Patent ID: 7547047

Claim:
A coupler device for fluid transport, comprising: a body including an outer surface being a circumferential outer sidewall, said outer sidewall having a first end and a second end with an opening extending through said first and second ends, said body defining a slot disposed proximate one of said first end or second end, said slot extending in a direction transverse to said opening and through said outer sidewall; a latch assembly including at least one outer member being disposed on said body externally exposed of said outer surface and connected with an inner member being disposed through said slot, said outer member protruding from said outer surface and reciprocating with respect to said outer sidewall, said inner member reciprocating within said slot and having an aperture corresponding with said opening, whereby said body is releasably connectable with a piece of fluid transport equipment through said inner member; and an overmold portion formed on said outer sidewall of said body, said overmold portion defining a material molded over said body as an additional layer, such that said overmold portion is formed substantially about said outer sidewall, said overmold portion including a shroud portion partially covering said outer member of said latch assembly, said shroud portion being a wall extending outward from the outer sidewall and adjacent and around said outer member of said latch assembly, said wall extending in a direction transverse to said outer surface, and a top portion of said wall protruding from said outer surface at least a same distance as an outermost portion of said outer member protrudes from said outer surface when the outer member is in a non-depressed state, wherein the top portion does not completely cover the outermost portion of the outer member, so that the outermost portion of said outer member is externally exposed.