US 5,586,792 AGranted

Quick connector with integral release mechanism

AssigneeBundy Corporation

InventorsGopichand Kalahasthy, James R. Zinke, II

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Abstract

A quick connector coupling for a fluid line includes a hollow female connector body which receives a tubular male member with a raised annular upset. A retainer is demountably coupled to the connector body. The retainer includes two spaced beams which extend through slots in the connector body from a cross member postioned outside of the connector body. The beams are positioned between the upset and an end of the connector body, and have a relaxed spacing less than the upset diameter such that the male member is secured in the connector body. A release protrusion projects from each retainer beam between the cross member and the connector body. The release protrusions have cam surfaces cooperable with an external surface of the connector body to spread the retainer beams apart when the cross member is pressed toward the connector body.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line system comprising:

a female connector body having a generally cylindrical exterior wall a through bore extending from an end of said connector body, an outer annular rim adjacent said end of said connector body joined to an inner annular rim by spaced support members, the spacing between said support members defining slots, and a raised semi-annular shield formed on said exterior wall adjacent said inner annular rim;
a male member extending through said end of said connector body and into said bore, said male member having a tubular surface and an annular upset, said upset having a greater diameter than said tubular surface;
a retainer demountably coupled to said connector body, said retainer including two spaced beams extending from a cross member spaced from said exterior wall through said slots and being positioned between said male member upset and said connector body end, said beams having a relaxed spacing less than a diameter of said upset such that said male member is secured in said connector body;
and
release means associated with said retainer, said release means being cooperable with said exterior wall of said connector body to spread said beams apart a distance greater than said diameter of said upset such that said male member may be withdrawn from said connector body.

2 more elements

A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line system comprising:

a female connector body having a generally cylindrical exterior wall with slots formed therethrough, and a through bore extending from an end of said connector body;
a male member extending through said end of said connector body and into said bore, said male member having a tubular surface and an annular upset, said upset having a greater diameter than said tubular surface;
a retainer demountably coupled to said connector body, said retainer including two spaced beams extending from a cross member spaced from said exterior wall through said slots and being positioned between said male member upset and said connector body end, said beams having a relaxed spacing less than a diameter of said upset such that said male member is secured in said connector body;
release means associated with said retainer, said release means being cooperable with said exterior wall of said connector body upon depression of said cross member to spread said beams apart a distance greater than said diameter of said upset such that said male member may be withdrawn from said connector body;
and
shield means associated with said connector body and surrounding said cross member to deflect angular forces away from and prevent unintended depression of said cross member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.