Quick connect system and method
AssigneeEnerco Group, Inc.
InventorBrian S. Vandrak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed provide for a user device merely fluidly coupling with an appropriately matched, target fuel source. The user device can use complementary-keyed connectors to provide for desired user devices coupling merely with desired, target fuel sources. To accomplish this, a male connector may be configured with a keyed feature, and a female connector may be configured with a keyed location complementary to the keyed feature of the male connector.
Claims20
A system for fluidly coupling a fluid source to a fluid use device, comprising:
- a quick-connect first male fluid connector, comprising:
- a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a first keyed feature comprising one or more ridges extending from the second end;
- a quick-connect first female fluid connector, comprising:
- a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a second keyed feature comprising one or more ridges disposed internal to the first end, wherein the second keyed feature is complementary to the first keyed feature such that merely the first female fluid connector can operably engage with the first male fluid connector to operably provide a sealed fluid coupling between the first male fluid connector and the first female fluid connector.
(canceled)
A method of coupling a fluid source to a fluid use device, comprising:
- coupling a quick connect first male fluid connector with a quick connect first female fluid connector, the first male fluid connector comprising:
- a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a first keyed feature comprising one or more ridges extending from the second end;
- the first female fluid connector comprising:
- a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a second keyed feature comprising one or more ridges disposed internal to the first end, wherein the second keyed feature is complementary to the first keyed feature such that merely the first female fluid connector can operably engage with the first male fluid connector to provide a sealed fluid coupling;
- and
- coupling a quick connect second female fluid connector with a quick connect second male fluid connector, the second female connector comprising the second keyed feature, and the second male fluid connector comprising the first keyed feature;
- wherein a fluid hose is disposed between the first female fluid connector and the second male fluid connector to operably, fluidly couple the first male fluid connector with second female fluid connector.
A system for fluidly coupling a fluid source to a fluid use device, comprising:
- a quick-connect first male fluid connector;
- and
- a quick-connect first female fluid connector complementary to the first male connector, wherein the first male connector can merely be coupled with the first female connector, the first male connector comprising a first keyed feature that engages with a complementary second keyed feature disposed in the first female connector, the first keyed feature and the second keyed feature are complementary to one another to mitigate coupling of the first male connector with a different female connector without the second keyed feature, and to mitigate coupling of the first female connector with the different male connector without the first keyed feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.