Bayonet type coupling with pivoted segment release means

Claim 1

A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF FIRST MATING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF COAXIALLY ARRANGED AND RELATIVELY MOVABLE ANNULAR PORTIONS, MEANS FOR NORMALLY YIELDABLY MAINTAINING SAID PORTIONS IN PREDETERMINED RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, A MEMBER INTERMEDIATE SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS INCLUDING A SLOPING PROJECTION-RECEIVING-AND-GUIDING GROOVE EXTENDING FROM A POSITION ADJACENT ONE END OF THE MEMBER TO A LOCATION REMOVED THEREFROM AND INCLUDING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING PROJECTION-DISCHARGING SLOT HAVING A DEPTH AT LEAST EQUAL TO SAID GROOVE PROVIDING OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SAID ONE END AND THE GROOVE ADJACENT SAID REMOVED LOCATION THEREOF, LATCHING MEANS SWINGABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF ON SAID MEMBER AND HAVING A SECTION WITH AN INWARDLY DISPOSED CAMMING SURFACE THEREON COMMUNICATING WITH AND NORMALLY EXTENDING INTO THE AXIAL SLOT AND NORMALLY RETAINED THEREIN BY ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS, AND SECOND MATING MEANS INCLUDING A PROJECTION EXTENDING THEREFROM FOR RECEPTION IN SAID GROOVE AND RETENTION IN ABUTTING AND OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CAMMING SURFACE, SAID ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID MEMBER FOR COMPRESSING SAID YIELDABLE MEANS TO RELEASE THE RETENTION OF SAID LATCHING MEANS AND CAUSE THE PROJECTION TO EXERT A REPELING FORCE UPON THE SAID INWARDLY DISPOSED CAMMING SURFACE OF SAID SECTION TO SWING THE LATTER OUTWARDLY AND FACILITATE UNRESTRICTED AXIAL PASSAGE OF SAID PROJECTION THROUGH THE AXIAL SLOT.

Claim 2

A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF FIRST MATING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF COAXIALLY ARRANGED AND RELATIVELY MOVABLE ANNULAR PORTIONS, MEANS FOR NORMALLY YIELDABLY MAINTAINING SAID PORTIONS IN PREDETERMINED RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, A MEMBER INTERMEDIATE SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS INCLUDING A SLOPING PROJECTION-RECEIVING-AND-GUIDING GROOVE EXTENDING FROM A POSITION ADJACENT ONE END OF THE MEMBER TO A LOCATION REMOVED THEREFROM AND INCLUDING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING PROJECTION-DISCHARGING SLOT HAVING A DEPTH AT LEAST EQUAL TO SAID GROOVE PROVIDING OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SAID ONE END AND THE GROOVE ADJACENT SAID REMOVED LOCATION THEREOF, LATCHING MEANS SWINGABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF ON SAID MEMBER AND HAVING A SECTION WITH AN INWARDLY DISPOSED CAMMING SURFACE THEREON COMMUNICATING WITH AND NORMALLY EXTENDING INTO THE AXIAL SLOT AND NORMALLY RETAINED THEREIN BY ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS, AND SECOND MATING MEANS INCLUDING A PROJECTION EXTENDING THEREFROM FOR RECEPTION IN SAID GROOVE AND RETENTION IN ABUTTING AND OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CAMMING SURFACE, SAID ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF PORTIONS AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID MEMBER FOR COMPRESSING SAID YIELDABLE MEANS TO RELEASE THE RETENTION OF SAID LATCHING MEANS AND CAUSE THE PROJECTION TO EXERT A REPELING FORCE UPON THE SAID INWARDLY DISPOSED CAMMING SURFACE OF SAID SECTION TO SWING THE LATTER OUTWARDLY AND FACILITATE UNRESTRICTED AXIAL PASSAGE OF SAID PROJECTION THROUGH THE AXIAL SLOT.