Patent ID: 7377553
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A quick connector comprising: a connector housing having an upstream and downstream end with an opening at the downstream end thereof and having an outer circumference with a first and second radial end, a tube connection component provided upstream along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing; a pipe body having an insertion end adapted to be fully inserted into the opening at the downstream end of the connector housing; a retainer provided downstream along the longitudinal axis of said connector housing; an annular protruding flange formed on said insertion end of said pipe body with said flange adapted to be snapped into said retainer to connect said insertion end to said retainer; with said connector housing being configured in such a manner that a removable checker can be attached to said first radial end of the outer circumference; said quick connector further comprising: a checking operation portion having a first end connected to the second radial end of the outer circumference of said connector housing and having a second end provided with a holding component, the checking operating portion including a checking projection component that pops into a checking window provided in the second radial end of the connector housing to the inside of the connector housing by rotary motion of said checking operation portion about its first end, the holding component having a fitting hole having a generally same diameter as an outer diameter of the pipe body and a gate component which is continuous with an opening end of the fitting hole; wherein: the holding component snap-fits on the outer circumference of said pipe body connected to said housing by the rotary motion of said checking operation portion about its first end in such a manner that said pipe body fits in the fitting hole through the gate component, said checking window is formed radially through the second radial end of the connector housing, and the checking projection component projects into the connector housing through the checking window, said holding component is adapted to be prevented from connecting with the outer circumference of said pipe body due to interference between the checking projection component and the annular protruding flange of the pipe body if said pipe body is not fully inserted into said connector housing, the holding component further has an auxiliary engagement component including a protrusion extending in the upstream direction along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing, the auxiliary engagement component being formed such that an inner surface thereof is flush with the gate component.