Abstract:
A connector apparatus is provided. In another aspect, at least a majority of a connector apparatus is a polymeric material. A further aspect of a connector apparatus couples together multiple tubes, which may optionally be of different materials. Yet another aspect employs a connector apparatus which can be of a quick connect variety to one or more tubes without requiring threaded engagement of the tube, thereby avoiding undesired thread stripping and/or thread misalignment.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a connector apparatus and more particularly to a connector that couples together multiple tubes. 
         [0002]    Conventionally, various fittings, reducers and connectors have been used to couple together tubes, hoses and pipes (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “tubes”) which carry water, air or other fluid within a residential house, industrial factory, office building or the like. In one such example, a brass adaptor is brazed or soldered to copper tubes. However, new building codes are now requiring that no brazing, soldering or welding be conducted in an environment containing bottled oxygen or other highly flammable materials. Thus, conventional brass adaptors and couplings pose a problem when repair is required in a hospital, retirement home, laboratory or other such facility. 
         [0003]    Another example of a conventional coupling is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,897 entitled “Plug-In Coupling for Connecting a Fluid Conduit to a Pipe” which issued to Bauer on Mar. 24, 2009. This patent is incorporated by reference herein. This conventional coupling, however, disadvantageously requires a male pipe to have a unique circumferential groove machined therein to engage a pair of spring legs. Thus, costs are increased and custom pipes are required. 
         [0004]    In accordance with the present invention, a connector apparatus is provided. In another aspect, at least a majority of a connector apparatus is a polymeric material. A further aspect of a connector apparatus couples together multiple tubes, which may optionally be of different materials. Yet another aspect employs a connector apparatus which can be of a quick connect variety to one or more tubes without requiring threaded engagement of the tube, thereby avoiding undesired thread stripping and/or thread misalignment. Another aspect is constructed to allow for disengagement of an internally quick connected tube within the connector assembly. A method of connecting multiple tubes with a connector is also provided. 
         [0005]    The connector assembly of the present invention is advantageous over conventional devices. For example, the present connector assembly does not require brazing, soldering, welding or other such heating for connection to the tubes. Furthermore, the present connector assembly allows for quick and secure coupling together of multiple tubes. Unlike with some traditional fittings, the present connector assembly does not require threading of the tubes or of fittings to be applied thereto. Easy disassembly of the connector is also provided. Moreover, unique attachment formations, characteristics or grooves are not needed on the connected tubes such that inexpensive standard tubes are employed. Additional advantages and benefits of the present invention are shown in the associated figures, and disclosed in the following description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view showing a connector assembly installed in a building; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of the connector apparatus; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view showing the first preferred embodiment connector apparatus coupling together a pair of tubes; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second preferred embodiment of a portion of the connector apparatus; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a portion of the connector apparatus; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment of the connector apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a connector  11  couples together a first tube  13  to a second tube  15 . In a preferred use, the tubes are part of a fluid carrying plumbing system, such as for water, within a health care or laboratory facility, and mounted between walls  17 , floors or ceilings thereof. Tube  13  is preferably a PEX, cross-linked polyethylene and somewhat flexible member while tube  15  is preferably a generally rigid copper pipe. 
         [0013]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 , a first preferred embodiment of connector  11  includes a circular body  21  from which extend a male adaptor  23 . Connector  11  further includes a collar  25 , a metallic retainer  27  and multiple O-ring seals  29 . All of the components  21 - 29  of connector  11  have hollow through-bores that are coaxially aligned when assembled together. Body  21  and adaptor  23  are formed as an integral, single piece. Body  21 , adaptor  23  and collar  25  are all preferably an engineering grade polymeric material, such as a glass-filled nylon or the like. 
         [0014]    An intermediate section  31  of body  21  contains a pair of circumferentially enlarged and internal pockets within which are secured seals  29 . An attachment feature of body  21  includes an internal thread  33  adjacent a female end  35  thereof. An externally threaded attachment feature  36  of collar  25  enmeshes with threads  33  to removably attach collar  25  to body  21 . An enlarged diameter flange  37  of collar  25  includes an externally accessible groove or knurl pattern to allow manual or tool gripping and rotation of collar  25  relative to the body for attachment and detachment therebetween. Multiple relief slots are provided within the threaded segment of collar  25  to allow some flexure thereof. 
         [0015]    Retainer  27  is preferably stamped from a sheet of carbon spring steel. There are at least two, and more preferably six, teeth  41  that inwardly extend from a continuous circular ring of retainer  27 . Each tooth  41  is bent at an offset angle from a nominal plane of the outer ring and each tooth is chamfered to point generally toward male adaptor  23  of connector  11 . Collar  25  serves to secure retainer  27  within body  21  when the connector is fully assembled. Alternately, an entirely annular, spring steel retainer can be used which includes a contiguous inside circle on the forwardly offset angled ring segment; the inside circle has a tapered end defining a through-bore, which engages the copper tube in an interference fit manner. It is noteworthy that both retainer embodiments engage at least a majority of a circumference of the inserted tube. 
         [0016]    Connector  11  is preassembled such that collar  57 , retainer  27  and seals  29  are attached together when the connector is manufactured and prior to shipment to an installer such as a plumber. Thereafter, metallic tube  15  is linearly inserted into the through-bore of a female end  26  of collar  25  until the tube abuts at the transition between body  21  and male adapter  23 . This allows seals  29  to engage with and compress against an external surface of tube  15 . A low insertion effort, such as approximately 17 or less pounds, is required to manually insert tube  15  through retainer  57 . Teeth  41  of retainer  27 , however, bite into the exterior surface of tube  15  and require approximately 200-400 pounds or more of extraction force, thereby significantly deterring undesired disassembly. This provides a quick connect feature. A constant circular-cylindrical external section of the tube, free of grooves, threads or localized formations, is engaged by the teeth. Notwithstanding, tube  15  can be easily uncoupled from connector  11  by a person manually unscrewing collar  25  from body  21 . 
         [0017]    At the other end, a metal cir-clip fastener  49  or the like can optionally be used to secure and clamp the otherwise cylindrical end of tube  13  around male adapter  23  after they have been squeezed together. In this situation, fastener  49  inwardly compresses an internal surface of tube  13  to engage within circumferentially expanded and reduced formations on the outside surface of male adapter  23 . For example, a set of circular valleys  51  and adjacent circular peaks or barbs  53 , are present in the outside of male adapter  23 . At least one valley  51  is at least as wide as the generally concentric fastener  49 . This serves to deter undesired removal of tube  13  from connector  11 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second preferred embodiment of connector  11 . Body  21  and male adapter  23  are essentially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment; however, the seal configuration is different. With the present embodiment, seal  71  has a generally unified annular shape internally defined by a pair of raised sealing peaks  73  and  75  joined together by a bridging valley  77 . Additionally, tapered tails or ends  79  and  81  project from peaks  73  and  75 , respectively, to maintain the desired peak orientation and position within the body. 
         [0019]    An alternate embodiment connector  11  is shown in  FIG. 6 . This connector is essentially the same as that of the preferred embodiments, except that no threads are provided to attach together a collar  125  and a body  121 . Instead, collar  125  includes a circular-cylindrically smooth male segment  181  of smaller diameter than a grooved flange  183 . An attachment pin  185  radially projects from segment  181  of collar  125  and rides along an attachment channel or slot  187  within body  121 . Channel  187  has a multi-angled shape to allow for linear and twisting motion of collar  125  relative to body  121 . Additionally, a slight detent  189  is located near an end of channel  187  to secure pin  185  thereat. This provides a non-threaded attachment feature between collar  125  and body  121 , while also allowing for easy uncoupling thereof. Alternately, the pin and channel may be reversed between the collar and body. 
         [0020]    While various embodiments of the present connector apparatus have been disclosed, it should be appreciated that other variations are possible. For example, the connector may be made of other materials although many of the present advantages will not be achieved. Furthermore, the retainer can alternately be a polymeric material as long as the insertion and extraction forces, and durability are suitable. Moreover, it is envisioned that the present connector can be employed in other industries, such as connecting together automotive vehicle tubes, airplane tubes, watercraft tubes, robotic and machinery tubes, and the like; however, various advantages may not be realized. It is additionally intended that the attachment feature connecting the collar to the body can use flexible snap fits, a removable cotter pin, or the like although certain benefits may not be utilized. Alternately, the enlarged flange of the collar can have a hexagonal or other polymeric peripheral shape when viewed from its end, to easily mate with a wrench or other tool. The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.