Abstract:
A quick-release coupling is provided and includes a male sub-assembly comprising a spring-biased first valve and two latches; and a female sub-assembly comprising a spring biased second valve and two hollow snapping members whereby snapping the latches through the snapping members will securely assemble the male and the female sub-assemblies together, thereby opening both valves to allow fluid to flow through.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to tube couplings and more particularly to a quick-release coupling with improved characteristics. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Tube couplings are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,742 discloses a tube coupling. Further, there are many types of quick-release/action coupling commercially available. Typically, a quick-release coupling must be capable of being installed quickly and reliably. However, such quick-release couplings have not been disclosed as far as the present inventor is aware. Thus, there is a need in the art for such quick-release coupling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a tube coupling comprising a male sub-assembly comprising a spring-biased first valve and two latches; and a female sub-assembly comprising a spring biased second valve and two hollow snapping members whereby snapping the latches through the snapping members will securely assemble the male and the female sub-assemblies together, thereby opening both valves to allow fluid to flow through. 
         [0006]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tube coupling according to the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the tube coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the tube coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the tube coupling of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the tube coupling of  FIG. 2  where the male sub-assembly is coupled to one tube and the female sub-assembly is coupled to the other tube; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  where the male sub-assembly and the female sub-assembly are in the process of coupling together; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  where the male sub-assembly and the female sub-assembly are coupled together; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , a quick-release/action type tube coupling in accordance with of the invention is illustrated. The tube coupling comprises a male sub-assembly  1  adapted to couple to one tube  3  and a female sub-assembly  2  adapted to couple to the other tube  3 . Each component is discussed in detail below. 
         [0017]    The male sub-assembly  1  comprises a tube connecting section  11  adapted to couple to one tube  3 , a separate attaching section  12 , and a gradually enlarged interconnecting section  10  integrally formed with the tube connecting section  11  to be coupled to the attaching section  12 . The cylindrical attaching section  12  comprises an intermediate annular flange  120  on an outer surface, and an internal reduced bore member  121  for dividing an internal space of the attaching section  12  into an upper space  123  and a lower space  122 . A torsion spring  14  is seated on one of three internal shoulders (not numbered) of the interconnecting section  10  at a joining portion of the interconnecting section  10  and the tube connecting section  11 . 
         [0018]    A first valve  15  comprises an upper urging member  151  having a plurality of (e.g., four) equally spaced wings  151 A, a plurality of (e.g., four) gaps  152  each formed between two adjacent wings  151 A, a lower urging member (not numbered) spaced from the upper urging member  151  and inserted into the spring  14  so that the first valve  15  can be resiliently supported by the spring  14 , and an intermediate groove  150 A between the upper urging member  151  and the lower urging member. An O-ring  150 B made of rubber is put on the groove  150 A. The groove  150 A and the O-ring  150 B consist of a sealing unit  150 . The attaching section  12  has its lower staged portion matingly seated on the other two shoulders of the interconnecting section  10  with the reduced bore member  121  being sealingly engaged with the O-ring  150 B (see  FIG. 4 ). That is, the bore of the reduced bore member  121  is blocked for stopping any fluid flow. 
         [0019]    A rubber O-ring  16  is put on an annular groove (not numbered) on an outer surface of the interconnecting section  10  to secure the interconnecting section  10  onto the lower portion of the attaching section  12 . A ring-shaped flexible member  13  comprises two opposite upright latches  130  having a ridged end  131 . The ring portion of the flexible member  13  is rotatably fastened between the flange  120  and the top annular flange (not numbered) of the interconnecting section  10  when the flexible member  13  is mounted. 
         [0020]    The female sub-assembly  2  comprises a tube connecting section  21  adapted to couple to the other tube  3 , a separate attaching section  22 , and a gradually enlarged interconnecting section  20  integrally formed with the tube connecting section  21  to be coupled to the attaching section  22 . The interconnecting section  20  has two opposite snapping members  23  on the lower portion. The hollow snapping member  23  has a longitudinal throughway  230  open to the top and the bottom ends thereof. A rubber O-ring  26  is put on an annular groove (not numbered) on an outer surface of the interconnecting section  20  just above the snapping members  23 . The cylindrical attaching section  22  comprises a rubber O-ring  220  put on a lower annular groove (not numbered), and an internal shoulder (not numbered) for dividing an internal space of the attaching section  22  into an upper space  221  and a lower space  222 . 
         [0021]    A second valve  25  comprises a lower urging member  251  having a plurality of (e.g., four) equally spaced wings  251 A, a plurality of (e.g., four) gaps  252  each formed between two adjacent wings  251 A, an upper urging member (not numbered) spaced from the lower urging member  251  and being inserted into a torsion spring  24 , and an intermediate groove  250 A between the lower urging member  251  and the upper urging member. An O-ring  250 B made of rubber is put on the groove  250 A. The groove  250 A and the O-ring  250 B consist of a sealing unit  250 . The attaching section  22  has its top urged against an intermediate internal shoulder of the interconnecting section  20 . Also, the spring  24  has its top urged against a top internal shoulder of the interconnecting section  20  at a joining portion of the interconnecting section  20  and the tube connecting section  21 , and its bottom urged against an enlarged seat (not numbered) of the upper urging member of the second valve  25  so that the internal shoulder of the attaching section  22  is sealingly engaged with the O-ring  250 B (see  FIG. 4 ). That is, the bore of the internal shoulder of the attaching section  22  is blocked for stopping any fluid flow. 
         [0022]    A person may align the female sub-assembly  2  with the male sub-assembly  1 , i.e., aligning the throughways  230  of the snapping members  23  with the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130 . Next, engage the female sub-assembly  2  with the male sub-assembly  1  by snapping the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130  through the throughways  230  of the snapping members  23  until the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130  suddenly expand outward due to the nature of its flexible material to secure to the tops of the throughways  230  after passing the tops of the throughways  230  of the snapping members  23 . In the coupled state (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ), both springs  14 ,  24  are compressed. Also, a slight pressing of the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130  toward each other will not compromise the fastening of the latches  130  and the snapping members  23  due to the projecting O-ring  26 . Further, the O-ring  220  seals other undesired flow paths in the coupling (i.e., leak being made impossible). Thus, fluid, for example, can flow from the lower tube  3  through the lower space  122 , the gaps  152 , the reduced bore member  121 , the upper space  123 , the lower space  222 , the gaps  252 , the bore of the internal shoulder of the attaching section  22 , and the upper space  221  to the upper tube  3 . 
         [0023]    It is understood that a person may press the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130  toward each other with one hand until the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130  are not fastened with the snapping members  23 . Next, for example, pull the male sub-assembly  1  downward to cause the ridged ends  131  of the latches  130  to clear the throughways  230  of the snapping members  23 . As a result, the male sub-assembly  1  and the female sub-assembly  2  are disengaged. 
         [0024]    In view of above, the coupling is capable of being either installed quickly and reliably or disengaged quickly. 
         [0025]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.