Connector for connecting slender piping members with cantilever mechanism

• US 5,160,177 A
• Filed: 01/04/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
• Original Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
• Inventors: Washizu, Katsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aberle, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US07/637,459
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 285/319, 285/320, 285/351, 285/379, 285/921, 285/312
• US Class Current: 285/319
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0987 the flexible hook being progressively compressed by axial tensile loads acting on the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a connector for connecting slender piping members. The connector comprises: a connector body and a separate socket body. The connector body is formed axially therethrough with a stepped smaller-diameter chamber, which is expanded to lead to a communication hole formed in a connecting cylindrical wall at the leading end, and a stepped larger-diameter chamber which is positioned at the back of the smaller-diameter chamber. The connector body is further formed with a pair of engagement holes or slots opposed to the circumferential wall of the larger-diameter chamber to form a retaining wall at the circumference of the rear end. The connector body has seal ring members at the side of the smaller-diameter chamber and a bushing member at the back of the seal ring members. The separate socket body has a pair of elastic pawl walls projected from the circumferential wall of the axial through hole in the larger-diameter chamber and inclined forward opposed to the front portion of the assembly direction. The socket body has its rear end annular circumference retained on the retaining wall. The piping member is formed in the vicinity of its connecting end with an annular ridged wall which is retained elastically by the leading ends of the elastic pawl walls when the piping member is in its connected state. The socket body includes: a cylindrical wall forming the root of the elastic pawl walls; cut-away apertures formed in positions opposed to the engagement holes in the vicinity of the intermediate portion of the cylindrical wall; tongue-shaped walls positioned in the cut-away apertures and leading integrally to the elastic pawl walls and the leading end of the cylindrical wall; and a stepped engagement groove formed backward and having its rear end on the retaining wall.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a slender piping member, said piping member having a connecting end and an annular ridged wall in proximity to the connecting end, said connector comprising:

a connector body having opposed leading and rear ends, a communication hole extending axially into the leading end of the connector body, a circumferential wall extending forwardly from the rear end of the connector body and defining a stepped larger-diameter chamber extending axially into the rear end of the connector body and communicating with said communication hole, a pair of opposed engagement holes formed through the circumferential wall, portions of the circumferential wall rearward of each said engagement hole defining a retaining wall at the rear end of the connector body; and

a separate socket body having a generally cylindrical wall with opposed front and rear ends, the front end of the cylindrical wall defining an annular root disposed in the chamber of the connector body, a pair of opposed cut-away apertures defining respective perimeters which extends through the cylindrical wall of the socket body intermediate the front and rear ends thereof and in alignment with the opposed engagement holes of the connector body, tongue-shaped walls extending rearwardly and radially outwardly from the annular root and in alignment with the cut-away apertures in the cylindrical wall of the socket body, said tongue-shaped walls including rear ends disposed respectively in the engagement holes of the connector body and against the retaining wall at the rear end of the connector body for retaining the socket body in the connector body, a pair of pawl walls aligned with the respective tongue-shaped walls and projecting forwardly and radially inwardly from the annular root, the tongue-shaped walls and the pawl walls being pivotable about the annular root at the front end of the cylindrical wall of the socket body such that movement of the tongue-shaped walls radially inwardly generates a radially outward movement of the pawl walls, said tongue-shaped walls and said annular root are encompassed by said perimeter, whereby the pawl walls lockingly engage the annular ridged wall on the piping member to lockingly retain the piping member in the connector body, and whereby radially inward movement of the tongue-shaped walls generates corresponding radially outward movement of the pawl walls for selectively disengaging the piping member from the connector body.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said socket body is made of a resin.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the rear end of each said tongue-shaped wall includes a stepped engagement grove for lockingly engaging the retaining wall of the connector body.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the tongue-shaped walls are disposed entirely forwardly of the rear end of the connector body.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential wall of the connector body defines an outer diameter, the tongue-shaped walls of the socket body defining an outer diameter no greater than the outer diameter of the circumferential wall of the connector body.

6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein the rear end of the socket body defines an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the circumferential wall of the connector body.