A connector assembly, comprising: a female coupler having a first end and a second end, and having a first fluid passage extending between said first and second ends, said second end constructed to fit with a first conduit, said female coupler having a first retainer flange located at an exterior surface of said female coupler, and said female coupler having a second retainer flange located at said exterior surface; a retainer carried by said female coupler, said retainer having a portion (64, 66) locatable within said first fluid passage, said retainer having a bridge located outside of said fluid passage and externally accessible by a user; and a male coupler having a first end that can be inserted into said first end of said female coupler, said male coupler having a second end constructed to fit with a second conduit, said male coupler having a second fluid passage extending between its first and second ends, said male coupler having a groove; wherein, when said female coupler and said male coupler are brought together and said first and second fluid passages communicate with each other, said portion (64, 66) of said retainer is receivable within said groove of said male coupler in order to inhibit separation of said male and female couplers (10, 12), said bridge of said retainer is secured between said first and second retainer flanges (44, 50), said bridge lies radially inwardly of a radially-outwardly end of said first retainer flange, said bridge is protected from inadvertent dislodging via said first retainer flange during use of said connector assembly, characterized in that the bridge is a raised portion and, that a highest portion of said second retainer flange resides below or at a level less than the highest portion of the raised portion of the retainer. a female coupler having a first end and a second end, and having a first fluid passage extending between said first and second ends, said second end constructed to fit with a first conduit, said female coupler having a first retainer flange located at an exterior surface of said female coupler, and said female coupler having a second retainer flange located at said exterior surface; a retainer carried by said female coupler, said retainer having a portion (64, 66) locatable within said first fluid passage, said retainer having a bridge located outside of said fluid passage and externally accessible by a user; and a male coupler having a first end that can be inserted into said first end of said female coupler, said male coupler having a second end constructed to fit with a second conduit, said male coupler having a second fluid passage extending between its first and second ends, said male coupler having a groove; wherein, when said female coupler and said male coupler are brought together and said first and second fluid passages communicate with each other, said portion (64, 66) of said retainer is receivable within said groove of said male coupler in order to inhibit separation of said male and female couplers (10, 12), said bridge of said retainer is secured between said first and second retainer flanges (44, 50), said bridge lies radially inwardly of a radially-outwardly end of said first retainer flange, said bridge is protected from inadvertent dislodging via said first retainer flange during use of said connector assembly, characterized in that the bridge is a raised portion and, that a highest portion of said second retainer flange resides below or at a level less than the highest portion of the raised portion of the retainer.