Patent Publication Number: US-7722379-B2

Title: Quick release connector device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a connector device, and more particularly to a quick release connector device including two connector elements to be quickly coupled together and to be quickly disengaged from each other when required. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Typical connector devices, such as electrical plug connectors, coaxial connectors, etc., comprise two connector elements to be selectively plugged or coupled together for electrically connecting or coupling two conductors together, and to be selectively disengaged from each other when required. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,289 to Huber et al. discloses one of the typical electrical plug connectors also comprising a first connector element and a second connector element to be connected or coupled together by means of a coupling member, and the connector elements each include an outer conductor and an inner conductor, and the coupling member is attached to the first connector element and includes a locking ring for engaging with the second connector element and for solidly coupling the two connector elements together. 
   However, after the locking ring is engaged with the second connector element, it will be difficult to disengage the locking ring from the second connector element such that the two connector elements may not be easily and quickly disengaged from each other when required. In addition, the sealing ring engaged between the two connector elements may not be stably retained in place and may be moved relative to the two connector elements such that an air or water tight seal may not be suitably formed between the two connector elements. Furthermore, the coupling member includes a complicated structure that may not be easily and quickly manufactured. 
   The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional electrical plug connectors. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector device including two connector elements to be quickly coupled together and to be quickly disengaged from each other when required. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector device comprising a first connector element including a ferrule having a chamber formed therein, and having a first end portion and a second end portion, a receptacle having a compartment formed therein, and having a housing provided on one end portion thereof, and having a space formed in the housing, the housing being fitted within the chamber of the ferrule, an insulating member received and fitted in the compartment of the receptacle and including a bore formed in the insulating member, a sealing ring fitted in the space of the housing and engaged with the housing and the receptacle, a sleeve received and fitted in the chamber of the ferrule and engaged with the housing for anchoring and retaining the housing within the chamber of the ferrule, and including a peripheral lip extended from a first end portion of the sleeve to engage with the sealing ring and to anchor and retain the sealing ring between the housing and the sleeve, and the sleeve including a second end portion, a locking ring attached to the second end portion of the sleeve and including a number of blades extended therefrom and inclined relative to the sleeve, and an actuating member attached to the second end portion of the ferrule, and including an actuator extended radially therefrom for engaging with the blades of the locking ring and for anchoring and retaining the sleeve and the housing within the chamber of the ferrule, and a second connector element including a tubular member engaged into the sleeve and engageable with the receptacle for limiting the tubular member to move relative to the receptacle, and engaged with the sealing ring, the tubular member including a swelling extended radially and outwardly therefrom for engaging with the blades and for allowing the swelling to be moved over the blades and for allowing the blades to selectively engage with the swelling of the tubular member and to latch and anchor the tubular member to the receptacle and the sleeve, and the ferrule and the actuating member are movable relative to the sleeve and the housing to actuate the actuator of the actuating member to move the blades radially and outwardly relative to the tubular member and to allow the swelling of the tubular member to be moved over the blades and to allow the tubular member to be selectively disengaged from the sleeve and the housing of the first connector element. 
   The ferrule includes a peripheral flange extended radially and inwardly from the first end portion of the ferrule for engaging with the housing and for limiting the ferrule to move relative to the housing. 
   The housing includes an outer diameter greater than that of the receptacle for forming an outer peripheral shoulder between the housing and the receptacle and for engaging with the peripheral flange of the ferrule. 
   The housing includes an extension extended outwardly therefrom and having a hole formed in the extension and aligned with the bore of the insulating member. The sleeve includes a peripheral depression formed in the second end portion of the sleeve for attaching the locking ring. 
   The ferrule includes a peripheral recess formed in the second end portion of the ferrule for attaching the actuating member. The locking ring includes an inclined surface formed in a free end portion of each of the blades for engaging with swelling of the tubular member. 
   The tubular member includes a peripheral recess formed in an outer peripheral portion thereof and located beside the swelling for receiving and engaging with the blades of the locking ring. 
   Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial exploded view of a connector device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is another partial exploded view illustrating one of the connector elements of the connector device; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of one of the connector elements of the connector device taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the coupling or the connecting of the two connector elements of the connector device; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the operation of the connector device; 
       FIG. 6  is a further partial exploded view illustrating the other arrangement of one of the connector elements of the connector device; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view illustrating the operation of the connector device as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-4 , a connector device  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises two connector elements  10 ,  50  to be selectively plugged or coupled together for electrically connecting or coupling two pairs of conductors (not shown) together, and to be selectively disengaged from each other when required. The first or female connector element  10  includes an outer shell or ferrule  11  having a chamber  12  formed therein and having a rough or serrated outer peripheral surface  13  formed thereon for allowing the ferrule  11  to be frictionally held or grasped by the user and for allowing the ferrule  11  to be easily moved by the user. 
   The ferrule  11  includes an annular or peripheral recess  14  formed in the inner portion at one end portion  15  thereof, and includes a peripheral flange  16  extended radially and inwardly from the other end portion  17  thereof. The first connector element  10  further includes a receptacle  20  having a compartment  21  formed therein for snugly receiving or fitting an insulating member  30  therein, in which the insulating member  30  includes a bore  31  formed therein for receiving or fitting an inner conductor (not shown). The receptacle  20  includes an enlarged housing  22  formed or provided on one end portion  23  thereof, and includes an enlarged space  24  formed in the housing  22 . 
   The housing  22  includes an outer diameter greater than that of the receptacle  20  for forming an annular or outer peripheral shoulder  25  between the housing  22  and the receptacle  20 , and the space  24  of the housing  22  includes an inner diameter greater than that of the compartment  21  of the receptacle  20  for forming an annular or inner peripheral shoulder  26  between the housing  22  and the receptacle  20 . The housing  22  further includes an extension  27  extended outwardly from the other end portion thereof or extended away from the housing  22 , and includes a hole  28  formed in the extension  27  and aligned with the bore  31  of the insulating member  30 , in which the hole  28  of the extension  27  includes an inner diameter smaller than that of the compartment  21  of the receptacle  20  for forming an annular or inner peripheral shoulder  29  between the extension  27  and the receptacle  20 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the insulating member  30  is snugly received or fitted within the compartment  21  of the receptacle  20  and engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder  29  of the receptacle  20  for allowing the insulating member  30  to be stably anchored and retained within the compartment  21  of the receptacle  20 . The hole  28  of the extension  27  may also be provided or used to receive or fit the inner conductor (not shown). The housing  22  of the receptacle  20  may be slidably engaged in the chamber  12  of the ferrule  11 , and the peripheral flange  16  at the other end portion  17  of the ferrule  11  may be engaged with the outer peripheral shoulder  25  of the receptacle  20  or the housing  22  for limiting the ferrule  11  to slide or to move relative to the housing  22  and the receptacle  20 . 
   A sealing ring  32  is received or fitted within the space  24  of the housing  22  and engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder  26  of the receptacle  20  for making an air or water tight seal between the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the second or male connector element  50 . The first connector element  10  further includes a sleeve  33  received or fitted or engaged in the chamber  12  of the ferrule  11  and engaged with the housing  22  for stably anchoring and retaining the housing  22  within the chamber  12  of the ferrule  11 , and the sleeve  33  includes one end portion  34  engaged in the space  24  of the housing  22 , and includes a peripheral lip  35  extended from the one end portion  34  of the sleeve  33  for engaging with the sealing ring  32  and for stably anchoring and retaining the sealing ring  32  between the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33  and for preventing the sealing ring  32  from moving relative to the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33 . 
   The sleeve  33  includes a reduced or relatively smaller chamber  36  formed in the one end portion  34  of the sleeve  33 , and includes an increased or relatively greater chamber  37  and an annular or peripheral depression  38  formed in the other end portion  39  of the sleeve  33 . A locking ring  40  is fitted or engaged in the peripheral depression  38  of the sleeve  33  or attached to the other end portion  39  of the sleeve  33  and anchored or secured to the sleeve  33  with a force-fitted engagement or fasteners or latches (not shown), or the like, and includes a number of fingers or blades  41  extended radially therefrom and inclined relative to the sleeve  33  and the locking ring  40 , and includes an inclined surface  42  formed in the free end portion of each of the blades  41 , and the blades  41  are provided for gripping or locking or retaining the second connector element  50  to the first connector element  10 . 
   An actuating ring or member  43  is fitted or engaged in the peripheral recess  14  of the ferrule  11  or attached to the other end portion  15  of the ferrule  11 , and anchored or secured to the ferrule  11  with a force-fitted engagement or fasteners or latches (not shown), or the like, and includes a bore  44  formed therein for receiving or fitting the second connector element  50 , and includes a peripheral skirt or actuator  45  extended radially therefrom for engaging with the blades  41  of the locking ring  40  and for resiliently anchoring and retaining the sleeve  33  and the housing  22  within the chamber  12  of the ferrule  11 , best shown in  FIG. 3 . The second connector element  50  includes a tubular member  51  engaged into the relatively smaller chamber  36  of the sleeve  33 , and engageable with the inner peripheral shoulder  26  of the receptacle  20  for limiting the tubular member  51  of the second connector element  50  to slide or to move relative to the receptacle  20 . 
   The tubular member  51  includes a compartment  52  formed therein for receiving or fitting another inner conductor (not shown) which may be engaged with the inner conductor of the receptacle  20 , and the tubular member  51  may also be engaged with the sealing ring  32  for further stably anchoring and retaining the sealing ring  32  between the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33  and the tubular member  51 . The tubular member  51  and the receptacle  20  and/or the sleeve  33  are made of conductive materials for forming or acting as the outer conductors  51 ,  20  and for selectively and electrically connecting or coupling the outer conductors  51 ,  20  together. 
   The tubular member  51  includes a peripheral tooth or bulge or swelling  53  extended radially and outwardly therefrom for engaging with the blades  41  of the locking ring  40  and for allowing the swelling  53  to be moved over the blades  41  ( FIG. 4 ) and for allowing the blades  41  to selectively engage with the swelling  53  of the tubular member  51  and to latch or anchor the tubular member  51  to the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33  of the first connector element  10 . It is preferable that the tubular member  51  includes a peripheral recess  54  formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof and located beside the swelling  53  for stably receiving or engaging with the blades  41  of the locking ring  40  ( FIG. 5 ). 
   In operation, as shown in  FIG. 5 , it is to be noted that the actuator  45  of the actuating member  43  is resiliently engaged with the blades  41  of the locking ring  40 , and the actuating member  43  and the ferrule  11  may be moved relative to the locking ring  40  and the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33  and the housing  22 , and the actuator  45  of the actuating member  43  may move the blades  41  of the locking ring  40  radially and outwardly relative to the tubular member  51  and for allowing the swelling  53  of the tubular member  51  to be moved over the blades  41  and for allowing the tubular member  51  of the second connector element  50  to be selectively and quickly disengaged from the first connector element  10  when required. 
   It is further to be noted that the peripheral lip  35  of the sleeve  33  may be engaged with the sealing ring  32  for stably anchoring and retaining the sealing ring  32  between the tubular member  51  and the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33  and for preventing the sealing ring  32  from moving relative to the tubular member  51  and the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33 . It is further to be noted that the actuating member  43  may be quickly fitted or engaged in the peripheral recess  14  of the ferrule  11  and anchored or secured to the ferrule  11  after the housing  22  of the receptacle  20  and the sleeve  33  have been fitted or engaged into the chamber  12  of the ferrule  11  such that the connector elements  10 ,  50  may be quickly coupled together and to be quickly disengaged from each other when required. 
   Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the locking ring  401  may include a bent engaging member  47  formed or provided or disposed in the free end portion of each of the blades  41  for allowing the engaging members  47  of the blades  41  to be stably engaged with the swelling  53  of the tubular member  51  and to be stably retained in the peripheral recess  54  of the tubular member  51  after the swelling  53  is moved over the free end portions of the blades  41 , and the blades  41  of the locking ring  401  may also be moved radially and outwardly relative to the tubular member  51  by the actuator  45  of the actuating member  43  for allowing the swelling  53  of the tubular member  51  to be moved over the blades  41  and for allowing the tubular member  51  of the second connector element  50  to be selectively and quickly disengaged from the first connector element  10 . 
   Accordingly, the connector device in accordance with the present invention includes two connector elements to be quickly coupled together and to be quickly disengaged from each other when required. 
   Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.