Device for connecting tubes or the like

• US 4,632,436 A
• Filed: 09/04/1985
• Issued: 12/30/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated 184-1 Maioka-Cho Totsuka-Ku Yokohama-Shi Kanagawa-Ken Japan
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Kimura, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Callaghan, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US06/772,367
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 285/305, 285/321, 285/921
• US Class Current: 285/305
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0841 by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube

Abstract

A device for connecting tubes or the like comprises a male coupler provided on one end of a tube or pipe to be connected, the male coupler having a cylindrical engagement portion having a tapered end and also having engagement projections formed on its outer periphery, a female coupler provided on one end of another tube or pipe, the female coupler having radially penetrating windows, and a lock member adapted to be inserted through the windows of the female coupler to engage the cylindrical engagement portion of the male member when inserted in the female member. The male and female couplers are held in engagement with each other by engagement between the lock member and the engagement projections of the male member and are readily disengaged from each other by pushing the lock member.

Claims

1. A device for connecting tubes or the like, comprising a male coupler provided on one end of a tube or a pipe to be connected, said male coupler having a cylindrical engagement portion having a tapered end and also having engagement projections formed on its outer periphery, a female coupler provided on one end of another tube or pipe, said female coupler having a diameter capable of receiving said male coupler and also having radially penetrating windows, and a lock member having two legs with elasticity provided therebetween, said lock member being inserted through said windows of said female coupler and said male coupler being inserted in said female coupler to cause said engagement projections to pass through said lock member, whereby the male and female couplers are held in engagement, said legs at an entering end being tapered toward one another and joined at an apex and having retaining projections adjacent said apex and preventing withdrawal through a respective window, said legs further having locking projections spaced from said retaining projections away from said apex and limiting insertional movement through said respective window, said legs being joined at a remote end by a plate-like push member for manual engagement resiliently to spread said legs to permit withdrawal of said male coupler from said lock member.

2. The device for connecting tubes or the like according to claim 1, wherein said female coupler has a coaxial inner cylindrical portion and the end of a tube or a pipe coupled to said female coupler is provided with a flange-like outer projection engaging with the end of said inner cylindrical portion, through which said tube or pipe is inserted.

3. The device for connecting tubes or the like according to claim 1, wherein said male coupler has a flange provided at a position spaced apart from said engagement projection and an axial ridge extending forwardly from said flange.

4. A device for connecting tubes or the like according to claim 1 wherein said male coupler further has oppositely projecting axial ridges thereon fitting between said lock member legs and orienting said male coupler relative to said lock member to cause said engagement projections to engage and lock behind said lock member.