Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch
Patent
1998-12-21
1999-11-30
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
285319, 285330, F16L 3700
Patent
active
059929022
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector device for the connection of a hydraulic apparatus such as a showerhead to an external component such as a water supply hose or pipe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The tubular handle of a hand-held showerhead must be connected to a flexible water supply tube or hose which is normally provided with a connecting member ending, for example, in a ring nut or a fast attachment device. Accomplishing this connection presents several problems. A first problem consists of the fact that the tubular handle of the showerhead must have a relatively large diameter so that it can be comfortably grasped, while its inside passage must have a considerably smaller diameter to be adapted to a collecting portion that is shaped so as to be able to be coupled to the collecting member that can have a reduced diameter of the water supply tube. It follows from this that the handle should be very thick, which results in difficulty in molding and requires the employment of an excessive quantity of material with a corresponding increase in weight and cost. A second problem springs from the fact that there are flexible tubes whose connecting members have different diameters and/or pitches. This creates the need for molding a plurality of showerheads with tubular handles having different connecting portions adapted to the various connecting members of the flexible tubes available on the market.
One method to solve these problems is by using a connecting member that is screwed into the end of a showerhead handle, which by itself does not have any connecting means, and is fixed in position by gluing or welding with ultrasound, and which has a connecting portion adapted to be coupled to the connecting member of a flexible tube. In this way the handle of the showerhead can be produced in a standardized form and with the proper thickness, the connecting member and only the connecting member must be produced in different shapes in order to be adapted to various connecting members of the flexible tubes available on the market. However, gluing or welding of this connecting member inside the handle of a showerhead is difficult to accomplish in industrial production, since it is difficult to get the connection to have satisfactory mechanical resistance, and if the gluing does not work perfectly then there may be rejects and waste.
It is an object of this invention to provide a device for connecting a hydraulic apparatus to an external component that is easy and convenient to make on an industrial scale in a standardized shape that is easily mounted and offers acceptable mechanical resistance and hydraulic sealing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention comprises a connecting device for the connection of a hydraulic apparatus to an external component that comprises a tubular part of the apparatus, connecting member having means for connection to said external component, and a means for locking the tubular part of the apparatus to the connecting member. The tubular part of the apparatus has a window. The connecting member has an outside diameter sized for insertion in the tubular part of the apparatus, and a sealing packing for establishing a hydraulic seal between the tubular part of the apparatus and the connecting member. The connecting member further includes a recess that corresponds to said window of the tubular part of the apparatus and at its opening has a greater dimension than the corresponding dimension of the window. The means for locking the tubular part of the apparatus and the connecting member consists of an adjusting block that has dimensions which are adapted for being inserted in said window and in said recess and that includes protruding elastic parts capable of being passed, due to elastic deformation, through said window and thereafter expanding elastically to abut against the internal surface of said tubular part of the apparatus.
The tubular part of the apparatus can be designed with any dimensions and thickness and can be produced on an industrial sca
REFERENCES:
patent: 2721090 (1955-10-01), Kaman
patent: 4134605 (1979-01-01), Guhne et al.
patent: 4541657 (1985-09-01), Smyth
patent: 5374088 (1994-12-01), Moretti et al.
patent: 5676402 (1997-10-01), Eley et al.
Arola Dave W.
Doigan Lloyd D.
Kapustij Myron B.
Masco Corporation of Indiana
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