Patent ID: 7762593

Claim:
A ball coupler having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a male tubular endpiece; a female tubular endpiece; a tubular sleeve extending the female endpiece and presenting slots for forming a cage for retaining balls for blocking the male endpiece in the female endpiece; and a grip coaxial about the sleeve and mounted to turn thereon about the longitudinal axis of the coupler between at least two angular positions relative to the sleeve, the grip possessing housing means for housing each ball, said housing means comprising for each ball: a first setback facing the corresponding slot when the grip is in a first position in order to retain the ball in question in a position for blocking the connection; a second setback offset angularly relative to the first setback and connected thereto so as to receive the blocking ball in a position for unblocking the connection when the grip is in a second position; and resilient return means for urging the grip into its first position; wherein said return means comprise, in the grip, a ring that is constrained to turn with the grip and that is movable axially relative thereto, said ring presenting two end surfaces, one of which faces towards a shoulder of the sleeve for slidably bearing thereagainst to co-operate in reversibly transforming turning movement of the grip into axial movement of the ring relative to said grip, and the other of which forms the bearing face for a compression spring tending to urge said ring against said shoulder.