Quick-action connector assembly including a latching indicator member

A quick-action connector assembly including a tubular male member having an engaging end portion and an annular protrusion formed on an outer circumferential surface of said engaging end portion, and a female member having a cylindrical end portion into which said male member is to be inserted and which has a cylindrical wall formed with at least one latching arm each of which has a latching projection extending radially inwardly of said cylindrical wall, each of said at least one latching arm being elastically deformable in a radial direction of said cylindrical end portion, and wherein elastic deformation of said each latching arm in a radially outward direction of said cylindrical end portion of said female member during insertion of said male member into said cylindrical end portion permits said annular protrusion to clear said latching projection of said each latching arm and to be latched in engagement with said latching projection, so as to prevent an axial movement of said male member in a direction away from said female member, said quick-action connector assembly comprising:

• (a) a latching indicator member into which said male member is inserted and which is substantially cylindrical in shape and assembled within said cylindrical end portion of said female member;
• (b) first engaging means interposed between said latching indicator member and said male member, for effecting engagement between said latching indicator member and said male member upon insertion of said male member into said cylindrical end portion of said female member, to permit an axial movement of said latching indicator member together with said male member in a direction of insertion of the male member;
• and
• (c) second engaging means interposed between said latching indicator member and said female member, for effecting engagement between said latching indicator member and said female member, to substantially inhibit rotation of said latching indicator member relative to said female member prior to the insertion of said male member into said cylindrical end portion of said female member, and for disengaging said latching indicator member and said female member from each other to permit the rotation of said latching indicator member relative to said female member on the basis of said axial movement of said latching indicator in the direction of insertion of said male member by said first engaging means after said annular protrusion has been latched in engagement with said latching projection of said each latching arm as a result of the insertion of said male member into said cylindrical end portion,
• and wherein a checking if said annular protrusion of said male member inserted into said female member has been latched in engagement with said latching projection of said each latching arm can be effected depending upon whether the rotation of said latching indicator member relative to said female member is inhibited or permitted.