Tube connector

Claim 1

An end connector for convoluted extruded plastic tubes having outer and inner surfaces in which: said end connector includes a connecting end, and a nipple end which has an outer diameter which is greater than the normal inner surface diameter of said plastc tube; said end connector includes a radially extending shoulder between said connecting end and said nipple end; a U-shaped valley in the outer surface of said nipple end of said connector near said shoulder; an outer swage sleeve means having a smooth inner surface; said swage sleeve includes a ridge on its inner surface near one end which mates with said U-shaped valley in said end connector when said one end is adjacent said shoulder on said nipple end of said connector; a continuous spring means; said spring means being fitted axially over the exterior surface of said plastic tube and having an axial length which is less than said nipple end of said connector; said swage sleeve means being fitted axially over said spring means; said nipple end of said connector having a irregular outer surface in the axial direction formed by risers and valleys which form screw threads with the same pitch as said convoluted plastic tube and an end portion adjacent said formed threads which has a decreasing outer diameter, said nipple end being fitted into one end of said plastic tube with said plastic tube secured radially between said nipple risers and said swage sleeve and between said nipple and said spring means with said spring means of less diameter than said risers on said nipple end; whereby said outer swage sleeve means forces said spring means into said valleys on said nipple end thereby securing said plastic tube to said nipple end between said spring and said valleys in said nipple end of said connector and between said risers and said swage sleeve with said ridge on said swage sleeve means secured in said U-shaped valley in said connector end against removal.