Quick Connect Adaptor Pin-Groove Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick connect/disconnect adaptor systems face difficulties in accessing and securely connecting hoses to faucets, especially at hard-to-reach locations, due to the need for threading and potential leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A quick connect/disconnect adaptor system featuring a male member with a locking collar and pin, and a female member with a groove, providing a secure watertight connection through a secondary locking mechanism, which includes various configurations such as cam locking, opposing button locking, and over-molding for enhanced usability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a threaded connection is used to securely connect hose to faucet, then connection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in threading at hard-to-reach locations
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate male and female components with distinct functions. The male component includes a tail, locking collar, and pin, while the female component has a body with groove and pocket features. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for both secure connection and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A pin acts as an intermediary element between the male locking collar and female body. The pin engages with the groove to provide secure mechanical connection, while the locking collar provides a convenient gripping surface for operation. This intermediary mechanism enables reliable connection without requiring threading operations at hard-to-reach locations.
2Ease of operation
If a simple insertion connection is used for quick connect/disconnect, then ease of operation is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism incorporates preliminary locking actions through the pin-groove engagement and secondary locking through the collar-pocket interaction. These preliminary actions ensure proper alignment and secure engagement before final connection is achieved, preventing leakage while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking collar is designed to rotate or move dynamically during the connection process. This dynamic movement allows the collar to engage with the pocket feature, providing a secondary locking mechanism that ensures leak-free connection while maintaining simple operation. The dynamic element transforms a static insertion into a secure locked connection.
3Reliability
If multiple locking mechanisms are added to prevent leakage, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple locking functions are merged into a single integrated connection action. The pin-groove engagement and collar-pocket locking occur simultaneously during one insertion and rotation motion. This merging provides robust leak prevention without requiring separate manual operations for each locking step, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking collar serves multiple functions: it provides a gripping surface for operation, houses the pin mechanism, and engages with the pocket for secondary locking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, maintaining relatively simple device complexity while achieving reliable leak-free connection through multiple locking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems, methods, and apparatuses provided herein relate to quick connect and disconnect adaptor systems. The system includes a male member having a locking collar, a pin attached to the locking collar, and a locking mechanism; a female member selectively coupled to the male member, the female member having a locking device and a body defining a groove; wherein the locking collar of the male member at least partially surrounds the body of the female member when coupled to facilitate the groove receiving the pin and the locking mechanism to engage with the locking device.