Gland nut retaining means

Claim 1

In combination, a gland nut and a tubular conduit fitting, said gland nut having a bore threaded at one end and a square internal shoulder engaging a square external shoulder on said conduit fitting, an outer surface on said nut having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending portions which are at greater distances from the axis than the remaining area of the outer surface, a retainer of spring-like material having an annular flat main portion surrounding said fitting adjacent the other end of the nut and a plurality of inwardly extending locking fingers tightly engaging said fitting, the inner edges of said locking fingers being on a diameter slightly less than the external fitting surface whereby slipping said retainer axially onto said fitting causes said fingers to slightly flex in a direction preventing backward movement of the retainer and frictionally holding the retainer against rotation, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending tabs on the outer edge of said flat main portion, said tabs having portions engaging the outer surface of said nut, said last-mentioned portions being engageable by said nut surface portions upon forced rotation of said nut whereby said tabs will be temporarily spread apart to allow said portions to pass thereunder, said tabs having sufficient inward spring-like engaging force to prevent said portions from passing thereunder in response to vibration of the nut.