Plastic Quick Connector

Abstract

The present invention provides a quick connector made of plastic material for establishing a snap engagement between a tubular male part (50) and a female part (40; 40A) of a fluid connection system. The connector comprises a retaining means (10) adapted to be set in the mouth (41; 41A) of the female part (40; 40A) and having first and second flexure members (11, 12) for snap engagement with the male part (50) and the female part (40; 40A), respectively. Each pair of circumferentially adjacent first and second flexure members (11, 12) are interconnected by a transverse web portion (13) having a main longitudinal axis (L) extending straight from the first flexure member (11) to the second flexure member (12).

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] Quick connectors (also called snap connectors) are widely used to facilitate easy connection of male parts, such as pipe sockets, spigots, nipples, etc., to female parts, particularly holes or tube ends in block parts of fluid conducting systems.

[0002] EP 1104530 and EP 1682810 disclose conventional quick connectors made of plastic. The connectors have a first tongue portion projecting radially inward for snap engagement with a male portion and a second tongue portion projecting radially outward for snap engagement with a female portion. These conventional quick connectors have a relatively complex structural arrangement that is easily damaged. In fact, the first and second tongue portions are connected to the ring-shaped base portion only by small webs that act as hinge joints for the bending of the tongue portions. These small webs may break after a certain number of bending operations or due to material fatigue. Furthermore, since the first and second tongue portions are provided in axially separate parts of the connector, the connector has a rather long axial extension.

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to reduce the weight and cost of the connector, simplify the structural arrangement and manufacturing operations, reduce the axial extension, and improve the fracture resistance during long-term use and repeated bending operations. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 1104530 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 1682810 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] This object is achieved by the quick connector as defined in claim 1. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments and furthermore call for a connection system comprising the quick connector and male and female parts which are connected to one another. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the invention, the quick connector comprises a retaining means arranged in the mouth of the female part, the retaining means comprising first and second flexures arranged at circumferentially spaced locations for snap-engagement with the female and male parts, respectively. Unlike conventional solutions of plastic quick connectors, each pair of circumferentially adjacent first and second flexures are interconnected by a web section having a main longitudinal axis extending directly from the first flexure to the second flexure. This simplifies the construction arrangement and manufacture of the quick connector and allows its axial dimension to be minimized. Furthermore, the interconnection of adjacent first and second flexures by a transversal web section improves radial elasticity and reduces the risk of breakage even under long-term use.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first bending member is provided at a first axial end of the retaining means and the second bending member is provided at a second axial end of the retaining means opposite to the first axial end. The retaining means has a tapered ring shape whose diameter decreases from the second axial end to the first axial end, and radial elasticity is provided by a first gap provided between two circumferentially adjacent first bending members at the first axial end and a second gap provided between two circumferentially adjacent second bending members at the second axial end.

[0008] The overall shape of the retaining means may have n-fold symmetry, where n is an integer, and in the most preferred embodiment n=6.

[0009] The web portion connects the first and second flexure members in a zigzag configuration around the circumference of the retaining means, such that the overall shape of the retaining means can be described as a number (most preferably six) of V-shaped segments interconnected at adjacent arms to form a crown.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main longitudinal axis of each web section forms an inclination with respect to the axial direction of the quick connector, this inclination being represented by two angles, namely a first angle α giving the amount by which the web section inclines radially inwards from the second bending member to the first bending member, and a second angle β giving the amount by which the web section inclines in the circumferential direction of the holding means from the second bending member to the circumferentially adjacent first bending member. In order to achieve a holding means with good properties in terms of stability and flexibility, preferably the first angle α is between 5° and 30°, in particular between 10° and 20°, and the second angle β is between 10° and 60°, in particular between 20° and 50°.

[0011] Because the Klein-shaped retaining ring is designed to taper relatively slightly in the axial direction, only a small insertion force is required to push the male part in. Although the inward angle of the flexure is very small, the entire axial length of the retaining ring can be used for the male part insertion process, during which the retaining ring can expand radially as a whole. This combination reduces the required insertion force, but ensures high resistance to male part pull-out.

[0012] The front surface of the retaining means at the first axial end adjacent the sealing means may be enlarged by a web having a tapered shape decreasing in width along the main longitudinal axis from the first flexure member to the second flexure member, thereby enlarging the contact area between the first axial end of the retaining means and the sealing means or an optional washer between the retaining means and the sealing means.

[0013] Preferably, the retaining means is formed from a polymeric plastic material. It is particularly preferred to form the retaining means as a unitary structure from a moldable plastic material, such as by injection molding, so that manufacturing costs and durability of the connector are at the most competitive value.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment, the quick connector further comprises a release means having a ring portion of suitable outer diameter, which, when pressed towards the lower (first) axial end of the retaining means, causes the first bending member to bend radially and disengage from the male portion. The pressing action is mitigated by a gripping portion connected to the ring portion and spaced axially from the ring portion so as to protrude from the mouth of the female portion. A radial projection may be provided on the outer periphery of the ring portion for latching into a first gap in the form of a notch between two adjacent first bending members.

[0015] A sealing means, preferably an O-ring, X-seal, or lip seal, is positioned within the mouth of the female portion and axially forward of the retaining means. The sealing location does not axially overlap the retaining means so that the sealing means can contact both the male and female portions when the quick connector is in a locked state. This ensures that only one sealing location is required for the connection between the male and female portions, and therefore only one potential location for leakage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] Details of the present invention and embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A shows a side view of a holding means according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the holding means taken along line AA of FIG. 1A; FIG. 1C shows a top view of the holding means of FIG. 1A; FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of the holding means of FIG. 1A; FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a quick connector and a female and male portion of a fluid connection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a non-connected state; FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid connection system components of FIG. 2A in a connected state; FIG. 2C shows an enlarged view of detail B of FIG. 2B; FIG. 3A shows an exploded perspective view of a fluid connection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a disconnected state; FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid connection system components of FIG. 3A in a connected state; FIG. 3C shows an enlarged view of detail B of FIG. 3B; FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a male part of a fluid connection system according to the invention; FIG. 4B shows a side view of the male part shown in FIG. 4A; FIG. 4C shows a cross-section taken along line AA of FIG. 4B; FIG. 4D shows an enlarged view of detail C of FIG. 4C; FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a release means of a fluid connection system according to a third and fourth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5B shows a side view of the release means shown in FIG. 5A; FIG. 5C shows an enlarged view of detail D of FIG. 5B; FIG. 6A shows an exploded perspective view of a fluid connection system according to a third embodiment of the invention in a disconnected state; FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid connection system components of FIG. 6A in a connected state; FIG. 6C shows an enlarged view of detail B of FIG. 6B; FIG. 7A shows an exploded perspective view of a fluid connection system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a disconnected state; FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid connection system components of FIG. 7A in a connected state; FIG. 7C shows an enlarged view of detail B of FIG. 7B; FIG. 8A shows a side view of a female portion according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8B shows a cross-section taken along line AA of FIG. 8A; FIG. 9A shows an exploded perspective view of a fluid connection system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention in a disconnected state; FIG. 9B shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid connection system components of FIG. 9A in a connected state; FIG. 9C shows an enlarged view of detail B of FIG. 9B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] 1A to 1D show in various views a retaining means 10. The illustrated retaining means 10 is made of a plastic material, more particularly a polymeric plastic material, and even more particularly obtained as a single piece, for example by injection molding. The retaining means 10 has the overall shape of a tapered ring, radially flexible due to a number of triangular gaps 14, 15 alternately provided at the first and second axial ends of the retaining means.

[0018] Due to the fact that the diameter of the ring-shaped retaining means increases from the first (lower) axial end to the second (upper) axial end, the upper rim of the retaining ring 10 projects radially outward and the lower rim projects radially inward. The upper gap 15 and the lower gap 14, combined with the general properties of plastic materials, result in the rim between the lower gap 14 forming the first (lower) flexure member 11 and the rim between the upper gap 15 forming the second (higher) flexure member 12. In other words, the first and second flexure members 11, 12 are elastically deformable in the radial direction, i.e. they can flexibly deform to a certain extent in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial extension X of the tubular retaining means 10.

[0019] The first and second flexure members 11, 12 of each adjacent pair are interconnected by a transverse web portion 13. Each web portion 13 is inclined with respect to the axial direction X, more specifically, the major longitudinal axis L of each web portion 13 interconnecting the adjacent pair of first and second flexure members 11, 12 is inclined. The inclination can be expressed by two angles α and β. The first angle α specifies the amount of taper of the retaining ring 10, i.e., the extent to which the outer diameter decreases from the second axial end to the first axial end. The second angle β specifies the amount of circumferential inclination of the transverse web portion 13, i.e., the amount by which the major longitudinal axis L of the web portion 13 deviates from a straight projection of the axial direction X onto the (tapered) outer peripheral surface of the retaining ring 10.

[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the inner surface of the web portion 13 is not flat, but has a shoulder 16 which, as will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 5-7 and 9, serves as a rest for the axially lower end of the male portion 50 in the disconnected state, and for the ring portion 61 of the release means 60 in the contacted state. The shoulder 16 is merely an optional feature, and the funnel-like inner surface of the web portion 13 (as well as the outer surface) may also be flat, providing the same performance of the retainer ring 10 in terms of radial resiliency and stability.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, there are six first bending members 11 and six second bending members 12. The tubular holding means 10 therefore has a six-fold rotational symmetry and can be formed by interconnecting six V-shaped ring segments. However, solutions with fewer or more than six first and second bending members 11, 12 are possible, and even deviations from the general n-fold rotational symmetry are possible. In particular, there may be only two first and second bending members 11 and two second bending members 12 interconnected by only four web portions 13.

[0022] In the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2A, the retaining means 10 is shown in a pre-assembled state axially adjacent to the sealing means 30 and between the tubular male part 50 and female part 40. The assembled position is shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2B, 3B, 6B, 7B and 9B are taken along the mid-axis of two of the notched lower gaps 14 formed between two adjacent first flexure members 11.

[0023] In the perspective views of the fluid connection system shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the female part 40 is formed as a hole in a block. Whereas in conventional fluid connection systems a female thread is provided in the hole for screwing in the threaded part of the connector, the mouth part 41 of the female part 40 is adapted to fully receive and engage with the connector without such a threaded part. The insertion direction of the spigot 50 extends downward in the drawings and is hereinafter referred to as the forward direction. The opposite direction is hereinafter referred to as the rearward direction.

[0024] The female portion 40 has a mouth 41 having a diameter large enough to receive the male portion 50 surrounded by the sealing means 30. The mouth 41 has a step 43 of increased diameter which acts as an axial rest for the sealing means 30. The female portion 40 has a recess 42 at the mouth 41, spaced from its axial upper end, which has a larger diameter than the remainder of the mouth 41. The axial length of the recess 42 is approximately the same as the axial length of the retainer ring 10.

[0025] The diameter of the axial upper end of the mouth 41 is smaller than the outside diameter of the second bending member 12 in the relaxed state. By pushing the holding means 10 downwards into the mouth 41, the second bending members 12 will be elastically deformed radially inwards so that their outside diameters become small enough to enter the mouth. As soon as the second bending members 12 reach the axial position of the recesses 42 formed axially away from the outer surface of the mouth 41, the second bending members 12 will relax to their original state and snap into engagement with the groove-like recesses 42 of the female part 40.

[0026] 2C shows the state where the second bending member 12 fits into the recess 42 when the retaining means 10 is pushed forward into the mouth 41. The second bending member 12 then abuts against the upper edge of the recess 42, making it impossible to remove the retaining means 10 from the mouth 41 unless the second bending member 12 is bent radially inward.

[0027] Similarly, the male portion 50 has a smaller diameter recess 51 spaced from the axially forward end of the male portion 50. The shape of the male portion 50 is shown in more detail in Figures 4A-4D. When the male portion 50 is forced forward through the retainer ring 10, the first bending member 11 fits into the recess 51, as best seen in Figure 2C. This causes the first bending member 11 to abut against an upper edge of the recess 51, and the male portion 50 cannot be removed from the retainer 10 without bending the first bending member 11 axially outward.

[0028] This results in the connected state shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in which the sealing means 30 and the retaining means 10 reach the locked state, the retaining means 10 being engaged with the female part 40 by the snap-fit ​​interconnection of the second flexure 12 and the recess 42. As can be seen in FIG. 2B, the retaining means 10 does not protrude axially from the female part 40, but is fully received within its mouth 41. This is particularly advantageous for handling and shipping the female part 40 with the retaining means 10 in this pre-locked state. Furthermore, the retaining means 10, due to its axially locked arrangement, prevents the sealing means 30 from falling out of the mouth 4. The sealing means 30 stops at a step 43 of the female part 40, which has a larger diameter than the lower axially adjacent part of the female part 40, so that the sealing means 30 cannot move further inwards within the female part 40.

[0029] The O-ring 30 as sealing means is positioned on an annular shoulder 43 (see FIG. 2B) formed in the forward region of the mouth 41. The O-ring 30 and other parts of the connector are shown in FIG. 2A axially away from the mouth 41, with the male spigot 50 spaced further back therefrom. To establish a fully connected state of the fluid connection system shown in FIG. 2B, first the sealing means 30 is placed in the mouth 41 on the shoulder 43 of the female part 40, and then the ring-shaped retaining means 10 is placed axially back adjacent to the sealing means 30.

[0030] The connector is already in a pre-locked engagement state when it is inserted into the mouth portion 41. This is because the second flexure member 12 of the retaining means 10 is compressed to a certain extent when it enters the mouth portion 41 and then engages with the recess 42 of the female portion 40. In this way, the second flexure member 12 prevents the retaining means 10 and the sealing means 30 from falling out of the mouth portion 41 during transportation, etc.

[0031] Finally, the male part 50 is pushed through the retaining means 10 and sealing means 30 until the radially inwardly projecting first flexion member 11 snaps into engagement with the recess 51 in the male part 50. A ratchet formed at the rear end of the recess 51 abuts the first flexion member 11 so that the male part 50 remains locked within the connector 10 and cannot move rearwardly.

[0032] When the male part 50 is forced through the retaining means 10 and the sealing means 30 into the fully locked position shown in FIG. 2B, the sealing means 30 expands, thereby reaching a state in which the fluid connection system is fully sealed with the male part 50 against the female part 40. This is due to the fact that the forward most portion of the male part 50 has an outer diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the sealing means 30, and therefore the sealing means 30 must radially expand as the forward most portion of the male part 50 is pushed through.

[0033] 3A to 3C show a second embodiment of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C only in that a washer 20 is arranged axially between the retainer ring 10 and the sealing means 30. Since the provision of the washer 20 constitutes the only difference from the first embodiment described above, only this part will be described here, and the other parts will only be shown in the drawings without description and without designation by reference numbers.

[0034] The washer or spacer 20 rests on the front edge of the recess 42 of the female part 40 and acts as a circumferentially uniform stop for the sealing means 30 in the axial direction X. This is particularly important when the sealing means expands radially upon insertion of the male part 50. The washer 20 then prevents the sealing means 30 from deforming axially. In particular, the sealing means 30 cannot enter under pressure into the notched gap 14 formed between the first flexures 11 at the axially lower end of the retaining ring 10.

[0035] As shown, the washer 20 has radial projections 21. The projections 21 serve to position the washer 20 in the mouth portion 41 and to prevent the washer 20 from dropping too far into the female portion 40. As shown, four projections 21 may be arranged symmetrically four times in the circumferential direction. Of course, other arrangements or numbers of projections are possible, and a washer 20 without such projections 21 is also possible.

[0036] Also, after the male portion 50 is inserted, the retaining means 10 may be operated in a forward direction with a secondary latching operation (e.g., by a latching tool, not shown) to close the gap 14 to provide a flat retaining surface toward the upper surface of the sealing means 30. This allows the sealing means 30 to be tightly and uniformly compressed from both axial ends, without the need for a washer 20, resulting in a completely locked and sealed fluid connection system.

[0037] 5A to 5C show a release means 60 that can be used as a tool to release the male part 50 from the snap engagement with the first flexion member 11 of the retaining means 10. The release tool 60 has a ring-shaped part 61, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the first axial end of the retaining ring 10 formed by the first flexion member 11, but smaller than the diameter of the second axial end of the retaining ring 10 formed by the second flexion member 12. Thus, the ring part 61 can be used to bend the first flexion member 11 axially outward to release the recess 51 of the male part 50 from the retaining ring 10, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

[0038] The release means 60 further has a gripping portion 62, which is designed to remain outside the mouth portion 41, allowing an operator to operate the release means 60 to release the male portion 50 by a forward pushing action, if necessary. The ring portion 61 has six windows 64 arranged in the circumferential direction corresponding to the positions of the second bending members 12 in the connected state shown in FIG. 6B. Below the two diametrically opposed windows 64, the ring portion 61 has radial projections 63 for engaging with the notched gaps 14 between two adjacent first bending members 11 of the retaining ring 10. The number of windows 64 and projections 63 can be selected in any suitable manner and is not limited to the embodiment shown.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the release means 60 is axially positioned such that its ring portion 61 engages in the retainer ring 10. In particular, the wedge-shaped projection 63 is received in the lower gap 14 and the second flexure member 12 is received in the window 64. This means a positive and defined radial positioning of the release means 60 in the retainer ring 10. The axial positioning is provided by shoulders 16 on the inner faces of the web portions 13. The release tool 60 rests against these shoulders 16 in the relaxed and fully connected state shown in FIG. 6B.

[0040] Now, the operator can push the releasing means 60 axially forward by using the grip part 62. Since the axial front end of the releasing means 60 abuts against the shoulder part 16 of the web part 13 at the stop position, the operator feels a certain resistance to this pushing operation. When this resistance is overcome, the ring part 61 spreads the first bending member 11 radially outward to release the engagement with the recess 51 of the male part 50. As soon as the operator releases it, the releasing means 60 will return to its relaxed state due to the radial elastic flexibility of the holding means 10.

[0041] 7A to 7C show a fourth embodiment of the invention, which differs from the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C only in that a washer 20 is positioned axially between the retainer ring 10 and the sealing means 30. As in the second embodiment, the washer or spacer 20 rests on the front edge of the recess 42 of the female part 40 and serves as a circumferentially uniform stop for the sealing means 30 in the axial direction X.

[0042] 8A and 8B show another type of female part 40A for use in a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This female part 40A is a pipe or tube end and is not formed as a hole in a block as in the first to fourth embodiments. However, the same principles as described with respect to the other embodiments also apply to the fifth embodiment. The female part 40A has a mouth portion 41A in which a recess 42A and a step 43A are formed in the same manner as described further above with respect to FIGS. 2A to 2B.

[0043] 9A to 9C show the use of the female section 40A in the fifth embodiment. The individual parts and their functions are the same as in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, except that the block-shaped female section 40 is replaced by a tubular female section 40A. Therefore, the description of the functionality of the parts in FIGS. 6A to 6C applies mutatis mutandis to FIGS. 9A to 9C.

[0044] Of course, a washer 20 could be added to the fifth embodiment, similar to that shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C for embodiment 4, and / or a release means could be omitted from the fifth embodiment, similar to that shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and 3A to 3C for embodiments 1 and 2.

[0045] In summary, the present invention provides a quick connector made of plastic material for establishing a snap engagement between a tubular male part 50 and a female part 40 of a fluid connection system. The connector comprises a retaining means 10 adapted to be set within the mouth 41 of the female part 40 and having first and second flexure members 11, 12 for snap engagement with the male part 50 and the female part 40, respectively. Each pair of circumferentially adjacent first and second flexure members 11, 12 are interconnected by a transverse web portion 13 having a main longitudinal axis L extending straight from the first flexure member 11 to the second flexure member 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Retention means 11 First bending member (radially inward) 12 Second bending member (radially outward) 13 Web section (interconnects 11 and 12) 14 The First Gap 15 The Second Gap 16 Shoulder 20 Washers / Spacers 21 Radial protrusion 30 Sealing means 40, 40A female part 41, 41A Mouth 42, 42A Recess 43, 43A Stepped section 50 Tubular male part 51 Recess 60 Means of release 61 Ring section 62 Grip section 63 Protrusion 64 Windows X-axis direction L main vertical axis α is the angle at which the longitudinal axis L of the web portion 13 is inclined radially inward with respect to the axial direction X β is the angle at which the longitudinal axis L of the web portion 13 is inclined in the circumferential direction with respect to the axial direction X.

Claims

1. A quick connector for connecting a tubular male part (50) to a female part (40; 40A) in an axial direction (X), a sealing means (30) that is set in the mouth portion (41; 41A) of the female portion (40; 40A) and that seals between the male portion (50) and the female portion (40; 40A); a retaining means (10) adapted to be set within said mouth portion (41; 41A) and having at least two first bending members (11) projecting radially inward for snap engagement with said male portion (50) and at least two second bending members (12) projecting radially outward for engagement with said female portion (50); A release means (60), The first and second circumferentially adjacent pairs of flexure members (11, 12) are interconnected by a web portion (13) having a main longitudinal axis (L) extending straight from the first flexure member (11) to the second flexure member (12); The release means (60) a ring portion (61) having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the holding means (10) at a first axial end portion where the first bending member (11) is provided, but smaller than the inner diameter of the holding means (10) at a second axial end portion where the second bending member (12) is provided; a grip portion (62) connected to the ring portion (61) and spaced apart from the ring portion (61) in the axial direction so as to protrude from the mouth portion (41; 41A) of the female portion (40; 40A); the grip portion (62) allows an operator to push the ring portion (61) towards the first axial end of the holding means (10) so that the first bending member (11) is radially deflected and disengaged from the male portion (50) during a release operation; The outer periphery of the ring portion (61) has at least one radial protrusion (63) for latching into a notch-like first gap (14) between two adjacent first bending members (11).

2. 2. The quick connector according to claim 1, A quick connector, wherein the first bending member (11) is provided at a first axial end of the retaining means (10), and the second bending member (12) is provided at a second axial end of the retaining means (10) opposite the first axial end.

3. 3. The quick connector according to claim 2, The retaining means (10) has, as a whole, a tapered ring shape whose diameter decreases from the second axial end to the first axial end, and radial elasticity is imparted to the quick connector by a first gap (14) provided between two circumferentially adjacent first bending members (11) at the first axial end, and a second gap (15) provided between two circumferentially adjacent second bending members (12) at the second axial end.

4. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The web portion (13) is a quick connector that connects the first and second bending members (11, 12, 22) in a zigzag shape along the circumferential direction of the holding means (10).

5. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the main longitudinal axis (L) of each web portion (13) forms an inclination with respect to the axial direction (X) of the quick connector, said inclination being represented by two angles greater than 0°; The two angles are: a first angle (α) that provides the amount that the web portion (13) slopes radially inwardly from the second flexure (12) to the first flexure (11); and A quick connector in which the second angle (β) gives the amount by which the web portion (13) is inclined in the circumferential direction of the retaining means (10) from the second bending member (12) to the circumferentially adjacent first bending member (11).

6. 6. The quick connector according to claim 5, the first angle (α) is between 5° and 30°; The second angle (β) is between 10° and 60°.

7. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A quick connector in which the first bending member (11) and the second bending member (12) are alternately provided at portions spaced apart in the circumferential direction along the circumference of the holding means (10).

8. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The web portion (13) has a tapered shape such that the width of the web portion (13) decreases along the main longitudinal axis (L) from the first flexure member (11) to the second flexure member (12).

9. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The quick connector, wherein said retaining means (10) is made of plastic material and / or is formed as a unitary structure.

10. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The retaining means (10) is adapted to retain the sealing means (30) in a sealing position axially adjacent to but not overlapping with the retaining means (10), so that the sealing means (30) contacts both the male portion (50) and the female portion (40; 40A) when the quick connector is in a locked state.

11. A quick connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10; a tubular male part (50) which is a spigot; A female portion (40; 40A) formed as a hole in a connector block; A fluid connection system comprising:

12. 12. The system of claim 11, The tubular male part (50) has a recess (51) where the outside diameter is reduced, The system wherein the first bending member (11) of the retaining means (10) is adapted to engage with the recess (51) when the male part (50) is pushed through the quick connector in the axial (X) direction.

13. 13. A system according to claim 11 or 12, comprising: The female portion (40; 40A) has a recess (42; 42A) formed around its mouth portion (41; 41A), The system is configured such that the second bending member (12) of the retaining means (10) engages with the recess (42; 42A) of the female portion (40; 40A) when the retaining means (10) is pressed into the female portion (40; 40A) in the axial direction (X).

Images