초록

A compression nut including a retaining tooth for use with a fluid coupling.

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1. A supply line for coupling to a fitting having a receptacle, the supply line including: a fluid conduit having a first end, a second end, and a fluid passageway extending therethrough;a retaining ring coupled to the fluid conduit proximate the first end, the retaining ring having an outer perimet

1. A supply line for coupling to a fitting having a receptacle, the supply line including: a fluid conduit having a first end, a second end, and a fluid passageway extending therethrough;a retaining ring coupled to the fluid conduit proximate the first end, the retaining ring having an outer perimeter greater than an outer perimeter of the conduit; anda retainer axially movable along the fluid conduit between a first position where the retainer is in axially spaced relation to a fitting, and to a second position where the retainer engages the fitting and the retaining ring to define a fluid coupling between the fluid conduit and the fitting, wherein the retainer includes: an outer wall extending between opposing first and second ends, the first end of the outer wall facing in the same direction as the first end of the fluid conduit, and the second end of the outer wall facing in the same direction as the second end of the fluid conduit,a collar supported at the second end of the outer wall and extending radially inwardly to define an opening to slidably receive the fluid conduit, andan annular protrusion supported by the collar, located radially inwardly from the outer wall, and extending axially in a direction from the second end of the retainer toward the first end of the retainer, whereby the annular protrusion includes: a deforming face facing radially outwardly and facing axially in a direction from the second end of the retainer toward the first end of the retainer, the deforming face extending from a first end to a second end,a leading edge being of sufficient hardness to plastically deform the retaining ring radially outwardly as the retainer reaches the second position, the leading edge positioned at the first end of the deforming face and facing toward the first end of the retainer; anda relief portion being configured to receive deformed material from the retaining ring as the retainer reaches the second position, the relief portion positioned at the second end of the deforming face and facing toward the first end of the retainer, wherein the deformed material from the retaining ring flows into the relief portion of the retainer. 2. The supply line of claim 1, wherein the retainer has internal threads for coupling with external threads of the fitting. 3. The supply line of claim 2, wherein the retainer is made of a material harder than the retaining ring such that the retainer creates an annular groove in the retaining ring when the retainer is threaded to the fitting to define a fluid coupling between the fluid conduit and the fitting. 4. The supply line of claim 3, wherein the retainer is formed of a metal, and the retaining ring is formed of a polymer. 5. The supply line of claim 1, including an end ring coupled to the first end of the fluid conduit, the end ring permitting a fluid to pass into the fluid passageway of the fluid conduit wherein the retaining ring is spaced apart from the end ring. 6. The supply line of claim 5, further including: a seal received proximate the first end of the fluid conduit, the seal being generally positioned between the end ring and the retaining ring and contacting an exterior surface of the fluid conduit. 7. The supply line of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is made from a flexible polymeric material. 8. The supply line of claim 1, wherein the annular protrusion is a machined trepan cut. 9. A supply line for coupling to a threaded fitting having a receptacle, the supply line including: a flexible polymeric fluid conduit having a first end, a second end, and a fluid passageway extending therethrough;a polymeric retaining ring coupled to the fluid conduit proximate the first end, the retaining ring having an outer perimeter greater than an outer perimeter of the conduit; anda metal retainer having internal threads and being axially movable along the fluid conduit between a first position where the retainer is in axially spaced relation to a fitting, and a second position where the retainer threadably engages the fitting and engages the retaining ring to define a fluid coupling between the fluid conduit and the fitting, wherein the retainer includes: an outer wall extending between opposing first and second ends, the first end of the outer wall facing in the same direction as the first end of the fluid conduit, and the second end of the outer wall facing in the same direction as the second end of the fluid conduit,a collar supported at the second end of the outer wall and extending radially inwardly to define an opening to slidably receive the fluid conduit, anda retention tooth supported by the collar, located radially along the collar and extending axially in a direction from the second end of the retainer toward the first end of the retainer, wherein the retention tooth includes: a deforming face facing radially outwardly and facing axially from the second end of the retainer toward the first end of the retainer, the deforming face extending from a leading edge to a relief portion,the leading edge being of sufficient hardness to plastically deform the retaining ring radially outwardly as the retainer moves to the second position; andthe relief portion being configured to receive deformed material from the retaining ring as the retainer moves to the second position, wherein the deformed material from the retaining ring flows into the relief portion of the retainer. 10. The supply line of claim 9, wherein the retention tooth is an annular protrusion. 11. The supply line of claim 10, wherein the annular protrusion is a machined trepan cut. 12. The supply line of claim 9, wherein the retainer is made of a material harder than the retaining ring such that the retainer creates an annular groove in the retaining ring when the retainer is threaded to the fitting to define a fluid coupling between the fluid conduit and the fitting. 13. A method for connecting a supply line to a fitting having a receptacle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a retainer having an annular protrusion over a retaining ring and a first end of a fluid conduit;aligning the first end of the fluid conduit with a receptacle of a fitting, with the retainer proximate to the fitting;coupling the retainer onto the fitting to establish a sealed connection between the fluid conduit and the receptacle through which a fluid may flow; andforming an annular groove in the retaining ring with the annular protrusion, whereby a leading edge and a deforming face of the annular protrusion plastically deforms a portion of the retaining ring radially outwardly, and the deformed portion of the retaining ring flows and comes to rest in a relief portion of the retainer. 14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of: positioning a seal proximate the first end of the fluid conduit in contact with an exterior surface of the fluid conduit. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the annular protrusion is a machined trepan cut. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the retainer is made of a material harder than the retaining ring such that the retainer creates an annular groove in the retaining ring when the retainer is coupled to the fitting. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the retainer is formed of a metal, and the retaining ring is formed of a polymer.