# US 2014/0197629 A1 · Quick Connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197629 A1 - Document ID: US20140197629A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/155,099 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: TI Automotive (Fuldabrück) GmbH - Applicants: TI Automotive (Fuldabrück) GmbH - Inventors: Iris Barthel; Alexander Bol; Kay Bube; Hans Jensen; Rick Pepe; Albert (Seong-Hwa) Choo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197629A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/138: using an axially movable sleeve - F16L 37/0841: {by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube} - F16L 37/0985: {the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part (F16L37/0982 takes precedence)} - F16L 2201/10: Indicators for correct coupling - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A quick connector for making a releasable connection in a fluid line with a connector body, a male member, a retainer and a verification element. The connector body comprises a through bore, wherein the male member introduced into the through bore is releasably fixable in the through bore by the retainer. The retainer comprises a ring and the verification element has an annular body. The annular body of the verification element can be displaced in an axial direction with respect to the through bore from an initial open position to a verification position when the male member is secured by the retainer in the through bore to place the verification element in a verification and locked position. In one form, the retainer includes lifting arms pivotably attached within coupling openings which cooperate with the coupling projections of the verification element to permit axial translation of the verification element to the verification position when the male member is fully inserted into the through bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A quick connector for making a releasable connection in a fluid line having a connector body, a male member, a retainer and a verification element, wherein the connector body comprises a through bore, wherein the male member introduced into the trough bore is releasably fixable in the through bore by the retainer, wherein the retainer comprises a ring, wherein the verification element comprises an annular body, wherein the ring and the annular body extend circumferentially around the male member and the connector body, and wherein the verification element can be displaced in the axial direction with respect to the through bore from an initial position to a verification position, when the male member is secured by the retainer in the through bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The quick connector according to claim 1, wherein in the verification position, the verification element is connected to the retainer or is integrated with the retainer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The quick connector according to claim 1, wherein the verification element in the initial position and/or in the verification position is preferably releasably locked with the retainer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The quick connector according to claim 1, wherein the verification element and/or the retainer are held captive on the connector body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The quick connector according to claim 1, wherein said verification element includes a coupling element comprising at least one coupling projection, wherein the retainer is formed with at least one coupling opening and wherein the at least one coupling projection in the initial position of the verification element is arranged in the at least one coupling opening of said retainer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The quick connector of claim 5, wherein said at least one coupling projection in said initial position of the verification element protrudes in the radial direction into the through bore and upon insertion of the male member into the connector body can be pressed away by a radial upset of the male member in such a way from the longitudinal axis of the through bore that the at least one coupling projection can be pushed radially outward relative to the at least one coupling opening, that the verification element can slide in the axial direction from the initial position to the verification position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The quick connector according to claim 5, wherein the at least one coupling projection includes a sloping contact surface that the verification element is pushed away from the entry port, when the radial upset of the male member rests against the sloping contact surface, and thereby pushes away the coupling element from the longitudinal axis of the through bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The quick connector according to claim 5, wherein the retainer includes a coupling receptacle, which is openly formed on the surface of the retainer that is facing away from the through bore, and wherein in the verification position, the coupling element of the verification element is retained in the coupling receptacle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The quick connector according to claim 5, wherein the verification element comprises two coupling projections, wherein the coupling projections have a distance from each other in the direction of a diameter of the through bore, which is smaller than the diameter of the radial upset of the male member, so that in the verification position of the verification element the male member secured by the retainer and the verification element to the connector body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The quick connector according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises at least one locking lug, which in the assembled condition co-operates with the radial upset of the male member, and in which retaining element the male member can be secured in the connector body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The quick connector according to claim 10, wherein the retaining element extends through a window arranged in the connector body, preferably in the head element of the connector body and secures the male member in the connector body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The quick connector according to claim 10, wherein the retainer comprises at least one compression plate, wherein by a force, which is preferably directed to the center axis of the through bore and exerted on the compression plate, the retainer is deformable such that the retaining element can be displaced in the radial direction away from the central axis of the through bore, and the radial upset of the male member is released from the retaining element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The quick connector according to claim 12, wherein the verification element comprises at least a flat locking element, which in the verification position is disposed between the compression element and the radially outward surface of the connector body, and couples the verification element with the retainer such that in the assembled state the retainer of the quick connector is exclusively deformable together with the verification element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The quick connector according to one of claim 1, wherein the retainer and/or the verification element are made of a flexible material, preferably a plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The quick connector according to claim 5, wherein a lifting arm is formed within the at least one coupling opening of the retainer, and wherein the at least one coupling projection of said verification element rests against the lifting arm, and wherein a radial upset of the male member presses exclusively via the lifting arm against the at least one coupling projection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The quick connector according to claim 15, wherein the at least one coupling projection extends radially into the through bore when the verification element is in the initial position, and rests against said lifting arm, and wherein the at least one coupling projection can be pushed away, during the insertion of the male member into the connector body by means of an upset of the male member, from the longitudinal axis of the through bore in the radial direction, and that the at least one coupling projection can be pushed radially outward relative to the at least one coupling opening such that the verification element can be slid axially from the initial position to the verification position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The quick connector according to claim 16, wherein the said retainer includes at least one locking lug having a coupling receptacle formed such that said at least one coupling projection is accommodated therein when said verification element is in said verification position ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The quick connector of claim 16 wherein said verification element includes two diametrically opposed coupling projections and said retainer includes two diametrically opposed coupling openings each having a lifting arm disposed therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The quick connector according to claim 18, wherein the retainer includes two locking lugs acting on the upset of the male member when in the assembled state to releasably secure the male member within the connector body, each said locking lug having a coupling receptacle and each said coupling projection of said verification element disposed in one of said coupling receptacles when said verification element is in said verification position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The quick connector according to claim 15, wherein the verification element includes two coupling projections, and wherein the coupling projections exhibit a spacing to one another, set in the direction of a diameter of the through bore smaller than the diameter of the upset of the male member, such that in the verification position the male member is secured by both the retainer and the verification element.