US 5,503,437 AGranted

One-piece coupler for connecting hoses

OwnerGerald J. Cronleyinventor

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Abstract

A hose-coupler made up of a just one component having a main housing section with a female end and a male end. The second female end of the coupler is formed with interior threads, for receiving therein a portion of the male end of the second hose. The main housing section has a compressible portion adjacent to the first male end thereof all the way to the end of the female end. The compressible portion is provided by a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart linear slots for forming a plurality of clamping jaws or elements, so that, when these clamping jaws are compressed toward each other, the interior threads of the female end of the coupler is forced into locking, threaded engagement with the exterior threads of the male end of the second hose telescopingly received therein. In order to compress the clamping jaws, there is provided a collet rotatably-mounted about the main housing's compressible section. The sleeve is used for compressing the jaws for locking the male end of the second hose to the coupler's female end.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A coupler for connecting hoses or tubes together, comprising:

a single component comprising a main housing having a first end for connection to an end of one hose or tube, and a second female end for connection to a male end of a second hose or tube;
and means for releasably locking said first end to an end of a first hose or tube, and for locking said second end to a male end of a second hose or tube;
said second end of said main housing being a female end;
said second end of said housing comprising a contracting, clamping element having an interior surface having threads thereon, and a contact-surface by which said clamping element may be contracted;
said means for releasably locking said second end comprising locking means mounted about at least part of said main housing for at least partial movement toward and away from said second end of said main housing, said locking means comprising a first end-portion facing in a direction toward said first end, and a second end-portion facing oppositely to said first end;
said second end-portion of said locking means cooperating with said contact-surface for clamping tight said clamping section against a male end of a hose or tube inserted in said second end of said housing when said locking means is moved in the direction of said second end of said housing;
said locking means comprising a rotatable sleeve at least partially rotatable about said main housing;
said main housing having exterior threads at a portion thereof, and said first end-portion of said locking means having cooperating threads for mating with said exterior threads of said portion of said main housing, whereby upon rotation of said sleeve in one direction, said sleeve is moved in the direction of said second end, and rotation in the opposite direction moves said sleeve away therefrom;
said housing further comprising a limit-stop means for limiting the amount of movement of said locking means in a direction of said second end of said housing.

6 more elements

A coupler for connecting hoses, tubes, and the like, together, comprising:

a main housing having a first end for connection to an end of a first element, and a second female end for connection to a male end of a second element;
means for releasably locking said first end to an end of the first element, and for locking said second end to a male end of the second element;
said second end of said housing comprising a plurality of clamping jaw-elements, each said clamping jaw-element having an interior surface having threads thereon, and a contact-surface by which said clamping jaw-elements may be clamped shut;
said means for releasably locking said second end comprising locking means mounted about at least part of said main housing for at least partial movement toward and away from said second end of said main housing, said locking means comprising a first end-portion facing in a direction toward said first end, and a second end-portion facing oppositely to said first end;
said second end-portion of said locking means cooperating with said contact-surfaces for clamping tight said clamping jaw-elements against a male end of a hose or tube inserted in said second end of said housing when said locking means is moved toward said second end of said housing;
said locking means comprising a rotatable collet at least partially rotatable about said main housing;
said main housing having exterior threads at a portion thereof, and said first end-portion of said locking means having cooperating threads for mating with said exterior threads of said portion of said main housing, whereby upon rotation of said collet in the direction of the second end, the clamping jaw element contract to further clamp the male end inserted into the second end and rotation in the opposite direction moves said collet away therefrom, releasing said male end inserted into the second end.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.