Snap-fastenable coupling for a fluid-transfer hose

• US 6,155,610 A
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: Exandier, Philippe, Godeau, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US09/276,491
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 285/241, 285/242, 285/243, 285/256
• US Class Current: 285/242
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/0045 of the quick-acting type
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/02 Hose-clips
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/084 combined with automatic locking
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/1225 using a retaining member the extremities of which, e.g. in the form of a U, engage behind a shoulder of both parts

Abstract

A snap-fastenable coupling for a low pressure fluid transfer hose, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises two semicylindrical pieces mounted on a portion of hose made of rubber or the like that is engaged on an insert. The two pieces are fixed together by resilient snap-fastening and they simultaneously secure the hose to the insert in sealed manner. The pieces have elastically deformable front ends enabling them to snap-fasten resiliently onto a peripheral projection of the endpiece.

Claims

1. A snap fastenable coupling for a fluid transfer hose, comprising:

a tubular insert mountable inside a flexible hose, and configured to sealingly mount a tubular endpiece of a fluid circuit; and

a snap-fastening locking part comprising a cylindrical annular portion mountable to the hose to sealingly clamp the hose onto said tubular insert when said tubular insert is mounted inside the flexible hose, said snap-fastening locking part further comprising elastically deformable longitudinal tabs extending from said cylindrical annular portion, and two diametrically opposed semi-annular portions connected to said tabs at positions to engage a peripheral projection of said tubular endpiece when the tubular endpiece is mounted to said tubular insert, thereby holding the tubular endpiece on said insert and locking a connection between the tubular endpiece and the hose.

2. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said locking part comprises two semi-cylindrical pieces, and cooperating lock elements on each of the semi-cylindrical pieces.

3. The coupling according to claim 2, wherein said semi-cylindrical pieces are identical and said lock elements are resilient snap fasteners.

4. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein the two semi-cylindrical pieces are made of plastics material including a reinforcing filler.

5. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein the two semi-cylindrical pieces are connected to each other by a flexible hinge formed along a generator line of their cylindrical surface.

6. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein the semi-cylindrical pieces have respective semicircular ribs on their inside faces that co-operate by abutment with an annular collar of the insert to transfer axial separation forces applied to the hose and/or the endpiece.

7. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein each said semi-annular portion is connected to the annular portion of the locking part by a single longitudinal tab.

8. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the have unlocking side tabs.

9. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the locking part comprises internal annular ribs.

10. A coupling according to claim 9, wherein the annular ribs of the locking part are offset in a staggered configuration relative to ribs of the insert which bear against the inside surface of the hose.

11. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said hose is a ringed hose of plastics material, and wherein a gasket of rubber or the like is overmolded onto the portion of the insert that is to be inserted into the ringed hose.

12. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the two semicylindrical pieces are made of metal.

13. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the locking part is made as a single piece of metal having a cylindrical annular portion fixed on the hose mounted on the insert by crimping.