Tube coupling
AssigneeRain Bird Corporation
InventorRandall Dennis Bousfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tube connector having a body and a coupler is provided. The body defines a fluid flow path therethrough. The coupler has an annular body including an outer wall and an inner surface. An end of the outer wall is mounted on the body at one end of the flow path. The inner surface is supported by the outer wall and defines a central opening for receiving an end portion of a tube. The coupler includes a barb protruding radially inward from the inner surface to engage the end portion of the tube to secure the tube to the coupler. The coupler includes a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer wall.
Claims22
A tube connector comprising:
- a body defining a fluid flow path therethrough;
- and
- a coupler having an annular body including an outer wall and an inner surface, an end of the outer wall mounted on the body at one end of the flow path, the inner surface supported by the outer wall and defining a central opening for receiving an end portion of a tube,
- the coupler including a barb protruding radially inward from the inner surface to engage the end portion of the tube to secure the tube to the coupler, and
- the coupler including a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer wall beyond a maximum outer dimension of the outer wall,
- wherein the annular body includes the outer wall and an inner wall having the inner surface, and the inner wall and the outer wall are concentric.
A tube connector comprising:
- a body defining a fluid flow path therethrough;
- and
- a coupler having an annular body including an outer wall and an inner surface, an end of the outer wall mounted on the body at one end of the flow path, the inner surface supported by the outer wall and defining a central opening for receiving an end portion of a tube,
- the coupler including a barb protruding radially inward from the inner surface to engage the end portion of the tube to secure the tube to the coupler, and
- the coupler including a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer wall,
- wherein the annular body includes the outer wall and an inner wall having the inner surface, and the inner wall and the outer wall are concentric;
- and
- one or more support ribs between the outer wall and the inner wall.
A tube connector comprising:
- a body defining a fluid flow path therethrough;
- and
- a coupler having an annular body including an outer wall and an inner surface, an end of the outer wall mounted on the body at one end of the flow path, the inner surface supported by the outer wall and defining a central opening for receiving an end portion of a tube,
- the coupler including a barb protruding radially inward from the inner surface to engage the end portion of the tube to secure the tube to the coupler, and
- the coupler including a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer wall,
- wherein the coupler includes a support matrix for the protrusion,
- wherein the support matrix includes struts and pockets.
A tube connector comprising:
- a body defining a fluid flow path therethrough;
- and
- a coupler having an annular body including an outer wall and an inner surface, an end of the outer wall mounted on the body at one end of the flow path, the inner surface supported by the outer wall and defining a central opening for receiving an end portion of a tube,
- the coupler including a barb protruding radially inward from the inner surface to engage the end portion of the tube to secure the tube to the coupler, and
- the coupler including a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer wall beyond a maximum outer dimension of the outer wall,
- wherein the barb and the annular body of the coupler are a single piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.