US3847393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap coupling for fluid conduits
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-25
•
Granted: 1974-11-12
•
Expires: 1992-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A female coupling element has a circumferential wall bounding an inner space and provided with apertures which communicate with the same. A male coupling element can be axially inserted into this inner space. An acutating element externally surrounds the female coupling element and can be shifted longitudinally thereof to and from an operative position. An arresting arrangement has a plurality of noses each of which is biassed through one of the apertures from the exterior of the female coupling element into the space of the latter, and cooperating abutments are provided on the male coupling element which are engageable with these noses to retain the male coupling element in the space once it has been inserted thereinto. A releasing arrangement comprises cooperating releasing portions on the arresting arrangement and on the actuating element to displace the noses out of the inner space when the actuating element is shifted to its operative position.
Inventors
- 👤 O Busselmeier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/08; F16L37/12; F16L37/121; F16L33/00; F16L33/22; F16L33/222; F16L37/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A snap coupling for fluid conduits, comprising an elongated female coupling element having a wall portion bounding an inner space and provided with apertures communicating with the latter; a male coupling element removably accommodated in said inner space; an actuating element externally surrounding said female coupling element and being shiftable longitudinally thereof from a normal resting position to an operative position; arresting means comprising a plurality of noses each biassed through one of said apertures into said space, pairs of arms extending from said respective noses in opposite directions, each of said arms being configured substantially to resemble one-quarter of a circle and having a free end, pairs of spring portions projecting in mutually opposite directions from said respective nose and being located in a plane which at least substantially parallels the plane of said arm, two arresting elements located at opposite circumferential sides of said female element and each having one of said noses, a pair of said arms and a pair of said spring portions curved in at least substantial conformance with the respective arm, and cooperating abutments provided on said male coupling element and engageable with said noses so as to couple said male and female elements with one another; releasing means for releasing said arresting means, comprising cooperating lever portions on said arresting means and engaging portions engaging said free ends of said arms on said actuating element for effecting pivotal displacemEnt of said noses out of said inner space in response to shifting of said actuating element to said operative positions thereof; and abutment means operative for preventing radial displacement of said arresting means with reference to said coupling elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
A snap coupling for fluid conduits, comprising an elongated female coupling element having a wall portion bounding an inner space and provided with apertures communicating with the latter; a male coupling element removably accommodated in said inner space; an actuating element externally surrounding said female coupling element and being shiftable longitudinally thereof from a normal resting position to an operative position; arresting means comprising a plurality of noses each biassed through one of said apertures into said space, pairs of arms extending from said respective noses in opposite directions, each of said arms being configured substantially to resemble one-quarter of a circle and having a free end, pairs of spring portions projecting in mutually opposite directions from said respective nose and being located in a plane which at least substantially parallels the plane of said arm, two arresting elements located at opposite circumferential sides of said female element and each having one of said noses, a pair of said arms and a pair of said spring portions curved in at least substantial conformance with the respective arm, and cooperating abutments provided on said male coupling element and engageable with said noses so as to couple said male and female elements with one another; releasing means for releasing said arresting means, comprising cooperating lever portions on said arresting means and engaging portions engaging said free ends of said arms on said actuating element for effecting pivotal displacemEnt of said noses out of said inner space in response to shifting of said actuating element to said operative positions thereof; and abutment means operative for preventing radial displacement of said arresting means with reference to said coupling elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
154 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 34, said abutment means comprising an annular member mounted within said female coupling element and engageable with said arresting means, said annular member being received with a snap action in a recess provided in said female coupling element and having a bead; said actuating element comprising a projection engageable with said bead for axially fixing of said annular member; said actuating element being annular and having one axial end portion facing axially towards and another axial end portion facing axially away from said female coupling element; and further comprising a plurality of axially extending grooves provided in said one axial end portion; a corresponding plurality of guide ribs provided on said female coupling element and each extending into one of said grooves; guide means guiding said actuating element for sliding displacement on said female coupling portion between said rest and operative positions with at most slight play.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said arresting elements are made of synthetic plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A snap coupling element as defined in claim 3, wherein said arresting elements are integral one-piece elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said arresting means comprising two of said noses, said spring portions defining together a circumferentially complete annulus, and said annulus and arms being located in at least substantially parallel planes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 5, and further comprising connecting portions connecting said annulus and arms with one another in the region of said noses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said free ends of said arms project substantially radially beyond the respective spring portions for engagement by said engaging portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 5, wherein said free ends of said arms project substantially radially beyond the respective spring portions for engagement by said engaging portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said coupling elements having a common axis when said male coupling element is received in said space of said female coupling element; and wherein said spring portions have terminal ends which abut said female coupling element axially and in at least substantial parallelism with said common axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said abutment means being located in the region of the respective nose substantially at the level of said spring portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 10, said abutment means comprising cooperating abutment portions provided in an inner circumferential wall of said actuating element and on said arresting means, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said abutment means being provided only on said female coupling element so as to assure transmission of effective axial and radial stresses into said female coupling element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 12, said abutment means comprising pins means secured in said female coupling element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said arresting means comprising an annular portion surrounding said female coupling element and being connected thereto with a snap action, so as to fix said arresting means against displacement relative to said female coupling element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 14, said annular portion including a plurality of lugs located intermediate said arresting means and said female coupling portion and having hook-shaped endportions arranged for snap-action engagement with said female coupling element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 14, wherein said annular poRtion also constitutes an abutment operative for preventing radial displacement of said arresting means with reference to said coupling elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring portions have hook-shaped endportions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 17, wherein said female coupling element comprises at least one abutment portion, and wherein said hook-shaped endportions engage said abutment portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 17, wherein said hook-shaped endportions interengage with one another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said abutment means is a circumferentially incomplete annular member having two endportions provided with releasably interengageable means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 20, said arms having one side facing axially away from said male coupling element, said spring portions being provided at said one side and abutting against an abutment provided on said female coupling element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said noses, arms and spring portions all being of one piece and of synthetic plastic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring portions act upon said actuating element, biasing the same to said rest position thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 1, said actuating element being annular and having an inner circumferential surface surrounding said arresting means; and wherein said engaging portions are engaging projections provided on said inner circumferential surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A snap coupling as defined in claim 24, at least some of said engaging projections defining between themselves a guide recess extending in axial direction of said annular arresting element; and further comprising a guide rib provided on said female coupling element extending axially of the same and being slidably received in said guide recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |