Quick connector

A quick connector coupling comprising:

• a hollow female connector body having an internal bore defining a longitudinal flow axis, the connector body including an entry end having an entry opening for receiving a male end form introduced axially in a forward insertion direction;
• a pair of windows defined by the entry end and disposed on opposite lateral sides of the entry end;
• a retainer member defined by a base and a pair of spaced-apart holding portions extending upwardly from the base, the base disposed below the connector body, the pair of holding portions extending through the windows, wherein the retainer has a nominal shape and is flexible and resilient such that the retainer is biased toward its nominal shape in response to being flexed;
• a verifier member coupled to the entry end, the verifier including an actuating portion disposed above the entry end of the connector body and the windows, the verifier including a pair of legs extending downwardly from the actuating portions on each side of the entry end and extending into the windows, the verifier including a pair of feet extending inwardly from the bottom of the corresponding legs and into the windows;
• wherein the verifier is operable between a first position and a second position, the verifier being biased towards the first position;
• wherein, in the first position, the actuating portion is limited from being moved in a downward direction toward the connector body;
• wherein, in the second position, the legs and feet are spread laterally outward, and the actuating portion of the actuating portion of the verifier is moveable in a downward direction toward the connector body.

A method for coupling two tubes with a quick connector, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a quick connector, the quick connector comprising:
• a hollow female connector body having an internal bore defining a longitudinal flow axis, the connector body including an entry end having an entry opening for receiving a male end form introduced axially in a forward insertion direction;
• a pair of windows defined by the entry end and disposed on opposite lateral sides of the entry end;
• a retainer member defined by a base and a pair of holding portions extending upwardly from the base on opposite sides, the base disposed below the connector body, the pair of holding portions extending through the windows, wherein the retainer has a nominal shape and is flexible and resilient such that the retainer is biased toward its nominal shape in response to being flexed;
• a verifier member coupled to the entry end, the verifier including an actuating portion disposed above the entry end of the connector body and the windows, the verifier including a pair of legs extending downwardly from the actuating portions on each side of the entry end and extending into the windows, the verifier including a pair of feet extending inwardly from the bottom of the corresponding legs and into the windows;
• and
• a male end form having an insertion end and an annular upset extending radially outwardly from the insertion end;
• inserting the insertion end of the male end form into the bore at the entry end of the female connector body such that the upset portion engages the holding portions and applies an insertion load in the forward insertion direction on the holding portions;
• wherein the insertion load forces the holding portions laterally outward such that the holding portions flex and spread apart;
• further inserting the insertion end of the male end form such that the upset moves past the holding portions of the retainer, wherein the holding portions move toward each other into a position to engage the upset and resist withdrawal of the male end form in a rearward direction opposite the insertion direction;
• wherein the further insertion causes the upset to engage the feet of the verifier, and the upset induces a laterally outward force on the feet to spread the feet and the legs laterally outward;
• and
• moving the actuating portion of the verifier downward toward the connector body after spreading the feet and legs laterally outward.