Secondary latch and indicator for fluid coupling
AssigneeEnhanced Applications, L.C.
InventorThomas Wiethorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly for use with tubular conduits which mate with a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit is disclosed and includes a coupling mechanism including a collar which is attachable over the housing and a pivotable stirrup which extends from the collar and engages an irregularity such as an annular projection or groove contained on the tubular conduit to retain the conduit within the housing. The coupling mechanism also provides a check mechanism for visually inspecting the connector assembly to insure that the tubular conduit has been fully connected to the housing.
Claims33
A connector assembly, comprising:
- a conduit;
- a housing for receiving a portion of the conduit;
- and
- coupling means for connecting the conduit to the housing;
- said conduit being generally tubular shaped and including an exterior surface having an irregularity located at a predetermined distance from the terminal end of said conduit;
- said coupling means including a pivotable stirrup having two spaced apart legs extending from said coupling means and a transverse portion including an arcuate recess terminating in an opening of smaller dimension than the diameter of the conduit for engaging the irregularity contained on said conduit;
- whereby upon connecting said conduit within said housing and pivotally rotating the stirrup such that said arcuate recess extends beyond the centerline of the conduit to engage the irregularity on said conduit in an over center attachment, said conduit thereby becoming substantially locked within said housing.
A coupling assembly for use in connecting a housing and a tubular conduit, said tubular conduit having a first end disposed at least partially within said housing and a portion extending from said housing, said extending portion including an irregularity disposed a predetermined distance from said first end, said coupling mechanism comprising:
- an annular collar integrally attached to said housing, including an inside diameter having an axial aperture therethrough, an exterior surface and at least one slot extending through the exterior surface to the axial aperture;
- and
- stirrup means extending from said collar, said stirrup means including a pair of spaced apart legs pivotally attached to said collar and connected by a transverse portion, said transverse portion including an arcuate recess terminating in an opening of smaller dimension than the diameter of the conduit for engaging the irregularity contained on said tubular conduit in an over center attachment whereby the recess extends beyond the centerline of the conduit to operatively maintain the tubular conduit within the housing.
A connector assembly, comprising:
- a conduit, a housing for receiving a portion of the conduit, and coupling means for connecting the conduit to the housing;
- said conduit being generally tubular shaped and including an annular projection located a predetermined distance from the terminal end of said conduit;
- said coupling means including a pivotable stirrup said stirrup including a pair of spaced apart legs extending from a portion of the housing, a body portion extending from said legs and a transverse portion including an arcuate recess terminating in an opening of smaller dimension than the diameter of the conduit and which extends beyond the centerline of the conduit upon connection for engaging the exterior surface of said conduit in an over center attachment;
- whereby upon connecting said conduit within said housing and pivotally rotating the stirrup such that said recess operatively engages the exterior surface of the conduit and said annular projection, said conduit becomes substantially locked within said housing.
A coupling assembly for use in connecting a housing and a tubular conduit having a first end disposed at least partially within said housing including an annular projection and a portion extending from said housing, said coupling assembly comprising:
- an annular collar integrally attached to said housing, including an inside diameter having an axial aperture therethrough and an exterior surface, at least one slot and at least one space;
- and
- stirrup means extending from said housing, said stirrup means including a pair of spaced apart legs pivotally attached to a portion of said housing along one end and to an extending body portion along a second end and a transverse wall spaced apart from said legs and extending from said body portion, said transverse wall including a recess which terminates in an opening of smaller dimension than the diameter of the conduit and which extends beyond the centerline of the conduit for engaging the exterior surface of said tubular conduit in an over center attachment to operatively engage said annular projection to maintain the tubular conduit within the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.