Pipe coupling having releasable retaining means

Claim 1

A FLUID LINE COUPLING ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: MALE AND FEMALE COUPLING CONNECTIBLE AND DISCONNECTIBLE BY RELATIVE MOVEMENT ALONG A STRAIGHT-LINE PATH, SAID FEMALE PART HAVING A POCKET AT ONE END OPENING ALONG SAID PATH AND A PORTION BORDERING SAID POCKET PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING TRANSVERSE TO SAID PATH, SAID MALE PART ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN AND WITHDRAWN FROM SAID POCKET ALONG SAID PATH TO RESPECTIVELY ACHIEVE CONNECTED AND DISCONNECTED CONDITIONS OF SAID PARTS, SAID MALE PART HAVING A RECESS THEREIN TRANSVERSE TO SAID PATH AND ADAPTED TO REGISTER WITH THE OPENING WHEN THE PARTS ARE CONNECTED; A LOCK ELEMENT NORMALLY RECEIVED IN PART IN THE OPENING AND IN PART IN THE REGISTERED RECESS AND MOVABLE TRANSVERSE TO SAID PATH FOR ESCAPE FROM THE RECESS AND INTO THE OPENING TO FREE THE PARTS FOR DISCONNECTION; A RETAINER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG SAID PATH BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION BLOCKING SAID OPENING AND ENGAGING THE ELEMENT TO CONFINE SAID ELEMENT AGAINST ESCAPE FROM THE RECESS WHEN THE PARTS ARE CONNECTED AND A SECOND POSITION UNBLOCKING SAID OPENING AND FREEZING THE ELEMENT FOR SUCH ESCAPE TO ENABLE DISCONNECTION OF THE PARTS; SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTING THE TWO PARTS, WHEN CONNECTED, FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON ALONG