Coupling unit

Claim 1

In combination in a manually operable quick disconnect coupling unit for use in fluid transmission defined by cooperable telescopically engageable snap-together male and female coupling members which are connectable with or disconnectable from each other by utilizing only one hand, said male member including a circularly cylindrical nose portion carrying a sealing ring thereon and having a peripheral groove formed therein, said male member being receivable in leak-proof fashion within said female member without precluding relative rotation between said members: said female member comprising a hollow coupling body having a neck portion projecting from at least one side thereof, a flow passage extending through said body and said neck portion, at least part of said flow passage being circularly cylindrical in cross-section in which said male member nose is rotatably receivable when said members are connected with said sealing ring on said male member nose contacting the inner periphery of said flow passage to prevent leakage between said members when connected, and diametrically opposed generally parallel slots formed through said neck portion and opening onto that portion of said flow passage which is defined by said neck portion; and a generally U-shaped spring locking clip defined by a closed bent bight portion at one end thereof and a pair of generally parallel legs extending from said bight portion, each of said legs terminating in a hook-shaped end portion which includes a generally reversely bent prong which extends inwardly of said clip generally back toward said bight portion; said slots in said female member neck portion each terminating in an oblique cam face at one end thereof, and recesses in said neck portion adjacent each said cam face; said locking clip being captively retained on said coupling body neck portion with said legs thereof slidabLy received in said opposed slots with said prongs positioned adjacent said recesses for selective movement into and out of said recesses, said clip being positively retained against separation from said neck portion by said prongs entering said recesses as said clip is slidably moved in one direction and by said bight portion contacting said neck portion as said clip is slidably moved in the other direction; said clip legs normally extending through said slots into said flow passage and partially blocking said passage whereby said clip may be engaged in said male member nose portion groove when said nose portion is telescopically inserted into said passage, said clip legs being selectively and resiliently spreadable away from each other into said slots and out of said flow passage as said clip end portions contact said cam faces as said clip is slidably moved in said slots in said other direction so that said nose portion may be selectively disengaged from within said flow passage.