Patent ID: 6916050

Claim:
A female snap coupler for cooperating with a male end-fitting, wherein the male end-fitting includes a central barrel and a flange at the central barrel, the female snap coupler comprising: a body having a front, a back, and a tubular portion at the back and configured to force-fit to a pipe, the body being formed from a first material; a cup coupled to the body, the cup forming a cavity for receiving at least an end of the central barrel of the male end-fitting; an annular seal positioned within the cavity and shaped for producing a seal between the cup and the central barrel of the male end-fitting; a lock arranged at the front of the body and configured to cooperate with the flange of the male end-fitting for locking the flange of the male end-fitting when the central barrel of the male end-fitting is received within the cavity of the cup, the lock being formed from a second material; and a flexible portion for coupling the lock to the body, the flexible portion defining a pivot axis about which the lock is pivotable to a position for locking the flange of the male end-fitting, the flexible portion being formed from a third material that is more flexible than the first and second materials of the body and the lock, respectively, the flexible portion, the lock, and the body forming a single integral assembly.