Abstract:
A locking element for a quick connector is provided with a matable element releasably connectable to a receiving element of the quick connector. An actuating element is in engagement with the matable element and is mounted within the matable element such that it is displaceable between a released position and a locked position. The actuating element includes a locking device that can be brought into engagement with a retaining ring on an insertable element of the quick connector in an arrangement wherein the locking device is mated with the receiving element in the locked position. Secure attachment of the locking element to the quick connector and ease of use are thereby achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a locking element for a quick connector. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A locking element is known for example from US 2003/0137148 A1. The prior one-piece, U-like locking element is provided with means for effecting a snap connection with a receiving element of a quick connector, and with locking means which in a locked position can be brought into engagement with a retaining ring configured on an insertable element of the quick connector. The means for effecting a snap connection are configured as radially outwardly projecting noses formed onto outer arms oriented parallel to each other. The locking means are configured in the form of two mutually opposite projections disposed inwardly of the outer arms. The prior locking element is displaceably mounted in a clearance configured in the receiving element of the quick connector. 
   A further one-piece locking element for a quick connector is known from DE 101 15 399. This one-piece locking element can be mated onto a quick connector and is provided with means for effecting a snap connection with a receiving element of a quick connector, the locking element being displaceable perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the quick connector between a locked position that protects an insertable element of the quick connector against accidentally slipping out and a released position in which the insertable element can be withdrawn from the receiving element. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a locking element for a quick connector which, as a supplemental, particularly also retrofittable, locking element is distinguished by secure attachment to a receiving element of the quick connector and by ease of use. 
   By virtue of the fact that the inventive locking element is configured as two-part, with a matable element and an actuating element, the matable element, due to the specific configuration, being able, as an additional component besides a U-type or ring-shaped locking element already present on the quick connector, reliably to be brought into engagement forwardly with the receiving element of the quick connector, taken in the direction of insertion of the insertable element, and the actuating element being mounted in the matable element and thus independently of the configuration of the receiving element of the quick connector, operationally reliable fixation and ease of use of the additional lock are obtained. 
   The provision of a cover plate provides an actuating surface configured on a quick connector and serving to release an insertable element, thereby substantially reducing the risk of accidental loosening in the connection made by the quick connector. 
   In one form thereof, the present invention provides a locking element for a quick connector, including means for effecting a snap connection ( 18 ,  19 ) with a receiving element ( 1 ) of a quick connector and comprising locking means ( 22 ,  23 ,  25 ,  26 ) which in a locked position can be brought into engagement with a retaining ring ( 2 ) configured on an insertable element ( 3 ) of said quick connector, characterized in that present as a separate component is a matable element ( 11 ) on which said means for effecting a snap connection ( 18 ,  19 ) are configured and which comprises, disposed opposite said means for effecting a snap connection ( 18 ,  19 ), a bearing wall ( 12 ) which in an arrangement of being mated onto said receiving element ( 1 ) bears against the front side of said receiving element ( 1 ), taken in the direction of insertion of said insertable element ( 3 ), and in that present as an additional separate component is an actuating element ( 15 ) that is in engagement with said matable element ( 11 ) and is mounted in said matable element ( 11 ) so as to be displaceable between a released position and a locked position and is equipped with said locking means ( 22 ,  23 ,  25 ,  26 ). 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive locking element mated onto a quick connector in a released position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away perspective view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  mated onto a quick connector in a locked position. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away perspective view of an elongated, cylindrically configured receiving element  1  of a quick connector, which element can be connected to an end (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of a conduit of a fluid carrying system. To sealingly connect the receiving element  1  to an insertable element  3  that is part of the quick connector and is configured as a retaining ring  2 , a first sealing ring  4 , a second sealing ring  5  and an intermediate sealing ring  6  disposed between said sealing rings  4 ,  5  are present in a receiving space  7  of the receiving element  1 . A spacing ring  9  disposed adjacent the side of second sealing ring  5  facing the insertion side  8  serves to hold sealing rings  4 ,  5  and intermediate ring  6  in place on the side of receiving space  7  facing away from insertion side  8 . 
   Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of an inventive locking element  10  in an arrangement wherein it is mated onto the receiving element  1  of the quick connector. The locking element  10  is provided with a matable element  11  that can be mated onto the receiving element  1  and has a bearing wall  12 , which in the mated-on arrangement of  FIG. 1  bears against the front side of the receiving element  1 , taken in the direction of insertion. The locking element  10  is further configured with a front wall  13  that is spaced apart from the bearing wall  12  oppositely to the direction of insertion. Both bearing wall  12  and front wall  13  have a central clearance through which insertable element  3  can be passed, such that guide rails  14  are formed edgewise between bearing wall  12  and front wall  13 . The locking element  10  further comprises an actuating element  15 , which in the mated-on arrangement of the locking element  10  can be displaced, guided in the guide rails  14 , relative to the matable element  11  perpendicularly to the direction of insertion of insertable element  3  into receiving element  1 , as will be explained in more detail below. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of the inventive locking element  10  depicted in  FIG. 1  in the arrangement wherein it is mated onto the receiving element  1 , looking toward the side of the bearing wall  12  facing away from front wall  13 . It can be seen from  FIG. 2  that the locking element  10  has a first side wall  16  and a second side wall  17 , which are affixed to the side of bearing wall  12  facing away from front wall  13 . Configured as snap connection means at the ends of side walls  16 ,  17  facing away from bearing wall  12  are radially inwardly directed projections  18 ,  19 , which, in an arrangement wherein the locking element  10  is mated onto a receiving element  1 , engage behind the side of the receiving element  1  disposed rearwardly in the direction of insertion of insertable element  3  into receiving element  1 , and thereby, in combination with bearing wall  12  belonging to matable element  11  and disposed forwardly in the direction of insertion of insertable element  3  into receiving element  1 , releasably lock matable element  11  on receiving element  1 . To achieve the firmest possible connection to receiving element  1 , side walls  16 ,  17  are connected to each other via a bridge portion  20  usefully formed onto the respective back ends of said side walls  16 ,  17 . 
   It can further be appreciated from  FIG. 2  that the actuating element  15  is provided with a slightly curved cover plate  21  that extends from the plane of bearing wall in the direction of side walls  16 ,  17 , and with a first arm  22  and a second arm  23 , which are mounted substantially at right angles to cover plate  21  and engage in the guide rails  14 , such that the actuating element  15  is displaceable perpendicularly to matable element  11  between an extended, released position depicted in  FIG. 2  and a retracted, locked position. Arms  22 ,  23  are each provided on their respective sides adjoining the clearance  24  with a reinforcing rib  25 ,  26  that extends in the circumferential direction and projects in the direction of side walls  16 ,  17 , and on which in turn are configured endwise-disposed abutment noses  27  also projecting in the direction of side walls  16 ,  17 . 
   Finally, it can be appreciated from the representation according to  FIG. 2  that configured on the matable element  11  in the region of guide rails  14  and arms  22 ,  23  are snap connection means in the form of snap lugs  28  and snap indentations  29  that engage in one another both in the released position illustrated in  FIG. 2  and in the locked position, and in both of these positions protect the actuating element  15  to a certain degree against forces operating in the displacement direction. 
     FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away perspective view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , in an arrangement wherein it is mated onto a quick connector with the actuating element  15  in the retracted, locked position, and of the quick connector with an insertable element  3  properly inserted in receiving element  1 . In this arrangement of receiving element  1  and insertable element  3 , retaining ring  2  is held in place by an annular retaining spring  30 , which surrounds insertable element  3  and which comprises radially inwardly extending retaining lugs  31  that engage behind the retaining ring  2 . To release insertable element  3 , retaining spring  30  must be deformed by the exertion of pressure on a release side  32  to such an extent that the engagement between retaining ring  2  and retaining lugs  31  is released and insertable element  3  can be removed from receiving element  1  against the direction of insertion. 
   Direct access to the release side  32  is prevented, however, in the locked position of actuating element  15 , by the fact that release side  32  is covered by cover plate  21 , thus protecting the quick connector against accidental disengagement of the connection between receiving element  1  and insertable element  3 . Nevertheless, should the connection between receiving element  1  and insertable element  3  be accidentally released, for example by the exertion of pressure on the release side  32  due to the accidental insertion of an elongated object, such as the blade of a screwdriver, between cover plate  21  and release side  32 , or due to wear on the retaining ring  2  or the retaining lugs  31 , the arms  22 ,  23  with their reinforcing ribs  25 ,  26 , which are disposed relatively closely adjacent a shaft segment  33  of insertable element  3 , form an additional abutment that holds insertable element  3  in receiving element  1  when actuating element  15  is in the locked position. 
   It can further be appreciated from  FIG. 3  that the abutment noses  27  extend into the receiving space  7  and thereby prevent actuating element  15  from being removed completely from the guide rails  14 . In this way, the movable actuating element  15  is also held captive in the mated-on arrangement of locking element  10 . 
   It is understood from the foregoing description that the specific shape of the matable element  11  and of the actuating element  15  is adapted to the particular conformation of the receiving element  1  of the quick connector. 
   While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.