Quick connect coupling

In a quick connect coupling of the type having a hollow male steam longitudinally receivable in and selectively retained by a hollow female coupling body and wherein said female coupling body is comprised of a pair of longitudinally interfitting female coupling body portions having a valve seat member operatively interposed therebetween with a first valve member in said female coupling body being continuously urged by a first spring biasing means toward a sealing relationship with said seat member and being moved away from said seat member against the force of said first biasing means by opening means associated with said male stem when said male stem is received in said female coupling body and longitudinally moved toward a retained relationship therewith, the improvement comprising:

• said valve seat member having a hollow generally cylindrical body with a first end spaced toward said first valve member and an opposed second end axially spaced therefrom, said first end including a surface tapering inwardly into the interior of said cylindrical body for defining a frusto-conical valve seat area, said cylindrical body further having a radially outward extending flange circumferentially thereof intermediate said first and second ends and disposed intermediate a pair of opposed shoulders at an interfitting area between said female coupling body portions, the length of said cylindrical body being such that sections thereof extend axially beyond said shoulders in opposite directions from each other;
• a seal member extending circumferentially of said cylindrical seat member disposed intermediate each of the opposed sides of said flange and the adjacent one of said shoulders;
• and, said first valve member having a generally cylindrical conformation with a forward end portion spaced toward said seat member and having an outside diameter at least slightly less than the inside diameter of said hollow seat member so as to be selectively received therein when said first valve member is in a closed condition, said first valve member further including a rear end portion having a diameter greater than said forward end portion and separated therefrom by an intermediate portion wherein said rear portion further includes guide means for said first biasing means and said intermediate portion includes a seal member extending circumferentially thereof, the diameter of at least said rear end portion being greater than the inside diameter of said seat member for being urged toward engagement with said tapered seat area when said male stem is withdrawn from association with said female coupling body and said first valve member is thereby moved to said closed condition under the influence of said first biasing means.