Coupling device having a captivated nut

Claim 2

In combination, first and second mating members adapted to be joined together by inserting at least a portion of said first mating member into at least a portion of said second mating member, and tightening means for pulling said first and second mating members tightly together in the positive manner of a threaded connection after they have been joined together by said insertion, said tightening means comprising a first cylindrical member encircling at least a portion of one of said mating members and having external threads formed thereon, a second cylindrical member surrounding said first cylindrical member and having internal threads formed therein and adapted to engage said external threads, and restrictive means for impeding rotation of said first cylindrical member in a first direction, said restrictive means including spring means positioned inside said second cylindrical member, and said first cylindrical member having means for engaging at least a portion of said spring means.

Claim 3

In combination, first and second mating members adapted to be joined together by inserting at least a portion of said first mating member into at least a portion of said second mating member, and tightening means for pulling said first and second mating members tightly together in the positive manner of a threaded connection after they have been joined together by said insertion, said tightening means comprising a first cylindrical member encircling at least a portion of one of said mating members and having external threads formed thereon, a second cylindrical member surrounding said first cylindrical member and having internal threads formed therein and adapted to engage said external threads, restrictive means for impeding rotation of said first cylindrical member in a first direction, said restrictive means including spring means positioned inside said second cylindrical member, said first cylindrical member having means for engaging a first portion of said spring means, and said tightening means further comprising a third cylindrical member, said third cylindrical member being disposed in encircling manner around one of said mating members and having means for engaging a second portion of said spring means.

Claim 4

In combination, first and second mating members adapted to be joined together by inserting at least a portion of said first mating member into at least a portion of said second mating member, and tightening means for pulling said first and second mating members tightly together in the positive manner of a threaded connection after they have been joined together by said insertion, said tightening means comprising a first cylindrical member encircling at least a portion of one of said mating members and having external threads formed thereon, a second cylindrical member surrounding said first cylindrical member and having internal threads formed therein and adapted to engage said external threads, restrictive means for impeding rotation of said first cylindrical member in a first direction, said restrictive means including spring means positioned inside said second cylindrical member, said first cylindrical member having means for engaging a first portion of said spring means, and said tightening means further comprising a third cylindrical member, said third cylindrical member being disposed in encircling manner around one of said mating members and having means for engaging a second portion of said spring means.

Claim 5

A coupling having first and second connecting parts adapted to be joined together, said coupling comprising a first cylindrical member having internal threads and rotatably secured to said first connecting part, a second cylindrical member, means carried by said first cylindrical member for confining and locking said second cylindrical member inside said first cylindrical member whereby said second cylindrical member is captivated therein, said second cylindrical member having external threads engaging said internal threads for rotation of said second cylindrical member, holding means carried on said second connecting part for engaging at least a portion of said second cylindrical member and for holding it from rotation, and tightening means for pulling said connecting parts tightly together after they have been joined together, said tightening means including a third cylindrical member, said third cylindrical member being disposed in encircling position around said first connecting part and responsive to rotation of said first cylindrical member after said second cylindrical member has been held from rotation by said holding means, and means for attaching said third cylindrical member to said first cylindrical member for axial movement thereWith.

Claim 6

A coupling having first and second connecting parts adapted to be joined together, said coupling comprising a first cylindrical member having internal threads and rotatably secured to said first connecting part, a second cylindrical member, means carried by said first cylindrical member for confining and locking said second cylindrical member inside said first cylindrical member whereby said second cylindrical member is captivated therein, said second cylindrical member having external threads engaging said internal threads for rotation of said second cylindrical member, holding means carried on said second connecting part for engaging at least a portion of said second cylindrical member and for holding it from rotation, and tightening means for pulling said connecting parts tightly together after they have been joined together, said tightening means including a third cylindrical member, said third cylindrical member being disposed in encircling position around said first connecting part and responsive to rotation of said first cylindrical member after said second cylindrical member has been held from rotation by said holding means, and means for attaching said third cylindrical member to said first cylindrical member for axial movement thereWith.

Claim 7

A coupling having first and second connecting parts adapted to be joined together, said coupling comprising a barrel having internal threads and rotatably secured to said first connecting part, a nut, means for confining and locking said nut inside said barrel whereby said nut is captivated therein, said nut having external threads engaging said internal threads for rotation of said nut, restrictive means positioned within said barrel for impeding rotation of said nut in a first direction, said nut being adapted to be rotated in a second direction in response to rotation of said barrel in said second direction, locking means for locking said connecting parts together, said locking means including a member carried by said nut, said locking means further including means on said second connecting part for engaging and holding said member in response to rotation of said nut and said barrel in said second direction, and tightening means for pulling said connecting parts tightly together in the positive manner of a threaded connection after they have been locked together by said locking means, said tightening means comprising continued rotation of said barrel in said second direction after said member is engaged and held by said means on said second connecting part whereby said barrel advances over said nut.

Claim 8

A coupling having first and second connecting parts adapted to be joined together, said coupling comprising a barrel having internal threads and rotatably secured to said first connecting part, a nut, means for confining and locking said nut inside said barrel whereby said nut is captivated therein, said nut having external threads engaging said internal threads for rotation of said nut, restrictive means positioned within said barrel for impeding rotation of said nut in a first direction, said nut being adapted to be rotated in a second direction in response to rotation of said barrel in said second direction, locking means for locking said connecting parts together, said locking means including a member carried by said nut, said locking means further including means on said second connecting part for engaging and holding said member in response to rotation of said nut and said barrel in said second direction, and tightening means for pulling said connecting parts tightly together in the positive manner of a threaded connection after they have been locked together by said locking means, said tightening means comprising continued rotation of said barrel in said second direction after said member is engaged and held by said means on said second connecting part whereby said barrel advances over said nut.

Claim 9

A coupling having first and second connecting parts adapted to be joined together, said coupling comprising a barrel having internal threads and rotatably attached to said first connecting part, a captivated nut positioned inside said barrel and having external threads engaging said internal threads for rotation of said nut, restrictive means for impeding rotation of said nut in a first direction, said restrictive means comprising a spring finger secured to said first connecting part, said spring finger having an end portion, said restrictive means further comprising means carried by said nut and adapted to engage said end portion, said nut being adapted to be rotated in a second direction in response to rotation of said barrel in said second direction, locking means for locking said connecting parts together, said locking means including a member carried by said nut, said locking means further including means on said second connecting part for engaging and holding said member in response to rotation of said nut and said barrel in said second direction, and tightening means for pulling said connecting parts tightly together, said tightening means comprising continued rotation of said barrel in said second direction after said member is engaged and held by said means on said second connecting part.

Claim 10

A coupling having first and second connecting parts adapted to be joined together, said coupling comprising a barrel having internal threads and rotatably attached to said first connecting part, a captivated nut positioned inside said barrel and having external threads engaging said internal threads for rotation of said nut, restrictive means for impeding rotation of said nut in a first direction, said restrictive means comprising a spring finger secured to said first connecting part, said spring finger having an end portion, said restrictive means further comprising means carried by said nut and adapted to engage said end portion, said nut being adapted to be rotated in a second direction in response to rotation of said barrel in said second direction, locking means for locking said connecting parts together, said locking means including a member carried by said nut, said locking means further including means on said second connecting part for engaging and holding said member in response to rotation of said nut and said barrel in said second direction, and tightening means for pulling said connecting parts tightly together, said tightening means comprising continued rotation of said barrel in said second direction after said member is engaged and held by said means on said second connecting part.

Claim 11

A coupling having first and second mating parts adapted to be connected, said coupling comprising a captivated nut, said nut being annular in shape with an interior surface having at least one lug thereon, at least one reentrant section formed in said first mating part and adapted for receiving therein said lug, a barrel having internal threads formed therein and rotatably mounted on said second mating part, said nut having external threads formed thereon for engaging said internal threads whereby said nut is rotatably mounted inside said barrel, said nut being provided with detent means, said barrel having first and second ends, at least one spring finger positioned inside said barrel at said first end thereof and fixedly attached to said second mating part, said spring finger being adapted to engage said detent means for impeding rotation of said nut in a first direction while providing friction for causing said nut to rotate with said barrel in a second direction and to move toward said second end thereof, and a locking area formed in said reentrant section adapted for holding said lug and thereby terminating rotation of said nut in said second direction, and said spring finger being adapted to become compressed in response to further rotation of said barrel in said second direction.

Claim 12

A coupling having first and second mating parts adapted to be connected, said coupling comprising a captivated nut, said nut being annular in shape with an interior surface having at least one lug thereon, at least one reentrant section formed in said first mating part and adapted for receiving therein said lug, a barrel having internal threads formed therein and rotatably mounted on said second mating part, said nut having external threads formed thereon for engaging said internal threads whereby said nut is rotatably mounted inside said barrel, said nut being provided with detent means, said barrel having first and second ends, at least one spring finger positioned inside said barrel at said first end thereof and fixedly attached to said second mating part, said spring finger being adapted to engage said detent means for impeding rotation of said nut in a first direction while providing friction for causing said nut to rotate with said barrel in a second direction and to move toward said second end thereof, and a locking area formed in said reentrant section adapted for holding said lug and thereby terminating rotation of said nut in said second direction, and said spring finger being adapted to become compressed in response to further rotation of said barrel in said second direction.

Claim 13

A coupling in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising tightening means for pulling said mating parts tightly together, said tightening means including a cylindrical member encircling said second mating part and responsive to continued rotation of said barrel in said second direction after said rotation of said nut in said second direction has been terminated.