Patent Description:
Quick connectors are connector assemblies that allow for convenient, quick, fluid-tight connections between two or more pipes, tubes, or similar components. Quick connectors are commonly used in the automotive industry to connect tubing used in engine cooling line connections, fuel and brake connections, vapor connections or, more recently, in cooling circuits used to cool batteries of electric or hybrid vehicles. Quick connectors typically include a female connector for receiving a male connector, or a male connector for receiving a female connector. In operation, when fully disposed within the female connector, the male connector is locked in position allowing for leak-free fluid communication between a first tube in fluid communication with the female connector and a second tube in fluid communication with the male connector. Unfortunately, many conventional quick connectors suffer from numerous drawbacks associated with locking together the components that are not fully connected or not locked in position, resulting in failed connections and leaks. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> each disclose other connectors.

It would be desirable to provide a scannable image for verifying that the quick connector components are locked in position.

It would be further desirable to provide a machine-readable method for ascertaining that the quick connector has been properly assembled.

This disclosure relates to a quick connector adapted to display a code that verifies that a latch member is fully engaged to retain an installed pipe to the quick connector. The quick connector comprises a connector body having a receiving portion surrounding an internal passage, the internal passage arranged to receive the pipe therein. A latch member retained on the receiving portion is arranged to be movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position. In the pipe insertion position the latch member allows the pipe to be inserted into the internal passage. A code readable by a scanning device becomes readable when the latch member is moved to the latched position verifying that the pipe is installed and latched in the connector body.

In a first embodiment, the connector body includes at least one flange surrounding the internal passage. The latch member includes at least a first leg retained on the receiving portion adjacent the flange. At least a first partial code is applied to the first leg and at least one additional partial code applied to the flange. When the latch member is moved to the latched position the first partial code becomes aligned with the at least one additional partial code, forming a readable code that can be read by a scanning device.

In a second embodiment the connector body includes at least one flange surrounding the internal passage. The latch member includes at least a first leg retained on the receiving portion adjacent the flange. The first leg includes a cover member extending from the first leg over the flange. A code applied to the flange is fully hidden by the cover in the pipe insertion position. When the latch member is moved to the latched position the cover member uncovers the code allowing the code to be read by a scanning device.

A method for verifying a latched connection of a connector is disclosed. The method comprising, providing a connector body having a receiving portion surrounding an internal passage and a latch member retained on the receiving portion, movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position. The method further includes moving the latch member to the latched position wherein a code becomes readable verifying that the pipe is installed and latched in the connector body.

The figures, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the invention may be implemented in any type of suitably arranged device or system.

In accordance to the present embodiment, there is provided a quick connector of the type commonly used in the automotive industry to connect tubing used in engine cooling line connections, fuel and brake connections, vapor connections or the like. The quick connector includes a connector body and a slidable latch mechanism. The connector body includes an internal passage centrally located in the connector body adapted so that a pipe can be inserted into the passage. The latch mechanism is located on the connector body and is slidable from a pipe insertion position that facilitates the insertion of the pipe into the connector body internal passage, to a latch position that captures and retains the pipe within the connector body.

In a first embodiment, the slidable latch mechanism further includes guide and latching legs each having a partial portion of a scannable code printed on an external surface of a guide leg and latching leg. Another partial portion of the scannable code is printed on a surface of a flange molded on the connector body. The partial portions of the scannable codes can be barcodes, QR codes or any other code that can be scannable and read by a machine vision device, a handheld scanner or other code scanning device. When the slidable latch mechanism is in the pipe insertion position the partial portions of scannable codes are mis-aligned and are unreadable by the scanning device. Moving the latch mechanism into the latching position so as to capture the pipe, aligns the partial portions of scannable codes to build a complete scannable code that can be read and recorded by a user using the handheld scanner, thereby indicating a positive latch connection between the pipe and the connector body. Alternately, the complete scannable code can be scanned by a code reader during an assembly or manufacturing process.

In a second embodiment, the latch mechanism includes a cover member that when the latching member is in the tube insertion position covers a scannable code, such as a barcode, QR code or other machine-readable code that is printed or etched on an outer flange of the connector body. Sliding the latching mechanism to the latching position captures the pipe installed in the connector body and uncovers the scannable code. The scannable code can be recorded by a user to indicate a positive tube connection or scanned by a code reader during an assembly or manufacturing process.

Turning now to <FIG>, a quick connector assembly of the type used by the present disclosure is illustrated. The quick connector includes a connector body <NUM>, a pipe <NUM> and a latch mechanism <NUM>. The pipe <NUM> is arranged to be installed into connector body <NUM> and may be made of, for example, of metal or a plastic material, formed in a substantially round pipe shape. A flange portion <NUM> forms a bulge portion that projects annularly from the outer peripheral surface of pipe <NUM> spaced a predetermined distance from the frontal end portion <NUM> of the pipe <NUM>. The pipe <NUM> may be an endform formed on an end of a pipe or could be, for example, a fitting that may be attached to pipe <NUM> by any convenient means, such as by soldering, laser welding or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, the connector body <NUM> is made of, for example, a resin plastic and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. One end of the connector body <NUM> includes pipe receiving part <NUM> arranged to accept pipe <NUM> into an opening <NUM>. The other end of the connector body <NUM>, includes a coupling end <NUM> used to couple the connector body <NUM> to another device. The coupling end <NUM> may include a male stem <NUM> for mating with a receptacle of another device. The male stem <NUM> may also include one or more barbed flanges <NUM>, shown at <FIG> that can have a tube (not shown) made of, for example, a synthetic resin friction fitted onto the male stem <NUM> over flanges <NUM>, thereby making a fluid coupling to connector body <NUM>. Fluid from pipe <NUM> can pass from the pipe into an internal passage, partially shown by passage <NUM> in the connector body <NUM> and through the male stem <NUM> of the coupling end <NUM> and into tube or vice-versa.

An internal passage <NUM> is formed in the interior of connector body <NUM> that includes annular interior walls shaped to accept the frontal end portion <NUM> and pipe bulge <NUM> of the pipe <NUM>. One or more O-rings (not shown) may be installed in the internal passage <NUM> to provide a liquid tight seal between the pipe <NUM> and connector body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, first and third flanges members <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe receiving part <NUM> in parallel to each other on either end of receiving part <NUM>. Each of the first and third flange member <NUM> and <NUM> is formed in a substantially square shape having upper, lower, left and right side edges. A second flange member <NUM> is formed so as to expose the upper part of the pipe receiving part <NUM>. A flat lower surface <NUM> extends between the second flange <NUM> and the third flange <NUM> horizontally along the tangential direction of the lower end surface. The flat lower surface <NUM> is slightly recessed from the lower edges of the first and second flange members <NUM> and <NUM>.

A plate portion <NUM> extends horizontally in the left-right direction along the tangential direction of the lower end surface of the pipe receiving part <NUM> between first flange member <NUM> and second flange member <NUM>. The left and right end portions of the lower plate portion <NUM> are flush with both side edges of both flange members <NUM> and <NUM>.

A pair of left and right insertion holes <NUM> are located in a front half portion of pipe receiving part <NUM> between the third flange member <NUM> and the second flange member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a pair of receiving holes <NUM> (only one shown in <FIG>) correspond to the two insertion holes <NUM> and are formed symmetrically in the lower half of the pipe receiving part <NUM>. Recesses <NUM> are formed in the upper half portions of both receiving holes <NUM>, respectively.

As shown in <FIG>, a latch member <NUM> made of metal or a resin plastic material has a top portion <NUM>, left and right guide legs <NUM>, left and right latching legs <NUM>, and left and right tube retaining pieces <NUM>. The top portion <NUM> is formed in a substantially flat plate shape and sized to fit between the first flange member <NUM> and the third flange member <NUM> so as to be fitted into the pipe receiving part <NUM> from above. The left and right guide legs <NUM> are formed in a long and narrow plate shape having a flat front surface <NUM> extending symmetrically and downward from both left and right ends of the rear half of the top portion <NUM>. The two guide legs <NUM> are slidably engaged from above between the first flange member <NUM> and the second flange member <NUM> in the pipe receiving part <NUM>. The left and right latching legs <NUM> are formed in left and right symmetrical shapes from the left and right ends of the front half of top portion <NUM>, respectively, and are formed in elongated thin plate shapes having a flat front surface <NUM> extending downward from top portion <NUM>. The two latching legs <NUM> are slidably engaged from the upper side to the lower side between the second flange member <NUM> and the third flange member <NUM> of the pipe receiving part <NUM>. The second flange member <NUM>, further includes a flat front face <NUM> positioned in the gap between the latching leg <NUM> and the guide leg <NUM>.

Latching legs <NUM> are formed so as to be elastically deformable, that is, flexibly deformed in the direction in which the lower ends are expanded. As shown in <FIG>, substantially square plate-shaped latch projections <NUM> are protruded from the lower ends of both latching legs <NUM> so as to face each other. The two latch projections <NUM> are engaged with the upper ends of the respective receiving holes <NUM> of the pipe receiving part <NUM> by utilizing the elastic deformation of the respective latching legs <NUM> so as to enter the recesses <NUM>. In this state, the distal ends of the two latch projections <NUM> protrude into the pipe connection part <NUM> retaining latching member <NUM> to the pipe receiving part <NUM> in a "pipe insertion position".

When the retainer <NUM> is attached to the connector body <NUM> in the tube insertion position, the two latch projections <NUM> slide along the outer peripheral surface of the pipe connection part <NUM> while the two latching legs <NUM> are elastically deformed outward of the complementary outer peripheral surfaces of the pipe receiving part <NUM>. The elastically deformed latching legs <NUM> are elastically restored by extending under concave portions <NUM> and into receiving holes <NUM>, engaging the two latching projections <NUM> into both receiving holes <NUM>. At this time, the up and down movement of the retainer <NUM> is restricted by the two latch projections <NUM> facing the upper and lower surfaces of the concave portion <NUM> of receiving holes <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the left and right retaining pieces <NUM> are formed in a long thin symmetrical left and right plates shapes that extend downward from the front end of the top portion <NUM>. A locking groove <NUM> is formed between the two retaining pieces <NUM> so as to form an inverted U shape and to receive the pipe <NUM> in the radial direction. Both retaining pieces <NUM> are inserted into the two insertion holes <NUM> of the pipe connection part <NUM> from above. When the retainer <NUM> is at the pipe insertion position, both retaining pieces <NUM> are only partially installed in insertion holes <NUM>. An interruption slot <NUM> is formed between the upper ends of both retaining pieces <NUM>. The interruption slot <NUM> is formed so as to be able to relatively receive a partition <NUM> located between the two insertion holes <NUM>.

The quick connector of the present disclosure, as described above, is used as follows. With the latching member <NUM> in the pipe insertion position, the pipe <NUM> is inserted into the pipe receiving part <NUM> through opening <NUM>. The tube <NUM> is inserted into the internal passage <NUM> until the flange <NUM> comes in contact with a front end face formed in the internal passage. The front end portion <NUM> extends into internal passage <NUM> within coupling end <NUM> (not shown). Rubber O-rings mounted within internal passage <NUM> contact an outer surface of the front end portion <NUM> of the pipe <NUM> and by utilizing elastic deformation, provides a liquid tight seal between pipe <NUM> and the connector body <NUM>.

When the top portion <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> is pushed downward, the retainer <NUM> is disengaged from the tube insertion position. The latching projections <NUM> of the two latching legs <NUM> disengage from receiving holes <NUM> and slide down along the inclined surfaces <NUM> to descend and finally pass through the flat lower surface <NUM>. Once beyond lower surface <NUM> latching legs <NUM> regain their relaxed positions. Any upward movement of the retainer <NUM> is prevented by the engagement of the two latching projections <NUM> against the bottom of flat lower surface <NUM>. At the same time, the interrupt slot <NUM> of the retainer <NUM> engages with the partition <NUM> of the pipe receiving part <NUM>. With slot <NUM> engaged against partition <NUM>, downward movement of the retainer <NUM> stopped positioning the latch mechanism <NUM> is in its "latched position".

Turning to <FIG>, a first embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. In <FIG> latch mechanism <NUM> is shown in the pipe insertion position. As is shown, guide legs <NUM> and latching legs <NUM> has a first partial portion of a scannable code <NUM> printed or etched on a planar external surface <NUM> of guide leg <NUM>. A third partial portion of a scannable code <NUM> is printed or etched on planar external surface <NUM> of latching leg <NUM>. A second partial portion of a scannable code <NUM> is printed on a planar external surface <NUM> of second flange member <NUM>. The partial codes <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> can be for example, barcodes, QR codes or any other code that can be scannable and read by a machine vision device, a handheld scanner or other code scanning device. With latch mechanism <NUM> in the pipe insertion position, the partial codes <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are mis-aligned and are unreadable by the scanner device as a complete code.

Moving the latch mechanism <NUM> into the latching position, as was explained above, captures pipe <NUM> and moves code portion <NUM> and <NUM> into an alignment with code portion <NUM>. When the latching member <NUM> is fully installed into the latching position, code portions <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> become aligned to build a complete scannable code <NUM> that can represent a latched connector. As is shown in <FIG>, the completed scannable code <NUM> represents a positive latch connection between the pipe <NUM> and the connector body <NUM>. The completed scannable code <NUM> can be read and recorded by a user using the handheld scanner, either during the installation of the quick connector in the field or during a manufacturing process. Even though the present embodiment has been explained using three partial codes <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> to build a final readable scannable code <NUM>, the same outcome can be made using any other combination of movable and fixed code portions. For example, only one leg of the latching mechanism <NUM> may contain a code portion that when moved into a latched position aligns with a fixed code portion to build the scannable code representing a latched connector.

Turning now to <FIG> a second embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. In <FIG> latch mechanism <NUM> is shown in the pipe insertion position The latch mechanism <NUM> guide leg <NUM> includes a cover member <NUM> extending perpendicularly from guide leg <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> is formed as a planar plate fixed to and extending from surface <NUM> of guide leg <NUM>. Cover <NUM> is attached near the bottom portion of guide leg <NUM> and is arranged to extend over an edge surface <NUM> of the first flange member <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is arranged to move with guide leg <NUM> when latch mechanism <NUM> is moved from the pipe insertion position to the latched position. A scannable code <NUM> is printed or etched on edge surface <NUM> at a first portion of the first flange member <NUM> as is best seen at <FIG>. The scannable code <NUM> may be, for example, a barcode, a QR code or other machine readable code that is printed or etched on edge surface <NUM> of flange member <NUM> and that can be scanned and read by a machine vision device, a handheld scanner or other code scanning device.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the latch mechanism <NUM> in the pipe insertion position, is ready to accept a pipe <NUM> in accordance to the previous disclosure explained for <FIG> above. In this second embodiment, when the latch mechanism is in the pipe insertion position, the cover <NUM> is positioned over scannable code <NUM> covering the scannable code <NUM> and rendering the code unreadable.

Moving the latch mechanism <NUM> into the latch position slides the guide leg <NUM> and cover <NUM> downward. When the latch mechanism enters into the latched position, cover <NUM> is moved to a second portion of edge surface <NUM> of flange member <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the scannable code <NUM> is uncovered and can now be read and recorded by a user using the handheld scanner, either during the installation of the quick connector in the field or during a manufacturing process.

Claim 1:
A connector comprising:
a connector body (<NUM>) having a receiving portion (<NUM>) and at least one flange (<NUM>) surrounding an internal passage (<NUM>), the internal passage (<NUM>) arranged to receive a pipe (<NUM>) therein;
a latch member (<NUM>) having at least a first leg (<NUM>) retained on the receiving portion (<NUM>) adjacent the flange (<NUM>), the latch member (<NUM>) movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position, wherein in the pipe insertion position the pipe (<NUM>) is inserted into the internal passage (<NUM>);
characterised in that at least a first partial code (<NUM>) is applied to the first leg (<NUM>) and at least one additional partial code (<NUM>) is applied to the flange (<NUM>);
wherein the latch member (<NUM>) is moved to the latched position retaining the pipe (<NUM>) to the connector body (<NUM>) and aligning the first partial code (<NUM>) with the at least one additional partial code (<NUM>), forming a code (<NUM>) that is machine-readable using a scanning device representing the latched position.