Quick connector with secondary latch confirming feature
First Claim
1. A connector assembly for use in communicating a fluid media, said assembly comprising:
- a female receptacle having a throughbore, a male conduit-receiving end continuous with said throughbore, said throughbore including a recessed inner wall, a longitudinally extending axis, and an engaging surface;
a male conduit having an end for insertion into said male conduit-receiving end of said female conduit;
a primary latching retainer positioned on said end of said male conduit, said retainer including a central ring and means for engaging said retainer within said recessed inner wall of said female conduit, said means for engaging including a pair of primary latching tabs extending axially with respect to said longitudinally extending axis for selectively releasing said retainer from said recessed inner wall; and
a combination secondary latching and confirming bracket including a body and seating at least one flange extending from said body, said flange including means for engaging said engaging surface of said female receptacle for latching therewith and for confirming connection of said male conduit within said female receptacle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A quick connector-male conduit assembly embodying both primary and secondary latching functions for use in a conduit coupling. The assembly incorporates a hand-releasable, self-centering snap ring-like retainer and a combination secondary latch and seating indicator bracket to form a male conduit assembly matable with a female receptacle. The female receptacle includes an engaging surface defined by either a radial ridge or at least a pair of outwardly extending studs. In its preferred embodiment, the bracket includes a body and a flange portion generally defined by two flanges extending outwardly from the bracket body. Each of the flanges includes an aperture for selectively engaging said engaging surface of the female receptacle. The retainer includes a pair of tabs for easy manipulation by hand or tools for removal. The quick connector assembly is on either a plastic or a metal male conduit, and can be as short as a threaded connection. The quick connector assembly has no threads, and permits 360 degree rotation of the conduit.
82 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A connector assembly for use in communicating a fluid media, said assembly comprising:
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a female receptacle having a throughbore, a male conduit-receiving end continuous with said throughbore, said throughbore including a recessed inner wall, a longitudinally extending axis, and an engaging surface; a male conduit having an end for insertion into said male conduit-receiving end of said female conduit; a primary latching retainer positioned on said end of said male conduit, said retainer including a central ring and means for engaging said retainer within said recessed inner wall of said female conduit, said means for engaging including a pair of primary latching tabs extending axially with respect to said longitudinally extending axis for selectively releasing said retainer from said recessed inner wall; and a combination secondary latching and confirming bracket including a body and seating at least one flange extending from said body, said flange including means for engaging said engaging surface of said female receptacle for latching therewith and for confirming connection of said male conduit within said female receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A connector assembly for use in communicating a fluid media, said assembly comprising:
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a female receptacle having a throughbore, a male conduit-receiving end continuous with said throughbore, and an engaging surface; a male conduit having an end and at least a portion of which is insertable into said male conduit-receiving end of said female receptacle; means for retaining said end of said male conduit within said female receptacle, said means for retaining providing a primary latching mechanism; a combination secondary latching and seating confirming bracket including a body and at least a pair of flanges extending substantially perpendicularly from said body, said at least a pair of flanges each including an aperture formed therein for engaging said engaging surface of said female receptacle for confirming connection of said male conduit within said female receptacle; and an aligning ring positionable between said retaining means and said bracket. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification