Plumbing connector, assembly and associated methods

An assembly for a plumbing system, comprising:

• at least one connector;
• wherein the at least one connector comprises:
• a seat comprising a first curved surface and being connectable to a first fitting;
• a body comprising a second curved surface for corresponding with the first curved surface of the seat and being connectable to a second fitting,
• wherein the body is moveable relative to the seat so as to adapt to a relative angular orientation of the first and second fittings, and wherein the seat and the body are configured to provide fluid communication between the first fitting and the second fitting;
• a retaining element for releasably retaining the body in the seat,
• a flexible portion disposable between the body and the retaining element, wherein the retaining element is configured to be adjustable relative to the seat,
• wherein the flexible portion is elastically deformable by the adjustment of the retaining element relative to the seat so as to reconfigure the flexible portion by varying an inner diameter of the flexible portion between;
• a first configuration in which said inner diameter of the flexible portion is larger than a maximum diameter of the first curved surface of the seat and in which the body is movable through the flexible portion for allowing the body to be inserted and removed from the seat;
• and
• a second configuration in which said inner diameter of the flexible portion is smaller than a maximum outer diameter of the second curved surface of the body and in which the body is retained in the seat by the flexible portion and wherein the assembly comprises at least one of the first and second fittings.

A method of connecting plumbing fittings using a connector,

• wherein the connector comprises:
• a seat comprising a first curved surface and being connectable to a first fitting;
• a body comprising a second curved surface corresponding with the first curved surface of the seat and being connectable to a second fitting,
• wherein the body is moveable relative to the seat so as to adapt to a relative angular orientation of the first and second fittings,
• and wherein the seat and the body are configured to provide fluid communication between the first fitting and the second fitting;
• a retaining element for releasably retaining the body in the seat;
• a flexible portion disposable between the body and the retaining element,
• wherein the retaining element is configured to be adjustable relative to the seat, and
• wherein the flexible portion is elastically deformable by the adjustment of the retaining element relative to the seat so as to reconfigure the flexible portion by varying an inner diameter of the flexible portion between;
• a first configuration in which said inner diameter of the flexible portion is larger than a maximum inner diameter of the first curved surface of the seat and in which the body is moveable through the flexible portion for allowing the body to be inserted and removed from the seat;
• and
• a second configuration in which said inner diameter of the flexible portion is smaller than a maximum outer diameter of the second curved surface of the body and in which the body is retained in the seat by the flexible portion;
• and wherein the method comprises:
• connecting the seat to the first fitting;
• connecting the body to the second fitting;
• inserting the body into the seat;
• and
• adjusting the retaining element relative to the seat so as to reconfigure the flexible portion from the first configuration to the second configuration and retain the body in the seat.