Patent ID: 6932391

Claim:
A fitting assembly comprising a male fitting, a female fitting, a retaining ring and an O-ring, said male fitting comprising a cylindrical portion and a plurality of axially spaced, radially extending annular portions extending from said cylindrical portion, a first pair of said radially extending annular portions defining a first retaining groove therebetween, a second pair of said radially extending annular portions defining a sealing groove therebetween, said first retaining groove adapted to receive said retaining ring therein and said sealing groove adapted to receive said O-ring therein, said female fitting comprising a throat having a throat wall and a second retaining groove disposed in said throat wall, said second retaining groove dividing said throat wall into an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, said male fitting further comprising a locking ledge disposed circumferentially about said cylindrical portion thereof within said first retaining groove, said retaining ring having a resting inner diameter large enough to accommodate said locking ledge therein, wherein said retaining ring, said locking ledge, and said first and second retaining grooves are adapted to provide said retaining ring in a locked position when said fitting assembly is pressurized, such that said locking ledge is seated within said inner diameter of said retaining ring thereby preventing said retaining ring from being compressed completely within said first retaining groove, thereby preventing removal of said male fitting from said female fitting in a pressurized condition of said fitting assembly, said fitting assembly further comprising means to compress said retaining ring into said first retaining groove when said retaining ring is in an unlocked position, thereby permitting removal of said male fitting from said female fitting in an unpressurized condition of said fitting assembly.