Quick connector

• US 7,677,608 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited.
• Original Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Takayanagi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody; Aaron M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kee; Fannie
• Application Number:
  US11/475,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 285/67, 285/305, 285/308, 285/319, 285/321, 285/325, 285/921
• US Class Current: 285/319
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/144 the securing element being U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

When a retainer is mounted on or in a retainer mounting portion and is positioned at an inserting position, a pipe is inserted into the retainer mounting portion. An annular engaging projection of the pipe advances in the connector housing while spreading leg portions of the retainer outwardly. When the annular engaging projection reaches a connecting position, the retainer is automatically moved to an engaging position and snap-engages with the annular engaging projection.

Claims

1. A quick connector for connecting a tube and a pipe having an annular engaging projection, the quick connector, comprising:

a connector housing provided with a tube connecting portion on one axial end and a retainer mounting portion on the other axial end,

a retainer mounted in the retainer mounting portion for snap-engaging with the annular engaging projection when the pipe is inserted in the connector housing and the annular engaging projection of the pipe reaches a connecting position;

wherein;

the retainer mounting portion has a first positioning engagement portion and a second positioning engagement portion,

the retainer has a retainer body having a pipe engaging portion, the pipe engaging portion being provided integrally with a pair of leg portions on widthwise opposite ends of the pipe engaging portion, each of the leg portions including a positioning stop portion,

a moving mechanism for moving the retainer body in a radial direction is provided on the retainer,

the positioning stop portions are formed so as to engage with the first positioning engagement portion to position the retainer body at an inserting position, and so as to engage with the second positioning engagement portion to position the retainer body at an engaging position that is radially spaced from the inserting position,

the annular engaging projection advances while spreading the pair of the leg portions outwardly to cancel engaging relation between the positioning stop portions and the first positioning engagement portion by inserting the pipe in the connector housing while the retainer body is positioned at the inserting position,

the retainer body is automatically moved by the moving mechanism to the engaging position so as to engage the pipe engaging portion with the annular engaging projection in locking relation and the positioning stop portions are positioned in engaging relation with the second positioning engagement portion, once the annular engaging projection of the pipe reaches the connecting position,

the moving mechanism includes a spring member in the shape of a curved plate piece provided between each leg portion and the retainer mounting portion, the spring member being adapted to be pushed and resiliently deformed by the leg portion for biasing the retainer body in the radial direction toward the engaging position to move the retainer body from the inserting position to the engaging position when the retainer body is positioned at the inserting position and the leg portions are pushed and spread outwardly by the annular engaging projection of the pipe.

2. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retainer body is U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped.

3. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retainer body projects outwardly with respect to the retainer mounting portion at the inserting position, and the outwardly projecting length thereof with respect to the retainer mounting portion changes at the engaging position.

4. A quick connector as set forth in claim 3, wherein the retainer body completely enters inside the retainer mounting portion at the engaging position.

5. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the positioning stop portions are formed so as to pinch widthwise opposite ends of the first positioning engagement portion to engage therewith, and so as to pinch widthwise opposite ends of the second positioning engagement portion to engage therewith.

6. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spring member extends from the leg portion in a direction opposite to an inserting direction of the retainer then reaches the retainer mounting portion.

7. A quick connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein the spring member extends in an inwardly curved manner from the leg portion so as to be raised inwardly, then extends outwardly to the retainer mounting portion.

8. A quick connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein the spring member is provided on the leg portion and engages the retainer mounting portion.

9. A quick connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein the spring member is provided on the leg portion and engages the retainer mounting portion.

10. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spring member is provided on the leg portion and engages the retainer mounting portion.

11. A quick connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein the leg portion has a deformative portion, the deformative portion including an inner surface that is adapted to abut the annular engaging projection of the pipe.

12. A quick connector as set forth in claim 11, wherein the inner surface of the deformative portion is gradually sloped or curved inwardly toward one axial direction.

13. A quick connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein the pipe engaging portion has a slit on a widthwise center of an inside or an inner surface of the pipe engaging portion for facilitating opening of the leg portions.

14. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leg portion has a deformative portion, the deformative portion including an inner surface that is adapted to abut the annular engaging projection of the pipe.

15. A quick connector as set forth in claim 14, wherein the inner surface of the deformative portion is gradually sloped or curved inwardly toward one axial direction.

16. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pipe engaging portion has a slit on a widthwise center of an inside or an inner surface of the pipe engaging portion for facilitating opening of the leg portions.

17. A quick connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retainer body completely enters inside the retainer mounting portion at the engaging position.