QUICK CONNECTOR COUPLING WITH CHECK TAB

Abstract

QUICK CONNECTOR COUPLING WITH VERIFICATION TAB A female connector member (12) adapted for quick coupling with a male connector member (14) includes a connector body having a fluid passage and an opening for receiving the male connector member (14), a slot (21) defined in a wall of the female connector member (12), and a verification tab (20) received in the slot (21) and slidably movable in the slot (21) along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the male connector can be inserted,wherein the verification tab (20) has a profiled edge (26) to cause lateral movement of the verification tab (20) from a first position in which indicia (28) on the verification tab (20) are hidden to a second position in which the indicia (28) are visibly exposed upon engagement by a protruding feature (22) of the male connector member (14). Figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: QUICK CONNECTOR COUPLING WITH VERIFICATION TAB

[0001] SCOPE OF DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to quick connector couplings providing fluid-tight connections in pipe and tubing fluid conduit systems, and more particularly to quick connector couplings having a verification tab that provides a visual indication that a fluid-tight connection has been made. Technological background of disclosure

[0002] There is a recognized need for verification that quick connector assemblies, generally including a female connector and a male connector secured together using a retainer, are assembled properly to prevent leaks. Prior attempts to provide such verification have involved the use of a verification tab that is slidably movable along the coupling axis and includes locking elements engageable with retaining elements of a retaining ring. Another prior attempt to verify proper assembly of a quick connector assembly uses a cover that is pivotally secured to the housing to conceal verification indicia prior to assembly and to pivot relative to the housing to reveal the indicia after the connector elements have been secured together.In order to facilitate the pivoting of the cover, it must be provided with a hinge and a biasing element, and the female quick connector element must be provided with a hinge opening.

[0003] It is desirable to provide verification of the secure assembly of the male and female connectors using fewer and simpler components. SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

[0004] The disclosed female quick connector element provides visible verification of a secure connection with a mating male quick connector element using a simple and reliable design with as little as one additional component.

[0005] The female connector member includes a connector body defining a fluid passageway having an opening adapted to receive and connectably engage a male connector member; a slot defined in the connector body; and a verification tab received in the slot and slidably movable in the slot along a lateral direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the male connector can be inserted, the verification tab having an edge that is profiled to cause lateral movement of the verification tab from a first position in which the verification tab is hidden to a second position in which the verification tab is visibly exposed when engaged by a protruding feature of the male connector member upon insertion of the male connector member into the opening, thereby verifying effective coupling of the quick connector members.In one embodiment, the connector body may have a groove at an inner surface of a wall of the connector body adapted to receive and guide a protrusion projecting from the male connector member to prevent rotation of the male connector member relative to the connector body during a connection.

[0006] In one embodiment, the groove may have a channel shape to receive a protrusion having a straight prismatic shape.

[0007] In one embodiment, the connector body may be adapted to allow engagement of the verification tab with a circumferential rib on the male connector member.

[0008] In one embodiment, the profiled edge of the verification tab may be straight, and forms an acute angle relative to the axial direction.

[0009] In one embodiment, the angle of the straight edge of the verification tab relative to the axial direction may be from 15 degrees to 60 degrees.

[0010] In one embodiment, the angle of the straight edge of the verification tab relative to the axial direction may be 40 degrees to 50 degrees.

[0011] In one embodiment, the female quick connector member may further include indicia on a surface of the verification tab that is visibly displayed when the female quick connector member is effectively coupled to the male connector member.

[0012] In one embodiment, the indicia may be machine-readable code.

[0013] In one embodiment, the indicia may include words, numbers and / or symbols that can be read by a human.

[0014] In one embodiment, the machine-readable code may be a QR code or a bar code.

[0015] In one embodiment, the connector body may be adapted to allow engagement of the verification tab with a frustoconical section of the male connector member.

[0016] In one aspect, a quick connect assembly may include the female quick connector member of at least one of the preceding embodiments, and a male connector member having a protruding protrusion engageable with the groove.

[0017] In another aspect, a quick connect assembly may include the female quick connector member of at least one of the preceding embodiments, and a male connector member having a circumferential rib for engagement of the check tab.

[0018] In another aspect, a quick connect assembly may include the female quick connector member of at least one of the preceding embodiments, and a male connector member having an enlarged frustoconical section for engagement of the verification tab.

[0019] The female quick connector member may include a connector body that defines a fluid passage and a female coupling end adapted to receive and form a fluid-tight connection with a male quick connector member. The female coupling end may have an opening for receiving a male coupling member. A slot may be defined in a wall of the female coupling end for receiving and laterally deploying a verification tab.The slot may be configured to permit slidable movement of the verification tab in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axial direction (i.e., the direction in which the male coupling member is inserted into the opening) from a first position in which the verification tab is sufficiently concealed to prevent reading of indicia on the verification tab, to a second position in which the verification tab is visibly displayed to allow reading of indicia on the verification tab and confirm a fluid-tight connection between the connector members.The check tab may have an edge, closest to the opening of the female coupling end, that is contoured to cause lateral movement of the check tab from the first position to the second position when engaged by a protruding feature of the male coupling member.

[0020] In some embodiments, the female connector body has an axial groove adapted to receive and guide a protrusion on the male coupling member along the axial direction to prevent rotation of the male coupling member relative to the female coupling member, while the protrusion engages the profiled edge of the verification tab to cause movement of the tab from the first position to the second position.

[0021] The axial groove of the connector body may have a channel shape adapted to receive a protrusion having a straight prismatic shape.

[0022] In other embodiments, the male connector body may include a protruding feature that engages the contoured edge of the verification tab without preventing rotation of the respective members relative to each other. For example, the protruding feature may be a circumferential rib or an enlarged frustoconical surface.

[0023] In some aspects, the profiled edge of the verification tab is a straight edge that is inclined relative to the axial direction, the angle between the axial direction and the straight edge being about 15 degrees to 60 degrees.

[0024] The verification tab of any of the embodiments or aspects may include indicia on an exposed surface of the verification tab during a fluid-tight connection between the connector members. Such indicia may include words, symbols, or code (including color coding), such as a QR code / data matrix or bar code. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a quick connector assembly including a female connector member and a male connector member before being assembled together.

[0026] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the assembly of [Fig.l] with the male member partially inserted into the female member to initiate contact of a protrusion on the male member with a sliding verification tab.

[0027] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of the assembly of Figures 1 and 2 with the male member fully inserted and the sliding verification tab exposed.

[0028] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a quick connector assembly including a female connector member and a male connector member prior to being assembled together.

[0029] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the assembly of [Fig.4] with the male member partially inserted into the female member to initiate contact of a protrusion on the male member with a sliding verification tab.

[0030] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of the assembly of Figures 4 and 5 with the male member fully inserted and the sliding verification tab exposed.

[0031] [Fig.7] is a simplified perspective view of the assembly of Figures 4-6, showing the engagement of a circumferential rib of the male connector element with the profiled edge of the verification tab.

[0032] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a quick connector assembly including a female connector member and a male connector member prior to being assembled together.

[0033] [Fig.9] is a perspective view of the assembly of [Fig.8] with the male member partially inserted into the female member to initiate contact of a protrusion on the male member with a sliding verification tab.

[0034] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of the assembly of Figures 8 and 9 with the male member fully inserted and the sliding verification tab exposed.

[0035] [Fig. 11] is a simplified perspective view of the assembly of Figures 8-10, showing the engagement of an enlarged frustoconical surface of the male connector element with the profiled edge of the verification tab. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] [Fig. 1] shows a quick connector assembly 10 including a female connector member 12 and a male connector member 14 before being assembled together. The member 12 may be provided with a retaining slot 16 to allow a retaining clip 17 to engage in the retaining groove 18 on opposite sides of the member 14 when in the assembled state. The retaining clip 17 may be made of plastic or metal.

[0037] [Fig. 2] shows the element 12 in schematic form to illustrate the location of a movable verification tab 20 along a slot 21 defined by the element 12. For example, the slot 21 may be defined by grooves and / or walls of the element 12. A protrusion 22 may be provided on the male connector element 14 for engagement and deployment of the verification tab 20 during insertion of the element 14 into the female connector element 12. The protrusion 22 may slide along a channel-shaped groove 24, which traps the protrusion 22 in a straight prismatic shape, preventing rotation of the element 14 relative to the element 12 during insertion of the element 14 into the element 12. Other shapes for the protrusion 22 and the groove 24 can be used.In other embodiments, other protruding features such as ribs or enlarged sections of the male connector member may be used, with or without channel-like groove(s) and anti-rotation feature(s). When member 14 is pressed toward member 12, a surface of protrusion 22 engages a contoured edge 26 of verification tab 20 and forces tab 20 to slide along the slot defined by member 12 from a hidden position shown in [Fig. 2] to a position in which an indicia display region 28 of tab 20 is visibly displayed to provide verification of a proper connection between members 12 and 14. During assembly, the protrusion 22 interacts with the edge 26 of the tab 20 to translate axial displacement of the element 14 relative to the element 12 into lateral displacement of the tab 20 in a direction perpendicular to the axial displacement of the element 14 to enable viewing of an indicia display region 28. Upon complete insertion of the element 14 into the element 12, the indicia display region 28 is fully exposed along with any markings or indicia provided within the indicia display region.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 4-7, the groove 24 of the element 12 and the protrusion 22 of the element 14 may be omitted and the element 14 may instead have a projecting feature such as a circumferential rib 30 which engages the edge 26 of the verification tab 20.

[0039] In another alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 8-11, the groove 24 and the protrusion 22 may be omitted and the element 14 may instead have an enlarged section 35, such as a frustoconical section capable of engaging the edge 26 of the tab 20.

[0040] The profiled edge 26 of the verification tab 20 which is engaged by a projecting feature of the male connector member 14, such as a protrusion 22, a rib 30 or an enlarged section 35, may be straight or curved (e.g., parabolic, hyperbolic, sinusoidal, etc.). Straight edges 26 are presently preferred, as they are considered the easiest to manufacture. The straight edge 26 is preferably oriented at an acute angle relative to the axial direction in which the member 14 is inserted into the member 12, an acceptable angle being between about 15 degrees and 60 degrees or between 40 degrees and 50 degrees (e.g., about 45 degrees).

[0041] The indicia display region 28 of the tab 20 may be provided with indicia, such as a machine-readable code (e.g., a bar code or a QR code) that may be applied using various techniques, such as printing, laser engraving, painting, stamping, embossing, molding, etc. The indicia may also, or alternatively, include words, letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a human.

[0042] The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. It is anticipated and intended that future developments in the art will occur, and that the disclosed devices, kits, and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. Thus, the invention is capable of modification and variation in its scope.

Claims

Claims

1. A female quick connector member (12), comprising: a connector body defining a fluid passage having an opening adapted to receive and connectably engage a male connector member (14); a slot (21) defined in the connector body;and a verification tab (20) received in the slot and slidably movable in the slot (21) along a lateral direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the male connector can be inserted, the verification tab (20) having an edge (26) which is profiled to cause lateral movement of the verification tab (20) from a first position in which the verification tab (20) is hidden to a second position in which the verification tab (20) is visibly exposed when engaged by a protruding feature of the male connector member (14) upon insertion of the male connector member (14) into the opening, thereby verifying effective coupling of the quick-connect coupling members (12, 14).;

2. The female quick connector member (12) according to claim 1, wherein the connector body has a groove (24) at an inner surface of a wall of the connector body adapted to receive and guide a protrusion (22) projecting from the male connector member (14) to prevent rotation of the male connector member (14) relative to the connector body during connection.

3. The female quick connector element (12) according to claim 2, wherein the groove (24) has a channel shape for receiving a protrusion (22) having a straight prismatic shape.

4. The female quick connector member (12) of claim 1, wherein the connector body is adapted to allow engagement of the verification tab (20) with a circumferential rib (30) on the male connector member (14).

5. The female quick connector element (12) according to claim 1, wherein the profiled edge (26) of the verification tab (20) is straight and forms an acute angle with respect to the axial direction.

6. The female quick connector member (12) according to claim 5, wherein the angle of the straight edge (26) of the check tab (20) with respect to the axial direction is 15 degrees to 60 degrees.

7. The female quick connector member (12) according to claim 5, wherein the angle of the straight edge (26) of the check tab (20) with respect to the axial direction is 40 degrees to 50 degrees.

8. The female quick connector member (12) of claim 1, further comprising indicia (28) on a surface of the verification tab (20) which is visibly displayed when the female quick connector member (12) is effectively coupled to the male connector member (14).

9. The female quick connector element (12) according to claim 8, wherein the indicia (28) are a machine-readable code.

10. The female quick connector element (12) according to claim 8, wherein the indicia (28) include words, numbers and / or symbols that can be read by a human.

11. The female quick connector element (12) according to claim 9, wherein the machine-readable code is a QR code or a bar code.

12. The female quick connector element of claim 1, wherein the connector body is adapted to allow engagement of the verification tab (20) with a frustoconical section (35) of the male connector element (14).

13. A quick connect assembly (10) comprising the female quick connector member (12) of claim 2, and a male connector member (14) having a projecting protrusion (22) engageable with the groove (24).

14. A quick connect assembly (10) comprising the female quick connector member (12) of claim 4, and a male connector member (14) having a circumferential rib (30) for engaging the check tab (20).

15. A quick connect assembly (10) comprising the female quick connector member (12) of claim 14, and a male connector member (14) having an enlarged frustoconical section (35) for engaging the verification tab (20).

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