초록 ▼

A coupling, conduit assembly, method for coupling conduits and faucet assembly are described herein, wherein the coupling includes a female section with a conduit connecting end and a retainer with at least one projection; a male section with a conduit connecting end and a male projecting portion wi

A coupling, conduit assembly, method for coupling conduits and faucet assembly are described herein, wherein the coupling includes a female section with a conduit connecting end and a retainer with at least one projection; a male section with a conduit connecting end and a male projecting portion with a two large diameter sections, each having an inwardly facing surface wherein the surfaces define a channel that is configured so a mating surface on the projection or projections contacts the surface of the first large diameter section when the coupling is locked; and a locking piece on the female section capable of sliding along that section to engage the projection or projections when situated in the channel so the mating surface on the projection or projections contacts the surface of the first large diameter section and the locking piece retains the projection or projections in position and locks the coupling.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A conduit assembly, comprising: a first conduit having a connecting end;a second conduit having a connecting end; anda coupling joining the conduit connecting ends together comprising:a female section comprising a conduit connecting end and a retainer having an end comprising at least one project

1. A conduit assembly, comprising: a first conduit having a connecting end;a second conduit having a connecting end; anda coupling joining the conduit connecting ends together comprising:a female section comprising a conduit connecting end and a retainer having an end comprising at least one projection having an outer surface;a male section comprising a conduit connecting end and a male projecting portion having an outer surface, a first large diameter section and a second large diameter section, each diameter section having an inwardly facing surface wherein the first and second large diameter sections define a channel, the channel is configured so that a mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section when the coupling is in a locked position, and a seal is positioned on the outer surface of the male projecting portion; anda locking piece positioned on the female section and capable of sliding along the female section so as to engage the at least one projection when situated in the channel such that the mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section of the male section and the locking piece retains the at least one projection in position and thereby releasably locks the female section and the male section together,wherein in the locked position, the outer surface of the at least one projection is aligned longitudinally with the second large diameter section within the locking piece and an inner surface of the locking piece contacts both the outer surface of the at least one projection and the second large diameter section of the male section;wherein the channel is an annular channel, a top surface of the retainer and the inwardly facing surface of the second large diameter section of the male projecting portion form a space, the locking piece has an inner surface having a substantially constant first inner diameter and comprising at least one bead having a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter, and the at least one bead thereon which protrudes inwardly from the entire inner surface and is positioned in the space when the coupling is in a locked position having the locking piece thereon. 2. The conduit assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first conduit and second conduit comprises a hose, a tube, or a pipe. 3. The conduit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the conduit assembly is a hose for supplying fluid to a faucet. 4. A faucet assembly, comprising: a faucet portion with at least one conduit with a connecting end;a fluid supply portion with at least one conduit with a connecting end;a coupling joining the faucet portion conduit connecting end with the fluid supply portion conduit connecting end comprising:a female section comprising a retainer having an end with at least one projection having an outer surface and a conduit connecting end;a male section comprising a conduit connecting end and a male projecting portion having an outer surface, a first large diameter section and a second large diameter section, each diameter section having an inwardly facing surface wherein the first and second large diameter sections define a channel, the channel is configured so that a mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section when the coupling is in a locked position, and a seal is positioned on the outer surface of the male projecting portion; anda locking piece positioned on the female section and capable of sliding along the female section so as to engage the at least one projection when situated in the channel such that the mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section of the male section and the locking piece retains the at least one projection in position and thereby releasably locks the female section and the male section together,wherein in the locked position, the outer surface of the at least one projection is aligned longitudinally with the second large diameter section within the locking piece and an inner surface of the locking piece contacts both the outer surface of the at least one projection and the second large diameter section of the male section;wherein the channel is an annular channel, a to surface of the retainer and the inwardly facing surface of the second large diameter section of the male projecting portion form a space, the locking piece has an inner surface having a substantially constant first inner diameter and comprising at least one bead having a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter, and the at least one bead thereon which protrudes inwardly from the entire inner surface and is positioned in the space when the coupling is in a locked position having the locking piece thereon. 5. The faucet assembly according to claim 4, wherein the faucet portion is selected from the group consisting of a kitchen faucet and a bathroom faucet. 6. The faucet assembly according to claim 4, wherein the channel is an annular channel. 7. A coupling, comprising: a female section comprising a conduit connecting end and a retainer having an end comprising at least one projection;a male section comprising a conduit connecting end and a male projecting portion having a first large diameter section and a second large diameter section, each having an inwardly facing surface wherein the first and second large diameter sections define a channel, and the channel is configured so that a mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section when the coupling is in a locked position; anda locking piece positioned on the female section and capable of sliding along the female section so as to engage the at least one projection when situated in the channel such that the mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section of the male section and the locking piece retains the at least one projection in position and thereby releasably locks the female section and the male section together;wherein the channel is an annular channel, a top surface of the retainer and the inwardly facing surface of the second large diameter section of the male projecting portion form a space, the locking piece has an inner surface having a substantially constant first inner diameter and comprising at least one bead having a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter, and the bead is positioned in the space when the coupling is in a locked position having the locking piece thereon;wherein in the locked position, the outer surface of the at least one projection is aligned longitudinally with the second large diameter section within the locking piece and an inner surface of the locking piece contacts both the outer surface of the at least one projection and the second large diameter section of the male section. 8. The coupling according to claim 7, wherein the bead is an annular bead. 9. The coupling according to claim 7, wherein sliding of the locking piece is restricted when the bead is situated in the space. 10. A coupling, comprising: a female section comprising a conduit connecting end and a retainer having an end comprising at least one projection having an outer surface;a male section comprising a conduit connecting end and a male projecting portion having an outer surface, a first large diameter section and a second large diameter section, each diameter section having an inwardly facing surface wherein the first and second large diameter sections define a channel, the channel is configured so that a mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section when the coupling is in a locked position, and a seal is positioned on the outer surface of the male projecting portion; anda locking piece positioned on the female section when the locking piece is not in the locked position and capable of sliding along the female section so as to engage the at least one projection when situated in the channel such that the mating surface on the at least one projection contacts the inwardly facing surface of the first large diameter section of the male section and the locking piece retains the at least one projection in position and thereby releasably locks the female section and the male section together;wherein in the locked position, the outer surface of the at least one projection is aligned longitudinally with the second large diameter section within the locking piece and an inner surface of the locking piece contacts both the outer surface of the at least one projection and the second large diameter section of the male section;wherein the channel is an annular channel, a to surface of the retainer and the inwardly facing surface of the second large diameter section of the male projecting portion form a space, the locking piece has an inner surface having a substantially constant first inner diameter and comprising at least one bead having a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter, and the at least one bead thereon which protrudes inwardly from the entire inner surface and is positioned in the space when the coupling is in a locked position having the locking piece thereon. 11. The coupling according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the male section, the female section and the locking piece comprises a polymeric or polymeric composite material. 12. The coupling according to claim 10, wherein the male section and the locking piece comprise a polyamide with about 33% glass reinforcing fiber and the female section comprises a polyoxymethylene. 13. The coupling according to claim 10, wherein the retainer comprises a plurality of projections. 14. The coupling according to claim 13, wherein the retainer comprises about 4 to about 6 projections.