US 7,954,211 B2Granted

Quick connect coupling assembly

AssigneeDeBien Products, Inc.

InventorHumberto De Bien

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A quick connect coupling assembly has a first and second component, and a locking assembly structured to retain the components in an attached orientation with one another. The locking assembly includes a plurality of locking elements each having a locking arm with a locking member mounted to a distal end, wherein the locking members are maintained in an outwardly extending orientation by a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism comprises a spring mounted between oppositely disposed locking elements, wherein the spring is structured to maintain the locking members in an outwardly extending orientation. The quick connect coupling assembly also includes a release mechanism to permit the locking members to be temporarily disposed into a retracted orientation, thereby permitting the first and second components to be detached from one another.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A quick connect coupling assembly structured to allow quick connection and quick release, said coupling assembly comprising:

a first component and a second component cooperatively structured to assume an attached orientation,
said first component comprises a fixed portion and a moveable portion wherein said moveable portion is rotatably attached to said fixed portion and is structured to swivel relative thereto,
a locking assembly structured to retain said first component and said second component in said attached orientation,
said locking assembly comprising a plurality of locking elements disposed in a movably engaging relation with said first component,
each of said locking elements comprising a locking arm having a locking member disposed at one end thereof,
said locking members structured to be disposed in an outwardly extending locking orientation,
said outwardly extending locking orientation at least partially defined by said locking members structured to engage at least a portion of said second component in an abutting relation to prevent detachment of said second component from said first component while disposed in said attached orientation,
a biasing mechanism structured to normally dispose and maintain said locking members in said outwardly extending locking orientation,
said biasing mechanism comprises a spring mounted between oppositely disposed ones of said plurality of locking elements wherein said spring is structured to maintain corresponding ones of said locking members in said normally disposed outwardly extending orientation, and
a release mechanism structured to permit said locking members to be temporarily disposed into an inwardly retracted release orientation.

7 more elements

A quick connect coupling assembly structured to allow quick connection and quick release, said coupling assembly comprising:

a first component and a second component cooperatively structured to assume an attached orientation when disposed into a predetermined alignment with one another,
a locking assembly structured to retain said first component and said second component in said attached orientation,
said locking assembly comprising a plurality of locking elements movably interconnected to said first component,
each of said locking elements comprising a locking arm having a locking member disposed at one end thereof,
said locking members structured to be normally disposed and maintained in an outwardly extending locking orientation,
said outwardly extending locking orientation at least partially defined by said locking members structured to engage at least a portion of said second component in an abutting relation to prevent detachment of said second component from said first component while disposed in said attached orientation,
a biasing mechanism structured to normally dispose and maintain said locking members in said outwardly extending locking orientation,
said biasing mechanism comprises a spring mounted between oppositely disposed ones of said plurality of locking elements wherein said spring is structured to maintain corresponding ones of said locking members in said normally disposed outwardly extending orientation,
an attraction assembly structured to automatically position said first component and said second component into said predetermined alignment when said components are disposed in an attachment range of one another, wherein said attraction assembly comprises a plurality of magnetic attraction elements, and
a release mechanism structured to permit said locking members to be temporarily disposed into an inwardly retracted release orientation.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/655,612Filed 4 Jan 2010 · division
Priority: 28 Oct 1996
Published: US 2010/0111600 A16 May 2010
Granted: 7 Jun 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A01K 27/005
Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs: quick-couplings, safety-couplings or shock-absorbing devices between leash and collar
Y10S 24/47
Including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith: selectively interlocking member having movably…
Y10T 24/32
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.: having magnetic fastener
Y10T 24/45482
Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration: and operator therefor

Family

Application60/029,573Us provisional application · filed 28 Oct 1996
Application08/958,111Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Oct 1997
Application09/195,965Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Nov 1998
Application09/867,338Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 May 2001
Application10/371,028Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Feb 2003
Application10/787,338Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Feb 2004
Application11/441,680Parent of this division · filed 26 May 2006
US 2010/0111600 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 May 2010
US 7,640,639 B2Parent of this division
US 7,162,978 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application11/441,680Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,955,138 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,629,511 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,247,427 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2001/0037774 A1Published application
US 2003/0145801 A1Published application
US 2004/0200435 A1Published application
US 2006/0213455 A1Published application
US 7,954,211 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.