Patent ID: 7837518

Claim:
A connection device for an underwater service line, the connection device comprising: a male connector arranged to hold a free end of the service line, the male connector having a first piece and a second piece which is interengageable with the first piece, the first piece having a rearwardly facing surface and being slidable with respect to the second piece, along a longitudinal axis of the male connector, between a retracted position, in which the rearwardly-facing surface is adjacent to a forward end of the second piece, and an extended position, in which the rearwardly-facing surface is remote from the forward end of the second piece; and a female connector, arranged to hold a connection point to be connected with the free end of the service line, the female connector being connectable with the male connector and having a body comprising a bore within which the male connector is receivable, the female connector further comprising an engagement member which is engageable with the first piece to be movable from an extended position, in which it extends radially into the bore, to a retracted position, in which it is radially retracted with respect to the bore to permit forward displacement of the first piece, the female connector being provided with a biasing means to bias the engagement member towards its extended position, the forward end of the second piece being configured to allow the engagement member to extend into the bore, upon the first piece being advanced therepast, to be engageable with the rearwardly-facing surface to prevent retraction of the first piece, giving rise to a connected condition in which the free end of the service line is connected with the connection point, wherein: in the connected condition, the forward end of the second piece is arranged to engage the engagement member upon retraction of the second piece so as to move the engagement member into its retracted position, such that the engagement member is disengaged from the rearwardly-facing surface to permit retraction of the first piece from the bore, giving rise to a disconnected condition.