Patent ID: 7857360
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: F16L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fluid coupler for snap-in-place connection in a cavity in a part, wherein the cavity has an enlarged width portion and a reduced width portion between the enlarged width portion and a face of the part to which the cavity opens, and the intersection of the enlarged and reduced width portions form a shoulder spaced inwardly from the face of the part, the coupler comprising a coupler body having a tubular main body portion and a connecting portion extending axially from the main body portion, the connecting portion including a plurality of resilient fingers that extend axially from the main body portion and are circumferentially spaced apart by respective axially extending slots that allow the fingers to radially contract from a radially expanded latching position to a radially contracted release position; and a lock member insertable into an interior passage in the coupler body and having stop portions for interfering with such radial contraction of the fingers so as to hold the fingers in the their radially expanded latching positions thereby to prevent withdrawal of the coupler from the socket when the fingers are engaged behind the shoulder; the stop portions forming therebetween recesses to facilitate the flow of fluid past the stop portions, wherein the fingers have radially outwardly protruding engaging portions at the ends thereof, and wherein the lock member is axially movable to a release position disengaged from the fingers to allow the fingers to contract to their radially contracted release position thereby to enable withdrawal from or insertion of the connecting portion into the cavity.