CONNECTOR WITH MOVABLE COLLAR FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING INDICATIONS

Abstract

CONNECTOR WITH MOVABLE COLLAR FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING INDICIA A female quick connector member (10) for making fluid-tight connections includes a body (12) having indicia (14) and an axial opening (22) for receiving and lockably engaging a male quick connector member (20), a collar (16) positioned on the body (12), a latch (30) for holding the collar (16) in a first position that conceals the indicia (14) prior to mating of the male and female connector members, a spring (32) for urging the collar (16) to a second position in which the indicia (14) are fully exposed when the latch (30) is released, and a release member (36) engageable by the male connector member and configured to release the latch (30) when the male connector member is lockably engaged with the female connector body (12). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: CONNECTOR WITH MOVABLE COLLAR FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING INDICIA

[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 that include means for displaying indicia around the connector at multiple locations, providing a visual indication that a fluid-tight connection has been made between quick connector members. Technological background of disclosure

[0002] There is a recognized need to provide a connection verification indicating a fluid-tight connection between a male quick connector element and a female quick connector element. A relatively simple mechanism for accomplishing this task has involved verification indicia that become visible through a window or cutout in one of the connector elements when a fluid-tight connection has been made. A disadvantage of such a verification mechanism is the need for proper alignment between the connector elements to allow unobstructed viewing of the indicia. Such a disadvantage can be overcome by providing keyed or splined connector elements that allow only aligned assembly. However, such alignment features make assembly more difficult.

[0003] It is desirable to provide a verification mechanism that exposes indicia on the female quick connector member without regard to the angular alignment of the connector member about an axis coinciding with the direction of insertion of the male connector member into the female connector member, and exposing the indicia in multiple areas around / across the surface of the female connector. SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

[0004] The disclosed female quick connector member includes a body having indicia on an exterior surface thereof and an axial opening for receiving and lockably engaging a male quick connector member, a collar positioned above and axially movable along the body of the female quick connector member, a latch for holding the collar in a first position that conceals the indicia, a spring for urging the collar to a second position in which the indicia are fully exposed when the latch is released, and a release member engageable by a male connector member inserted into the axial opening and configured to release the latch when a male connector member is lockably engaged with the female connector body, such that the spring urges the collar to the second position fully exposing the indicia.

[0005] The female quick connector element according to the invention comprises a female connector body having an outer wall, the female connector body having an axial opening adapted to receive and lockably engage a male connector element; indicia on the outer wall of the female connector body; a collar positioned above the outer surface of the female connector body for axial movement along the outer wall; a latch for holding the collar in a first position that at least partially conceals the indicia; a spring for urging the collar to a second position exposing the indicia when the latch is released;and a release member extending from an interior wall of the axial opening, the release member engageable by a male connector member inserted into the axial opening, the release member configured to release the latch when a male connector member is lockably engaged with the female connector member, such that the spring urges the collar toward the second position exposing the indicia. ;

[0006] In one embodiment, the latch may be a cantilevered section of the collar having a pawl that protrudes into a radial opening through the wall of the female connector body prior to insertion of the male connector member.

[0007] In one embodiment, the spring may be a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a wave spring.

[0008] In one embodiment, the female quick connector member may further include a retainer that radially deforms upon insertion of a male connector member and holds the male connector member and the female connector member together after complete insertion into the female connector member.

[0009] In one embodiment, the release member may be a pin extending through a radial opening in the wall of the female connector body, the release member having a proximal end projecting inwardly into the opening of the female connector body, the proximal end of the release member being engageable with a male connector member upon full insertion of the male connector member into the female connector, the release member having a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end engageable with the latch, such that full insertion of the male connector member into the female connector member causes the latch to be released, and the collar to be pushed by the spring into the second position to expose the indicia.

[0010] In one embodiment, the female connector body may have multiple indicia on the exterior surface of the wall.

[0011] In one embodiment, the female quick connector element may have a plurality of latches to hold the collar in the first position.

[0012] In one embodiment, the female quick connector element may have a plurality of springs urging the collar toward the second position.

[0013] In one embodiment, the latch may be a cantilevered section of the collar having a pawl that protrudes into a radial opening through the wall of the female connector body prior to insertion of the male connector member.

[0014] In one embodiment, the indicia may include machine-readable code.

[0015] In one embodiment, the indicia may include words, numbers and / or symbols that can be read by a human.

[0016] In one embodiment, the machine-readable code may be a QR code or a bar code.

[0017] In one embodiment, the female quick connector member may further include a radially deformable retainer located in a slot defined in the female connector body that is configured to flex radially outwardly during insertion of the male connector member and rebound into a groove on the male connector member to lock the male and female connector members together.

[0018] In one embodiment, the lock may be configured to cover and engage the retainer upon full insertion of the male connector member into the female connector member to provide a secondary lock.

[0019] In some embodiments, the latch is a cantilevered section of the collar having a protruding lug that is engageable with a radial opening through the wall of the female connector body to hold the collar in the first position prior to insertion of the male connector member.

[0020] In some other embodiments, the female connector member may further include a retainer that resiliently deforms radially upon insertion of a male connector member and that holds the male connector member and the female connector member together after complete insertion.

[0021] In some embodiments, the release member is a pin extending through a radial opening in the wall of the female connector body. The pin has a proximal end projecting into the axial opening of the female connector body and a distal end engageable with the latch, such that full insertion of the male connector member causes engagement with the pin and release of the latch to allow the spring to urge the collar into the second position in which the indicia are exposed.

[0022] In some embodiments, when the collar is in the second position to expose the indicia, the protruding lug of the cantilevered section engages the top of the retainer completely surrounding it, thereby preventing the retainer from reopening, by providing a secondary lock on the already connected male and female connector elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] [Fig. 1] is a side view of a female quick connector element in accordance with this disclosure.

[0024] [Fig.2] is a side view of the female quick connector element shown in [Fig.l] fully connected to a male quick connector element.

[0025] [Fig. 3] is a cross-sectional view of the male quick connector element partially inserted into the female quick connector element along a sectional plane including the axis.

[0026] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view of the male quick connector element fully inserted into the female quick connector element along a sectional plane including the axis.

[0027] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view of a male-female assembly coupled using a plastic retainer along a section plane perpendicular to the axis.

[0028] [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view of a male-female assembly coupled using a metal retainer along a section plane perpendicular to the axis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] [Fig.l] shows a female quick connector element 10 having a body 12. Indices 14 are provided on an outer surface of a wall of the body 12 in multiple areas. Indices 14 are fully or at least partially covered by a collar 16 (as shown in [Fig.l]) prior to connection with a male quick connector element 20 ([Fig.2]). As shown in [Fig.3], the female connector element 10 has an axial opening 22 for receiving one end 24 of the male connector element 20. The collar 16 can be fitted over the outer surface of the body 12.

[0030] A first fluid conduit means, such as a tube or pipe (not shown), is connected to the exposed end 26 of the male connector member 20, and a second fluid conduit means, which may be the same as or different from the first fluid conduit means, is connected to the end 28 of the female connector member 10. Typically, the conduit means are connected to the respective connector members before the connector members are joined to each other.

[0031] A latch 30 is provided to hold the collar 16 in a first position that conceals at least a portion of the indicia 14 prior to joining the male connector member 20 to the female connector member 10. The latch 30 may be any device that locks the collar 16 in the first position until the male connector member 20 is fully inserted into the axial opening 22, and then, after full insertion, releases the collar 16, allowing it to be urged into a second position relative to the body 12 by a spring 32, whereby the indicia 14 are fully exposed (as shown in [Fig. 2]).

[0032] In the illustrated embodiments of Figures 1-4, the latch 30 is a cantilevered section of the collar 16 having a protruding pawl or lug 34 that is resiliently urged into engagement with a radial opening extending through the wall of the body 12. A portion of the radial opening is occupied by the lug 34 prior to connecting the female and male connectors together. The remaining portion of the radial opening is occupied by a release member or pin 36 that extends from the lug 34 into the opening 22.During assembly of the quick connect, as the male member 20 approaches full insertion into the axial opening 22, an outer wall of the member 20 contacts a proximal end of the pin 36 opposite the distal end which engages the lug 34, and upon full insertion of the member 20, the pin 36 and the lug 34 are urged in a radially outward direction, unlocking the collar 16 from the body 12 and allowing the spring 32 to force the collar 16 to move from the first position (Figures 1 and 3) to the second position (Figures 2 and 4) in which the indicia 14 are fully exposed.

[0033] While the collar 16 may be locked in a first position that partially exposes the indicia 14, it is desirable that a portion of the indicia 14 be hidden in the first position to prevent the indicia from being read by a machine or a human, and the indicia 14 may only be read upon full insertion of the element 20 and full connection between the elements 10 and 20.

[0034] The indices 14 may include human-readable characters such as letters, numbers, colors, and / or symbols. The indices 14 may include only machine-readable codes such as QR codes, bar codes, or the like. The indicia 14 may include combinations of machine-readable codes, human-readable characters, and color codes. Such indicia may be applied to the body 12 in the form of pre-printed stickers, or they may be laser-etched, printed, painted, engraved, embossed, molded, or otherwise applied. Multiple indicia may be circumferentially spaced along the exterior surface of the body 12 to allow machine readability from any angle or perspective.

[0035] The spring 32 may be a spiral spring, a helical spring, a leaf spring, a wave spring, or the like, made of an elastically deformable metal (e.g., stainless steel) or other elastic material.

[0036] A preferred embodiment includes two latches. However, generally, any number of latches and associated release members may be used. Similarly, while a preferred embodiment includes four (4) uniformly angularly spaced springs, any number of springs may be used.

[0037] A metal or plastic retainer 38 may be provided in a slot 39 of the member 10 to help hold the male connector member 20 and the female connector member 10 together after the member 20 is fully inserted into the member 10. The retainer 38 is deformed radially outwardly by an outwardly facing inclined surface 40 of an enlarged (e.g., frustoconical) section ([Fig. 3]) of the male connector member 20 during insertion of the member 20 into the axial opening 22 ([Fig. 4]). Upon full insertion of the male connector member 20 into the axial opening 22, the retainer 38 rebounds into a groove 42, defined by the male connector member, helping to lock the members 10 and 20 together.

[0038] As shown in [Fig. 4], the latch 30 may be configured to cover and engage the retainer 38 to provide a secondary lock to hold the collar 16 in the second position to maintain exposure of the indicia 14.

[0039] As shown in [Fig.5], the retaining device 38 has an outwardly projecting bracket 44 to which pressure can be applied to release the latches 30 to facilitate separation of the elements 10 and 20.

[0040] [Fig. 6] shows an alternative metal (e.g., steel) retainer 38' which has a yoke 46 which can be pulled radially outward to facilitate separation of the members 10 and 20.

[0041] 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 embodiments. future embodiments. Thus, the invention is susceptible to modifications and variations in its scope.

Claims

Claims

1. A female quick connector member (10), comprising: a female connector body (12) having an outer wall, the female connector body (12) having an axial opening adapted to receive and lockably engage a male connector member (20); indicia (14) on the outer wall of the female connector body (12); a collar (16) positioned above the outer surface of the female connector body (12) for axial movement along the outer wall; a latch (30) for holding the collar (16) in a first position that at least partially conceals the indicia (14); a spring (32) for urging the collar (16) to a second position exposing the indicia (14) when the latch (30) is released;and a release member (36) extending from an interior wall of the axial opening (22), the release member (36) being engageable by a male connector member inserted into the axial opening (22), the release member (36) being configured to release the latch (30) when a male connector member (20) is lockably engaged with the female connector member (12), such that the spring (32) urges the collar (16) toward the second position exposing the indicia (14).;

2. The female quick connector member (10) according to claim 1, wherein the latch (30) is a cantilevered section of the collar (16) having a pawl that projects into a radial opening through the wall of the female connector body (12) prior to insertion of the male connector member (20).

3. The female quick connector member (10) according to claim 1, wherein the spring (32) is a helical spring, a leaf spring or a wave spring.

4. The female quick connector member (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a retainer (38) which radially deforms upon insertion of a male connector member (20) and which holds the male connector member (20) and the female connector member (10) together after complete insertion into the female connector member (10).

5. The female quick connector member (10) according to claim 1, wherein the release member (36) is a pin extending through a radial opening in the wall of the female connector body (12), the release member (36) having a proximal end projecting inwardly into the opening of the female connector body (12), the proximal end of the release member (36) being engageable with a male connector member (20) upon full insertion of the male connector member (20) into the female connector (10), the release member (36) having a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end being engageable with the latch (30), such that full insertion of the male connector member (20) into the female connector member (10) causes the latch (30) to be released,and a push of the collar (16) by the spring (32) into the second position to expose the indices (14).,

6. The female quick connector member (10) according to claim 1, wherein the female connector body (12) has multiple indicia (14) on the outer surface of the wall.

7. The female quick connector element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the female quick connector element (10) has a plurality of latches (30) for holding the collar (16) in the first position.

8. The female quick connector member (10) according to claim 1, wherein the female quick connector member (10) has a plurality of springs (32) urging the collar (16) toward the second position.

9. The female quick connector member (10) of claim 4, wherein the latch (30) is a cantilevered section of the collar (16) having a pawl that projects into a radial opening through the wall of the female connector body (12) prior to insertion of the male connector member (20).

10. The female quick connector element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the indicia (14) include a machine-readable code.

11. The female quick connector element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the indicia (14) include words, numbers and / or symbols that can be read by a human.

12. The female quick connector element (10) according to claim 10, wherein the machine-readable code is a QR code or a bar code.

13. The female quick connector member (10) of claim 1, further comprising a radially deformable retainer (38) located in a slot defined in the female connector body (12) that is configured to flex radially outwardly during insertion of the male connector member (20) and rebound into a groove (42) on the male connector member (20) to lock the male and female connector members (20, 10) together.

14. The female quick connector member (10) of claim 13, wherein the latch (30) is configured to cover and engage the retainer (38) upon full insertion of the male connector member (20) into the female connector member (10) to provide a secondary lock.

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