Quick connect coupler
AssigneeNelson Irrigation Corporation
InventorsCraig B. Nelson, Chad D. Leinweber, Mathew L. Zimmerman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A quick connect coupler includes a female connector having a central bore and a plurality of recesses, and a male connector having a post insertable into the central bore. The male connector has a first tab row with a plurality of first tabs and a second tab row with a plurality of second tabs axially spaced from the plurality of first tabs. The first and second tabs are shaped corresponding to the recesses in the female connector. The first and second tab rows are circumferentially offset to effect a two- or multi-step connection between the female connector and the male connector.
Claims17
A coupler comprising:
- a female connector having a central bore and a plurality of recesses;
- and
- a male connector having a post insertable into the central bore, the male connector including a first tab row including a plurality of first tabs and a second tab row including a plurality of second tabs axially spaced from the plurality of first tabs, wherein the first and second tabs are shaped corresponding to the recesses in the female connector,
- wherein the first and second tab rows are circumferentially offset to effect a two-step connection between the female connector and the male connector, and wherein the female connector and the male connector are rotatable relative to each other in each step of the two-step connection to align the plurality of recesses with the plurality of first tabs in a first step of the two-step connection and to align the plurality of recesses with the second tabs in a second step of the two-step connection.
A coupler comprising:
- a female connector having a central bore and a plurality of recesses;
- and
- a male connector having a post insertable into the central bore, the male connector including a first tab row including a plurality of first tabs and a second tab row including a plurality of second tabs axially spaced from the plurality of first tabs, wherein the first and second tabs are shaped corresponding to the recesses in the female connector,
- wherein the first and second tab rows are circumferentially offset to effect a two-step connection between the female connector and the male connector,
- the coupler further comprising a radial stop member connected between the first tab row and the second tab row, wherein one of the plurality of recesses engages the radial stop member when the plurality of recesses are aligned with the second tab row.
A coupler comprising:
- a female connector having a central bore and a plurality of recesses, at least two of the plurality of recesses being differently sized;
- a male connector having a post insertable into the central bore, the male connector including a first tab row including a plurality of first tabs and a second tab row including a plurality of second tabs axially spaced from the plurality of first tabs, wherein the first and second tabs are shaped corresponding to the recesses in the female connector;
- and
- a radial stop member connected between the first tab row and the second tab row, wherein one of the plurality of recesses engages the radial stop member when the plurality of recesses are aligned with the second tab row.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.