Coupling

Claim 1

A coupling for connecting one end of a flexible, hollow circular fluid conduit to a vehicle suspension element, comprising: an elongated female fitting having a central bore completely therethrough of a size sufficient to allow the insertion of said conduit therethrough, one end of said female fitting having a counterbore therein, an inner radial surface formed in the bottom of said counterbore, said one conduit end being inserted through said bore from said other end so as to extend into said female fitting, a hollow reinforcing means mounted in the hollow center of said conduit adjacent said one conduit end, band means mounted on the outside of said conduit spaced away from said one conduit end for clamping the walls of said conduit against the outside surface of said reinforcing means and for engaging said inner radial surface on said female fitting to limit the movement of said female fitting axially along said conduit in a direction toward said one conduit end, an elongated male fitting having a central bore completely therethrough of a size sufficient to allow the insertion of said conduit therethrough, said male fitting having an outside dimension which would allow said male fitting to be inserted into said counterbore of said female fitting, one end of said fitting having a counterbore, axially aligned with said central bore, said other end of said male fitting having means for attaching said fitting to said suspension element, a circular compressible seal means inserted around the exterior of said conduit, said seal means being positioned between said band means and said one conduit end, a protector means mounted on said conduit and axially slideable along said conduit, said protector means being positioned between said seal and said one conduit end, means for removably attaching said male fitting to said female fitting with said male fitting inserted into said counterbore on said female fitting and said one conduit end inserted into said bore in said male fitting, a helical spring mounted with said one conduit end inserted through said spring and between said protector means and said one conduit end for resiliently urging said protector means axially along said conduit in a direction toward said seal means and for compressing said seal means between said protector means and said band means so that said seal contacts in sealing engagement the exterior surface of said conduit and the interior surface of said counterbore in said male fitting when said male and female fittings are attached together by said attaching means, said spring having one end which is reduced in diameter to resiliently engage a portion of the exterior of said conduit means to retain said seal means, said protector means and said helical spring on said one conduit end when said male and female fittings are not attached together by said attaching means.