Patent ID: 7819436

Claim:
An endform tubular assembly for a hydraulic system, said endform tubular assembly comprising: (a) a connector member comprising: (i) a first shoulder portion, said first shoulder portion defining a distal end of said connector member, said first shoulder portion including at least one fixing member integral therewith; said first shoulder portion; (ii) a second shoulder portion defining a proximal end of said connector member; and (iii) a brim portion intermediate said first shoulder portion and said second shoulder portion, said brim portion extending perpendicularly relative to said first shoulder portion and said second shoulder portion, said connector member having an inner wall surface extending therethrough comprising a first inner wall portion having a first diameter, a second inner wall portion having a second diameter, and a third inner wall portion having a third diameter, wherein said second diameter is different from said first diameter, and said third diameter is different from said second diameter, said third diameter forming a gauge diameter depth in said proximal end of said connector member; (b) an endform tubular member comprising: (i) an intermediate portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said intermediate portion corresponding to said inner wall surface of said connector member, wherein said outer surface of said endform tubular member fixedly engages said inner wall surface of said connector member; (ii) a distal portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said distal end extending axially from said intermediate portion, said distal portion having a bead formed therein adjacent said first shoulder portion of said connector member, wherein said bead fixedly engages said at least one fixing member in said first shoulder portion to prevent axial rotation of said endform tubular member relative to said connector member, the diameter of said bead compared to a predetermined diameter is a reliable indication of the robustness of said endform tubular assembly; and (iii) a proximal portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said proximal end extending axially from said intermediate portion, said inner surface of said proximal portion defining a gauge diameter depth, the depth of said gauge diameter depth compared to a predetermined depth is a reliable indication of the robustness of said endform tubular assembly.