Connector system

Claim 1

A female connector element adapted to receive and interlock with a male connector element having radially projecting conically shaped aXially spaced peripheral barbs, comprising: a hollow generally cylindrical tube having first and second open ends; the bore of said tube being of substantially constant diameter for a first portion of its axial length inward from said first end, said first portion diameter being greater than the maximum diameter of the male connector element barbs, said first portion of said bore terminating in a shoulder which interconnects said first portion with a second coaxial bore portion of substantially constant but larger diameter than said first portion, said second portion extending from said shoulder toward said second end of said tube; a longitudinally split generally cylindrical inner gripping sleeve cantilevered from said shoulder and extending axially therefrom toward said second end of said tube and radially spaced throughout its length from said second portion of said tube bore by an annular gap; the bore of said gripping sleeve being provided with a plurality of axially spaced inwardly extending conically shaped serrations shaped and dimensioned to complementarily engage the barbs on the male connector element, each serration being defined by a follower surface sloping radially inwardly toward said second end and a shoulder connected with the adjacent serration, the complementary dimensions of said gripping sleeve serrations and the male connector element barbs producing an interference fit which results in said split gripping sleeve being temporarily radially displaced outwardly as the conical lead-in face of each axially spaced barb of the male element cams said serrations outwardly, said serration shoulders cooperating with the reverse side of the barbs to prevent withdrawal of the male element from said female connector element.