Abstract:
Cable coupling assemblies are described which can be readily engaged and separated from one another. The couplings are particularly useful for use in torque transmitting cables such as those used in drain cleaning applications.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates to releasable couplings for rotating cable assemblies such as used in drain cleaning tools. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A variety of couplings and coupling assemblies are known in the art for engaging a torque transmitting cable such as a drain cleaning cable to another cable or component. Many of these couplings utilize male and female components attached at corresponding cable ends. The male and female components typically include interlocking shapes or configurations that once engaged, provide axial engagement of a cable section or component to another. 
     In order to additionally secure such interlocking male and female components to one another and prevent unintended disengagement, an array of assemblies and fasteners have been used to further secure the components to one another. An example of a coupling assembly with such engagement provisions is described in US 2011/0182656. The &#39;656 publication describes a key 45 that is either depressed or rotated which thereby allows a male component 20 to be fully received and engaged in a corresponding female component 40. 
     Although satisfactory in many respects, a need remains for a cable coupling assembly that can be used in a wide range of applications, is relatively low cost, will provide long durability and service, and can be quickly and easily engaged or disengaged as desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     The difficulties and drawbacks associated with previously known couplings and assemblies are addressed in the present coupling assemblies. 
     In one aspect, the present subject matter provides a drain cleaning cable coupling assembly comprising a male coupling including a pair of engagement prongs. The engagement prongs are spaced apart from one another and define a docking region therebetween. The cable coupling assembly also comprises a female coupling having a circumferential wall defining a pair of receiving regions sized and shaped to fittingly engage the pair of engagement prongs of the male coupling. The female coupling also defines an outer end face. The circumferential wall of the female coupling defines a generally hollow interior chamber accessible via the end face and the pair of receiving regions. The cable coupling assembly also comprises a plunger movably disposed within the interior chamber of the female coupling. The plunger is linearly displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     In another aspect, the present subject matter provides a torque transmitting cable coupling assembly comprising a male coupling including (i) a disc shaped head defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the head, and (iii) a pair of axially extending engagement prongs extending from the outer face of the head. The pair of engagement prongs are spaced apart from each other to thereby define a docking region. The cable coupling assembly also comprises a female coupling including (i) a cylindrical body having an outer circumferential surface and defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, the body further defining an interior chamber accessible from the outer face of the body, and (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the body, the body further defining a pair of receiving regions in the body. Each receiving region extends between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber and each receiving region is sized and shaped to fittingly engage a corresponding engagement prong of the male coupling. The cable coupling assembly also comprises a plunger movably disposed in the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling. The plunger is axially positionable within the interior chamber between (i) a retracted position in which the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling are unobstructed and (ii) an extended position in which at least a portion of the plunger obstructs the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling assembly. 
     As will be realized, the subject matter described herein is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the claimed subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded and perspective view of an embodiment of a cable coupling in accordance with the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 1  illustrating a plunger of the cable coupling in an extended position. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 1  illustrating the plunger in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross sectional top view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 1  illustrating the plunger in an extended position. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross sectional top view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 1  illustrating the plunger in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic exploded and perspective view of another embodiment of a cable coupling in accordance with the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 6  illustrating a plunger of the cable coupling in an extended position. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 6  illustrating the plunger in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic exploded and perspective view of another embodiment of a cable coupling and a tool in accordance with the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 9  illustrating a plunger of the cable coupling in an extended position. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 9  illustrating insertion of the tool into a female coupling. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 9  illustrating the plunger in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 9  illustrating retaining the plunger in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic exploded and perspective view of another embodiment of a cable coupling in accordance with the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic cross sectional top view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 14  illustrating a plunger of the cable coupling in an extended position. 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic cross sectional top view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 14  illustrating the plunger in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 14  illustrating a plunger of the cable coupling in an extended position. 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic cross sectional side view of the cable coupling of  FIG. 14  illustrating the plunger in a retracted position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The coupling assemblies of the present subject matter generally comprise a male coupling and a female coupling that can be securely connected by engaging the two components with or without a tool. In certain embodiments, a biased plunger retained in the female coupling is urged or linearly displaced out of coupling overlap, i.e., retracted, so the couplings may be engaged together perpendicular to a cable axis. Once connected, the biased plunger is displaced toward the male coupling to prevent perpendicular movement between the couplings. The connected couplings provide a secure joint able to withstand the forces generated by the rotating cable. To disconnect the couplings from one another, the plunger is retracted from the coupling overlap. A tool may be inserted into an aperture in the female coupling to assist in retracting the plunger from the coupling overlap so the couplings can be at least partially separated. The tool is then removed and the couplings can be detached from each other by displacing or moving them perpendicular to the cable axis. 
     Specifically, the present subject matter provides several embodiments of the coupling assembly. In one version, at least one projection and more particularly two radially oriented and diametrically disposed pins are used in the female coupling. The pins project into an interior chamber in the female coupling which houses a spring-biased axially positionable plunger. The two pins retain the plunger within the female coupling. Depending upon the axial position of the plunger in the female coupling, the male coupling is either engaged or releasable therefrom. 
     In another version, the assembly uses an expanded collar positioned within the interior chamber of the female coupling. The collar is sized to slidably receive the plunger. The collar is used instead of the two pins, and serves to retain the plunger within the female coupling. 
     In yet another version, the assembly utilizes a plunger having a tool-receiving passage extending across a thickness or diameter of the plunger. The female coupling includes a slotted or enlarged aperture through which the passage in the plunger can be accessed. The plunger can be readily retracted within the female coupling by inserting a tool in the slotted aperture and at least partially within the plunger passage and then moving the tool and plunger away from the male coupling. These and other aspects are described in greater detail herein. 
       FIGS. 1-5  depict a cable coupling  10  in accordance with the present subject matter. The cable coupling  10  comprises a male coupling  20 , a female coupling  50 , and a linearly positionable plunger  80  disposed within the female coupling. 
     The male coupling  20  includes a head  30  defining an inner face  28  and an oppositely directed outer face  26 . The male coupling  20  also includes a cable receiving section  24  generally extending from the inner face  28  of the head  30 . The cable receiving section  24  typically includes provisions to support and securely retain an end of an adjoining cable  22 . An example of such provisions include a radially projecting and helically extending ridge in the section  24  corresponding to the size and configuration of the cable  22 . The male coupling  20  also comprises one or more, and typically a pair, of engagement prongs  34  extending from the outer face  26  of the head  30 . Each engagement prong includes an expanded or bulbous end region  36  and a projection member  38  extending between the expanded end region  36  and the outer face  26 . The engagement prongs  34  are spaced apart from one another to thereby define a docking region  40  between the engagement prongs  34  for a plunger, as described in greater detail herein. 
     The female coupling  50  includes a body  60  defining an inner face  58  and an oppositely directed outer face  56 . The coupling  50  also includes a cable receiving section  54  extending from the inner face  58  of the body  60  for engagement with an end of an adjoining cable  52 . The section  54  can include provisions to promote engagement and contact with cable  52  such as previously described with regard to the cable receiving section  24  of the male coupling  20 . The female coupling  50  and particularly the body  60  defines an outer circumferential surface  62  and an interior chamber  68  which in certain embodiments is cylindrical or at least partially cylindrical in shape. However, the present subject matter includes other shapes and configurations for the interior chamber. A circumferential wall  64  of the body  60  may provide the outer circumferential surface  62  and define the interior chamber  68 . The female coupling  50  also defines at least one, and typically a pair, of receiving regions  66 . The interior chamber  68  is generally accessible via the receiving regions  66  and the outer end face  56 . The receiving regions  66  are generally sized and shaped to fittingly engage the engagement prongs  34  of the male coupling  20 . The female coupling  50  also defines an interior end wall  76  which also constitutes or partially constitutes an end wall of the interior chamber  68 . 
     The cable coupling  10  also comprises a plunger  80 . The plunger  80  is sized and shaped to movably reside within the interior chamber  68  defined in the female coupling  50 . In many embodiments, the plunger  80  is cylindrical in shape. Regardless, the plunger defines an inner end  87  that faces the interior wall  76  within the female coupling, and an oppositely directed outer end  88 . The plunger  80  also includes at least one member extending laterally outward from an outer surface of the plunger. In certain embodiments, such member is in the form of a radially extending ridge that extends around or partially around the circumference of the plunger. Particularly, in such embodiments, the plunger  80  includes an inner ridge  84  proximate the inner end  87 , and an outer ridge  86  proximate the outer end  88 . One or more biasing members such as a coil spring  90  for example can be used to bias the plunger to an extended position as described in greater detail herein. In certain embodiments, the plunger  80  can be configured to interface and/or receive the spring  90 . For example, as depicted in  FIGS. 2-5 , the plunger  80  can include a recessed region  81  accessible along the inner end  87  of the plunger that receives the spring  90 . 
     The plunger  80  and biasing member(s)  90  are disposed within the interior chamber  68  defined in the female coupling  50 . Typically, the female coupling  50  also includes one or more projections that extend into the interior chamber  68  of the body  60 . The projection(s) is located in the interior chamber  68  relative to the plunger  80  also disposed therein, such that the projection contacts at least one of the previously noted inner ridge  84  or outer ridge  86  of the plunger, depending upon the positional state of the plunger, i.e., extended or retracted. In certain embodiments, upon positioning the plunger  80  to an extended position such as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the projection contacts the inner ridge  84  and thus serves to preclude further axial displacement of the plunger  80  relative to the female coupling  50  and thus retains the plunger  80  within the interior chamber  68 . Upon positioning the plunger  80  to a retracted position such as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the inner ridge  84  may contact the interior end wall  76  and/or the projection may contact the outer ridge  86 . In certain embodiments, the projection can be in the form of a pin  72 , or a pair of such pins, that is received in a radial aperture  70  defined in the body  60  of the female coupling  50 . 
     In the coupling assembly  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 , the male coupling  20  is engaged with the female coupling  50  as follows. One engagement prong  34  is aligned with and then inserted into one of the receiving regions  66  of the female coupling  50 . The plunger  80  is retracted and typically against a biasing force provided by the spring  90  into a retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  so that the pair of receiving regions  66  are unobstructed by the plunger. As described in greater detail herein, a key or tool may be used to assist in plunger retraction. The male coupling  20  is moved into further engagement with the female coupling  50  so that the engagement prong  34  previously disposed in one of the receiving regions  66  is positioned into the other previously unoccupied receiving region  66 . Thus, the other engagement prong  34  is also positioned into the other previously occupied receiving region  66 . The plunger  80  is then moved to its extended position such as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In its extended position, the plunger and particularly its outer end  88 , is disposed within the docking region  40  defined between the engagement prongs  34  thereby preventing unintended disengagement between the male and female couplings. 
     As noted, a tool (not shown) can optionally be used during engagement and/or disengagement of the male and female couplings  20 ,  50 . If a tool is used, a sufficiently sized and shaped tool is inserted into an aperture such as aperture  61  defined in the body  60  of the female coupling  50 . The tool contacts the plunger  80  and is used to move the plunger to a retracted position. If a tool is not used, one of the engagement prongs  34  can be used to contact the plunger  80  and move the plunger to a retracted position. It is also contemplated that a portion or region of the engagement prong  34  can be angled, chamfered, or inclined to promote retraction of the plunger during displacement of a prong  34  in a direction that is perpendicular to a cable axis. 
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate another cable coupling  110  in accordance with the present subject matter. The cable coupling  110  comprises a male coupling  120  and a female coupling  150 , and a linearly positionable plunger  180  disposed in the female coupling  150 . 
     The male coupling  120  generally corresponds to the previously described male coupling  20  and includes a head  130  and a cable receiving section  124  for engaging an end of a cable  122 , and one or more and particularly a pair of engagement prongs  134 . Each engagement prong  134  includes an expanded end region  136  and a projection  138  as shown and as previously described. A docking region  140  is defined between the spaced apart prongs  134  also as previously described. 
     The female coupling  150  includes a body  160  which is generally as the previously described body  60 . The body  160  defines an outer circumferential surface  162 . The female coupling  150  defines an interior chamber  168  and corresponding receiving regions  166  for the engagement prongs  134 . The interior chamber  168  is accessible via the receiving regions  166  and an outer end face  156  of the female coupling  150 . The female coupling  150  also includes a cable receiving section  154  for engaging an end of a cable  152 . These features are as those associated with the previously described female coupling  50 . 
     The cable coupling  110  also comprises a plunger  180  which is typically cylindrical in shape. The plunger  180  includes a projection which in certain embodiments is in the form of an inner ridge  184  extending around the circumference of the plunger  180  and located proximate an inner end  187  of the plunger. The plunger  180  also defines an oppositely directed outer end  188 . One or more biasing members or springs  190  can be used to bias or urge the plunger  180  to an extended position as described in greater detail herein. 
     The cable coupling  110  also comprises a collar  195  that is sized and shaped and incorporated within the interior chamber  168  of the female coupling  150  so as to retain the plunger  180  within that chamber  168 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the collar  195  is positioned within the interior chamber  168  such that upon extension of the plunger  180  such as due to the spring  190 , the collar  195  contacts the inner ridge  184  of the plunger and thereby retains the plunger  180  within the chamber  168  of the female coupling  150 . In certain embodiments, the plunger  180  is disposed within the collar  195  and contacts the collar  195  at both the retracted position as shown in  FIG. 8  and the extended position as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Engagement between the male coupling  120  and the female coupling  150  in the coupling assembly  110  occurs in the same manner as described in association with the coupling assembly  10 . A tool (not shown) may optionally be used to assist in engaging and/or disengaging the couplings  120 ,  150  from one another by insertion into an aperture  161  of the female coupling  150 . 
       FIGS. 9-13  illustrate another cable coupling  210  in accordance with the present subject matter. The cable coupling  210  comprises a male coupling  220 , a female coupling  250 , and a linearly positionable plunger  280  disposed in the female coupling  250 . 
     The male coupling  220  generally corresponds to the previously described male coupling  20  and includes a head  230  and a cable receiving section  224  for engaging an end of a cable  222 , and one or more and particularly a pair of engagement prongs  234 . Each engagement prong  234  includes an expanded end region  236  and a projection  238  as shown and as previously described. A docking region  240  is defined between the spaced apart prongs  238  also as previously described. 
     The female coupling  250  includes a body  260  which is generally as the previously described body  60  of the female coupling  50 . The female coupling  250  defines an interior chamber  268  and corresponding receiving regions  266  for the engagement prongs  234  of the male coupling  220 . The interior chamber  268  is accessible via the receiving regions  266  and an outer end face  256  of the female coupling. The female coupling  250  also includes a cable receiving section  254  for engaging an end of a cable  252 . These features are as those associated with the previously described female coupling  50 . 
     The cable coupling  210  also comprises a plunger  280  which is typically cylindrical in shape. The plunger  280  defines an inner end  287 . The plunger  280  also defines an oppositely directed outer end  288 . One or more biasing members or springs  290  can also be used to bias or urge the plunger  280  to an extended position as described in greater detail herein. The plunger  280  defines a passage  281  that extends across at least a portion of a thickness of the plunger or if the plunger is cylindrical, the passage  281  extends diametrically across the plunger. The female coupling  250  defines a slotted or enlarged aperture  261  through which the plunger passage  281  can be accessed, particularly as follows. Generally, the plunger passage can be accessed via the aperture  261  when the plunger is positioned to one or both of the retracted and extended positions. In certain embodiments, the aperture allows accessing the plunger passage at both retracted and extended positions of the plunger. 
     The cable coupling  210  may optionally also include a tool  295  that comprises a longitudinal member  296  for insertion into the aperture  261  of the female coupling  250  and further into the plunger passage  281 . A sleeve  298  can also be provided that is disposed in or otherwise engaged with the plunger  280  and which is accessed through the aperture  261  such as by use of the tool  295 . In a particular embodiment, the sleeve  298  extends through the plunger passage  281 . The sleeve  298  defines an interior bore  297  which accommodates the longitudinal member  296  of the tool  295 . The tool  295  can also be used without the sleeve  298 . The tool is sized such that the longitudinal member  296  can be at least partially inserted into the plunger passage. If a sleeve is used, the sleeve is at least partially disposed in the plunger passage and can be accessed via the aperture  261 . 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 9-13 , engaged male and female couplings  220  and  250  respectively, can be disengaged from one another by inserting the longitudinal member  296  of the tool  295  into the bore  297  of the sleeve  298 . This operation is depicted in  FIG. 11  in which the tool  295  is moved in the direction of arrow A. Once the tool  295  is appropriately inserted, the tool  295  is linearly displaced away from the male coupling  220  in the direction of arrow B in  FIG. 12 . Such movement results in retraction of the plunger  280  and specifically, withdrawal of the plunger  280  from the docking region  240  defined between the pair of engagement prongs  234  of the male coupling  220 . Once the plunger  280  is linearly displaced to its retracted position as shown in  FIG. 12 , the male and female couplings can be separated or otherwise disengaged from one another. 
     In certain embodiments, the tool  295  and the female coupling  260  are provided with provisions to retain the plunger  280  in a desired position such as in a retracted position. Such provisions are useful when one or more biasing members are used such as springs  290  that bias or urge the plunger  280  to an extended position such as shown in  FIGS. 10-11 . The provisions to retain the plunger  280  in a retracted position can include a projecting face or ledge  299  defined along a face of the tool  295  from which the longitudinal member  296  extends. The projecting face  299  is sized and shaped to be received in an outer region of the enlarged aperture  261  of the female coupling  250 . Thus, after linear displacement of the plunger  280  by moving the tool  295  in the direction of arrow B as shown in  FIG. 12 , the tool  295  is further inserted into the female coupling  250  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the tool  295  is moved in the direction of arrow C to insert or seat the projecting face  299  into the enlarged aperture  261  of the female coupling  260 . Upon such insertion and seating of the tool  295  into the aperture  261  of the female coupling  250 , the plunger  280  is retained in its retracted position. 
       FIGS. 14-18  illustrate another cable coupling  310  in accordance with the present subject matter. The cable coupling  310  comprises a male coupling  320  and a female coupling  350 , and a linearly positionable plunger  380  disposed in the female coupling  350 . 
     The male coupling  320  generally corresponds to the previously described male coupling  20  and includes a head  330  and a cable receiving section for engaging an end of a cable  322 , and one or more and particularly a pair of engagement prongs  334 . Each engagement prong  334  includes an expanded end region  336  and a projection as shown and as previously described. A docking region is defined between the spaced apart prongs  334  also as previously described. 
     The female coupling  350  includes a body  360  which is generally as the previously described body  60 . The body  360  defines an outer circumferential surface  362 . The female coupling  350  defines an interior chamber  368  and corresponding receiving regions  366  for the engagement prongs  334 . The interior chamber  368  is accessible via the receiving regions  366  and an outer end face of the female coupling  350 . The female coupling  350  also includes a cable receiving section for engaging an end of a cable  352 . These features are as those associated with the previously described female coupling  50 . 
     The cable coupling  310  also comprises a plunger  380  which is typically cylindrical in shape. The plunger  380  defines an inner end  387 . The plunger  380  also defines an oppositely directed outer end  388 . One or more biasing members or springs  390  can be used to bias or urge the plunger  380  to an extended position as described in greater detail herein. 
     The plunger  380  also defines a slotted or elongated passage or aperture  381  which is sized and shaped to slidably receive a pin  372 . As depicted in the referenced figures, the pin  372  extends through apertures  370  defined in the female coupling  350  and also at least partially extends through the plunger  380  via the slotted aperture  381 . The configuration of the pin  372 , female coupling  350 , and plunger  380  of  FIGS. 14-18  is similar to that of the sleeve  298 , female coupling  250 , and plunger  280  of  FIGS. 9-13 . However, in the assembly  210  shown in  FIGS. 9-13 , upon linear displacement of the plunger  280  within the female coupling  250 , the sleeve  298  is also linearly displaced. Such linear displacement is accommodated by the slotted or elongated aperture  261  defined in the female coupling  250 . In contrast, in the assembly  310  shown in  FIGS. 14-18 , upon linear displacement of the plunger  380  within the female coupling  350 , the pin  372  remains stationary with respect to the female coupling  350 . Although the pin  372  extends through the plunger  380 , linear displacement of the plunger  380  is accommodated by the slotted aperture  381  defined in the plunger  380 . 
     Engagement between the male coupling  320  and the female coupling  350  in the coupling assembly  310  occurs in the same manner as described in association with the coupling assembly  10 . A tool (not shown) may optionally be used to assist in engaging and/or disengaging the couplings  320 ,  350  from one another by insertion into an aperture  361  of the female coupling  350 . 
     The present subject matter includes various combinations of components and features of one embodiment with other components and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the present subject matter also includes various methods of use of the coupling assemblies and methods of securely engaging a cable or cable component with another cable or cable component. 
     Many other benefits will no doubt become apparent from future application and development of this technology. 
     All patents, published applications, and articles noted herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     As described hereinabove, the present subject matter solves many problems associated with previous strategies, systems and/or devices. However, it will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of components, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the present subject matter, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the claimed subject matter, as expressed in the appended claims.