Patent ID: 8764473

Claim:
In a connector which is detachably connected to a counterpart connector, the connector comprising: a tubular member, in which at least one ball storage hole that axially elongates, passing through it from its outer peripheral surface to its inner peripheral surface is formed; an inner sleeve which is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of said tubular member so as to be axially movable; an outer sleeve which is disposed on the outside of said inner sleeve so as to be axially movable, the outer sleeve having a protruded part disposed between a first inner peripheral surface and a second peripheral surface; and an engagement ball which is housed in the ball storage hole in said tubular member so as to be axially and radially movable, the engagement ball moving from a first position where at least a part of the engagement ball protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member by being depressed by the protruded part of the outer sleeve and which is closer to one axially-directed end surface of the ball storage hole, and back to the first position via a second position where a part of the engagement ball does not protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member in the vicinity of the first inner peripheral surface of the outer sleeve and which is closer to the other axially-directed end surface of the ball storage hole when the counterpart connector is to be attached, and moving from the first position and back to the first position via a third position where a part of the engagement ball does not protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member in the vicinity of the second inner peripheral surface of the outer sleeve and which is closer to one axially-directed end surface of the ball storage hole when the counterpart connector is to be detached, wherein when the counterpart connector is attached and connected to the connector, the part of the engagement ball situated at the first position protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member into engagement with an engagement recessed part which is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the counterpart connector, and the engagement ball is held on the side of one axially-directed end of the ball storage hole by a pressing force from the inner sleeve.