COUPLING DEVICE

• US 3,645,562 A
• Filed: 03/10/1970
• Issued: 02/29/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph P. De Azevedo, Matthew R. Fandetti
• Original Assignee: Joseph P. De Azevedo, Matthew R. Fandetti
• Inventors: Fandetti, Matthew R., De Azevedo, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US05/018,136
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 285/70,73,360,376,391,401,394
• US Class Current: 285/73
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Abstract

A coupling device consisting of a pair of identical one-piece units adapted to be placed into and out of interlocking engagement. Each unit includes a cylindrical first member, a second member extending above the first member, and a pair of third members extending above the first and second members, the upper surfaces of these members being planar and parallel. An opening extends through the first and second members. The second member is formed with a pair of spaced inwardly extending recesses and includes a plurality of spaced first locking elements each of which is positioned to a side of corresponding recess. Each first locking element has a lower surface spaced from the upper surface of the first member and inclined downwardly in a direction away from the corresponding recess. Each third member includes a second locking element projecting over and above the second member and having a lower surface that is spaced from the upper surface of the second member and is inclined downwardly from each end.

Claims

1. A coupling device comprising a pair of units adapted to be placed into and out of interlocking engagement, each unit including a first member having a planar upper surface, a second member carried by an extending above the first member and having a planar upper surface that is parallel to the upper surface of the first member, and a pair of spaced third members carried by the first member and extending above the first and second members, each third member having a planar upper surface that is parallel to the upper surfaces of the first and second members, the second member having a pair of spaced inwardly extending recesses and including a plurality of first locking elements, each of which is positioned to a side of a corresponding recess and has an upper surface that is coplanar with the upper surface of the second member and a lower surface that is spaced from the upper surface of the first member and is inclined downwardly in a direction away from the corresponding recess, each third member being positioned between a separate pair of first locking elements, each third member including a second locking element projecting over and above the second member and positioned adjacent a first locking element, each second locking element having an upper surface that is coplanar with the upper surfaces of the third members and a lower surface that is spaced from the upper surface of the second member, one portion of the lower surface of each second locking element being inclined downwardly from one end and another portion is inclined downwardly from the opposite end.

2. A coupling device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the units is provided with an opening that extends through the first and second members and the third members are disposed to opposite sides of the opening.

3. A coupling device according to claim 2 wherein the second member of at least one of the units is provided with an annular recess for reception of at least part of a sealing gasket, said annular recess extending downwardly from the upper surface of such second member and being intermediate the third members.

4. A coupling device according to claim 2 wherein, in each unit, the recesses in the second member, the first locking elements and the second locking elements are respectively spaced along corresponding extended diameters of said opening.

5. A coupling device according to claim 4 wherein each second locking element is located above and intermediate a pair of second locking elements.

6. A coupling device according to claim 5 wherein the second member of each unit is provided with an annular recess for reception of fluid sealing means, each annular recess merging with a corresponding referred-to opening.