Abstract:
A swivelable, releasable quick connector is disclosed. The interconnection includes a female element which receives a male element or tube, and an elastomer sealing ring to create a fluid tight seal therebetween. Furthermore, a locking mechanism is included to releasably lock the male element within the female element. The locking mechanism comprises a one-piece stamped metal retainer that may be preassembled on either the male or female element and which includes manually engageable portions that may be biased toward one another to effect the release of the retainer from the female element and thereby permit the male element to be disconnected from the female element.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/224,316, filed Aug. 10, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a connector and more particularly to a connector assembly for providing a swivelable quick connection. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Quick connector couplings, which are relied upon heavily on the automotive industry, generally consist of a male member, that is received by a female member, each of which are attached to separate fluid conduits. The two most difficult obstacles to overcome in creating such a connection are providing a fluid tight seal, and a simple method of connection. Prior methods of obtaining such a connection included threaded fittings, that would require tools to tighten, and very often retighten them on a regular basis, which demands down-time for the vehicle. From that starting point there is no other method of performing the identical tasks and still maintaining a novel concept. 
     There is also a risk involved of possibly over tightening the connector, which could damage the coupling causing possible leakage. Furthermore, they were comprised of multiple parts, that required inventory to be maintained to keep track of the parts. An additional drawback with the conventional type of fittings, is they were limited to being assembled from one direction alone. The attaching means was required to be affixed to either the male end or the female end, prior to connection, causing a potential problem in that the two ends may be difficult to align in the correct orientation while connecting the two members, possibly causing kinks in the fluid line which stresses the hose and shortens its life. 
     The need arose for a connector that can be fastened quickly, provide a fluid tight seal, and can be engaged manually form either direction, without any special tools. The use of a quick connector coupling is advantageous in that it can create a sealed, and secured connection between fluid lines, with minimal effort and expense. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved connector assembly for creating a swivelable quick connection between fluid conveying conduits. 
     In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pre-assembled connector housing and retaining element so that a connection to a tubular fluid conveying conduit may be made in one step without requiring any tools. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a pre-assembled connector housing and retainer element so that a snapping connection may be made to a tubular fluid conveying conduit. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a retainer that may be pre-assembled on the male or the female portion of the connector immediately prior to final assembly. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a pre-assembled connector conduit unit which requires only a one-step snapping connection to be joined to a connector housing. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved retainer element which operates to both secure the male conduit in the bore of the housing and position the sealing element within the required location to prevent leakage 
     It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved retainer element formed with three or more leg members which operate to press tabs into annular recesses to secure the retainer element to the housing, and the conduit in its operative position within the axial bore of the housing. 
     To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a swivelable connector assembly which generally comprises a tubular conduit, a housing, sealing means, and retainer. The tubular conduit is adapted to convey fluid and is formed with an annular projection disposal a predetermined distance from the end of the conduit to be connected. The housing is formed with an axial bore for receiving the conduit at a first end and for providing a fluid path at a second end, and includes an outwardly extending annular recess (or suitable apertures) at the first end to detachably secure the retainer means to the housing. The sealing means is disposed within the axial bore of the housing for providing a fluid tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing. The retainer means is adapted to be disposed generally within the axial bore of the housing for cooperating with the annular recess of the conduit to secure the conduit in its operable position within the axial bore of the housing. The retainer means is a one piece retainer element which includes at least two circumferentially spaced leg members which extend from an integral collar member at one end thereof. Each of the leg members has a deflectable leg portion which extends from the collar and ends in a semi-cylindrical portion including a tab to provide a backstop for securing the retainer element in the female housing, and at least two, generally parallel deflectable fingers, oriented perpendicular to the collar, for securing the retaining element to the male member. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the male portion inserted into the female portion showing the entire male portion; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retainer alone; 
     FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the retainer alone; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the retainer alone, as shown prior to the leg members being formed to their operative position generally perpendicular to the associated collar portion. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the retainer of FIG. 4, from the front side. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the retainer of FIGS. 4 and 5, from the reverse side. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded, partial sectional view of the male member, female member, retainer and sealing means. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , a cross-sectional and two perspective views of a retaining element  12  of a quick connector fluid coupling  10 , is shown, comprised of retaining element  12 , male member  14 , and female housing  16 . The male member  14 , is comprised of a conduit with a through bore  18 , and an integrated annular flange or bead  20 , located a specific distance from a terminal end  22 . The female housing  16 , comprised of through bore  24 , receiving end  26 , an internal bore portion  28 , annular channel  30 , and internal bore portions  32 , and  34 , for engaging with male member  14 , and retaining element  12 , when both are engaged with female housing  16 . Receiving end  26 , has chamfers  36 ,  38  and  40  for biasing leg members  44 , of retaining element  12 , and for simplifying alignment during assembly. 
     The retaining element  12 , preferably a one piece, stamped metal construction, includes a collar portion  42 , at least two or more deflectable leg members  44 , which extend from the collar portion  42 , with inside edge  48 , defining passage  50 , at one end thereof. Each of the deflectable leg members  44 , extending parallel from and perpendicular to the collar portion  42 , ends in a semi-cylindrical portion  54 , including at least two, generally parallel, but radially inward bent, deflectable finger portions  56 , projecting towards collar portion  42 , having a terminal end  58 , for abutting against annular bead  20 , securing the retaining element  12 , to the male member  14 . The deflectable leg members  44  each further include a radially outward tab  60  having surface  62 , aligned axially with deflectable leg members  44 , adopted to be removeably received within the annular channel  30 , formed in housing  16 , when quick connector  10 , is assembled. 
     FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 , disclose a perspective, and two planar views, respectively, of the retaining element  12 , and illustrate the equally spaced, deflectable, leg members  44 , splayed out, i.e., prior to being formed into their operative positions shown in FIG.  3 . The one piece design displays the collar portion  42 , defining a passage  50 , for inserting the terminal end  22 , of the male member  14 , having a first surface  64 , for abutting a sealing means such as a resilient o-ring  86 , (as seen in FIG. 7) and a second surface  66 , for abutting the annular bead  20 , on the male member  14 . The semi-circular end portion  54 , of the deflectable leg member  44 , has a first surface  68 , for abutting the curved outer surface  70 , of the male member  14 , and a second surface  72 , for abutting the second bore surface  32 , of the inside of the female housing  16 , when engaged with the housing  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, an exploded, partial sectional view of the male member  14 , the retaining element  12 , the female housing  16 , and the sealing means  86 . During connection of the quick connector coupling, the retaining element may be pre-assembled onto either the male member  14 , or into the receiving end of the female housing  16 , prior to final connection. When the retaining element  12 , is assembled with the female housing  16 , the leg members  44 , of the retaining element  12 , deflect inward upon contact of the first edge  74 , of the tab  60 , (see FIG. 2) with the first chamfer radius  36 , of the receiving end  26 , of the female housing  16 , until the point where surface  62 , of tab  60 , clears the bore  28 , of the female housing  16 . Further axial insertion of the retaining element  12 , to the point where tab  16  clears bore  28 , results in the deflectable leg members  44 , reflecting radially outward to the point where the surface  62 , of tab  60 , is received within the annular channel  30 , of the female housing  16 . At this point, the retaining element  12 , is fully engaged with the female housing  16 , and further axial movement is prevented, because the first edge  74 , of the tab  60  is abutted against the radial wall  76 , of the female housing  16 , and second edge  80 , of tab  60 , is abutted against radial wall  78 , of female housing  16 . (see FIG. 1) 
     When the retaining element  12 , is connecting with the male member  14 , either prior to or subsequently after assembly with female housing  16 , the terminal end  22 , passes between the deflectable leg members  44 , of retaining element  12 , and through the passage  50 , of collar portion  42 . Further insertion forces the radially inward bent finger portions  56 , of the leg members  44 , of the retaining element  12 , to deflect outward upon contact with annular bead  20  of male member  14 . Upon full insertion of the male member  14 , into the retaining element  12 , the finger portions  56 , reflect inward radially once they clear the annular bead  20 , of male member  14 . At this point further axial movement between the male member  14 , and the retaining element  12  is prevented because the second surface  66 , of the collar portion  42 , of the retaining element  12 , is abutted against the first edge  88 , of the annular flange  20 , of the male member  14 , and the terminal ends  58 , of finger portions  56 , of the retaining element  12 , are abutted against the second edge  90 , of the annular bead  20 , of the male member  14 , securing the connection, forming a unitary retainer element. 
     In the event it is desired to remove the male member  14  from the housing  16 , it is merely necessary to manually bias the terminal ends  58 , of the retaining element  12 , towards one another, whereby the tabs  60  will move radially inwardly out of engagement with the annular channel  30 , thus permitting the male member  14  and retaining element  12  to be withdrawn axially outwardly from the housing  16 . 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.