US 4,541,658 A · Swivelable quick connector assembly

Abstract

A quick connector assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed as comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seal is disposed in the bore for providing a fluid tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing is disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer is detachably secured to the housing and is cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore, the retainer having resilient deformable portions which are adapted to snap over the annular projection upon insertion of the conduit into the housing bore. In one embodiment according to this invention, the retainer is assembled from two components, a first including a pair of yieldable legs which function to engage the housing and conduit, and a second forming a collar which locates the conduit and supports the seal.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A connector assembly for providing a quick connection, comprising:

a tubular conduit adapted to convey fluid having outwardly projecting annular surface means, formed at a predetermined distance from an end of said conduit to be connected, for providing a blocking wall portion disposed transversely to a central axis of said conduit;
a housing having axial bore means formed therein for receiving said conduit at a first end and for providing a fluid path at a second end, elastomeric ring means disposed in said bore means for providing a seal between said conduit and said housing,
retainer means, demountably coupled to said first end of said housing, for cooperating with said blocking wall portion of said annular surface means to resist the disconnection of said conduit from said housing, said retainer means composed of a collar member and a separate latch member, said collar including a central bore permitting said conduit to pass therethrough and an outwardly projecting annular flange, said latch member including two or more extending legs, each of said legs forming radially inwardly extending tabs, said legs jointed together by a ring, said ring having an internal diameter permitting said collar to be installed onto said latch member such that said collar flange becomes trapped between said ring and said tabs.

A connector assembly for providing a snap-action quick connection, comprising:

a tubular conduit adapted to convey fluid and formed with an annular projection disposed a predetermined distance from the end of said conduit to be connected;
a housing formed with an axial bore for receiving said conduit at a first end and for providing a fluid path at a second end, said housing including an inwardly extending annular lip at said first end;
sealing means disposed within said axial bore for providing a fluid tight seal between confronting portions of said conduit and said housing;
retainer means, disposed generally within said axial bore of said housing and detachably secured to said housing at said first end, for cooperating with said annular projection of said conduit to secure said conduit in its operative position within said axial bore of said housing, said retainer means including a latch having at least two circumferentially shaped resilient deformable leg members extending from a separate collar member at one end thereof, said latch leg members having an outwardly projecting tab portion adapted to engage said housing for securing said retainer means in said housing and an inwardly directed tab portion adapted to engage said annular portion of said conduit for securing said conduit in its operative position within said axial bore of said housing, said collar member being formed with an axially extending portion adjacent said sealing means and an annular flange portion extending radially outwardly from said axially extending portion which is adapted to engage the side of said annular projection of said conduit opposite to the side of said annular projection facing said inwardly directed tab portion of said latch leg members, said annular flange portion being interconnected with said one end of said latch.

1 more element

A connector assembly for providing a snap-action quick connection, comprising:

a tubular conduit adapted to convey fluid and formed with an annular projection disposed a predetermined distance from the end of said conduit to be connected;
a housing formed with an axial bore for receiving said conduit at a first end and for providing a fluid path at a second end, said housing including two or more apertures adjacent said first end;
sealing means disposed within said axial bore for providing a fluid tight seal between confronting portions of said conduit and said housing;
retainer means, disposed generally within said axial bore of said housing and detachably secured to said housing at said first end, for cooperating with said annular projection of said conduit to secure said conduit in its operative position within said axial bore of said housing, said retainer means including a latch having two or more circumferentially spaced resilient deformable leg members extending from a separate collar member at one end thereof, said latch leg members having an outwardly projecting tab portion adapted to engage said housing apertures such that said retainer is engaged within said housing unit said tab portions are forced together thereby permitting said retainer to be removed from said housing, said retainer means further having an inwardly directed tab portion adapted to engage said annular projection of said conduit for securing said conduit in its operative position within said axial bore of said housing, said latch leg members being affixed to a ring portion of said latch, and said collar member having a central bore and a radially extending flange, said collar member flange being generally trapped between said ring portion and said inwardly directed tab portion of said latch, and said collar member flange engaging said annular projection of said conduit when said conduit is in its operative position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Swivelable quick connector assembly

Life of this patent

Swivelable quick connector assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26