Patent Publication Number: US-2009230675-A1

Title: Cuff seal using single clamp

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a sealed connection between two tubular members and more particularly to a cuff seal connecting an air duct to a throttle body. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Conventional internal combustion engines may include a throttle body for controlling airflow into an intake manifold. An air duct may be connected to the throttle body through which filtered air from the air filter may be delivered. Accordingly, it may be necessary to provide a sealed connection between the air duct and the throttle body to prevent unfiltered, and potentially dirty, air from being drawn through the throttle body at such a connection. 
     Rubber cuffs may be employed to couple the air duct and the throttle body. Such connectors may include more than one metal strap to hold the connector to the duct and the throttle body. Traditionally, such cuffs rely on tightening the metal straps very tightly to secure the cuff, throttle body and duct. However, because the parts must be assembled onto a new vehicle at final vehicle assembly, considerable time must be used to assemble and tighten the cuff, throttle body and duct at final vehicle assembly. It is desirable that such cuffs possess physical part characteristics to permit the air duct and cuff to remain together during part shipment, and also for a metal strap to remain loosely attached yet available facilitate final assembly onto a throttle body before the strap is tightened during final assembly. 
     Additionally, when assembled in a vehicle, because the throttle body is typically in close proximity to a heat-generating engine block, the throttle body, duct and connector may expand and contract in response to the wide range of temperatures associated with such proximity. Additionally, the connection may be subjected to a wide range of vibration. This may cause leaks in the connection. 
     What is needed then is a cuff and air duct that are capable of being connected together in an airtight seal yet capable of remaining together during shipment and final assembly to a throttle body. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one form, the present disclosure may provide a cuff seal which may include an annular body having an outer radial portion, an inner radial portion, and an end portion. An annular groove may be disposed between the outer radial portion and the inner radial portion. A clamp may be disposed around the outer radial portion, such that the clamp may constrict or compress the annular body. The outer radial portion, the inner radial portion, and the end portion may form a U-shaped cross-section defining the annular groove, which may include an open end and a closed end. 
     In another form, the present disclosure may provide a system for connecting and sealing tubular members. The system may include a first tubular member including an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and numerous slots disposed through the inner diameter and the outer diameter. The slots and the adjacent material may form flexible fingers to accommodate insertion, including biased insertion, into a cuff. A second tubular member may include an inner diameter and an outer diameter with the outer diameter having a protuberance, such as a barbed protuberance. An annular cuff may include an outer portion and an inner portion with an annular groove therebetween to thereby form a U-shaped cross-section. The annular cuff may be adapted to interconnect or join the first tubular member and the second tubular member and thereby form an airtight seal. The flexible fingers of the first tubular member may be received within the annular groove but with restrain, resistance or biasing of the fingers during insertion. An outer diameter of the second tubular member may be pressed into engagement with the inner portion of the annular cuff, whereby the inner portion is disposed between the first tubular member and the second tubular member. 
     In yet another form, the present disclosure may provide a system that may include an air duct having numerous slots disposed therethrough to form a number of flexible fingers. A throttle body may have a tubular portion and a flange portion with the tubular portion having a rim. An annular cuff may couple the air duct and the throttle body. The annular cuff may have a U-shaped cross-section formed by an end face, an inner portion, an outer portion, with an annular groove disposed therebetween. The inner portion may have a plurality of teeth or ribs and a first recess or groove. A clamp may be disposed around the outer portion, the clamp being adapted to selectively constrict the annular cuff. The flexible fingers of the duct may be received into the annular groove. A lip or protuberance may be disposed on the fingers to snap-fit into or resiliently spring back and fit into a second recess or groove disposed at a closed end of the annular groove. The tubular portion of the throttle body may be received into the inner portion of the annular cuff, the teeth or ribs of the inner portion of the annular cuff permitting insertion of the tubular portion and resisting disengagement between the tubular portion and the inner portion. Disengagement is resisted because the numerous teeth or ribs are more easily deflected in a tubular insertion direction than in a tubular disengagement direction. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of an air duct, cuff seal and throttle body according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the cuff seal of  FIG. 1 , with the air duct and throttle body depicted in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the air duct, cuff seal and throttle body of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the cuff seal engaging the throttle body and the air duct; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded cross-sectional view of the cuff seal and the air duct according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the air duct being inserted into the cuff seal according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the air duct and the cuff seal; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially exploded cross-sectional view of the throttle body, the cuff seal, and the air duct fully engaged according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the throttle body being inserted into the cuff seal with the air duct fully engaged according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of cuff seal fully engaged with the throttle body and the air duct. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , and initially  FIGS. 1-4 , a cuff seal  10  is provided which may interconnect an air duct  12  and a throttle body  14  and provide a sealed relationship for fluid flow therebetween. The air duct  12  may route air from an air filter (not shown), for example, to the throttle body  14 . The throttle body  14  may control an air flow to an internal combustion engine (not shown) for a vehicle, for example. 
     The cuff seal  10  may be a resiliently flexible and generally cylindrical annular body formed from Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer (EPDM) rubber, for example, or any other suitable resiliently flexible rubber-like material. Such a material, which may be injection molded or otherwise suitably formed, must be capable of enduring temperatures and vibrations commonly experienced in an engine compartment of a vehicle. The cuff seal  10  may include a radial inner portion  16 , a radial outer portion  18 , and an end portion  20 . The inner portion  16 , the outer portion  18 , and the end portion  20  may form a substantially U-shaped cross section defining an annular groove  22 . 
     With reference including  FIG. 4 , the inner portion  16  may be a generally cylindrical ring including an inner diameter  24  and an outer diameter  26 , while the inner portion  16  may be resiliently flexible relative to the outer portion  18  and the end portion  20 . The inner portion  16  may also include a plurality of ribs or teeth  28  disposed on the inner diameter  24 , extending 360 degrees thereon. The teeth  28  may be angled generally inward and away from the end portion  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). The ribs  28  may deflect in response to a shear force applied thereto, for instance, as the throttle body  14  is inserted into the inner portion  16  from left to right (relative to the view shown in  FIG. 4 ). The ribs  28  may be relatively stiff or resist flexure in the opposite direction, i.e., right to left relative to the view shown in  FIG. 4 . Each of the ribs  28  may also include an undercut  30  to further facilitate deflection of the ribs  28  away from longitudinal axis X during insertion of the throttle body  14  in the manner described above. Otherwise, the ribs  28  protrude toward the longitudinal axis X. 
     The inner portion  16  may also include an annular recess  32  and a protuberance  34 . The annular recess  32  may be disposed in the inner diameter  24  and may include a generally oblong or teardrop shaped cross-section having a sloped portion  33  and a step portion  35 . The oblong or teardrop shape may enable the annular recess  32  to receive a portion of the throttle body  14 , facilitating a snap-fit engagement therebetween, while hindering disengagement therebetween, as will be subsequently described. 
     The protuberance  34  may be disposed on the outer diameter  26  and may extend 360 degrees thereon. The protuberance  34  may be angled generally outward from the inner portion  16 , toward the end portion  20 , although one skilled in the art will appreciate that the protuberance  34  could be otherwise suitably shaped, for instance, approximately perpendicular or perpendicularly away from axis X. The protuberance  34  may be a sealing member which may be resiliently compressed against the air duct  12  to supplement the sealed relationship between the cuff seal  10  and the air duct  12 . It should be appreciated that the protuberance  34  may extend into the annular groove  22  from the outer portion  18 . The protuberance  34  also aids in retaining the cuff seal  10  to the air duct  12  during shipping, that is, the protuberance assists in joining the cuff seal  10  and the air duct  12 . 
     The outer portion  18  may include an inner diameter  36  and an outer diameter  38 . A wall  40  may be disposed on or molded into the outer diameter  38 , extending radially outward therefrom, 360 degrees around the axis of rotational symmetry, axis X. The wall  40  may cooperate with the end portion  20  to form a channel  42  extending around the outer periphery of the cuff seal  10 . 
     A clamp  44  may be disposed around the outer portion  18 , within the channel  42 . The clamp  44  may be a flexible strap formed from stainless steel, or any other suitably durable metal or polymer with sufficient tensile strength to constrictingly restrain the cuff seal  10 , the air duct  12 , and the throttle body  14 . The clamp  44  may include a screw  46  engaging a saddle  48  fixed to one end of the strap. The screw  46  may be turned relative to the saddle  48  to incrementally engage or disengage slots  50  disposed on the strap to tighten or loosen the constricting force that the clamp  44  applies to the cuff seal  10 . A suitable clamp used to tighten the cuff seal  10  around the air duct  12  and the throttle body  14  may also be one that is conducive to a vehicle engine compartment. Generally, as the clamp  44  is tightened, a force directed radially toward the axis X increases about the entire perimeter of the clamp  44 . As the clamp  44  is tightened, the resilient material of the cuff seal may compress and store potential energy (i.e. a restoring force) against the clamp  44 . 
     The outer portion  18  may also include a resiliently flexible barbed protuberance  52  extending radially outward through an aperture  54  in the clamp  44 . The barbed protuberance  52  prevents relative rotation between the clamp  44  and the cuff seal  10 . Additionally or alternatively, the outer portion may include a key feature  56  disposed through a keyway  58  in the clamp  44  to prevent relative rotation between the clamp  44  and the cuff seal  10 . 
     As described above, the annular groove  22  may be defined by the U-shaped cross-section formed from the inner portion  16 , the outer portion  18  and the end portion  20 .  FIG. 4  depicts that the annular groove  22  may include an open end  60 , a closed end  62  (defined by the end portion  20 ), and an annular recess  64  disposed at or near the closed end  62 . The annular recess  64  may extend into the outer portion  18  as shown in  FIG. 4 , or alternatively, into the inner portion  16 . Regardless, the annular recess  64  provides a secure locking feature, that is enhanced with compression or force, within the annular groove  22 . The annular recess  64  may receive a portion of the air duct  12  for a snap-fit or a detent engagement therebetween, as will be subsequently described. The annular recess  64  may have a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape, although the annular recess  64  may alternatively include the teardrop shape described above with reference to the annular recess  32 . 
     The cuff seal  10  may also include a boss  65  disposed outboard of the annular groove  22  (shown best in  FIG. 3 ). The boss  65  may include a keyway  67  adapted to engage a portion of the air duct  12 , as will be subsequently described. 
     The air duct  12  may be generally tubular, and may be formed from Nylon 6, for example, or any other suitable polymeric material. The air duct  12  may include an inner diameter  66 , an outer diameter  68 , and a plurality of slots  70  disposed through the inner and outer diameters  66 ,  68 , thereby forming a plurality of resiliently flexible fingers  72 . The fingers  72  may include an undercut  74  to facilitate resilient deflection of the fingers  72  and to facilitate ease of insertion of the fingers  72  over the protuberance  34 . 
     The air duct  12  may also include a lip  76  disposed around an edge of the outer diameter  68 . The lip  76  may restrainingly engage the annular recess  64  in the annular groove  22 , as will be subsequently described. A key  77  may be disposed on the outer diameter  68  of the air duct  12  and may slidably engage the keyway  67  of the cuff seal  10  to prevent relative rotation between the air duct  12  and the cuff seal  10 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the throttle body  14  may be formed from aluminum, for example, or material suitable to the environment of a vehicle engine compartment. The throttle body  14  may include a tubular portion  78  and a body portion  80 . A retaining barb  82  may be disposed on the outer diameter of the tubular portion  78  and may extend up to 360 degrees around the circumference of the tubular portion  78 . To take full advantage of the securing contact and retaining quality of the retaining barb  82  against the teeth or ribs  28 , the retaining barb  82  may extend 360 degrees around the tubular portion  78  to provide the greatest amount of securing contact. Upon insertion, the retaining barb  82  may restrainingly engage the annular recess  32  disposed in the inner portion  16  of the cuff seal  10 . Stated differently, the retaining barb  82 , upon full insertion of the tubular portion  78 , may drop into or lodge into the annular recess  32  of the cuff seal  10 . Upon and during insertion, the retaining barb  82  compresses against the teeth or ribs  28  to momentarily compress or collapse the ribs  28 . As previously stated, because the ribs  28  are angled in the direction of tubular portion  78  insertion, and equipped with an undercut  30 , the ribs collapse much more easily than when withdrawal of the tubular portion is attempted. The cuff seal  10  and the air duct  12  may be assembled together before shipment to a vehicle final assembly facility, where the throttle body may  12  then be assembled into the cuff seal  10  and the clamp  44  subsequently tightened. The clamp  44  is fully tightened after the air duct  12  and cuff seal  10  are assembled onto the throttle body  14 . An advantage of the present disclosure is that the clamp  44  need only be tightened about the cuff seal  10  and air duct  12  upon assembly of the air duct  12  and the cuff seal  10  onto the throttle body  14 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , operation of the cuff seal  10  will be described in greater detail. As described above, the cuff seal  10  may receive and engage the air duct  12  and the throttle body  14 , forming a sealed connection therebetween.  FIGS. 5-7  depict the air duct  12  being inserted into the annular groove  22  of the cuff seal  10 . As the fingers  72  are pressed into the annular groove  22 , the lip  76  will contact the inner diameter  36  of the outer portion  18  and the protuberance  34  will contact the inner diameter  66  of the air duct  12 , thereby causing the fingers  72  and the inner portion  16  of the cuff seal  10  to resiliently flex inward, toward the inner area or portion of the cuff  10 , biasing the fingers  72  against the outer portion  18  ( FIG. 6 ). The arrow of  FIG. 6  depicts the insertion direction of the air duct  12 . Additionally, when the throttle body  14  is inserted into the cuff seal  10 , the fingers  72  may flex outward, away from the centerline of the cuff seal  10 , thus creating a tight seal or fit between the throttle body  14 , cuff seal  10  and air duct  12 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 7 , in a fully engaged position of the air duct  12 , the lip  76  may snap into or lodge into the detent or annular recess  64  such that the snap or lodging may be felt by a person doing the assembly. The stiffness of the fingers  72  and the inner portion  16  may biasingly restrain the lip  76  within the annular recess  64 , thereby restrainingly engaging the air duct  12  within the cuff seal  10 . That is, force will be necessary to install the air duct  12  into the cuff seal  10  and withdraw the air duct  12  from the cuff seal  10 . In this manner, the geometry of the air duct  12  and the annular groove  22  allow the air duct  12  to be pressed, with hand force, into engagement with the cuff seal  10 , while hindering disengagement therebetween. For instance, a greater force may be necessary to disengage the air duct  12  and the cuff seal  10 . The biasing relationship between the cuff seal  10  and the air duct  12  also facilitates the sealed relationship therebetween. That is, there is contact between the air duct  12  and the cuff seal  10  during insertion. Additionally, as described above, the protuberance  34  may be biasingly compressed against the fingers  72  forming a seal therebetween and supplementing the retaining engagement between the cuff seal  10  and the air duct  12 . 
       FIGS. 8-10  depict the tubular portion  78  of the throttle body  14  being received within the inner portion  16  of the cuff seal  10 . Although  FIGS. 8-10  depict the throttle body  14  engaging the cuff seal  10  after the air duct  12  is already in the fully engaged position, it should be appreciated that the throttle body  14  and the cuff seal  10  could be engaged first, before the air duct  12  is received within the annular groove  22 . However, it is normally the case that first the air duct  12  is assembled into the cuff seal  10  and then the throttle body  14  is assembled into the cuff seal  10  because for shipping purposes to a final vehicle assembly, the air duct  12  and cuff seal  10  are first assembled and then shipped to a vehicle assembly facility where the air duct  12  and cuff seal  10  are assembled onto a vehicle throttle body  14 . Upon insertion of the air duct  12  into the cuff seal  10 , the air duct  12  will remain in the cuff seal  10 , and the cuff seal  10  on the air duct  12 , even without tightening the clamp  44 , which is an advantage of the protuberance  76 . 
     As the tubular portion  78  of the throttle body  14  is pressed into the inner portion  16  of the cuff seal  10  (or the cuff seal  10  is pressed over the tubular portion  78 ), the teeth or ribs  28  are resiliently compressed, as a type of cantilever rib, thereby providing a biasing force against the tubular portion  78 . The undercuts  30  and the angle at which the ribs  28  protrude from the inner portion  16  may allow the ribs  28  to resiliently deflect in response to the force of the retaining barb  82  and the balance (length) of the tubular portion  78  sliding over each of the ribs  28  from left to right (relative to the view shown in  FIG. 10 ). As described above, the ribs  28  may be relatively stiff in the opposite direction, thereby hindering the tubular portion  78  from sliding relative to the cuff seal  10  in a tubular portion  78  removal action, or a right to left direction (relative to the view shown in  FIG. 10 ). 
     As the tubular portion  78  slides into the fully engaged position ( FIG. 10 ), the retaining barb  82  may spring into or snap into the annular recess  32 . As described above, the teardrop shape of the annular recess  32  allows the retaining barb  82  to snap therein, while hindering or preventing the retaining barb  82  from disengaging and backing out of the cuff seal  10  unless sufficient force is applied to the throttle body. During the installation of the cuff seal  10  and air duct  12  onto the throttle body  14 , the fingers  72  deflect outwardly, away from the cuff seal  10  centerline to assist in creating a tight seal between all parts that the clamp  44  holds together when tightened. The diameter of the throttle body is sized to create such a flexing of the fingers  72  when the throttle body  14  is inserted into the cuff seal  10 . The biasing force of the resiliently compressed ribs  28  against the tubular portion  78  may be a supplemental force in addition to the engagement between the retaining barb  82  and the annular recess  32 . The biasing force of the ribs  28  against the tubular portion  78  and the biased engagement between the retaining barb  82  and the annular recess  32  may cooperate to form a sealed relationship between the throttle body  14  and the cuff seal  10 , thereby providing a sealed connection between the throttle body  14  and the air duct  12 . It should be appreciated that a service technician, for example, may be able to apply a sufficiently large force to disengage the retaining barb  82  and the annular recess  32  to remove the cuff seal  10  from the throttle body  14 , if necessary. 
     Once the cuff seal  10  is restrainingly engaging both the air duct  12  and the throttle body  14  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ), the clamp  44  may be tightened around the cuff seal  10  (as described above) to further restrain the air duct  12  and the throttle body  14  within the cuff seal  10 , and to increase the forces that provide a sealing relationship therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the body  80  of the throttle body  14  may be disposed against the end portion  20  of the cuff seal  10 , thereby further supplementing the seal between the throttle body  14  and the cuff seal  10 . 
     There are multiple advantages to the teachings of the present disclosure. First, as described above, the air duct  12  and the throttle body  14  may be received into the cuff seal  10  with relative ease, while disengagement therebetween is hindered. The clamp  44  may provide a supplement to the sealed, detent or snap-fit relationships between the throttle body  14  and the cuff seal  10  and the air duct  12  and the cuff seal  10 . 
     A second advantage of the principles of the present disclosure is that the air duct  12  does not contact the throttle body  14 . The inner portion  16  of the cuff seal  10  is disposed between the air duct  12  and the throttle body  14 , providing independent, biasingly sealed relationships between the air duct  12  and the inner portion  16  and the throttle body  14  and the inner portion  16 . Therefore, differing coefficients of thermal expansion between the material of the air duct  12  and the material of the throttle body  14  will not compromise the integrity of the connection or seal therebetween as these components are exposed to a range of temperatures. Additionally, because the cuff seal  10  is the contact piece between the throttle body  14  and the air duct  12 , and the throttle body  14  does not contact the air duct  12 , the juncture of the cuff seal  10  with the air duct  12  and throttle body  14  permits engine vibration to be dampened. That is, no noise is generated by repeated, vibration contact between the throttle body  14  and the air duct  12 , because they do not contact each other, and the cuff seal  10  acts as a vibration dampener. 
     Another advantage of the present disclosure is the multiple points, or surface area, of contact between the air duct  12  and the cuff seal  10  and between the throttle body  14  and the cuff seal  10 , thereby providing a more robustly sealed connection. Connections that may only include one point of contact between two tubular members may increase the likelihood of air leaks, noise from vibration, and poor connection integrity. 
     Therefore, as described above, a sealing and connection system may employ an annular body  10  having an outer radial portion  18 , an inner radial portion  16 , and an end portion  20  that define a U-shaped cross-section and an annular groove  22  open at a first end and closed at a second end; and a clamp  44  disposed or secured around the outer radial portion  18 . The clamp  44  possesses features to permit constriction of the annular body  10 . The inner radial portion  16  includes a plurality of ribs  28 , the ribs  28  being resiliently flexible in a first direction (in the direction of insertion of a tubular portion  78 ) and stiff in a second direction (in the direction of removal of the tubular portion  78 ). 
     The ribs  28  and the inner radial portion  16  define an undercut  30  to hasten deflection in the first direction. A surface of the outer radial portion  18  immediately bounding the annular groove  22  defines an annular recess  64  to engage a first tubular member  12  for a detent relationship therebetween. A surface of the inner portion  16  immediately bounding the annular groove  22  defines an annular protuberance  34  to engage the first tubular member  12  for a detent relationship therebetween. The inner portion  16 , may be cantilevered and flexible, and the annular groove  22  may be adapted to receive the first tubular member  12  for a sealed engagement. The sealing and connection system may further employ a second tubular member  14  with the ribs  28  of the inner portion  16  protruding toward a longitudinal axis X of the annular body  10 . The second tubular member  14  may reside within the annular body  10  and against the ribs  28  of the inner portion  16 , the inner portion  16  being sandwiched between the first tubular member  12  and the second tubular member  14  to sealingly couple the first tubular member  12  and the second tubular member  14 . The sealing and connection system may further employ a retaining barb  82  on the second tubular member  14 , and the retaining barb  82  may reside within the inner portion annular recess  32 . The second tubular member  14  may deflect the ribs  28  upon insertion to form a seal therebetween. The first tubular member  12  and the second tubular member  14  do not contact each other, and are separated by the inner portion  16 . 
     In another example, a sealing and connection system may employ a first tubular member  12  having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and defining a plurality of slots  70  disposed through the inner diameter and the outer diameter, and forming a plurality of flexible fingers  72 . The flexible fingers are  72  located at an end of the first tubular member  12 . A second tubular member  14  possesses an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the outer diameter having a rim, such as between body portion  80  and retaining barb  82 . An annular cuff  10  may have an outer portion  18  and an inner portion  16  that define an annular groove  22  with a U-shaped cross-section. The annular cuff  10  may be adapted to sealingly secure, interconnect, or hold the first tubular member  12  and the second tubular member  14 . The flexible fingers  72  of the first tubular member  12  may bias radially outwardly (away from axis X) and contact the outer portion  18 , and the inner portion  16  bounding the annular groove  22 . An outer diameter of the second tubular member  14  may be pressed into engagement with the inner portion  16  of the annular cuff  10 . The inner portion  16  may be disposed between, and contacting, the first tubular member  12  and the second tubular member  14 . 
     The sealing and connection system may further employ a plurality of ribs  28  on the inner portion  16  of the annular cuff  10  to provide radial force against the second tubular member  14  and prevent disengagement between the inner portion  16  and the second tubular member  14 . The sealing and connection system may further employ a plurality of lips  76  on the plurality of fingers  72  that bias into a recess groove  64  within the annular groove  22 . 
     The inner portion  16  may flex inward (toward the axis X) in response to insertion of the first tubular member  12 . The inner portion  16  may bias the first tubular member  12  against the outer portion  18 . The rim of the second tubular member  14  may be adapted with a retaining barb  82  to engage a groove  32  disposed in the inner portion  16 . The annular cuff  10  may include an end portion  20  disposed against a flange of the second tubular member  14 . The end portion  20  and the flange may abut to form a sealed relationship therebetween. 
     A clamp  44  is located around the outer portion  18 , and when tightened it constricts the first tubular member  12 , the second tubular member  14  and the inner portion  16  and outer portion  18  of the annular cuff  10 . The sealing and connection system may further employ an annular protuberance  34  on the inner portion  16  and the plurality of flexible fingers  72  may include an undercut  74  to facilitate deflection of the fingers  72  upon finger contact with the protuberance  34 . 
     In yet another example, a sealing and connection system may employ a first air duct  12  that defines a plurality of slots  70  disposed at a duct end, near a lip  76 , thereby forming a plurality of flexible fingers  72 . A tip of the fingers  72  may have a lip  76  on and with an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the balance of the first air duct. A second air duct  14  may have a tubular portion  78  and a flange portion, the tubular portion  78  further defining a channeled rim (body portion  80  and retaining barb  82 ). An annular cuff  10  may secure the first air duct  12  and the second air duct  14 . The annular cuff  10  may have a U-shaped cross-section for receipt of the first air duct  12 , an inner portion  16 , and an outer portion  18 . The inner portion  16  and the outer portion  18  define an annular groove  22  disposed therebetween. The inner portion  16  may have a plurality of ribs  28  and a first recess groove  32  next to the plurality of ribs  28 . 
     A clamp  44  may be disposed around the outer portion  18  to secure the annular cuff  10  around the first air duct  12  and the second air duct  14 . The flexible fingers  72  may be received into the annular groove  22  while the lip  76  on the fingers  72  biases into a second recess groove  64  disposed in a closed end of the annular groove  22 . The tubular portion of the second air duct  14  is received against the inner portion  16 , the plurality of ribs  28  deflecting during insertion of the tubular portion  78  and resisting disengagement between the tubular portion  78  and the inner portion  16 , the plurality of ribs  28  being resiliently flexible in a first (insertion) direction, and less resilient in a second (withdrawal direction). Such a feature secures the tubular portion  78  of the second air duct  14  in place against the inner portion  16 . Because each of the fingers  72  includes a finger tip undercut  74  to facilitate deflection of the fingers  72 , the inner portion  16  resiliently flexes inward (toward axis X) in response to insertion of the first air duct  12  into the annular groove  22 . An end portion  20  of the annular cuff  10  is disposed against the flange portion of the second air duct  14  to create a seal therebetween. 
     The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.