Abstract:
A grease fitting coupler device includes a body member with a slot on one side for engagement with a fitting and a series of passages through the body member connected with a lubrication source. A slidable valve member within the body member is pressurized against the fitting to seal the coupler device while lubricating fluid is passed therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a coupler device which may be utilized in restricted access areas by attachment to a grease fitting or “zerk” fitting.  
           [0002]    When servicing a vehicle such as an automobile or truck, it is typically necessary to couple a source of grease to the grease fittings, often termed zerk fittings, located at strategic positions on the vehicle, for the injection of grease or lubricating materials. Often, the zerk fittings are positioned in restricted spaces. Access to the fittings in order to pump grease or lubricating material into and through the fittings is therefore difficult. As a result, there has developed the need for a mechanism or device for attachment or coupling to a grease fitting from the side of the grease fitting rather than from the top of the fitting.  
           [0003]    One known type of device comprises a molded urethane coupler having an open slot at one end. The zerk fitting may then be inserted into the open slot formed in the coupler and retained by a rib molded in the coupler so that grease or lubricating material may be pumped via a tube through the coupler into the grease fitting. The molded elastic retaining rib comprises a detent mechanism which frictionally retains the fitting engaged with the coupler device.  
           [0004]    Such a prior art device or coupler is useful and does improve the ability to access zerk fittings located in restricted spaces. However, because such a coupler must be used with fittings having different sizes and shapes, the frictional retention rib does not always successfully insure retention of engagement of the coupler with the fitting, and in some circumstances, the frictional fitting is too difficult to permit engagement with the fitting.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,969 entitled “Grease Gun Extension Coupling Device” granted Mar. 14, 2000 discloses another device for attachment to a zerk fitting. An outer tube fits over the neck of the zerk fitting and a rotatable inner tube facilitates locking of the outer tube and the assembly to the fitting while simultaneously serving as a conduit for the grease flow into the fitting. Such a device requires elongate concentric tubes and may not be useful in some restricted areas.  
           [0006]    Thus, there has developed a need for an improved mechanism or device for coupling a source of lubricating material from a tube, particularly a flexible tube, to a zerk fitting positioned in a restricted space.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a grease fitting coupler device which includes a rigid (typically metal) body member having a counterbore opening on one side of the body member with a fitting retention slot and flange around the counterbore opening. The slot extends laterally from the coupler device. The bore is connected with a transverse inlet passage also extending laterally into the body member. Slidably positioned within the bore is a floating slide valve and fluid passage member which includes a surface that may be exposed to the lubricating fluid and thereby forced like a piston into engagement with a zerk fitting that is coupled to the coupler device by engagement with the slot. The slide valve member thus includes a throughpassage through which lubricating material is directed for flow into the zerk fitting. The slide valve member provides multiple functions of tightly sealing the coupler device on the fitting, retaining the coupler on the fitting and providing a passageway for lubricating material to flow from the coupler device into the fitting.  
           [0008]    In a first preferred embodiment, a flexible hose or tube, connected to the coupler body member, projects from the body member in the same direction as the fitting engagement slot. Thus, by pulling on the hose, one is able to guide the fitting into the lateral slot of the coupler device and retain the fitting in the slot of the body member upon pressurizing the fluid against the slide valve member. Further, since the slide valve member is in the form of a piston within a bore of the body member and is reciprocal or slidable therein, release of fluid pressure on the slide valve member allows disengagement or release of the valve member of the coupler from the fitting. Thus, the coupler device is useful to positively engage with a fitting whenever lubricating fluid is pumped via the flexible hose through the body member so as to provide a retaining pressure or force of the slide valve member against the fitting, and release when lubricating fluid or grease is not being pumped through the coupler device.  
           [0009]    In a second preferred embodiment, the fluid inlet conduit to the coupler extends in a direction distinct from the direction of the fitting retention slot.  
           [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved coupler device for attachment to fittings, such as zerk fittings, located in restricted access spaces.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a coupler device wherein the device provides a positive coupling force for attachment of the coupler device to a fitting during injection of lubricating material through the coupler device and into the fitting.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the invention to provide an improved coupler device which is economical, rugged, easy to use and especially adapted for use in restricted spaces.  
           [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide a coupler device with an internal piston slidably mounted in a body member and moveable in response to grease flow through a flexible hose into the body member against the piston to drive the piston against a zerk fitting placed in a slot and aligned with the piston.  
           [0014]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0015]    In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the coupler device of the invention attached to, or coupled with, a zerk fitting;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the coupler device of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the coupler device of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a lateral side view of the coupler device of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevation of the valve member of the coupler device of the invention of FIG. 1 depicted in combination with a fitting located in a restricted space;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the coupler device of the invention of FIG. 1 as it would be positioned upon a fitting located in a restricted space or environment;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the coupler device of the invention attached to, or coupled with, a zerk fitting;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the coupler device of FIG. 7;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the coupler device of FIG. 7;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a lateral side view of the coupler device of FIG. 7;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is an exploded side elevation of the valve member of the coupler device of the invention of FIG. 7 depicted in combination with a fitting located in a restricted space; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the coupler device of the invention of FIG. 7 as it would be positioned upon a fitting located in a restricted space or environment.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6 , a first embodiment of the coupler device includes a body member  10  which has a generally rectangular shape or configuration and includes a generally flat, top side  12  and a generally flat, bottom side  14 . The sides  12  and  14  are typically parallel, however, top side  12  is preferably flat. The body member  10  further includes a lateral side  16  which is in the form of a polygon, namely, a rectangle, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The body member includes a longitudinal slot  20  in top side  12  with an outer flange  22 . Slot  20  includes an arcuate inner end and extends through side  16 . Thus, a zerk fitting  24  with a rounded head and a neck may slide into the slot  20  and be loosely retained from axial movement by engagement of the fitting  24  with the flange  22 . The fitting  24  may have a variety of sizes and shapes. However, the flange  22  in all instances retains the filling in the slot  20  by preventing axial withdrawal. Thus, the slot  20  includes parallel sides  28  and  30  joined by an arcuate connection surface  32  which fits against the outside of the circular cross section shaft of a zerk fitting  24  and serves to align the grease passageway of the zerk fitting  24  with a counterbore  36  in body member  10 .  
         [0029]    The counterbore  36 , with an axis  37 , extends from bottom surface  14  through the body member  10  and into the slot  20 . The bore  36  includes a circumferential interior seat  38  adjacent the slot  20 . A plug or cap  40  is threadably inserted into the bore  36  at the bottom side  14  to hold a valve member  50  as described hereinafter.  
         [0030]    Connected with the bore  36  is a transverse inlet passage  42  which extends through lateral side  16  of the body member  10 . Thus, a fluid passageway is defined by the inlet passage  42  and bore  36  extending into the region of the slot  20 . A flexible conduit or hose  44  attached by a threaded fitting  46  is connected to the inlet passage  42  in the body member or body  10 . It is to be noted that the passage  42  is generally parallel with the slot  20 , but that passage  42  and slot  20  open in the opposite direction.  
         [0031]    The body member  10  has included therein axial slide valve member  50 . The slide valve member is in the form of a piston and is slidably mounted within the bore  36 , and more particularly, in the unthreaded smooth portion of the bore  36  adjacent the top side  12 . The slide valve member  50  includes a center or axial through passage  52  and a circumferential seat  54  which is designed for the purpose of engaging and sealing on the seat  38  of the bore  36  of body member  10 . The valve member  50  further includes an annular peripheral face  56  and an inside concentric annular face  58  which define together a piston surface that, when engaged by pressurized fluid, such as grease or lubricating fluid, forces the valve member  50  axially against the seat  38  and the top of the zerk fitting  24 . Fluid or grease also may flow through the passageway  52  into fitting  24  to thereby effect lubrication through the fitting  24 .  
         [0032]    The member  50  is typically made from an elastic or plastic material so as to enhance the sealing characteristics of the valve member  50 . For example, urethane plastic material may comprise member  50 . The slide valve member  50  is thus slidable within the bore  36  and acts as a piston driven by fluid pressure acting thereon.  
         [0033]    In use, the body member  10 , and more particularly, the slot  20  is engaged over a fitting  24  and pushed laterally so that the slot  20  is aligned on the fitting  24  as depicted in FIG. 1. Because the hose  44  and the slot  20  are aligned in the opposite direction, pushing on the hose  44  effectively positions the body member  10 , and more particularly the slot  20  on fitting  24 . After being properly positioned on the fitting  24 , fluid is pumped under pressure through the hose  44 , lateral passage  42 , bore  36 , passageway  52  and into the fitting  24 . Simultaneously, of course, the valve member  50  is seated tightly against the head of fitting  24  due to the pressure on the annular surfaces  56  and  58 . Release of pressure through the hose  44 , of course, effects release of the coupler device.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS.  7 - 12 , a second embodiment of the coupler device includes a body member  110  which has a generally hexagonal shape or configuration and includes a generally flat, top side  112  with a center projection  118  and a generally flat, bottom side  114 . The sides  112  and  114  are parallel. The body member  110  further includes a lateral side  116  which is in the form of a polygon, namely, a hexagon, as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. Projecting from the top side or face  112  is the fitting projection  118 . The fitting projection  118  includes a longitudinal slot  120  with an outer flange  122  so that a zerk fitting  124  may slide into the slot  120  and be restrained from axial movement by engagement of the fitting  124  with the flange  122 . The fitting  124  may thus be slidably inserted into the slot  120 . The slot  120  includes parallel sides  128  and  130  joined by a radial connection surface  132  which fits tightly against the outside of the circular cross section shaft of a fitting  124 .  
         [0035]    The body member  110  and projection  118  further include a counterbore  136  which extends from bottom surface  114  through the body member  110  and into the slot  120 . The bore  136  includes a circumferential interior seat  138  adjacent the slot  120 . A plug or cap  140  is threadably inserted into the bore  136  at the bottom side  114 .  
         [0036]    Connected with the bore  136  is a transverse inlet passage  142  which extends through a lateral side  116  of the body member  110 . Thus, a fluid passageway is defined by the inlet passage  142 , bore  136  and into the region of the slot  120 . A flexible conduit or hose  144  attached by a threaded fitting  146  is connected to the inlet passage  142  in the body member or body  110 . It is to be noted that the passage  142  is generally parallel with the slot  120  and both passage  142  and slot  120  open in the same direction.  
         [0037]    The body member  110  has included therein a slide valve member  150 . The slide valve member is in the form of a piston and is slidably mounted within the bore  136 , and more particularly, in the unthreaded smooth portion of the bore  136  adjacent the top side  112 . The slide valve member  150  includes a center or axial throughpassage  152  and a circumferential seat  154  which is designed for the purpose of engaging more than sealing on the seat  138  of the bore  136  of body member  110 . The valve member  150  further includes an annular peripheral face  156  and an inside concentric annular face  158  which together define a piston surface that, when engaged by pressurized fluid, such as grease or lubricating fluid, forces the valve member  150  axially against the seat  138 . Fluid or grease also may flow through the passageway  152  into fitting  124  to thereby effect lubrication through the fitting  124 .  
         [0038]    The member  150  is typically made from an elastic or plastic material so as to enhance the sealing characteristics of the valve member  150 . For example, urethane plastic material may comprise member  150 . The slide valve member  150  is thus slidable within the bore  136  and acts as a piston driven by fluid pressure acting thereon.  
         [0039]    In use, the body member  110 , and more particularly, the slot  120  are engaged over a zerk fitting  124  and pulled laterally so that the slot  120  is aligned on the fitting  124  as depicted in FIG. 6. Because the hose  144  and the slot  120  are aligned in the same direction, pulling on the hose  144  effectively positions the body member  110 , and more particularly the slot  120  on fitting  124 . After being properly positioned on the fitting  124 , fluid is pumped under pressure through the hose  144 , lateral passage  142 , bore  136 , passageway  152  and into the fitting  124 . Simultaneously, of course, the fitting  50  is seated tightly against the fitting  124  due to the pressure on the annular surfaces  156  and  158 . Release of pressure through the hose  144 , of course, effects release of the coupler device.  
         [0040]    Variances in the construction may be effected. The sealing arrangement involving seat  38  may be altered or changed to limit travel of member  50 . The valve member  50  also preferably includes a frustoconical interior end around passageway  52 , namely, frustoconical surface  66  which engages against a compatible surface of the zerk fitting, or grease fitting, 24. Additionally, the orientation of the various bores may be altered, for example. The configuration and shape of the lateral side  16  may be altered. The orientation and configuration of the top and bottom surfaces  12  and  14  may be altered. Thus, the subject matter of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.