Patent ID: 9447905
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: F16L

Claim Text:
1. A pipe connector, comprising: a connector body having an insertion hole into which a pipe is insertable, the pipe having an outer periphery having an end side formed with a flange; a retainer having a locking portion configured to be attached to the connector body, a pair of locking legs which are deformable to be spread and closed and are moved into the insertion hole of the connector body in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the connector body, the locking legs being positioned in the insertion hole so as to protrude, before insertion of the pipe, into an approach path of the pipe, the locking legs being elastically flexible so as to retreat outward from the insertion hole upon passage of the flange thereby to allow the flange to pass through the insertion hole, the locking legs being elastically returned to lock a rear part of the flange, thereby retaining the pipe, and a release operation portion being operable to displace the locking legs in a direction such that the pipe is releasable from a retained state; and a checker which is formed separately from the retainer and lockable to the connector body so as to assume a preliminary holding position, the checker being releasable from a locked state at the preliminary holding position to thereby be movable to a detection position when the pipe is inserted into the insertion hole to a normal position, wherein the checker is provided with a cover configured to cover the release operation portion of the retainer when the checker assumes the detection position; and wherein the checker is formed with pressing pieces located rearward, in the insertion direction of the pipe, relative to the locking legs when the checker assumes the detection position, to thereby prevent the locking legs from being flexed rearward.