Connector with guiding components
AssigneeCooper-Standard Automotive Inc.
InventorStephen S. Frederiksen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector and a process for coupling a tube to another device is disclosed. The connector comprises a receptacle for receiving an endform formed on an end of the tube. The receptacle includes a socket mated to a modular head. A retainer embraces the receptacle and has leg portions extending into a modular head opening. Guiding components located in the modular head opening and on the endform direct the endform through the modular head opening to the socket and into a locking relationship with the retainer.
Claims14
A connector for coupling a tube comprising:
- a receptacle for receiving the tube, the receptacle including a socket having an opening and an annular brim extending about a periphery of the socket and at least one locating notch extending into the brim;
- a modular head with an opening mated to the socket opening, wherein the modular head includes a lower portion defined by an annular wall that has at least one locating projection that is arranged to be received in the at least one locating notch when the modular head is mated to the socket;
- a retainer embracing the receptacle, the retainer having first and second legs having portions of the first and second legs extending through a respective window into the modular head;
- an endform formed on the tube having a raised upset comprised of a ring member and a ramp member and a groove located between the ramp member and the ring member;
- and
- guiding components including a first rib having a first width and a second rib having a second width, the second width unequal to the first width located in the modular head and extending to the socket opening from the modular head opening and a first slot complementary in width to the first width of the first rib and a second slot complementary in width to the second width of the second rib formed on the endform,
- wherein each of the first and the second slots extends transversely through the ring member and the ramp member and bisect the groove and wherein the guiding components cooperate to direct the endform from the modular head opening to the socket opening and into a locking relationship with the retainer.
A process for coupling a tube to a receptacle, the tube including an endform having a raised upset comprised of a ring member and a ramp member and a groove located between the ramp member and the ring member and first and second slots, each slot extending transversely through the ring member and the ramp member and bisecting the groove and the receptacle including a socket with an opening and an annular brim extending about a periphery of the socket having at least one locating notch extending into the brim, and a modular head having a first rib of a first width and a second rib of a second width, the second width unequal to the first width, the first and second ribs extending into the modular head from a modular head opening the modular head further including at least one locating projection extending from a lower portion of the modular head, the process comprising:
- mating the socket with the modular head and installing the at least one locating projection into the at least one locating notch, positioning the first and second ribs to extend to the socket opening from the modular head opening;
- inserting the endform and the first and second slots into the modular head opening, the first slot complementary in width to the first width of the first rib and the second slot complementary in width to the second width of the second rib, the first rib cooperating with the first slot and the second rib cooperating with the second slot to guide the endform through the modular head to the socket opening;
- and
- clipping a retainer in the groove on the endform when the endform is located in the socket to retain the tube to the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.