Patent ID: 8870232

Claim:
A device adapted to couple to a fitting having a tubular portion that defines a passage and a catch, the catch including a frustoconical surface portion forward of the tubular portion that extends from a smaller diameter annular end face to a larger diameter base wall, the base wall and the frustoconical surface portion intersecting at an edge, the device comprising: a flexible tube formed of elastomeric material and having annular corrugations defined by alternating ridges and grooves, said tube having a forward end with an initial ridge and an initial groove, said initial ridge having a relatively flat annular forward side wall, and; a latch formed of thermoplastic material that is mounted to said forward end of said tube, said latch having a relatively flat body defining an opening through which said forward end of the tube is received such that said body is retained in said initial groove of the tube, and at least two arms attached to and symmetrically spaced around said body, said arms extending toward said forward end of said tube on which said latch is mounted, each of said arms having a latching tooth on its outer end and extending radially inward therefrom, said arms being adapted to move between a radially inward relaxed position and a radially outward flexed position; wherein when the latch is pressed onto the fitting, said arms are forced radially outward by the frustoconical surface portion of said catch until said latch and said catch reach a limit position whereupon said arms move radially inward to bring said latching teeth past the edge and into latching engagement with said catch, and wherein when said latch is in latching engagement with said catch, said initial ridge is captured between the end face of said fitting and the body of the latch with said forward side wall of said initial ridge being tightly pressed against said end face of said fitting and thereby forming an annular seal.