Integral quick-connect tube connector

• US 4,923,228 A
• Filed: 12/12/1988
• Issued: 05/08/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Laipply, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bordas, Carol I.
• Application Number:
  US07/282,699
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 285/319, 285/320, 285/305, 285/921, 285/423, 285/351, 285/39
• US Class Current: 285/319
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0982 with a separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

A quick-connect tube connector consisting of male and female parts wherein a retention system defined on the female part comprises a plurality of homogeneously formed resilient fingers which engage a shoulder defined on male part to maintain connection of the parts upon the male part being fully inserted into the female part. Both pasts are molded of a synthetic plastic material and a release sleeve may be axially displaceably mounted on the male part moveable to a release position engaging the fingers and deflecting the fingers from engagement with the shoulder permitting separation of the parts.

Claims

1. A quick-connect tube connector characterized by its low cost construction comprising, in combination, a male tubular part having an elongated cylindrical nose and an external annular shoulder defined on said nose, a female body having an axial passage, an end for connecting to a conduit, and a cylindrical extension having an open end for axially receiving said male part nose, a stop defined in said female body passage limiting insertion of said male part nose into said female body passage, a plurality of elongated resilient fingers homogeneously defined on said extension adjacent said open end and located within the cylindrical configuration of said extension, said resilient fingers being formed of the material of said extension and each having a deflectable free end engagable with said male part shoulder for maintaining said male part nose in said female body passage upon said nose being fully axially inserted into said extension open end, torsion means defined on said extension adjacent said open end supporting said fingers with regions having a torsion axis transversely disposed to the length of said fingers, a recess defined in said female passage and sealing means within said recess receiving said nose.

2. In a quick-connect tube connector as in claim 1, wherein said male tubular part is made from a synthetic plastic material.

3. In a quick-connect tube connector as in claim 1, wherein said female body is made from a synthetic plastic material.

4. In a quick-connect tube connector as in claim 1, said female body comprising a primary tube upon which said connecting end is defined, said extension comprising an annular sleeve integrally affixed to said tube.

5. In a quick-connect tube connector as in claim 1, said female body comprising a primary tube upon which said connecting end is defined, said extension being homogeneously defined on said tube.

6. A quick-connect tube connector characterized by its low cost construction comprising, in combination, a male tubular part having an outer surface, an elongated cylindrical nose and an external annular shoulder defined on said nose, a female body having an axial passage, an end for connecting to a conduit, a homogeneous cylindrical extension having an open end for receiving said male part nose, a stop defined in said female passage engagable with said male part limiting insertion of said male part nose into said female body passage, a recess defined in said female body passage having sealing means disposed within for providing a fluid tight seal with said male part nose, a plurality of elongated cantilevered resilient fingers homogeneously extending from said extension and located within the cylindrical configuration of said extension, said resilient fingers each having an inwardly extending deflectable free end engagable with said male part shoulder for maintaining said male part nose in said female body passage upon said male part nose being fully axially inserted into said female body open end and, torsion means defined on said extension adjacent said open said supporting said fingers with regions having a torsion axis transversely disposed to the length of said fingers.

7. In a quick-connect tube connector as in claim 6, said female body being formed of a synthetic plastic material molded into a one-piece configuration wherein said female body, extension and fingers are homogeneous.

8. In a quick-connect tube connector as in claim 7, said resilient fingers each having parallel side edges and an end substantially perpendicular to said associated side edges, said ends being substantially concentric to said female body passage.

9. A quick-connect tube connector characterized by its low cost construction comprising, in combination, a male tubular part having an elongated cylindrical nose and an external annular shoulder defined on said nose, a female body having an axial passage, an end for connecting to a conduit, an open end for receiving said male part nose, a stop defined in said female body passage limiting insertion of said male part nose into said female body passage, a recess defined in said female body passage having sealing means disposed within for providing a fluid tight seal with said male part nose, an annular cylindrical extension affixed to said body at said open end, a plurality of cantilevered resilient fingers homogenously defined on said extension adjacent said open end and located within the cylindrical configuration of said extension, said resilient fingers each having a deflectable free end engagable with said male part shoulder for maintaining said male part nose in said female body passage upon said nose being fully axially inserted into said female body open end through said extension and, torsion means defined on said extension adjacent said open end supporting said fingers with regions having a torsion axis transversely disposed to the length of said fingers.