Quick connect couplings with selective connection means

Claim 1

A pair of couplings comprising a first coupling that has a first socket member with a first bore of a first diameter, a first deformable valve seat element axially inward of said first bore, a first valve element movable into and out of engagement with the first valve seat element, a first locking means spaced a first distance from the first value seat element and movable into and out of said first bore, a first shoulder located axially outwardly from said first locking means a second distance and extending radially outwardly of the first bore, a first nipple having a first cylindrical portion within said first bore and having a first groove opposite said first locking means and receiving the same therein, said first nipple having a first abutment engaged with said first valve element and holding the same in open position and also sealingly engaged with said first seat element, said first nipple also having a second shoulder extending radially inwardly of the first cylindrical portion and spaced axially inward of the first groove a third distance that is shorter than said first distance, and a second coupling comprising a second socket member having a second bore of the same diameter as said first bore of said first socket member, a second deformable valve seat element axially inward of said second bore, a second valve element movable into and out of engagement with the second valve seat element, a second locking means spaced from the second valve seat element a distance equal to said first distance and movable into and out of said second bore, a third shoulder on said second socket member extending radially outwardly of the second bore and located a fourth distance axially outward from the second locking means, said fourth distance being less than said second distance, a fourth shoulder on the second socket spaced a fifth distance axially inward from the second locking means and extending radially inward of the second bore, a counterbore in said second socket extending axially outward of said third shoulder, a second nipple having a second cylindrical portion of the same diameter as the first cylindrical portion within the second bore, said second nipple having a second groove receiving said second locking means, said second nipple having a second abutment engaging the second valve element and holding the same in open position and also sealingly engaging the second valve seat element, the second nipple also having a fifth shoulder extending radially inward of the second cylindrical portion and spaced axially inward of said second locking means a sixth distance that is less than the fifth distance and also having a sixth shoulder extending radially outward of the second cylindrical portion and spaced axially outward from said second groove a seventh distance that is greater than said fourth distance whereby when said first nipple is placed in the second socket bore said second shoulder engages the fourth shoulder before said second groove is opposite the first locking means and whereby when the second nipple is placed in the first socket bore said sixth shoulder engages thE first shoulder before said first groove is opposite said second locking means.