Patent Publication Number: US-11649914-B2

Title: Quick connector assembly for fluid lines with positive assurance feature

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/029,846 filed May 26, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/051,923 filed Jul. 15, 2020 each titled “QUICK CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR FLUID LINES WITH POSITIVE ASSURANCE FEATURE” both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to a quick connector assembly for fluid line systems that allow for the secure attachment and detachment of connectable fluid lines. In particular, this disclosure relates to providing a latching configuration with a positive assurance feature that indicates to a user that a quick and secure attachment has been achieved. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Quick connector assemblies or couplings generally include a female connector configured to receive and sealing retain a male member to provide a fluid connection between two lumens or conduits to establish fluid communication between the two conduits. Quick connector assemblies assist to provide a sealed and secured fluid line with a minimum amount of time and expense. 
     Known quick connector assemblies include various configurations for securing the male member and female connector. One type of retention mechanism involves use of a retainer inserted through slots formed in the exterior of the female connector. Support members extend through slots positioned in abutting contact between the male member upset and surfaces defining the slots to prevent withdrawal of the male member. Such retainers are often referred to as “horseshoe” retainers. Examples of this type of coupling are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,846,021, 7,390,025, and 7,484,774. These patents are incorporated by reference herein and disclose a secondary or redundant latch that provides additional security against unintentional separation and to confirm that a secure connection has been achieved during the assembly process. U.S. Pat. No. 7,484,774 discloses a redundant latch that is able to independently retain the male member in the female connector. Further, the redundant latch is configured to only be toggled between engaged and disengaged positions only when the male member is fully inserted within the female connector. 
     The quick connector assembly of the present disclosure provides an alternative to the type of assemblies disclosed by the prior art. The arrangement of the present disclosure provides primary and secondary latching members to secure the fluid communication between the male member and female connector and provides physical, visual, and/or tactile indication that the fluid connection is achieved in a redundantly secured manner. 
     SUMMARY 
     The quick connector assembly of the present disclosure provides an alternative to the type of assemblies disclosed by the prior art. In one embodiment, provided is a quick connector assembly comprising a housing having a cavity for receiving a male member and to define a lumen to allow the flow of fluid between the male member and the cavity, a transverse opening that is generally normal relative to the axis along which the flow of fluid is to travel through the cavity. A blocking member positioned in the cavity of the housing and configured to move between a blocking position aligned with the transverse opening and an unblocked position. A primary retaining member having an abutment surface and a biasing member, the primary retaining member slidably disposed within the transverse opening for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A secondary retaining member having an engagement member, the secondary retaining member slidably disposed within the transverse opening for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position when the blocking member is in the unblocked position. 
     In one embodiment, the abutment surface of the primary retaining member is a ramped surface. The secondary retaining member includes a pair of spaced apart legs that extend along a common direction with the engagement member. The cavity of the housing is configured to receive a male member having an enlarged portion and wherein the primary retaining member and the secondary retaining member are configured to prevent the male member from being released when the primary retaining member and the secondary retaining member are in the engaged position. In an embodiment, the blocking member further comprises a retention sleeve member configured to retain at least one o-ring within the cavity of the housing wherein the retention sleeve member is a single continuous component that includes a base, a bias member and the blocking member. The base may be a generally cylindrical shaped member positioned along an inner surface of the cavity and is configured to receive a portion of the male member and the bias member is a spring member that has a generally cylindrical shape and configured to receive a portion of the male member and to bias the blocking member towards the blocking position. The biasing member of the primary retention member applies a biasing force to maintain the primary retention member in the engaged position when in a static state. The primary retention member may include a ring shaped body that defines a primary cavity configured to receive a portion of the male member, the primary cavity is at least partially defined by the abutment surface and a space wherein the space is configured to receive the blocking member when placed in the blocking position and configured to receive the engagement member of the secondary retention member when the blocking member is placed in the unblocked position. The abutment surface of the primary retention member includes a first abutment surface spaced from a second abutment surface, wherein said space is positioned along the perimeter of the primary cavity and between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface. The primary bias member includes a pair of elongated legs that extend from a central attachment portion wherein opposing ends of the elongated legs are configured to abut against an outer surface of the housing to impart the bias force thereon. The primary retaining member includes at least one leg member wherein the leg member is configured to bias inwardly toward a primary cavity and to abut against ledges positioned along an inner surface of the housing to allow for a snap fit attachment of the primary retaining member and the housing. 
     The primary retention member may be received within a primary slot of the transverse opening and the secondary retention member is received within a secondary slot of the transverse opening that is along an opposite side of the housing relative to the primary slot. Alternatively, the primary retention member may be received within a primary slot of the transverse opening and the secondary retention member is received within the primary slot of the transverse opening that is along a common side of the housing relative to the primary slot. In one embodiment, the primary retention member is received within a primary slot of the transverse opening or within a secondary slot of the transverse opening and the secondary retention member is received within the other of the primary slot or secondary slot of the transverse opening. 
     In another embodiment, provided is a quick connector assembly comprising a housing having a cavity for receiving a male member and to define a lumen to allow the flow of fluid between the male member and the cavity, a transverse opening that is generally normal relative to the axis along which the flow of fluid is to travel through the cavity. A retention sleeve member that includes a base, a bias member and a blocking member wherein the base is a generally cylindrical shaped member positioned along an inner surface of the cavity and the bias member is a spring member that has a generally cylindrical shape and configured to bias the blocking member towards a blocking position aligned with the transverse opening and allow the blocking member to be moved to an unblocked position. A primary retaining member having an abutment surface and a biasing member, the primary retaining member slidably disposed within the transverse opening for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A secondary retaining member having an engagement member, the secondary retaining member slidably disposed within the transverse opening for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position when the blocking member is in the unblocked position. The retention sleeve member may be a single continuous component made or formed from a single piece of material such as a polymer based material. In an embodiment, the primary retention member includes a ring shaped body that defines a primary cavity configured to receive a portion of the male member, the primary cavity is at least partially defined by the abutment surface and a space wherein the space is configured to receive the blocking member when placed in the blocking position and configured to receive the engagement member of the secondary retention member when the blocking member is placed in the unblocked position. 
     In another embodiment, provided is a quick connector assembly comprising a housing having a cavity for receiving a male member and to define a lumen to allow the flow of fluid between the male member and the cavity, a transverse opening that is generally normal relative to the axis along which the flow of fluid is to travel through the cavity. A blocking member positioned in the cavity of the housing and configured to move between a blocking position aligned with the transverse opening and an unblocked position. A primary retaining member having an abutment surface and a biasing member, the primary retaining member slidably disposed within the transverse opening for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position wherein the primary retention member includes a ring shaped body that defines a primary cavity configured to receive a portion of the male member, the primary cavity is at least partially defined by the abutment surface and a space wherein the space is configured to receive the blocking member when placed in the blocking position and configured to receive an engagement member of the secondary retention member when the blocking member is placed in the unblocked position. A secondary retaining member having the engagement member, the secondary retaining member slidably disposed within the transverse opening for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position when the blocking member is in the unblocked position. The blocking member further comprises a retention sleeve member configured to retain at least one o-ring within the cavity of the housing and wherein the retention sleeve member is a single continuous component that includes a base, a bias member and the blocking member. The base may be a generally cylindrical shaped member positioned along an inner surface of the cavity and is configured to receive a portion of the male member and the bias member may be a spring member that has a generally cylindrical shape and configured to receive a portion of the male member and to bias the blocking member towards the blocking position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed assembly may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a quick connect assembly having a primary latch and secondary latch positioned along opposing sides of a housing of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a side perspective view of the housing of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded view of the housing of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a retention sleeve member configured to be positioned in the housing of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a retention sleeve member configured to be positioned in the housing of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the housing of the quick connect assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a male member translating to be positioned within the housing with a primary latch and a secondary latch in an opened/disengaged position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in a closed/engaged position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is an axial cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in a closed/engaged position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10 A  is an axial cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in a closed/engaged position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10 B  is an axial cross sectional view of the housing with the primary latch in a closed/engaged position and the secondary latch in the open/disengaged position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    is a partial cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing of the quick connect assembly with the primary latch in the closed position and the secondary latch in the open position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch in the closed position and the secondary latch in the open position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  13    is a partial cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in the closed position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of the primary latch according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view of another embodiment of a quick connect assembly having a primary latch and secondary latch positioned along a common side of a housing of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  16    is a side view of the housing of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  17    is an exploded view of the housing of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  18    is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the housing of the quick connect assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  19    is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a male member translating to be positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in an opened position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  20    is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in a closed position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  21    is an axial cross sectional view of the male member positioned within the housing with the primary latch and the secondary latch in the open position according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  22    is a partial cross sectional view of the male member being positioned within the housing according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  23    is a perspective view of the male member being positioned within the housing according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying Figures. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the disclosure. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     The present assembly described in this application involves embodiments of a multiple latch quick connector assembly for use in selectively attaching a male member to a housing within a fluid line system. The housing may be considered a female connector member herein. It is contemplated to establish a releasable and secure connection between a rigid tube and other fluid carrying components, particularly a flexible hose. However, the quick connector assembly has numerous other applications where a fluid tight, but releasable connection is desired, such as connection of rigid elements of a fluid path, whether pressurized, or unpressurized. One example is for use in automotive fluid delivery systems. However, the quick connector assembly may find utility in any environment in which a first fluid line is to be connected to a second fluid line. Such environments include, without limitation, airplanes, locomotives and ships. Other environments include factory, commercial and residential areas. 
       FIGS.  1 - 14    illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the quick connector assembly  100  of the instant application. More particularly,  FIGS.  1  and  2    illustrate the female connector or housing  10  that includes a primary latch  70  and a secondary latch  80 . The housing  10  defines a cavity configured to receive a male member  90  therein to allow for the transfer of fluid therebetween. Here the secondary latch  80  is illustrated in the disengaged position or open position and no male member  90  is shown. The female connector  10  includes a generally cylindrical connector body  12  and the male member  90  is configured to be releasably secured together by the primary latch member  70  and by a separate and redundant secondary latch member  80 . The male member  90  (is illustrated by  FIGS.  7  and  8   ) may be a generally elongated shaped body with a rigid construction that defines a lumen for the transport of fluid therein. The male member  90  may be generally cylindrically and form a part of a fluid line system. In use, the female connector  10  is connected to a tubing or hose which is also a part of the fluid line system and which is opposite from the attachment of the female connector  10  with the male member  90 . The female connector  10  and the male member  90  may be connectable to form a permanent, but selectively attachable and detachable, joint in a fluid line system. 
     As illustrated by  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the male member  90  includes an enlarged portion  140  along its outer surface. The enlarged portion  140  may include a cross sectional perimeter shape that is larger than a cross sectional perimeter shape of the remaining portions of the male member  90 . The enlarged portion  140  may be an annular shoulder that defines a radial abutment surface or an upset at a given distance from an open end or tip  150  of the male member. 
     An embodiment of the female connector member or housing  10  is illustrated further detail in  FIGS.  3  and  6 - 8   , wherein the female connector  10  includes a cavity  11  that is defined by a generally cylindrical, stepped radially inner surface as illustrated by  FIG.  6   . The illustrated housing and related components may be preferably molded of a plastic or polymer material or made by additive manufacturing techniques but the materials and manner of manufacturing these components is not limited. It may also be understood that the female connector  10  may take any desired shape without departing from the disclosure and could include a 90° bend or other configuration which is a common shape for a female connector for a quick connect assembly. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an exploded view of the female connector or housing  10  along with associated components configured to be arranged therein. The components include a plurality of various shaped O-rings positioned axially along the direction of fluid flow or along an axis of abutment between the male member  90  and housing  10  to assist with a secure engagement and to allow rotatable movement of the male member  90  relative to the female member once engagement is achieved. These associated components may include a tube O-ring along an outer surface of the housing, a first O-ring  13 , a second O-ring  14 , a retention sleeve  15 , a retention sleeve member  50 , the primary latch  70 , and the secondary latch  80 . Notably, these elements may be configured to be aligned along the fluid flow axis which is the desired direction of fluid flow therein as illustrated in  FIGS.  6 - 8   . 
     Embodiments of the retention sleeve member  50  are illustrated in the enlarged views of  FIGS.  4  and  5   . The retention sleeve member  50  may be configured to retain at least one O-ring within the female connector. The retention sleeve member  50  may include a base  52  that includes a generally cylindrical and hollow configuration defined to sit within the cavity  11  defined by the female connector  10  and to retain the O-rings  13  and  14  and the retention sleeve  15  within the female connector  10 . The base  52  may abut with or sit against an inner radial or shoulder portion  16  ( FIG.  6   ) along an inner surface of the cavity  11  of the female connector  10  and the base  52  may also be configured to receive a portion of the male member  90  therein. Further, at least one spacer  53  may be placed along the base  52  at a predetermined height. The spacer  53  may abut against an underside of the blocking member  56  when it is biased in the unblocking position. The dimensions of the spacer  53  can be modified to change the dimension that allows the blocking member  56  to be biased. Further, the retention sleeve member  50  may include a notch  55  along its underside to assist with placing the retention sleeve member  50  along the correct location within the cavity  11  and to ensure that the blocking member  56  is aligned with the space  84  of the primary latch  70  and the secondary engagement member  82  of the secondary latch  80 . 
     A biasing portion  54  may be attached to the base  52  and include a blocking member  56 . The biasing portion  54  of the retention sleeve member  50  may be a spring member that is attached to or generally continuous from the base  52  of the retention sleeve member  50  which may also include a cylindrical shape configured to receive a portion of the male member  90 . The retention sleeve member  50  may be a single continuous component or may be formed of various components configured to both bias and retain as described herein. The biasing portion  54  may extend from the base  50  along an opposite side from the O-rings  13 ,  14 , and retention sleeve  15 . The biasing portion  54  may be positioned within the cavity  11  of the female connector  10  to be aligned to interact with the secondary latch  80  as illustrated and described. More particularly, the biasing portion  54  may at least partially extend axially from the base  52  to be in alignment with a transverse opening that extends transversely through the housing relative to the cavity  11 . The transverse opening may extend along a direction that is generally normal relative to the axis along which the flow of fluid is to travel through the cavity  11 . The transverse opening may include primary slot  17  positioned along a first side of the housing  10  and a secondary slot  18  along an opposite second side of the housing  10 . The transverse opening is configured to receive the primary latch  70  and secondary latch  80 , respectively. In one embodiment, the primary latch  70  is received within the primary slot  17  of the transverse opening and the secondary latch  80  is received within the secondary slot  18  of the transverse opening. 
     The retention sleeve member may have an outer surface  20  that includes a protrusion  22  configured to abut against and be generally retained within a recess  23  positioned along an inner surface  21  of the cavity  11  in the female connector  10  to retain the retention sleeve member  50  therein. 
     The blocking member  56  may extend from the biasing member  54  and be configured to bias between a blocking position and a non-blocking position. In the blocking position, the blocking member  56  is configured to prevent the secondary latch  80  from moving into an engaged position or closed position. Here, the blocking member  56  may extend to abut or interfere with a secondary engagement member  82  that extends from the secondary latch  80  and is positioned within the secondary slot  18 . The blocking member  56 , when positioned in the blocking position, prevents the secondary latch  80  from translating to an engagement position within the secondary slot  18 . The biasing member  54  when in the static position, positions the blocking member  56  in the blocking position. As such the blocking member  56  extends from the biasing portion  54  to be positioned in the blocking position in alignment within the secondary slot  18 . Additionally, in an embodiment, the blocking member  56  may include a plate  57  and a ring portion  58  wherein the plate  57  may extend from the ring portion  58  and the ring portion  58  may include an opening therein configured to receive and allow a portion of the male member  90  to extend therethough. Additionally, the plate  57  or ring portion  58  of the blocking member  56  may include a surface  59  configured to abut the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  such that as the male member  90  translates into the cavity  11  of the housing  10 , the enlarged portion  140  is configured to abut the surface  59  of the retention sleeve member  50  and bias the blocking member  56  to the non-blocking position. Here, the blocking member  56  is biased against the force of the bias member  54  towards the base  50  and out of alignment with the secondary slot  18  or thereby clearing a path of translation for the secondary latch  80 . In particular, the blocking member  56  may be moved out of alignment with the secondary latch  80  to allow the secondary latch to be moved into the engaged position to lock the male member  90  in place. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  2  and  14   , the primary latch  70  may include a ring shape body that defines a primary cavity  72  configured to receive a portion of the male member  90  therethrough. The primary cavity  72  is at least partially defined by an abutment surface or surfaces  74  of the primary latch  70 . The abutment surface  74  and the primary cavity  72  may be positioned within the primary slot  17  of the housing  10  and be generally aligned with the cavity  11  of the housing  10  to allow a portion of the male member  90  to be received therein. The primary latch  70  may translate between engaged and non-engaged positions within the primary slot  17 . Further, in one embodiment, the primary latch may also include at least one primary bias member  76  that allows the primary latch  70  and abutment surface  74  to be biased at least partially between the engaged position and the disengaged position. Generally, the primary bias member  76  maintains the primary latch  70  in the static position which is the engaged position. Here, the abutment surface  74  may be placed at least partially within the line of travel of at least the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90 . As a user depresses the primary bias member  76  to translate the primary latch to the disengaged positon, the abutment surface  74  may be moved out of the line of travel of the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90 . Notably, in an embodiment, the primary latch  70  and the secondary latch  80  may be toggled to translate along a direction that is generally normal relative to the axis along which the flow of fluid is to travel through the cavity  11 . This action places the primary latch  70  and secondary latch  80  in either the engaged position to retain the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  or the disengaged position to allow the male member  90  to be withdrawn from the female connector  10 . 
     In an embodiment, the primary bias member  76  and the abutment surface  74  may be formed of a generally continuous material to form the primary latch  70 . The primary bias member  76  may include elongated legs  77  that extend from a central attachment portion  78  wherein opposing ends of the elongated legs  77  may be configured to abut against an outer surface of the housing  10  to impart the bias force thereon. Further, the abutment surface  74  may be a ramped surface that extends radially about a portion of the perimeter of the inner cavity  72 . Further, the abutment surface  74  may be positioned along an opposite side of the primary latch  70  than the primary bias member  76 . In operation, a user may depress the primary bias member  76  to slightly translate the primary latch  70  from the engaged position to the disengaged position while also translating the male member  90  out of (or into) the cavity  11  of the housing  10 . Further, when inserting the male member  90  into the cavity  11 , the enlarged portion  140  may abut against and slide against the abutment surface  74  to assist with translating the primary latch  70  from the engaged to disengaged positions to allow the male member  90  to be placed therein. As such, the primary bias member  76  may provide a bias force to place the primary latch in the engaged position that may be overcome by forcing the male member  90  and enlarged portion  140  against the abutment surface  74  to insert the male member from the cavity. 
     The secondary latch  80  may include a body  81  in which the secondary engagement member  82  and the elongated legs extends. The body  81  may include a surface ridge  85  that allows a user to easily grasp to pull the secondary latch  80  from the engaged positon to the disengaged position or to press to the secondary latch  80  from the disengaged position to the engaged position. The secondary engagement member  82  may extend from the body  81  and be configured to extend towards the cavity  11  and the path of fluid. The legs  88  may extend from the body  81  from opposing sides and be configured to extend within the cavity  11  and be placed outside the path of fluid. The secondary engagement member  82  may extend from at top portion of the body  81  and be aligned with the space  84  within the opposing wall  92  of the primary latch  70 . The legs  88  may extend from a portion of the body that is axially spaced from but generally parallel to the secondary engagement member  82 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , once the male member  90  is at least partially positioned within the cavity  11  of the housing  10 , the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  may at least partially depress against or otherwise translate passed the abutment surface  74  of the primary latch  70 . Notably, in a static state, the primary latch  70  may be in the engaged position while the abutment surface  74  may be aligned within the cavity  11 . The primary bias member  76  may apply a bias force to the primary latch  70  to maintain the primary latch in the engaged position. When the abutment surface  74  is engaged with a portion of the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90 , the primary latch  70  may be biased a direction generally normal relative to the fluid flow axis of the cavity  11  of the female connector  10  to allow the male member  90  to translate closer within the cavity  11  of the female connector  10 . Alternatively, a user may depress the primary bias member  76  to allow the enlarged portion  140  to translate passed the abutment surface  74  of the primary latch  70 . 
     Further, in the static position, the blocking member  56  may be positioned at least partially within a space  84  (See  FIGS.  3 ,  10 , and  14   ) in general alignment with the abutment surface  74  of the primary latch  70  (See  FIG.  6   ). The space  84  may be split between the abutment surface  74  and be a continuation of the primary cavity  72 . 
     As the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  translates along the direction of fluid flow within the cavity  11  and towards the housing  10 , as illustrated by  FIG.  7   , a portion of the male member  90  is positioned within the O-rings  13 , and  14 , the retention sleeve  15 , the retention sleeve member  50 , the base  52 , the biasing portion  54 , and the primary cavity  72  of the primary latch  70 . Here, the enlarged portion  140  is shown to have already abut against the abutment surface  74  of the primary latch  70  whereas the primary latch is shown to be depressed “down” per the annotated white arrow. The secondary latch  80  remains in the disengaged position. Once passed the abutment surface  74 , the enlarged portion  140  engages against the surface  59  of the retention sleeve member  50 . At this point, the secondary latch  80  may still be in the disengaged position and may be prevented from translating to the engagement position as the blocking member  56  remains in its static position or blocking position preventing further translation of the secondary engagement member  82  of the secondary latch  80 . 
     As illustrated by page  8 , as the male member  90  is fully positioned within the housing  10 , the enlarged portion  140  has abutted against the surface  59  of the retention member  50  and has translated the biasing portion  54  towards the base  52 . This action may cause the blocking member  56  to translate away from its blocking engagement with the secondary engagement member  82  of the secondary latch  80 . The blocking member  56  may be moved from within the space  84  ( FIG.  4   ) aligned with the abutment surface  74  of the primary latch  70 . The primary latch  70  may also bias back to its static position in which the abutment surface  74  is aligned in the engaged position relative to the enlarged portion  140 . A portion of the primary latch  70  (i.e., the primary bias member  76 ) may be in a “popped” out” position as a portion of the abutment surface  74  retains the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  within the cavity  11  of the housing  10 . This “popped out” position may provide visual and tactical indication that the primary latch  70  is in the engaged position and that the secondary latch  80  may now be actuated between the engaged position and the disengaged position. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates the secondary latch  80  positioned in the engaged position where the secondary engagement member  82  is translated towards the cavity  11  to retain the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  within the housing  10 . Here, the quick connect assembly  100  provides a redundant level of attachment wherein both the secondary engagement member  82  of the secondary latch  80  and the abutment surface  74  of the primary latch  70  prevent the male member  90  from being removed from the housing  10  while the male member  90  is able to rotate within the cavity  11 . 
     Here, the secondary engagement member  82  and abutment surface  74  are generally aligned along a common plane to prevent the removal of the male member  90  from opposing sides of the housing  10 . This arrangement may provide a desirable and structurally sound fluid connection. 
       FIGS.  9 - 13    illustrate various cross sectional views of the male member  90  and the female connector member  10  along with the primary latch  70  and secondary latch  80 . It illustrates various features including how the primary latch  70  is positioned along an opposite side from the secondary latch  80  relative to the housing  10  (co-planar orientation) along with various retaining members and shoulder support surfaces of each component. 
     Further, in one embodiment as illustrated by  FIG.  9   , the primary latch may also include at least one primary leg member  79  that allows the primary latch to be positioned in the housing  10  through the primary slot  17  or the opposite secondary slot  18 . The leg members  79  may be positioned along a top surface of the primary latch and allow the primary latch  70  to be snap fit within the housing  10  and prevent the primary latch  70  from being dislodged from the housing  10  when the male member  90  is not attached thereto. The leg member  79  may abut against ledges  83  positioned along an inner surface of the housing  10  to allow for this snap fit orientation. When inserted into the housing  10 , the leg members  79  may abut against a surface protrusion  95  along an inner side wall surface of the housing and bias towards the cavity  11 . The surface protrusions  95  may be along either or both sides of the inner side wall surfaces of the housing and also define the ledges  83 . Notably, this configuration can allow the primary latch to be received through either the primary slot  17  or the secondary slot  18 . Once the leg members  79 , in the biased state, reach the ledges  83 , the leg members  79  bias back to static position and may abut against the ledges  83  to be maintained therein. 
     Additionally, the secondary latch member  80  may be configured to translate and interact with the geometry of the primary latch member  70  when positioned within the housing  10 . As illustrated by  FIG.  10 A and  10 B , the secondary latch  80  may include legs  88  and protrusions  89  positioned along opposing sides of the latch  80  that are configured to be received within the secondary slot  18  of the housing as well as interact with surfaces of the primary latch member  70 . The primary latch  70  may include an opposing wall  92  that is configured to fit between the legs  88  of the secondary latch  80  and also includes the space  84  located therein. As described above, the space  84  may be for receiving the secondary engagement member  82 . The configuration of the opposing wall  92  may allow for the legs  88  to be axially spaced from the engagement member  82 , to extend along a generally parallel axial plane, and be inserted into the secondary slot  18 . The legs  88  may include inward facing protrusions  89  that may interact with a stop surface  94  along the opposing wall  92  wherein the legs  88  are configured to allow the secondary latch  80  to be translated between the engaged position (protrusions  89  spaced from stop surfaces  94  per  FIG.  10 A ) and disengaged position (protrusions  89  abut with stop surfaces  94  per  FIG.  10 B ). The legs  88  may be generally elongated and be positioned along either side of the cavity  11  when inserted. Further, the primary latch  70  may include guide arms  96  that may assist to guide the elongated legs  88  of the secondary latch into place within the housing. The guide arms may extend from the opposing wall  92  or surface of the primary latch  70  and be generally angled to allow the legs  88  from extending within the cavity  11  and conflicting with the fluid path configured to receive the male member  90 . The guide arms  96  may allow for slight warpage of the legs of the secondary latch  80  due to manufacturing tolerances or material bending issues. The legs  88  may be snap fit therein. Further, the protrusions  89  may be configured to abut against the stop surface  94  to prevent the secondary latch  80  from being dislodged from the housing  10 . 
     However, this disclosure also contemplates that the secondary latch  80  may also be aligned along and positioned along the same side of the housing  10  as the primary latch  70 . This embodiment is illustrated by  FIGS.  15 - 23    which includes similar reference numbers as the features illustrated by  FIGS.  1 - 14    but the primary latch  70  and secondary latch  80  are positioned in such a way as to allow the latches to move between engaged positions and non-engaged positions from the primary slot  17  along a common side of the assembly. 
     Here, the primary latch  70  and secondary latch  80  may be configured to interact with one another and with the housing  10  to allow the primary latch  70  to be positioned in an engaged position about the male member  90 . The male member  90  is configured to abut the surface  59  of the retention sleeve member  50  and bias the blocking member  56  towards the base  52  and out of alignment with the primary slot  17  and away from abutment with the secondary engagement member  82 . This would allow the secondary latch  80  to be positioned in the engaged position and to abut against the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  preventing its removal. The primary latch  70  may then also bias back to or otherwise be translated towards its static position in which the abutment surface  74  is aligned in the engaged position relative to the enlarged portion  140 . This provides a redundant level of attachment as both the primary and secondary latches prevent withdrawal of the male member  90  from the housing  10 . 
       FIG.  19    illustrates how the male member  90  may be translated into the housing from a “right to left” assembly stroke perspective. Here, the primary latch  70  has been depressed “down” as illustrated by the annotated arrow and the enlarged portion  140  is beginning to engage the surface of the In an embodiment, a portion of the primary latch  70  may be in a “popped” out” position as a portion of the abutment surface  74  retains the enlarged portion  140  of the male member  90  within the housing  10 . This “popped out” position may provide visual and tactical indication that the primary latch  70  is in the engaged position and that the secondary latch  80  may now be actuated between the engaged position and the disengaged position. 
     Also, this embodiment allows for the secondary latch  80  to retain a first portion  30  of the enlarged portion  140  and the primary latch  90  to retain an opposite second portion  31  of the enlarged portion  140  as illustrated by  FIG.  20   . Here, the secondary engagement member  82  and abutment surface  74  are generally aligned along a common plane to prevent the removal of the male member  90  from opposing sides of the housing  10 . This arrangement may provide a desirable and structurally sound fluid connection. 
     Stated another way, the action of the primary and secondary latches may interact to allow for a visual, audible, and/or tactile indication about the secure attachment between a male member and a female connector member as described herein. Notably, the abutment or engagement of surfaces against the bias force of components described herein may provide the audible or tactile indication of a secured engagement or disengagement of such components. 
     Further, the secondary latch may be prevented from being engaged by a ring (blocking member) that is moved to a non-interfering location by the axial engagement of the male member. The ring or blocking member may be tabbed and made integral with a molded spring to an O-ring retention member forming a combo unit. The resulting assembly provides a quick connect assembly that provides smaller packaging space than known quick connect assemblies which allows for additional space within complicated systems in which space is valued. 
     Additionally, it may be possible to install the primary latch and the secondary latch from either side of the female housing. As such, both the primary latch can be inserted into the primary slot  17  or the secondary slot  18  and the secondary latch  80  can be inserted into the opposite side of the primary latch  70 . This is particularly advantageous with female connectors that are greater than 0 degree connections, for example 90 degrees. This configuration allows tailoring of the connection to the actual in-vehicle assembly method and is an improvement over known quick connect assemblies. 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the disclosure described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.