Single-piece snap-on connection
AssigneeNobel Plastiques
InventorPierre Milhas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A female snap-on connection is provided for cooperating with a male catching end piece with central barrel and flange ring. The snap-on connection includes a body made of rigid plastic material and a tubular portion with raised parts for connection to a pipe and a portion forming a stepped cylindrical cavity to receive at least the barrel end, and at the front of the body, a lock made of rigid plastic material to be urged to lock the flange ring once the latter is set in plane, the lock and the body are secured together by at least a flexible part so as to form a single piece, at least an annular joint ensuring tightness; the lock tilts on a hinge pin formed by the flexible part(s).
Claims30
A female snap coupler for cooperating with a male end-fitting, wherein the male end-fitting includes a central barrel and a flange at the central barrel, the female snap coupler comprising:
- a body having a front, a back, and a tubular portion at the back and configured to force-fit to a pipe, the body being formed from a first material;
- a cup coupled to the body, the cup forming a cavity for receiving at least an end of the central barrel of the male end-fitting;
- an annular seal positioned within the cavity and shaped for producing a seal between the cup and the central barrel of the male end-fitting;
- a lock arranged at the front of the body and configured to cooperate with the flange of the male end-fitting for locking the flange of the male end-fitting when the central barrel of the male end-fitting is received within the cavity of the cup, the lock being formed from a second material;
- and
- a flexible portion for coupling the lock to the body, the flexible portion defining a pivot axis about which the lock is pivotable to a position for locking the flange of the male end-fitting, the flexible portion being formed from a third material that is more flexible than the first and second materials of the body and the lock, respectively, the flexible portion, the lock, and the body forming a single integral assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.