Patent ID: 6186561
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A retainer of an elastic material employed in a pipe coupling for a pipe provided with a stopping protrusion on an outer circumference thereof and a connector housing for receiving said pipe, said retainer being interposed between said pipe and said connector housing for engagement with said pipe and said connector housing, said retainer comprising:a pair of stopping parts disposed opposite each other with respect to a diametrical direction of said retainer, each of said stopping parts having a forward catching edge for engaging said stopping protrusion of said pipe and a rearward catching edge for engaging said connector housing, each of said forward catching edges being pivotable about a pivotal axis extending in a direction perpendicular to said diametrical direction and perpendicular to an axial direction of said retainer;a pair of operating parts connected to rear end portions of said stopping parts respectively for producing pivotal movement of said stopping parts; andmeans for positioning each said pivotal axis of said stopping parts to a position adjacent to a radial plane including the rearward catching edges of said stopping parts, and for fixing a distance between said pivotal axes of said stopping parts with respect to said diametrical direction of said retainer, said operation parts being displaceable toward said pipe to cause said forward catching edges of said stopping parts to be moved radially outward so as to be disengaged from said stopping protrusion of said pipe while said rearward catching edges of said stopping parts are kept engaged with said connector housing, each of said operating parts having side end portions opposite each other with respect to said direction of said pivotal axis of said stopping parts, said retainer further comprising:a forward ring having an outer periphery for radially positioning said retainer to said connector housing and a rear end portion connected to adjacent side end portions of said operating parts, each of said rear end portions of said support parts being located adjacent to said radial plane including the rear catching edges of said stopping parts, so that said rear end portions of said support parts serve as said positioning and fixing means.