Patent ID: 7900974

Claim:
An apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines, comprising: a coupler body having a passageway extending therethrough; said coupler body having an annular groove formed therein adjacent to said passageway; said coupler body having a shoulder formed therein adjacent to said passageway; a coolant line disposed at least partially within said passageway, wherein said shoulder is engageable with said coolant line to limit a maximum insertion of said coolant line into said coupler body; a nut for receiving said coolant line and threadably engaging said coupler body; a deformable annular retainer disposed on said coolant line for engagement with said nut and said coupler body, said deformable annular retainer having an uninterrupted, substantially circular, ring-like shape, wherein said threadable engagement of said nut with said coupler body urges said deformable annular retainer into a sealing engagement with said coupler body and said coolant line by plastic deformation of said deformable annular retainer in a longitudinal direction and a radial direction with respect to said coupler body; and a flexible annular seal at least partially disposed within said annular groove of said coupler body for sealingly engaging said coolant line, wherein said annular groove and said flexible annular seal are spaced from said shoulder along said passageway.