Patent ID: 7388149

Claim:
A coupling for joining at least one corrugated tube to another structure, said coupling having first and second coupling halves, said coupling halves having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, concave inner surfaces opposed to one another and convex outer surfaces opposite the inner surfaces, the concave inner surfaces of said first and second coupling halves being formed with ridges and grooves configured for nesting with corrugations of the corrugated tube, each of said coupling halves further having a hinged edge joined unitarily to a living hinge extending continuously between the first and second longitudinal ends of the coupling halves, each of said coupling halves further having a locking edge substantially diametrically opposite the hinged edges and extending continuously between the first and second longitudinal ends, said coupling halves being rotatable about said living hinged from a closed position where said locking edges abut and an open position where said locking edges are on opposite respective sides of said living hinge, a locking ridge being formed on the convex outer surface of the first coupling half in proximity the locking edge thereof, the locking ridge extending continuously between the first and second longitudinal ends of the first coupling half and having a locking step facing away from the second coupling half when the first and second coupling halves are in the closed condition, and an elongate latch projecting from the locking edge of the second coupling half and extending continuously between the first and second longitudinal ends of the second coupling half, the latch including an elongate pawl configured for snapped engagement with the locking step on the first coupling half when the first and second coupling halves are in the closed condition, wherein the pawl has a deflection generating surface defining a plane aligned at an acute angle to a diametric plane connecting the hinged and locking edges of the first and second coupling halves, the locking pawl further including a locking edge aligned for substantially face-to-face engagement with the locking step on the locking ridge of the first coupling half.