Conduit Gripping Device Having Retaining Structure for Conduit Fitting

A fitting assembly for conduits, comprising:

• a threaded first fitting component to be assembled with a threaded second fitting component, to provide an interior volume,
• a front ferrule and a back ferrule both disposed entirely in said interior volume,
• said second fitting component comprising a drive surface that engages a back wall of said back ferrule when the fitting assembly is pulled-up,
• a retaining member that retains said front ferrule and said back ferrule with said second fitting component as a subassembly prior to said first fitting component being assembled with said second fitting component,
• wherein the retaining member applies a retaining force that permits removal of the front ferrule and the back ferrule from the second fitting component by exposure to a force applying environment.

A fitting subassembly comprising:

• a first fitting component that can be joined to a second fitting component to make a threaded fitting assembly, the first fitting component including an interior wall defining a socket;
• at least one conduit gripping device disposed within the socket;
• and
• a retaining member, separate from and assembled with the first fitting component to retain said at least one conduit gripping device with the first fitting component;
• wherein the retaining member is movable with respect to said body from a first position in which said at least one conduit gripping device is retained with said first fitting component, to a second position in which said at least one conduit gripping device becomes separable from said first fitting component.