Push-to-release quick connector

• US 5,897,142 A
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Automotive, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ITT Automotive, Incorporated
• Inventors: Kulevsky, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): BINDA, GREGORY JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/770,590
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 285/308, 285/319, 285/38, 285/921, 285/320, 285/87
• US Class Current: 285/308
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0982 with a separate member for releasing the coupling
• 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

A quick connector formed of a housing having an internal bore receiving one end of a male connector with a radially enlarged annular flange. A retainer carried on the housing has a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the stepped bore in the housing. Pivotal tabs extend from the sleeve to fingers extending angularly inward into the bore to engage the annular flange and prevent axial disengagement of the male connector from the housing. Release members extend from each tab and are adapted for pivotal, radially outward movement causing like radially outward movement of the fingers to disengage the fingers from the annular flange and to allow separation of the male connector from the housing. Lock surfaces carried on the housing engage the release members during radially inward movement of the release members caused by an axial load on the male connector to resist axial separation of the housing and male connectors.

Claims

1. A quick connector adapted for selective locking engagement with a male connector having a radially extending abutment surface comprising:

a housing having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end; and

a retainer coupled to the housing, the retainer including;

a body having a through bore, the body disposed through the first end of the housing in the through bore in the housing;

at least one tab extending from a first end of the body;

at least one finger extending radially and angularly inward from the at least one tab to engage an abutment surface on a male connector to decouplingly mount the male connector in the housing; and

release means, coupled to and extending from the at least one finger and the at least one tab and radially moveable outward relative to the body, for disengaging the at least one finger from the abutment surface on the male connector upon such radially outward movement.

2. The quick connector of claim 1 wherein the release means comprises:

a release member coupled to and extending from the at least one tab and the at least one finger and terminating in an outer free end;

the outer free end of the release member pivotal radially outward about the body to pivot the at least one finger radially outward toward the at least one tab.

3. The quick connector of claim 2 wherein the release member extends from the at least one tab and the at least one finger toward the first end of the body.

4. The quick connector of claim 3 wherein the outer free end of the release member is concentrically spaced from the first end of the body.

5. The quick connector of claim 3 wherein the release member comprises an arm cantilevered from the at least one tab and the at least one finger.

6. The quick connector of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one tab comprises a pair of diametrically opposed tabs;

the at least one finger comprises a pair of diametrically opposed fingers, each extending radially inward from the pair of diametrically opposed tabs extending from the first end of the body; and

the release means including a pair of diametrically opposed release members, each release member connected to one of the pair of tabs.

7. The quick connector of claim 1 further comprising:

means, carried on the housing and the body, for detachably coupling the retainer to the housing.

8. A quick connector adapted for selective locking engagement with a male connector having a radially extending abutment surface comprising:

a housing having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end; and

a retainer coupled to the housing, the retainer including;

a body having a through bore, the body disposed through the first end of the housing in the through bore in the housing;

at least one tab extending from the first end of the body;

at least one finger extending radially and angularly inward from the at least one tab to engage an abutment surface on a male connector to decouplingly mount the male connector in the housing;

release means, extending from the at least one tab, for disengaging the at least one finger from the abutment surface on the male connector upon radially outward movement of the release means, the release means including;

a release member extending from the at least one tab and terminating in an outer end;

the release member pivoting about the body to pivot the at least one finger radially outward toward the at least one tab upon radially outward movement of the outer end of the release member; and

means, carried on the housing, for lockingly engaging the outer end of the release member and resisting axial movement of the housing and body relative to the male connector under an axial separation force exerted on the male connector and the retainer.

9. The quick connector of claim 8 wherein the lockingly engaging means comprises:

a lock surface carried on the housing and disposed for engagement with the outer end of the release member under radially inward movement of the release member.

10. A quick connector adapted for selective locking engagement with a male connector having a radially extending abutment surface comprising:

a housing having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end; and

a retainer coupled to the housing, the retainer including;

a body having a through bore, the body disposed through the first end of the housing in the through bore in the housing;

a pair of diametrically opposed tabs extending from the first end of the body;

a pair of diametrically opposed fingers extending radially and angularly inward from the tabs to engage an abutment surface on a male connector to decouplingly mount the male connector in the housing;

a pair of diametrically opposed release members each connected to and extending from the one of the pair of tabs, the release members disengaging the fingers from the abutment surface on the male connector upon radially outward movement of the release members; and

means, carried on the housing, for lockingly engaging the outer end of each release member and resisting axial movement of the housing and body relative to the male connector under an axial separation force exerted on the male connector.

11. The quick connector of claim 10 wherein the engaging means comprises:

a pair of lock surfaces carried on the housing and engagement with the outer end of each release member under radially inward movement of each release member.

12. A quick connector adapted for selective locking engagement with a male connector having a radially extending abutment surface comprising:

a housing having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end; and

a retainer detachably coupled to the housing, the retainer including;

a body having a through bore, the body mountable through the first end of the housing into the through bore in the housing;

a pair of diametrically opposed tabs extending from the first end of the body;

a pair of diametrically opposed fingers, each finger extending radially and angularly inward from each tab to engage an abutment surface on a male connector to decouplingly mount the male connector in the housing; and

a pair of diametrically opposed release members, each connected to and extending from the same end of each tab as one finger, the release members being pivotal about the end of the tabs to pivot the fingers radially outward toward the respective tab upon radially outward movement of the release member.

13. A quick connector adapted for selective locking engagement with a male connector having a radially extending abutment surface comprising:

a housing having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end; and

a retainer detachably coupled to the housing, the retainer including;

a body having a through bore, the body mountable through the first end of the housing into the through bore in the housing;

a pair of diametrically opposed tabs extending from the first end of the body;

a pair of diametrically opposed fingers, each finger extending radially and angularly inward from each tab to engage an abutment surface on a male connector to decouplingly mount the male connector in the housing;

a pair of diametrically opposed release members, each connected to and extending from the same end of each tab as one finger, the release members being pivotal about the end of the tabs to pivot the fingers radially outward toward the respective tab upon radially outward movement of the release member; and

means, carried on the housing, for lockingly engaging the outer end of each release member and resisting axial movement of the housing and body relative to the male connecter under an axial separation force exerted on the male connector.

14. The quick connector of claim 13 wherein the engaging means comprises:

a pair of lock surfaces carried on the housing and engageable with the outer end of each release member under radially inward movement of each release member.

15. A quick connector adapted for selective locking engagement with a male connector having a radially extending abutment surface comprising:

a housing having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end;

a pair of diametrically opposed tabs carried on and extending axially outward from the first end of the housing;

a finger extending angularly inward from an outer end of each tab to engage an abutment surface on a male connector to decouplingly mount the male connector into the housing; and

at least a pair of circumferentially spaced release members each extending angularly outward from the outer end of one tab to pivot the finger out of engagement with the abutment surface on the male connector upon radially outward movement of the release member to effect separation of the male connector from the housing.

16. The quick connector of claim 15 wherein:

the pair of tabs, the finger on each tab and the at least a pair of release members are unitarily formed with the housing.