Quick connector assembly and method of establishing and ensuring a fluid-tight connection between conduits

A method of making and ensuring a reliable, fluid-tight connection is established between separate components of a connector assembly used for connection of fluid conduits to one another, comprising:

• providing a tubular male insertion member having a radially outwardly extending annular collar located between opposite ends;
• providing a housing a having a tubular wall bounding a bore extending along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends of the housing, with the wall having at least one locking opening, a slot, and a window;
• providing a retaining member having a cylindrical wall including at least one detent extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall, having a locking arm cantilevered from the cylindrical wall by a hinge connection and being axially spaced from the cylindrical wall by a gap, having a visual indicator flexibly attached to the cylindrical wall;
• compressing the locking arm radially inwardly and inserting the retaining member into the bore of the housing along the central longitudinal axis and bringing the at least one detent into snapped, locked engagement into the at least one locking opening and releasing the locking arm to allow the locking arm to spring radially outwardly into the slot;
• inserting a portion of the tubular male insertion member axially through the retaining member along the central longitudinal axis and resiliently biasing the locking arm radially outwardly with the collar until the collar extends beyond the locking arm into full receipt in the gap;
• and
• engaging the visual indicator with the collar and causing the visual indicator to be resiliently biased radially outwardly into the window when the collar is fully received in the gap to indicate a fully assembled, fluid-tight connection has been made between the tubular male insertion member and the housing.