Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – Leaf spring
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-06
2001-07-31
Nicholson, Eric K. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
Leaf spring
C285S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267416
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector assembly that securely connects axially loaded components of various cross sections such as, but not limited to, tubing, conduits, rods or cables.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of connectors are presently available. However, many of these connectors are difficult to manufacture, can be used only with tubing or conduits and have complicated male inserts and/or female receptors. Also, some connectors have separate dust caps which increase the complexity and expense associated with the apparatus. Many of the connectors rely on spring wire, sheet metal or plastic retainers that secure tubing by the action of longitudinal compression or shear. The ultimate strength of the connection is therefore dependant upon the resistance of the projections to buckling or the shear strength of the material and the number of projections used. The physical size of the connection, the physical properties of the materials used and the design of the retainer tend to limit the loads that can be applied to the connections. Also, many of the connectors presently available do not allow for the assembler to determine through audible, tactile and visual means that the connection has been securely made.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,787 (issued on Mar. 23, 1993) discloses a male conduit with an annular bead, a female housing and a second “female” conduit. The female conduit may include a horse-shoe shaped clip which is inserted into the female housing using a specific tool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,497 (issued on Jul. 22, 1986) also discloses various connecting assemblies which involve a male conduit with an annular bead which passes through a clip into a female housing, but this design is limited to inserts of circular cross section. These designs are complicated and expensive to manufacture and do not prevent debris from collecting around the clip and the spacing around the entry of the male conduit into the female conduit. Also, the strength of the clip is dependant on the internal member's resistance to buckling wherein the structural members of the clip are in compression along the clip's longitudinal access.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,297 (issued on Jul. 23, 1996) discloses a complicated assembly to join conduits consisting of a male conduit with two annular beads which is surrounded by a sleeve with a clip on the second bead. An optional plug or dust boot may be inserted into the opening of the female housing to prevent contamination. This assembly, however, is very complicated and involves expensive tooling.
There is a need for a simple retainer which has quick connect and disconnect capabilities to connect two components which functions both as a retainer and a functional or aesthetic dust cap. There is also a need for a retainer which utilizes the compressive resistance of the material of the retainer instead of the shear or compression modes available in the prior art. There is also a need for a retainer which allows for the assembler to determine, through audible, tactile and visual stimuli, that the connection has been made.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly comprising:
a male insert having an upset,
a female receptor having a cavity for receiving the male insert, the cavity extending axially inwardly from an entrance to an interior portion, the cavity having an inwardly extending protrusion,
a slideable retainer member surrounding the male insert, the retainer member comprising a plurality of elongate, resilient retainer arms, the arms adapted to be compressed between the upset and the protrusion, the arms extending along a longitudinal axis of the male insert
wherein, when assembled, the male insert is retained within the female receptor through interference of the retainer arms between the upset and the protrusion.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector assembly wherein the protrusion is comprised of an interior section, a middle section and an exterior, inwardly sloping section, such that the interior section allows for space for the retainer arms to expand after the retainer arms are deformed around the middle section of the protrusion upon insertion of the retainer into the cavity.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a retainer member capable of slideable adaptation around a male insert, the retainer member comprising:
a plurality of elongate, resilient retainer arms, the retainer arms capable of extending along a longitudinal axis of the male insert,
the retainer arms adapted to create interference between an upset on the male insert and an annular protrusion in a female receptor to retain the male insert in the female receptor.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a female receptor is provided which is adapted to receive a male insert, the female receptor and the male insert capable of being connected by a retainer, comprising:
a cavity for receiving the male insert, the cavity extending axially inwardly from an entrance to an interior portion, the cavity having an inwardly extending protrusion,
the protrusion comprising an interior section, a middle section and an exterior, inwardly sloping section, the interior section allowing for space for a plurality of retainer arms to expand after the retainer arms are deformed around the middle section of the protrusion upon insertion of the retainer.
Advantages of the present invention include that the connector assembly is economical to manufacture without the need for complicated parts. Also, the retainer functions both to maintain the connection and as a functional aesthetic dust cap.
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D'Juric Goran
Ferreira Luis
Nicholson Eric K.
REA International, Inc.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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