Abstract:
A hose and quick connect coupling assembly comprising a receiving hose, an insertion hose, a pair of quick connect coupling halves each coupling half being identical to the other, and a securing clasp. The securing clasp releasably secures the coupling halves around the receiving hose, thereby forming a releasable coupling as the insertion hose in inserted into the receiving hose. The insertion hose may be removed by depressing the coupling halves together, causing the top portions thereof to pivot away from the insertion hose. The securing clasp may also be removed from the hose coupling, thereby removing the coupling halves from the receiving hose.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a quick connect coupling for securing together two generally cylindrical articles such as hoses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Connecting two conduits, such as water pipes or lines, together, especially in a restricted space such as under a sink, is a rather awkward and involved process. It normally requires a clamp or swivel nut, which must be tightened by the installer. This involves the installer getting under the sink, using both hands, and utilizing tools such as a screwdriver or wrench. It would be very advantageous if two conduits, such as water hoses, could be connected rather easily and without the use of tools. 
     The present invention provides a quick connect coupling that eliminates the need for threaded fittings when connecting, for example, a faucet valve or spout to a flexible hose. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a quick connect coupling for connecting two conduits such as water pipes. The quick connect coupling comprises a two coupling halves secured together by an elliptical clasp. The two halves are positioned about a first fluid conduit, a receiving conduit, the receiving conduit being fitted with a hose adapter. The two coupling halves are secured to the receiving conduit via the elliptical clasp. The second fluid conduit has an insertion nipple, either fitted to or manufactured as part of the insertion end of the second fluid conduit. As the second fluid conduit is attached to the receiving conduit, the quick connect coupling snaps into grooves on the insertion adapter, thus securing the two conduits together. The two quick connect coupling halves may be separated to remove the second fluid conduit from the receiving conduit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the quick connect coupling of the present invention positioned along a receiving conduit, and showing a securing clasp and the insertion conduit; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the quick connect coupling halves; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the quick connect coupling connecting the receiving conduit to the insertion conduit; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 5 a - 5   e  illustrate in cross-sectional view how the quick connect coupling operates to connect the insertion conduit to the receiving conduit. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the quick connect coupling of the instant invention, comprising two separate coupling halves  10 , and a securing clasp  50 . The quick connect coupling serves to connect two fluid conduits by simply inserting a first conduit into a receiving conduit. This “snap” connection proscribes the use of a threaded or other cumbersome connection, particularly when the connection must be made in an inconvenient location like, for example, under a sink. 
     Also illustrated in FIG. 1 are the fluid conduits to be connected As shown, a first fluid conduit, a receiving conduit  100 , is fitted with an adapter  110  at its distal end. The adapter  110  may either be an integral part of the conduit, in cases where the receiving conduit  100  is a copper, brass or other metal tube. However, where the receiving conduit  100  is a flexible hose  102  of a non-metal material, then the adapter  110  is secured onto the end of the hose  102 . The adapter  110  may be secured by numerous methods like, for example, clamping the adapter to the hose  102 , as shown in FIG. 1, or by threading the adapter onto the hose  102 . It is even possible to modify the proximal end  122  of adapter  110  into a series of barbs  124  for insertion into the hose  102  resulting in an interference fit between the hose  102  and the adapter  110 . This modification to the adapter  110  is illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring once again to FIG. 1, the adapter  110  comprises a clamp section  112 , a waist section  114 , and a top section  116 . The waist section  114  has a smaller diameter than the top section  116  and the clamp section  112 . Two opposing openings or slots  118  are machined into the top section  116  of the adapter  110 , leaving an annular rim  120  as the distal most portion of the adapter  110 . In this preferred embodiment the adapter  110  is machined from brass. 
     The second fluid conduit, an insertion conduit  130 , is also fitted with an insertion nipple  132  at its distal end, which, as is the case in this preferred embodiment, may be part of the insertion conduit  130  itself. However, where the insertion conduit is a flexible hose made from a non-metallic material, this insertion nipple  132  would be attached in some suitable manner to the insertion end of the insertion conduit  130 . The insertion nipple  132  comprises an annular stop  134 , a locking groove  136 , a step  138 , an o-ring groove  140 , and an insertion end portion  142  that has an inwardly tapered tip section  144 . As shown in FIG. 1, the annular stop  134 , the step  138 , and the insertion end portion  142  are of larger diameter than the surrounding conduit, locking groove  136  and o-ring groove  140 , respectively. As with the adapter  110 , the insertion nipple  132  is preferably machined from brass or other suitable metal. However, it is foreseeable that both the adapter  110  and the insertion nipple  132  are made from an elastomeric or hard plastic material. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the quick connect coupling comprises two coupling halves  10  and an elliptical securing clasp  50 . The coupling half  10  is preferably molded as an integral piece from a resilient material such as a high strength plastic, for example, a glass filled polypropylene, or other like material may be used. The coupling half  10  comprises a bottom grip section  12  and a body section  20 . Circumferential ridges  14  that provide a gripping surface for an operator characterize the grip section  12 . The body section  20  comprises an outer surface  22  and a top rim region  28 . Running axially along the outer surface  22  of the body section  20  are a plurality of longitudinal ribs  24 . Over the longitudinal ribs  24 , and running in an “X” or “criss-cross” fashion are a pair of tracks  26 . The first set of tracks  26   a  run in a diagonal fashion from a first upper corner to the opposite bottom corner of the body section  20 . The second set of tracks  26   b  run counter to the first set of tracks  26   a , from a first lower corner to the opposite top corner of body section  20 . 
     Running circumferentially along the inner surface  30  of the coupling half  10 , roughly at the intersection between the body section  20  and the gripping section  12 , is an inner ledge  32 . The bottom portion  34  of the inner ledge  32  is angled backwards towards the inner surface  30 . Also along the inner surface  30 , towards the top rim region  28 , is a locking tab  40 . The locking tab  40  protrudes away from the inner surface  30 . The locking tab  40  comprises an angled roof section  42  having an inside slope  43  and outside slope  44 . 
     The elliptical securing clasp  50  is preferably manufactured from a stainless steel wire or other resilient spring material. As shown, the securing clasp  50  is elliptical in shape and is open at what is referred to herein as the apex  52 . Opposite the apex  52  is the base  54  of the clasp, which, in operation, serves as a hinge point between the two coupling halves  10 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrate the quick connect coupling halves  10  assembled onto the receiving conduit  100 . As shown, the adapter  110  is securely attached to the hose  102 . Next, both coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  are placed opposing each other about the adapter  110  such that the locking tab  40  rests within the slots  118 . The axial distance between the locking tab  40  and the inner ledge  32  is such that when the locking tab  40  is inserted within the slot  118 , the inner ledge  32  rests against the waist section  114  of adapter  110 . 
     Next, the securing clasp  50  is positioned within one of the opposing sets of tracks  26   a  or  26   b , in the first coupling half  10   a , and within the other set of tracks in the second coupling half  10   b , as best shown in FIG.  3 . As only one set of tracks  26  are used at any time, it is possible to construct the coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  with only one set of tracks  26 . However, by constructing both sets of tracks  26  on each coupling half  10   a ,  10   b , the coupling halves  10  remain entirely interchangeable. The longitudinal ribs  24  are not essential to the construction and operation of the coupling halves  10 . However, the longitudinal ribs  24 , when present assist with the positioning of the securing clasp  50 . If the securing clasp  50  springs into position outside of the tracks  26   a ,  26   b , the clasp  50  will rest upon the longitudinal ribs  24  instead of against the outside surface  22  of body section  20 . This makes it easier to reposition the securing clasp  50  within the proper track  26 . The spring forces within the securing clasp  50  retain the coupling halves  10  about the adapter  110 . The clasp  50  applies a force at a distance above the pivot point of the coupling halves  10 . This prevents the securing clasp  50  from articulating in a radial direction and allows it to act as a cantilever spring. The forces within clasp  50  induce the coupling halves  10  to pivot about the inner ledge  32 . This is facilitated by the angled bottom section  34  of the inner ledge  32 . Thus, when an operator pushes inwards on the grip sections  12  of both coupling halves  10   a  and  10   b , the coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  pivot outwards, dislodging the locking tabs  40  from the slots  118 . 
     Once the quick connect coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  and the clasp  50  are secured to the receiving conduit  100 , the insertion conduit  130  may now be connected to the receiving conduit  100 . As illustrated by FIGS. 5 a  through  5   e , the insertion nipple  132  of the insertion conduit  130  is inserted into the adapter  110 . As the insertion nipple  132  is inserted, the tapered tip section  144  impinges upon the inside slope  43  of the locking tab  40 . As shown in FIG. 5 b , this action spreads apart the locking tabs  40  of the coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b , as the coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  pivot about the inner ledge  32 . As the insertion nipple  132  is inserted further, locking tabs  40  pass over the o-ring groove  140  and the step  138 , and snap into the locking groove  136 . The spring forces of the clasp  50  are sufficient to hold the locking tabs within the locking groove  136 , thereby securely attaching receiving conduit  100  to the insertion conduit  130 . In operation, the fluid pressure within the joined conduits  100 ,  130  tends to place an axial force along the conduits, attempting to pull the conduits  100 ,  130  apart. As the insertion conduit  130  is pulled upwards away from the receiving conduit  100 , this pulling action draws the coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  with the insertion conduit  130 , until the locking tabs  40  is lodged against the annular rim  120 . More precisely, the outside slope  44  of the angled roof section  42  of the locking tab  40  is pulled against the annular rim  120 , forcing the angled roof section  42  under the annular rim  120 . This action serves to further secure the coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b  to the receiving conduit  100  and to the insertion conduit  130 . The limiting factor remains the structural integrity of the locking tab  40  itself. An axial force sufficient to separate the locking tab  40  from the coupling halves  10 , will be sufficient to separate the insertion conduit  130  from the receiving conduit  100 . However, in practice, such a force would be out of the ordinary. 
     To remove insertion conduit  130  from the receiving conduit  100 , an operator simply squeezes together the grip section  12  of both coupling halves  10   a ,  10   b . This action causes the coupling halves  10  to pivot outwards about the inner ledge  32 , dislodging the locking tabs  40  from the locking groove  136 . Once so dislodged, the insertion conduit  130  may readily be removed. 
     While the invention has been described in what is considered to be a preferred embodiment, other variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that the invention not be limited to the illustrative embodiment but be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims.