초록 ▼

The disclosure herein relates to a quick-connect fitting that provides a leak-proof connection between two components of a waterway. The quick-connect fitting of the present disclosure is releasable and reusable for disconnecting and reconnecting the waterway connection. Moreover, the quick-connect

The disclosure herein relates to a quick-connect fitting that provides a leak-proof connection between two components of a waterway. The quick-connect fitting of the present disclosure is releasable and reusable for disconnecting and reconnecting the waterway connection. Moreover, the quick-connect fitting further comprises an audible identifier which identifies the quick-connect fitting has secured the waterway components to be connected.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A waterway connection assembly comprising: a male fitting comprising a recess;a female fitting comprising a saddle and a first aperture and a second aperture within opposing sidewalls of the female fitting;a clip comprising a first leg and a second leg extending from a seat where the first leg co

1. A waterway connection assembly comprising: a male fitting comprising a recess;a female fitting comprising a saddle and a first aperture and a second aperture within opposing sidewalls of the female fitting;a clip comprising a first leg and a second leg extending from a seat where the first leg comprises a first leg protrusion and a first tab and the second leg comprises a second leg protrusion, where the first tab extends from a base of the first leg in an axial direction;wherein the clip is positioned about the female fitting with the seat positioned at the saddle and the first leg and the second leg extending about the saddle into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, where the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion extend from the first leg and the second leg through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively;wherein a sidewall of the male fitting is configured to drive the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion apart to advance the male fitting into the female fitting and wherein the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion snap towards each other into the recess of the male fitting upon fully advancing the male fitting into the female fitting, a gap being defined between the seat of the clip and the saddle of the female fitting when the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are disposed in the recess of the male fitting whereby the clip secures the male fitting and the female fitting together;wherein a base of the first aperture and a base of the second aperture widen outwardly in a radial direction, relative to the female fitting, and the base of the first leg and a base of the second leg each have an opposing tapered surface, relative to the base of the first aperture and the base of the second aperture, respectively;the clip is moveable to release the male fitting from the female fitting by forcibly biasing the clip into a position where the clip is fully seated into the saddle of the female fitting, the base of the first aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the first leg radially outwardly and the base of the second aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the second leg radially outwardly whereby the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are biased out of the recess of the male fitting thereby releasing the male fitting from the female fitting; andwherein the base of the first aperture extends into the first locking recess and the respective tapered surface of the first leg extends onto the first tab of the first leg. 2. The assembly of claim 1, where the first tab is configured to travel about an exterior of the first sidewall of the opposing sidewalls of the female fitting as the first leg and the second leg are moved into position overtop the respective first aperture and the second aperture where the first tab enters into a first locking recess extending into the body of the female fitting at a base of the first aperture in the axial direction. 3. The assembly of claim 2, where the first leg and the second leg of the clip are maintained in a parallel arrangement and remain positioned within the recess of the male fitting upon being positioned within the first locking recess. 4. The assembly of claim 3, where the clip is a polymer and the parallel arrangement is maintained by shape memory of the polymer. 5. The assembly of claim 3, where the first leg and the second leg of the clip are configured to be moved from the parallel arrangement by forcing the seat into the saddle and thereby spreading the first leg and the second leg apart, removing the first leg and the second leg from the recess of the male fitting, and releasing the male fitting from the female fitting while the first tab is maintained within the first locking recess. 6. The assembly of claim 2, where a sidewall of the female fitting separates the saddle from the first locking recess. 7. The assembly of claim 1, the clip further comprising: a second tab of the second leg extending from a base of the second leg in the axial direction. 8. The assembly of claim 7, where the second tab is configured to travel about an exterior of the second sidewall of the opposing sidewalls of the female fitting as the first leg and the second leg are moved into position overtop the respective first aperture and the second aperture where the second tab enters into a second locking recess extending into the body of the female fitting at a base of the second aperture in the axial direction. 9. The assembly of claim 8, where the first tab and the second tab are configured to be forced about the opposing sidewalls of the female fitting and engage the exterior of the opposing sidewalls of the female fitting adjacent the respective first aperture and second aperture of the female fitting. 10. The assembly of claim 9, where the respective tapered surface of the first leg extends onto the first leg protrusion. 11. The assembly of claim 8, where the base of the second aperture extends onto the second locking recess and the respective tapered surface of the second leg extends onto the second tab of the second leg. 12. The assembly of claim 7, where the clip snaps within the second aperture from a raised position and is configured to make an audible click when the second protrusion enters the recess of the male fitting. 13. The assembly of claim 1, where the clip snaps within the first aperture from a raised position and is configured to make an audible click when the first protrusion enters the recess of the male fitting. 14. The assembly of claim 1, where upon the clip being fully seated into the saddle of the female fitting, the first tab is maintained within the first locking recess. 15. The assembly of claim 1, where the gap is maintained between the seat and the saddle when the first leg and the second leg are in a parallel arrangement. 16. The assembly of claim 1, where the clip is u-shaped and symmetrical about a plane dividing the first leg from the second leg. 17. The assembly of claim 1, where the assembly does not include a spring. 18. A waterway connection assembly comprising: a male fitting comprising a recess wherein the male fitting is adapted to be overmolded onto a tube and the recess of the male fitting is formed between a pair of collars extending from a sidewall of the male fitting and integrally formed with the male fitting;a female fitting comprising a saddle and a first aperture and a second aperture within opposing sidewalls of the female fitting;a clip comprising a first leg and a second leg extending from a seat where the first leg comprises a first leg protrusion and a first tab and the second leg comprises a second leg protrusion, where the first tab extends from a base of the first leg in an axial direction;wherein the clip is positioned about the female fitting with the seat positioned at the saddle and the first leg and the second leg extending about the saddle into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, where the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion extend from the first leg and the second leg through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively;wherein a sidewall of the male fitting is configured to drive the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion apart to advance the male fitting into the female fitting and wherein the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion snap towards each other into the recess of the male fitting upon fully advancing the male fitting into the female fitting, a gap being defined between the seat of the clip and the saddle of the female fitting when the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are disposed in the recess of the male fitting whereby the clip secures the male fitting and the female fitting together;wherein a base of the first aperture and a base of the second aperture widen outwardly in a radial direction, relative to the female fitting, and the base of the first leg and a base of the second leg each have an opposing tapered surface, relative to the base of the first aperture and the base of the second aperture, respectively; andthe clip is moveable to release the male fitting from the female fitting by forcibly biasing the clip into a position where the clip is fully seated into the saddle of the female fitting, the base of the first aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the first leg radially outwardly and the base of the second aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the second leg radially outwardly whereby the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are biased out of the recess of the male fitting thereby releasing the male fitting from the female fitting. 19. A waterway connection assembly comprising: a male fitting comprising a recess;a female fitting comprising a saddle and a first aperture and a second aperture within opposing sidewalls of the female fitting;a clip comprising a first leg and a second leg extending from a seat where the first leg comprises a first leg protrusion and a first tab and the second leg comprises a second leg protrusion, where the first tab extends from a base of the first leg in an axial direction;wherein the clip is positioned about the female fitting with the seat positioned at the saddle and the first leg and the second leg extending about the saddle into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, where the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion extend from the first leg and the second leg through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively;wherein a sidewall of the male fitting is configured to drive the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion apart to advance the male fitting into the female fitting and wherein the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion snap towards each other into the recess of the male fitting upon fully advancing the male fitting into the female fitting, a gap being defined between the seat of the clip and the saddle of the female fitting when the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are disposed in the recess of the male fitting whereby the clip secures the male fitting and the female fitting together;wherein a base of the first aperture and a base of the second aperture widen outwardly in a radial direction, relative to the female fitting, and the base of the first leg and a base of the second leg each have an opposing tapered surface, relative to the base of the first aperture and the base of the second aperture, respectively;the clip is moveable to release the male fitting from the female fitting by forcibly biasing the clip into a position where the clip is fully seated into the saddle of the female fitting, the base of the first aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the first leg radially outwardly and the base of the second aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the second leg radially outwardly whereby the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are biased out of the recess of the male fitting thereby releasing the male fitting from the female fitting; anda pivotable clip, the pivotable clip including a pair of pivot pins pivotally disposed in a pair of pivot recesses defined by the female fitting, the pivotable clip being engageable with the male fitting when the male fitting is disposed within the female fitting to thereby secure the male fitting to the female fitting. 20. A waterway connection assembly comprising: a male fitting comprising a first raised curb and a second raised curb defining a recess therebetween;a female fitting comprising a saddle and a first aperture and a second aperture within opposing sidewalls of the female fitting;a clip comprising a first leg and a second leg extending from a seat where the first leg comprises a first leg protrusion and a first tab and the second leg comprises a second leg protrusion, where the first tab extends from a base of the first leg in a first axial direction;wherein the clip is positioned about the female fitting with the seat positioned at the saddle and the first leg and the second leg extending about the saddle into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, where the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion extend from the first leg and the second leg through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively;wherein a sidewall of the male fitting is configured to drive the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion apart to advance the male fitting into the female fitting and wherein the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion snap towards each other into the recess of the male fitting upon fully advancing the male fitting into the female fitting; anda first retaining extension projecting axially from a sidewall of the first leg protrusion and a second retaining extension projecting axially from a sidewall of the second leg protrusion, the first retaining extension being disposed radially inwardly of the female fitting and extending in an axial direction toward the second raised curb when the sidewall of the first leg protrusion engages a face of the first aperture and the second retaining extension being disposed radially inwardly of the female fitting and extending in an axial direction toward the second raised curb when the sidewall of the second leg protrusion engages a face of the second aperture; andwherein, when the sidewall of the first leg protrusion engages the face of the first aperture, an opposing surface of the first leg protrusion engages the first raised curb and, when the sidewall of the second leg protrusion engages the face of the second aperture, an opposing surface of the second leg protrusion engages the first raised curb. 21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the first retaining extension and the second retaining extension both extend in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction. 22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the first tab is configured to travel about an exterior of the first sidewall of the opposing sidewalls of the female fitting as the first leg and the second leg are moved into position overtop the respective first aperture and the second aperture where the first tab enters into a first locking recess extending into the body of the female fitting at a base of the first aperture in the first axial direction. 23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the clip further comprises a second tab of the second leg extending from a base of the second leg in the first axial direction wherein the second tab is configured to travel about an exterior of the second sidewall of the opposing sidewalls of the female fitting as the first leg and the second leg are moved into position overtop the respective first aperture and the second aperture where the second tab enters into a second locking recess extending into the body of the female fitting at a base of the second aperture in the first axial direction. 24. A waterway connection assembly comprising: a male fitting comprising a recess;a female fitting comprising a saddle and a first aperture and a second aperture within opposing sidewalls of the female fitting;a clip comprising a first leg and a second leg extending from a seat where the first leg comprises a first leg protrusion defining a radially inward extending first ledge and the second leg comprises a second leg protrusion defining a radially inward extending second ledge;wherein the clip is positioned about the female fitting with the seat positioned at the saddle and the first leg and the second leg extending about the saddle into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, where the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion extend from the first leg and the second leg through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively and wherein, when the first leg protrusion extends through the first aperture and the second leg protrusion extends through the second aperture, the first ledge and the second ledge prevent removal of the clip from the female fitting;wherein a sidewall of the male fitting is configured to drive the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion apart to advance the male fitting into the female fitting and wherein the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion snap towards each other into the recess of the male fitting upon fully advancing the male fitting into the female fitting, a gap being defined between the seat of the clip and the saddle of the female fitting when the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are disposed in the recess of the male fitting whereby the clip secures the male fitting and the female fitting together;wherein a base of the first aperture and a base of the second aperture widen outwardly in a radial direction, relative to the female fitting, and the base of the first leg and a base of the second leg each have an opposing tapered surface, relative to the base of the first aperture and the base of the second aperture, respectively;the clip is moveable to release the male fitting from the female fitting by forcibly biasing the clip into a position where the clip is fully seated into the saddle of the female fitting, the base of the first aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the first leg radially outwardly and the base of the second aperture biases the opposing tapered surface of the base of the second leg radially outwardly whereby the first leg protrusion and the second leg protrusion are biased out of the recess of the male fitting thereby releasing the male fitting from the female fitting.