Patent ID: 9188267
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A connector assembly, comprising: a female coupler having a first end and a second end, and having a first fluid passage extending between said first and second ends, the second end constructed to fit with a first conduit, the female coupler having a first retainer flange located at an exterior surface of the female coupler, and the female coupler having a second retainer flange located at the exterior surface, the first retainer flange having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion has a first radial extent with respect to the exterior surface and the second portion has a second radial extent with respect to the exterior surface, the second radial extent being greater than the first radial extent, the second retainer flange having a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion has a third radial extent with respect to the exterior surface and the fourth portion has a fourth radial extent with respect to the exterior surface, the fourth radial extent is smaller than the third radial extent; a retainer carried by the female coupler, the retainer having a portion locatable within the first fluid passage, the retainer having a bridge located outside of said fluid passage and externally accessible by a user; and a male coupler having a first end that can be inserted into the first end of the female coupler, the male coupler having a second end constructed to fit with a second conduit, the male coupler having a second fluid passage extending between its first and second ends, the male coupler having a groove; wherein, when the female coupler and the male coupler are brought together and the first and second fluid passages communicate with each other, the portion of the retainer is receivable within the groove of the male coupler in order to inhibit separation of the male and female couplers, a second portion of the retainer is secured between the first portion of the first retainer flange and the third portion of the second retainer flange, the second portion of the retainer lying radially inwardly of the first radial extent and of the third radial extent, the bridge of the retainer is secured and positioned between the first and second retainer flanges at the second and fourth portions of the first and second retainer flanges, the bridge lies radially inwardly of a radially-outwardly edge of the second portion of the first retainer flange and lies radially inwardly of the second radial extent across the entire extent of the bridge that is located outside of the first fluid passage, the bridge lies radially outwardly of the fourth portion at the radial extent of the fourth portion, and the bridge is protected from inadvertent dislodging, by being radially inward of the second portion second radial extent of the first retainer flange, across the entire extent of the bridge that is located outside of the fluid passage; and wherein the bridge is retained longitudinally in-between the fourth radial extent and the second radial extent.