Two piece molded female coupling
First Claim
1. A quick connect/disconnect coupling, comprising:
- a female coupling member having a front end and a back end, the female coupling member defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough;
a male coupling member having a front end and a back end and defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, the front end of the male coupling member being insertable into the front end of the female coupling member; and
a quick connect/disconnect clip member slidably mounted on the female coupling member whereby the clip member is slidable between a connect position wherein the clip member engages the male coupling member for retaining the male coupling member within the female coupling member and a disconnect position wherein the clip member is disengaged from the male coupling member thereby enabling disconnection of the male coupling member and the female coupling member, said clip being movable between a lock position and an unlock position wherein the clip member includes a means for preventing sliding movement of the clip member from the connect position to the disconnect position when the clip is in the lock position and permitting sliding movement of the clip member from the connect position to the disconnect position when the clip is in the unlock position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quick connect/disconnect coupling having a female coupling member, a male coupling member, and a clip member slidably mounted on the female coupling member for retaining the female and male coupling members together in a coupled state. The clip member is designed to prevent inadvertent actuation thereof, thereby preventing accidental disconnection of the female and male coupling members once they are in the coupled state. The clip member must be actuated from a lock position to an unlock position before the clip member can be actuated from its connect position to its disconnect position. Thus two separate movements of the clip member are required before the coupling can be disconnected and/or connected.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A quick connect/disconnect coupling, comprising:
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a female coupling member having a front end and a back end, the female coupling member defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough;
a male coupling member having a front end and a back end and defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, the front end of the male coupling member being insertable into the front end of the female coupling member; and
a quick connect/disconnect clip member slidably mounted on the female coupling member whereby the clip member is slidable between a connect position wherein the clip member engages the male coupling member for retaining the male coupling member within the female coupling member and a disconnect position wherein the clip member is disengaged from the male coupling member thereby enabling disconnection of the male coupling member and the female coupling member, said clip being movable between a lock position and an unlock position wherein the clip member includes a means for preventing sliding movement of the clip member from the connect position to the disconnect position when the clip is in the lock position and permitting sliding movement of the clip member from the connect position to the disconnect position when the clip is in the unlock position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A quick connect/disconnect coupling, comprising:
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a female coupling member having a front end and a back end, the female coupling member defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough;
a male coupling member having a front end and a back end and defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, the front end of the male coupling member being insertable into the front end of the female coupling member;
a quick connect/disconnect clip member slidably mounted on the female coupling member whereby the clip member is slidable between a connect position wherein the clip member engages the male coupling member for retaining the male coupling member within the female coupling member and a disconnect position wherein the clip member is disengaged from the male coupling member thereby enabling disconnection of the male coupling member and the female coupling member, and wherein the clip includes a shoulder that is selectively engageable with and disengageable from said female coupling member, and wherein sliding movement of said clip member from the connect position to the disconnect position is prevented when said shoulder is engaged with said female coupling member; and
a resilient member connected to said clip member, said resilient member biasing said clip member toward the connect position when said clip member is at the disconnect position. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A female coupling member, comprising:
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a housing having a front end and a back end and defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, a slot being defined in said housing and extending generally transversely of the flow path; and
a quick connect/disconnect clip member slidably mounted in said slot whereby said clip member is slidable in a direction generally transverse to the flow path between a first position and a second position, the clip member is movable within the slot between a lock position and an unlock position wherein the clip member includes a means for retaining the clip member at the first position and for preventing sliding movement of the clip member from the first position to the second position when the clip member is in the lock position and for permitting sliding movement of the clip member from the first position to the second position when the clip is in the unlock position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification