Patent ID: 7153296

Claim:
A releasable tubing connector, comprising: a male part including a first tubular body having a plug with a peripheral groove at one end thereof and a first tubing insert at the other end thereof, said first tubular body also having a first fluid flow passageway extending through said plug and said first tubing insert; and, a female part including: a second tubular body having a socket portion at one end thereof and a second tubing insert at the other end thereof, said second tubular body also having a second fluid flow passageway extending through said socket portion and said second tubing insert, said second fluid flow passageway in said socket portion being adapted to receive said plug; a locking key being slidably secured to said socket portion so as to cross said second passageway, said locking key having an opening of sufficient size therein to permit the passage of said plug into said second passageway so that said locking key can enter said peripheral groove, said locking key also having a tapered slot adjacent said opening, and said slot having a length and a width that gradually and uniformly decreases along said length; a spring-biased pin secured to said second tubular body, said pin having a tapered shaft positioned within said tapered slot, a first end of said tapered shaft having a width sufficient to wedge against said locking key and retain said locking key outside said peripheral groove, a second end of said tapered shaft having a width that is relatively narrower than that of said first end thereby permitting said locking key to enter said peripheral groove when said second end is positioned in said tapered slot, and said tapered shaft gradually and uniformly decreasing in diameter from said first end to said second end; and, a spring secured to said second tubular body for urging said locking key into said peripheral groove.