operably retain a swivelable male conduit 12 to a female
receptacle 14. A preferred embodiment of the male conduit
12 comprises a rigid metallic member having a connecting
portion 20, a bulged portion 22, a coined recessed portion
24 and a flanged portion 26 proximate with a flange 28.
The male conduit 12 further has a circumferentially
attached annular bead or bushing 30 and a sealing ring 32.
An O-ring seal 32 and an annular washer 30 are
longitudinally juxtapositioned between the bushing 34 and
the flanged portion 26 so as to circumferentially surround
the recessed portion 24. The bead or bushing 34 is
combinable with the flanged portion 26 or can be locked to
the conduit 12. The bushing 30 may also be integral with
conduit 12. In coordination therewith, the female
receptacle 14 (shown in Figure 3 in cross section) has an
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outboard face 36, a frusto-conical chamfered lead-in
section 38, an annular ridge section 40, a retaining
formation or, more specifically, an internal cavity 42
within which there is an outboard abutting wall 44 and an
inboard abutting wall 46, a frusto-conical median section
48, a bore 50 defined by a cylindrical inside surface, and
a passageway 52.
The quick connector 10 is defined by a radial member
54 and a body segment 56, and, as can best be observed in
Figures 5 through 8, the radial member 54 further has a a
pair of latch segments 58, a plurality of waist segments
60, 62, 64, and 66, and a pair of leg segments 68. Each
latch segment 58 has a flange 70 on which is formed an
intermediate area 72 having an interface portion 74.
Moreover, each leg segment 68 has a pair of projecting
elements 76 which project perpendicularly from each
adjacent waist segments 60, 62, 64, and 66. According to
the present preferred embodiment, each projecting element
76 is a formed flat metal strip. Furthermore, each
projecting element 76 has a first outwardly offset
formation 80, an adjacent inwardly offset formation 82, and
a second outwardly offset formation 84 proximate with a E
truss element 86.
Waist segments 60, 62, 64, and 66 define an opening 88
which has two partially cylindrical interior edges 90 and
four corner areas 92. Each latch segment 58, the adjacent
waist segments 60, 62, 64, and 66, and the adjacent pair of
projecting elements 76 are separated from the symmetrically
opposing latch segment 58, waist segments 60, 62, 64 and
66, and projecting elements 76, by a pair of gaps 94
Accordingly, the leg segments 68 can be radially compressed
toward one another such that latch segments 58 are radially
translatable toward each other. The leg segments 68 and
the projecting elements 76 are configured in a springing
manner to urge the latch segments 58 outward away from one
another.
Referring primarily to Figure 7, the body segment 56
has a pair of substantially flat faces 96 and 98 bordered
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by an annular peripheral edge 105 and an internal aperture
102 defined by an inner edge. Four bendable tabs 104 also
project from the inner edge surrounding aperture 102. When
the body segment 56 is assembled to the radial member 54,
the face 98 is mounted adjacent to the waist segments 60,
62, 64 and 66. The tabs 104 of the body segment 56 are then
aligned with the corner areas 92 of the radial member 54
and are folded over upon a portion of each waist segment
60, 62, 64, and 66 proximate with the leg segments 68.
Nevertheless, a space 106 is present between an edge 108 of
each tab 104 and the abutting wall of corner area 92. This
allows the waist segments 60, 62, 64, and 66 and the latch
segments 58 to be radially translatable toward one another
between the tabs 104 and the aperture 102 of the body
segment 56. According to the first preferred embodiment,
both the radial portion 54 and the body segment 56 are
preferably stamped from a sheet of metallic material such
as stainless steel.
The aperture 102 of the body segment 56
circumferentially surrounds the male conduit 12 and is
longitudinally trapped between the bulged portion 22 and
the bushing 30. This is best shown in Figure 3. Movement
of the body segment 56 and hence the aperture 102 away from
its location on the conduit 12 is prohibited by a length of
tube having a larger than standard outside diameter formed
away from the tube opening, or by a plastic flexible tubing
(such as a liner) which may also include the front bushing
and which can be used to expand the walls of the flexible
plastic tube by being forced into a non-expanding aperture
102.
Furthermore, the peripheral edge 105 of the body
segment 56 has a smaller diametric dimension than does the
annular ridge section 40 and the internal cavity 42 of the
female receptacle 14. Accordingly, the body segment 56
serves as a longitudinal and radial retention means between
the male conduit 12 and the radial member 54. During
insertion of the radial member 54 into the female
receptacle 14, the chamfered section 38 serves to radially
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compress the shoulder segments 58 toward one another.
Subsequently, the leg segments 68 urge the shoulder
segments 58 radially outward to engage the internal cavity
42. The interface portion 74 of each shoulder segment 58
operably engages the abutting wall 46 of the female
receptacle 14. Thus, the radial member 54 is designed to
provide radially expansive retention forces to retain the
body segment 56 to the female receptacle 14. The
combination of wall 46 and expanded area 22 of conduit 12
prevents the male from going too far into the female.
In addition to serving as a longitudinal and radial
retention means between the male conduit 12 and the radial
member 54, the body segment 56 also provides support for
the male conduit 12 within the female receptacle 14. A
pair of opp~sed positioning tabs 110, 110' are formed as
walls partially disposed about the internal aperture 102,
as are a pair of opposed positioning tabs 112, 112'. The
tabs 110, 110' and the tabs 112, 112' are adjacent the
coined recessed portion 24 of the male conduit 12. These
tabs also serve to interact with a flexible plastic tube to
lock body segment 56 to the outside surface of the plastic
tube when the tube is expanded by the liner (not shown).
one of the principal features of the present invention
is a confirmer ring 114 that allows the installer to easily
and quickly verify whether or not a proper connection has
been made between the male conduit 12 and the female
receptacle 14.
The confirmer ring 114, seen in perspective in Figure
9 and in cross-section in Figure 10, includes a cylindrical
drum section 116, a frusto-conical median section 118, and
a cylindrical shoulder 120. The shoulder 120 terminates at
and is adjacent with an inboard end wall 122. Opposite the
inboard end wall 122 and adjacent the drum section 116 is
an outboard end wall 124. As best illustrated in Figure 9,
within the outboard end wall 124 is defined an aperture
126. Formed along the wall defining the aperture 126 are
pairs of opposed fingers 128, 128' and 130, 130'. Each of
the fingers 128, 128' is disposed beb~een opposed ar-s that
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form the leg segments 68, as illustrated in Figures 3 and
10. The confirmer ring 114 is preferably composed of a
polymerized material such as Celcon (trademark for an
acetal copolymer produced by Celanese Chemical Corp.) or a
nylon.
The confirmer ring 114 is axially slidable between an
unseated position 132 (shown in Figure 10) and a seated
position 134 (shown in Figure 3~. In its unseated position
132, the fingers 128, 128' are generally disposed between
the opposed portions of the leg segment 68 that define the
second outwardly offset formation 84. While in this
position, the installer squeezes together opposed portions
of the leg segments 68 using either his fingers or a tool
such as pliers (partially shown as compressing members C
and C'), thus moving together opposed portions of the
shoulder segments 58. The combined radial member 54 and
body segment 56 are inserted into the female receptacle 14,
and when the body segment 56 abuts the inboard abutting
wall 46. If fully seated against the wall 46, the
interface portion 74 of the radial member 54 locks against
the outboard abutting wall 44, thus preventing outward
movement of the connector 10. The confirmer ring 114 is
then moved from its unseated position 132 axially to its
seated position 134, as shown in Figure 3. Between these
two positions each of the fingers 128, 128' are moved
between the two opposed portions of the leg segment 68 that
define the adjacent outwardly offset formations 80 and 84.
The outwardly offset formations 80 and 84 act as detents
for fingers 128 and 128'.
The frusto-conical median section 118 of the confirmer
ring 114 is contoured so as to mate with the frusto-conical
chamfered lead-in section 38 of the female receptacle 14.
Similarly, the shoulder 120 is contoured so as to enter the
annular ridge section 40 and the retainer assembly 100
(shown in Figure 5) and pass the abutting wall 44 before it
is stopped by the face 36 of the female receptacle 14. If
the male conduit 12 is correctly seated within the female
receptacle 14, the frusto-conical median section 118 and
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the shoulder 120 of the confirmer ring 114 Will fully nest
within the opening 18 of the female receptacle 14. Once in
this correct position, the axial section 116 of the ring
114 will be uniformly adjacent the outboard face 36 of the
female receptacle 14. This correct position can be
determined by the installer by observation or touch. If
the confirmer ring 114 does not rest evenly, then the
connection between the male conduit 12 and the female
receptacle 14 is incorrect and a reconnection must be made.
According to the embodiment of the confirmer ring
illustrated in Figures 3 and 10 (Figure 9 is a generic
representation of the ring 114 for the embodiments
discussed herein), the removal of the connector 10 and the
subsequent disconnection of the male conduit 12 from the
female receptacle 14 cannot be effected until after the
confirmer ring 114 has been withdrawn. This feature is a
result of the size of the gap between the outwardly offset
formation 80 of arms 68 shown in Figure 6 and the width of
fingers 128 shown in Figure 9. This relationship is best
seen in Figure 3. As illustrated, the gaps 140 between the
finger 128 (and likewise, the finger 128') and the inner
walls of the offset formation 80 are relatively narrow.
The gaps 138 between fingers 130 and 130' and conduit 12
are relatively narrow.
In Figures 11 through 14, a second embodiment of the
present invention is shown, generally illustrated as 210.
As with the connector 10, portions of the connector 210
could be made using strip or wire. A method of urging the
interface walls 276 into contact with the female abutting
wall (element 44 in Figure 3) is provided by a spring used
in the embodiments shown in the several figures. While the
connectors 10 and 210 are preferably constructed of a
metal, the quick connectors of Figures 15 through 17
disclose embodiments that incorporate a spring that may
also be of plastic.
The quick connector 200 is defined by a radial member
254 and a body segment 256. As illustrated in Figure 13,
the radial member 254 further has opposing pairs of
!
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shoulder segments 258 and 258', a plurality of waist
segments 260, 262, 264, and 266, and a pair of leg segments
268. Each shoulder segment 258 (as well as each shoulder
segment 258') has extending therefrom a latch member 270
having an interlocking segment 272 on which is formed
interface walls 274 and 276. The interface wall 276 locks
to the abutting wall 244 when the male conduit is locked
into the female conduit. Moreover, each leg segment 268
has a pair of projecting elements 278 which project
perpendicular from each adjacent waist segment 260, 262,
264, and 266. Like its counterpart described above with
respect to Figures 1 through 10, each projecting element
278 has a first outwardly offset formation 280, an adjacent
inwardly offset formation 282, and a second outwardly
offset formation 284 proximate with a distal end 286.
The radial member 254 may be composed of a single
formed wire or may be formed of two formed wire pieces as
illustrated. The embodiment shown comprises a first half
288 and a second half 290. The halves 288 and 290 are
fixed to each other at weld spots 292. The halves 288 and
290 mostly function as a spring which urges the interface
walls 274 apart.
As with the radial member 54 described above, the
segments 272 of the present embodiment can be radially
compressed toward one another such that the pair of
shoulder segments 258 are radially translated toward the
pair of shoulder segments 258'. The leg segments 268 are
also configured to urge the opposing pair of shoulder
segments 258 and 258' outward away from one another.
With respect to the body segment 256, its construction
is substantially identical to that of the body segment 56
discussed above with respect to Figures 1 through 10. An
aperture 294 is centrally defined within the body 296 of
the segment 256. Four bendable tabs 298 also project from
the inner edge surrounding aperture 294. When the body
segment 256 is assembled to the radial member 254, the
segment 256 is mounted adjacent to waist segments 260, 262,
264, and 266 opposite from leg segments 268. Tabs 298 of
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the body segment 256 are then aligned with the radial
member 254 and are folded over upon a portion of each waist
segment 260, 262, 264, and 266 proximate with leg segments
268.
The body segment 256 circumferentially surrounds the
male conduit 212 and is longit~ ;n~lly trapped between the
bulged portion 222 and bushing 230, as best shown in
Figures 11 and 12. When used with flexible plastic tubing
(in another embodiment [not shown]), the body segment 256
is captured by the action of an expanding tube liner, which
may include the front bushing 234 and expanded area 222.
This is best shown in Figure 12.
As with the above-discussed embodiment, the body
segment 256 serves as a longitudinal and radial retention
means between the male conduit 212 and the radial member
254. The receptacle 214 includes an outboard face 236, an
entry frusto-conical section 238, an annular ridged section
240, an internal cavity 242 within which is formed outboard
abutting wall 244 and inboard wall 246, a frusto-conical
median section 248, a bore 250 defined by a cylindrical
inside surface, and a passageway 252. During insertion of
the radial member 254 within female receptacle 214, the
chamfered section 238 serves to radially compress the
opposing pair of shoulder segments 258 and 258~ toward one
another. Subsequently, the leg segments 268 urge the
opposing pair of shoulder segments 258 and 258' radially
outward to engage the undercut groove 242. The interface
wall 276 of each pair of shoulder segments 258 and 258'
operably engages the abutting wall 244 of the female
receptacle 214. Thus, as with the embodiment of Figures
through 10, the radial member 254 is designed to provide
radially expansive retention forces to retain the body
segment 256 to female receptacle 214.
The body segment 256 also provides support for the
male conduit 212 within the female receptacle 214. A pair
of opposed positioning tabs 300, 300' are formed as walls
partially disposed about the aperture 294, as are a pair of
opposed positioning tabs 302, 302~.
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As illustrated, the present embodiment also employs a
confirmer-installer ring 304 that allows the installer to
easily and quickly verify whether or not a proper
connection has been made between the male conduit 212 and
r 5 the female receptacle 214 as well as install the male
conduit 212 into the female receptacle 214.
The confirmer-installer ring 304, shown in
cross-section in Figures 11 and 14, has an external
proportion that is substantially identical to the ring 114
discussed above. Within the body 306 of the ring 304 and
extending from a central aperture are pairs of opposed
formations 308, 308' and finger 310 (the latter having an
opposed twin unseen in the figures). Each of the
formations 308, 308' is disposed between opposed arms that
form the leg segments 268, as illustrated in Figures 11 and
14.
Like the above-described embodiment, the confirmer-
installer ring 304 is axially slidable between an unseated
position 312 (shown phantomed in Figure 14) which is only
used to assemble ring 304 to legs 268, and a seated
position 314 (shown in Figure 11). In its unseated
position (shown phantomed), the finger 310 and its unseen
twin is generally disposed between the opposed portions of
the leg segment 268 that defines the second outwardly
offset formation 284. As may be understood, the outwardly
offset opening of formation 280 is larger than the
outwardly offset formation 284. This prevents the
formation 280 from being locked against the finger 310 and
its unseen twin before the wall 276 is completely
disengaged from the abutting wall 244. While in this
seated position, the installer squeezes together opposed
portions of the leg segments 68 using either his fingers or
a tool such as pliers partially shown as pliers P, thus
moving together the opposing pairs of shoulders 258 and
258'.
Insertion of the connector 210 is as above with the
combined radial member 254 and body segment being inserted
into the female receptacle 214 as shown in Figure 11. This
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allows the confirmer ring 114 (Figure 3) to be used as a
confirmer-installer ring because there is sufficient gap
between the finger 310 and its unseen twin and the
formation 280 of the leg segments 268 to allow the locking
and unlocking of the wall 276 against the area 244.
If the male conduit 212 is correctly seated within the
female receptacle 214, the contoured portion of the
confirmer ring 304 fully nests within the opening 218 of
the female receptacle 214. The correct position can be
determined by the installer by observation or touch. If
the confirmer ring 304 does not rest evenly against the
body of the receptacle 214, then a reconnection must be
made.
According to the present embodiment of the
confirmer-installer ring 304, the removal of the connector
210 and its associated male conduit 212 from the female
receptacle 214 is possible regardless of the position of
the confirmer-installer ring 304. As is understood, this
design is opposite that set forth in the previously
discussed embodiment. As illustrated in Figure 11, gaps
315 and 318 are defined between the finger 310 and the
formation 280 and the twin of the finger 310 and the
formation 280' (not shown).
It may be apparent that many previously-discussed
elements are alike or are substantially similar in both
design and function to elements of the remaining figures.
These elements include: Connectors 10 and 210; male
conduits 12 and 212; female receptacle 14 and 214; bulged
portions 22 and 222; recessed portions 24 and 224; flanges
28 and 228 (or a combination of flanges 28 or 228 and
bushings 34 or 234 that are formed on conduit 12 or 212, or
are part of a liner that is installed in the interior of a
plastic conduit, all not shown); annular bushings 30 and
230; ridge sections 40 and 240; lead-in chamfer areas 38
and 238; annular ridge sections 40 and 240; internal
cavities 42 and 242; and outboard abutting walls 44 and
244. Accordingly, and with respect to the remaining
Figures 15 through 22, reference may be made, for example,
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to "connector 10", but it is to be understood that the
specified element could as easily be "connector 210". only
one of two like elements will be identified and discussed
to avoid confusion.
~ 5 Referring to Figures 15, 16, 17A, and 17B, a retainer
body 556 is shown, as is a retainer form 558. The retainer
form 558 in Figure 16 is shown in a full view and a second
adjacent retainer form 558 is shown phantomed below in the
approximate location it would have when mounted on a
confirmer-installer ring-spring combination composed of a
polymerized material.
The body 556 transfers the force t~n~;ng to pull apart
the male and female conduits from the male portion of the
connector 10 to the retainer (shown in Figures 15, 16, and
17), which in turn transfers the force to the abutting wall
44 in the female portion of connector 10.
The retainer body 556 has the general shape of a
washer having with projections towards the center 510,
510', and 512 and 512' for mounting the body 556 on tubing
12. The body 556 is prevented from moving axially along
the tube 12 by the bulged portion 22 and is prevented from
moving in the opposite direction by the outer bushing 30.
As in previous figures, the outer bushing 30 is prevented
from detachment from portions 24 of the tube 12 by the
flange 28.
The outer periphery 505 of the body 556 is interrupted
by a plurality of set-off holding tabs 504. These tabs 504
are formed so as to have their rear surface parallel to the
rear surface 508 of the body 556 so that the offset between
the two is sufficient to allow the tabs 504 to have
clearance around the wire form 558 in the area 560.
Accordingly, the tabs 504 work in conjunction with the
confirmer ring-spring 600 (in Figures 17A and 17B) with the
formed retainer form 558 installed into the ring-installer
body 601 to allow connection between the ring-installer
body 601 and the body 556. This connection prevents the
confirmer ring-spring 600 from moving away from the flange
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28 of tube 12 when the tube 12 is not installed into female
receptacle 14.
The bottom inside surface of the tabs 504 allow the
installed ring-spring 600 with the retainer form 558 to
have the proper engage/disengage stroke of the combined
ring-spring 614, thus allowing engagement or disengagement
of retainer wire form 558.
Figure 16 shows the retainer wire form 558. The form
558 is attached to the ring-spring 600 by means of the area
560 of the form 558 (which drives the wire form 558 into
engagement in the female receptacle into the internal
cavity 42). Ledges 624 engage legs 568 of the wire form
558 and a wire form lock 586 engages wall 620 of the
ring-spring 600. The assembly is prevented from becoming
loose by bosses 622 which are formed on rear the internal
wall 620 of the ring-spring 600.
The assembly of wire form 558 to ring-spring 600 is
accomplished by first installing area 560 of wire form 558
over area 676 of the ring-spring 600, then snapping hook
lock 586 of wire form 558 into the pocket formed by bosses
622 and the rear internal wall 620 of the ring-spring 600.
As wire form lock 586 is locked by bosses 622, some
deflection is required of the legs 568 of the wire form 558
as legs 568 are also urged into nesting along the internal
ledge 624 of the ring-spring 600. The ring-spring 600
includes an outer drum 608.
The springing areas 610 of the ring-spring 600 are
defined by slots defined between the outer surface of the
ring-spring 600 to its inner surface, illustrated as areas
612 and 614. The volume of material that must be deformed
in the spring area 610 iS governed by the disengagement
forces that can be applied and the engagement forces
developed by the action of the area 570 of the wire form
558 being pushed into the lead-in chamfer area 38
illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. The ring-spring 600 also
includes an area 602 that urges the wire form 558 into the
female receptacle 14 by pushing on the assembly 650 that
is shown in Figure 18. The outer surface 604 nests in the
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ridge sections 40 and lead-in chamber 38 of the female
receptacle 14. The radial outside area 606 provides visual
confirmation of proper connection by nesting with the face
36 of the female receptacle 14.
~ 5 Figure 18 shows an assembly 650 of the wire form 558
and the ring-spring 600. The forces on the male conduit 12
are transferred to the female receptacle 14 by means of the
body 556.
Reference is next made to the embodiment of Figures
19, 20, and 21. These figures disclose an embodiment
having a separate material spring only and a confirmation
ring and latches (comprising engaging lugs).
Figure 19 shows the spring 758 and Figure 20 shows the
body portion 700. Figure 21 shows an assembly 750 which
represents the combination of spring 758 and body portion
700 assembled over the front body 556 with the outer
periphery 505 truncated at the bottom or root of the tabs
504 which are assembled into the slots 725 so that the ends
514 of the tabs 504 are flush with the area 704 of the body
700. This allows the body 700 to be attached to the front
body 556, so that the body 700 will not move from the end
of the conduit 12. The pull apart forces between the male
portion of the conduit 12 and the female receptacle 14 are
resisted by engaging the latch area 776 on body 700 with
the female abutting wall 44. The hole 502 formed in the
front body 556 through which the male conduit 12 passes
transfers the male/female separation force from the male
conduit 12 to the front body 556, then through the area 704
of the body 700 and to the female receptacle 14 via
engaging the latch area 776 which abut the wall 44 in the
female receptacle 14.
The spring 758 allows the body 700 to be pivoted in
the loop area 785 of the spring 758 and the full round
portion of body 700 behind the cut out portion 710. This
pivot is required for the outer surface 774 of the latch
area 776 to pass through the ridge section 40 of female
receptacle 14. The latch area 776 is urged outward into
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the internal cavity 42 by the spring 758 engaging the inner
body pocket (not shown) of the body 700.
With respect to Figure 19, a detailed view of the
spring 758 is shown. The spring 758 consists of an s
outwardly turned area 786 which is used to abut the body
700 and to prevent movement out of the body 700 past the
rear wall 720 of the body 700 and an inside tab (not shown)
that abuts the loop areas 785 of the spring 758 between the
legs 768 of the spring 758.
Figure 20 shows the body 700 with outside diameter
708, and inwardly stepped wall 706 that is flush with and
is spaced apart from the face 36 of female receptacle 14,
a chamfered surface 702 that nests in the lead-in and
compressing chamfer area 38, and an area 704 which passes
through the ridge section 40 in the female receptacle 14.
The latch area 776 projects outward from the area 704, and -
a plurality of slots 725 are formed through the area 704 ,_
and accommodate tab ends 514 of a front body 556 having the
periphery 505 removed between the tabs 504 and the outside i¦
tabs 504 of the front body 556 of Figure 15. The outside
surface of the largest diameter 708 of the body 700 is
partially interrupted by two cut-out areas 710 (defining
inner surfaces 712) that allow the body 700 to be squeezed
to permit the outer surface 774 of the latch area 776 to
pass through the ridge section 40 in the female receptacle
14. Aperture 722 of body 700 provides an opening for
positioning of loop areas 785 of the springs 758. A hole
718 formed through the rear wall 720 of the body 700
provides stability of the body 700 when mounted on the
conduit 12.
Figure 22 shows an embodiment in which the latch, the
spring and the confirmer ring are formed from a single
material. In the embodiment shown, the material is a
polymerized material such as nylon, acetal, or
polypropylene. This embodiment could be composed of a
metal (at higher cost), provided that the metal has good
spring characteristics.
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The connector of Figure 22, generally illustrated as
800,comprises a body 801 having an outer drum 808, a
chamfer portion 802, and a step 806 formed therebetween.
The drum 808 defines a rear wall 820 having a centrally-
defined hole 818 formed therein. A cylindrical area 804 is
formed on the chamfer portion 802 area 804. The
cylindrical area 804 is divided roughly into two halves by
a cut out portion 810. Slots 825 are defined in the
cylindrical area 804 and function as the slots 725 of the
embodiment of Figures 20 and 21. Projecting outward from
area 804 is latching area 876 having formed thereon an
outer surface 8 7 4.
To achieve the necessary springing function, two
notches 810 are formed on the drum 808, chamfer portion
802, and step 806. The area of the drum that is not
cut-out and wall 820 provide the springing function. Wall
820 has a through hole 818 which operates the same as hole
718 of Figure 20.
Referring to Figure 23, a method is shown for
preventing the unlatching of the engaging lugs on springing
type retainers that hold the male portion of a connection
inside a female portion of a connection by preventing the
springing portions of the retainer from translating towards
each other. In Figure 23 a sectional top view of a
preventing element, generally illustrated as 950, is shown.
The preventing element 950 is slidable relative to the male
conduit and the retainer. The element 950 is shown in
relation to the retaining confirming-installing device of
Figure 22, together with a portion of the male conduit. The
element 950 prevents the unlocking of the confirming-
installing device of Figure 22 from the female receptacle.
The element 950 and the confirming-installing device
of Figure 22 forms an assembly, generally indicated as 900.
The assembly 900 includes the device 800 mounted on a tube
912 having a bulged area 920. The preventing element 950
also shown, and is composed of a body 952 having a through
hole 954 and a pair of spring arms 956 and 958. The spring
arms 956 and 958 are disposed along tube 912 with areas 960
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and 962 terminating the spring arms 956 and 958. The areas
960 and 962 have surfaces 964 and 966 that operate to
spread the spring arms 956 and 958 apart when the body 952
is urged forward against the tube side of the bulged area
920 formed on the tube 912. The spreading of the spring
arms 956 and 958 move areas 960 and 962 which also have
areas 968 and 970. These latter elements are forced into
the cut-out areas 810 of device 800. This arrangement
prevents the movement of latching areas 876 from being
unlatched from the female receptacle (not shown). The
preventing element 950 is detented (not shown) in device
800 in the removal-preventing, forward position where areas
968 and 970 prevent the unlatching of the device 800.
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the
foregoing description that the broad teachings of the
present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms,
including the combination of the strip or wire and the
ring. Therefore, while this invention has been described
in connection with particular examples thereof, the true
scope of the invention should not be so limited since other
modifications will become apparent to the skilled
practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification
and following claims.
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