초록 ▼

The present invention is directed to a connector for joining fluid flow passegeways in a fluid handling system. The connector may be manually manipulated, without using any tools, to quickly and easily couple or decouple the mating connector components. Those components include a plug having a cylin

The present invention is directed to a connector for joining fluid flow passegeways in a fluid handling system. The connector may be manually manipulated, without using any tools, to quickly and easily couple or decouple the mating connector components. Those components include a plug having a cylindrical plug wall and a radially extending flange, and a mating socket having a cylindrical socket wall and a pair of diametrically opposed retainers. The retainers each comprise an axially extending flexible lever spaced from the socket wall. The lever is joined to the socket wall at a base or proximal end and has a latch at its free or distal end. The lever is also joined to the socket wall by a fulcrum wall or living hinge positioned intermediate the ends of the lever. A split lock ring is disposed between the socket wall and each retainer and is movable from a position adjacent the base of each retainer to a position remote from the base of each retainer. The latch at the free end of each retainer is engageable with the plug flange to prevent disengagement of the plug and socket when the levers are in their free, unstressed state. However, the levers may be manually deflected or depressed at a flexing portion thereof when the lock ring is positioned adjacent the retainer bases to disengage each latch from the plug flange and thereby permit axial decoupling of the plug and socket.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A connector for joining fluid flow passageways in a fluid handling system comprising:a plug forming the termination of a first passageway and including a cylindrical plug wall and a radially extending flange;a socket forming the termination of a second passageway and including a c

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A connector for joining fluid flow passageways in a fluid handling system comprising:a plug forming the termination of a first passageway and including a cylindrical plug wall and a radially extending flange;a socket forming the termination of a second passageway and including a cylindrical socket wall and a pair of opposed retainers adapted to releaseably maintain the plug and socket in mated relationship;each said retainer comprising an axially extending lever spaced radially from the socket wall, the lever being joined to the socket wall at a base end and having a latch disposed at a free end, the lever also being joined to the socket wall by a fulcrum wall positioned intermediate the ends of the lever; anda lock ring disposed between the levers of each retainer and the socket wall, the lock ring being moveable from a position adjacent the base end of each retainer to a position remote from the base end of each retainer;the latch of each retainer being engageable with the plug flange to prevent uncoupling of the plug and socket; andthe lever of each retainer being depressable when the lock ring is positioned adjacent the retainer bases to disengage each latch from said flange.