Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – Leaf spring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-27
2001-02-13
Nicholson, Eric K. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
Leaf spring
C285S320000, C285S308000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186561
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retainer for a pipe connecting device to be used in, for example, an automotive fuel pipeline. The pipe connecting device is used in, for example, an automotive fuel pipeline to connect a pipe to a fuel filter and to connect a pipe to a fuel pump unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
An automotive fuel pipeline employs, for example, a connector
2
as shown in
FIG. 17. A
tubular connector housing
5
has a first end part fitted on a pipe
4
, and a second end part fitted in a synthetic resin tube
1
. A space between the inner circumference of the first end part of the connector housing
5
and the outer circumference of the pipe
4
is stuffed with O rings
6
for sealing. A retainer
7
provided with teeth
7
a
formed so as to bend elastically radially inward is attached to the connector housing
5
to fasten the connector housing
5
to the pipe
4
. When the pipe
4
is pushed into the connector housing
5
, the teeth
7
a
engage with a stopping protrusion
8
to restrain the connector housing
5
from separating from the pipe
4
.
When the connector housing
5
is connected to the pipe
4
by this conventional pipe connecting device, the connector housing
5
cannot be separated from the pipe
4
unless the teeth
7
a
are disengaged from the stopping protrusion
8
. Therefore, when disconnecting the pipe
4
from the connector housing
5
, a tubular tool
9
is put on the pipe
4
as shown in
FIG. 18
, the tool
9
is moved in the direction of the arrow A to warp the teeth
7
a
radially outward so that the teeth
7
a
may be disengaged from the stopping protrusion
8
, and then the pipe
4
is disconnected from the connector housing
5
as shown in FIG.
19
. Although it is convenient that the retainer
7
remains attached to the connector housing
5
after the pipe
4
has been disconnected from the connector housing
5
and hence the retainer
7
will not be lost, it is inconvenient that the pipe
4
cannot be disconnected from the connector housing
5
unless the special tool is used.
If the pipe
4
needs to be disconnected from the connector housing
5
without using the tool
9
, a radial, compressive force is applied to an operating part
7
c
of the retainer
7
as indicated by the arrows B in
FIG. 20
to sink the retainer
7
into an opening formed in the connector housing
5
, and then the pipe
4
is disconnected from the connector housing
5
as shown in FIG.
21
. In this case, the retainer
7
remains on the pipe
4
as shown in FIG.
21
and the same is liable to be lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retainer for a pipe connecting device, capable of being disengaged from a pipe without using any special disconnecting tool when disconnecting the pipe from the connector housing, and of remaining on a connector housing without being separated together with the pipe from the connector housing when the pipe is disconnected from the connector.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a retainer of an elastic material employed in a pipe connecting device comprising a pipe provided with a stopping protrusion in an outer circumference of a connecting end part thereof, and a connector housing having a first end part hermetically fitted on the connecting end part of the pipe and a second end part connected to a tube to be connected to the pipe, and interposed between the pipe and the connector housing, has flexible stopping parts for preventing the disconnection of the pipe from the connector housing, disposed diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the pipe as fitted in the connector housing, and each having a first catching edge formed near the connector housing so as to engage with the stopping protrusion of the pipe, and a second catching edge formed apart from the connector housing so as to engage with the connector housing; in which the second catching edges are provided integrally with operating parts formed at positions diametrically opposite to each other, around the pipe and outside the first end part of the connector housing, a spacing means for inhibiting the change of the distance between the pair of second catching edges disposed diametrically opposite to each other is formed near the second catching edges, the spacing means comprises opposite walls integrally connecting parts of the pair of flexible stopping parts near the second catching edges on the opposite sides of the flexible stopping parts, and the flexible stopping parts are turned on parts near the second catching edges so that the first catching edges of the flexible stopping parts may be moved radially outward so as to be disengaged from the stopping protrusion of the pipe when the operating parts are pressed toward the pipe
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a retainer of an elastic material employed in a pipe connecting device comprising a pipe provided with a stopping protrusion in an outer circumference of a connecting end part thereof, and a connector housing having a first end part hermetically fitted on the connecting end part of the pipe and a second end part connected to a tube to be connected to the pipe, and interposed between the pipe and the connector housing, has flexible stopping parts for preventing the disconnection of the pipe from the connector housing, disposed diametrically opposite to each other, and each having a first catching edge formed near the connector housing so as to engage with the stopping protrusion of the pipe, and a second catching edge formed apart from the connector housing so as to engage with the connector housing; in which the second catching edges are provided integrally with operating parts formed at positions diametrically opposite to each other, around the pipe and outside the first end part of the connector housing, a spacing means for inhibiting the change of the distance between the pair of second catching edges disposed diametrically opposite to each other is disposed near the second catching edges, the spacing means comprises projections projecting radially outward on the opposite sides of parts near the second catching edges of the pair of flexible stopping parts and engaging with the inner surface of the connector housing, and the flexible stopping parts are turned on parts near the second catching edges so that the first catching edges of the flexible stopping parts may be moved radially outward so as to be disengaged from the stopping protrusion of the pipe when the operating parts are pressed toward the pipe.
In the retainer for the pipe connecting device, according to the present invention, parts of the pair of opposite flexible stopping parts near the second catching edges on the base end side of the pair of flexible stopping parts are fixed to each other on the opposite sides of the flexible stopping parts or the projections projecting radially outward on the opposite sides of parts near the second catching edges are engaged with the inner surface of the connector housing to keep the distance between the second catching edges perfectly fixed. Therefore, the flexible stopping parts can be turned on the parts near the second catching edges serving as a perfectly stationary fulcra to displace the first catching edges radially outward by pressing the operating parts of the retainer by fingers. Accordingly, the first catching edges can surely be disengaged from the stopping protrusion of the pipe to disconnect the connector housing and the pipe of the pipe connecting device without using any tool, and the retainer can be kept on the connector housing.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4946205 (1990-08-01), Washizu
patent: 5131691 (1992-07-01), Washizu
patent: 5161832 (1992-11-01), McNaughton et al.
patent: 5161833 (1992-11-01), McNaughton et al.
patent: 5297818 (1994-03-01), Klinger
pat
Kaishio Mitsuo
Ueno Masao
Ladas and Parry
Nicholson Eric K.
Sanoh Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
LandOfFree
Retainer for piping connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Retainer for piping connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Retainer for piping connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2609639