Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
In a quick connect-disconnect coupling for a conduit, comprising first and second coupling members and retaining means for interlocking said members: said first coupling member having a generally cylindrical configuration comprising a main body portion, a reduced diameter body portion having a peripheral surface, and a first wall extending radially of and intersecting said portions, said main body portion having a peripheral groove therein; said second coupling member positioned over said first coupling member and having a principal cylindrical bore generally contiguous with said reduced diameter body portion, an enlarged diameter bore generally contiguous with said main body portion, and a second wall contiguous with said first wall and extending radially of and intersecting said bores, the intersection of said second wall and said principal bore forming a beveled shoulder, said enlarged diameter bore having a peripheral groove opposite the peripheral groove in said first coupling member; said retaining means comprising a U-shaped member having legs, said legs inserted into the peripheral grooves of said first and second coupling members to interlock said members; said reduced diameter body portion of said first coupling member having a plurality of spaced peripheral grooves therein, and resilient sealing members positioned within said grooves and contacting said second coupling member to create a fluid-tight seal, the improvement wherein one of said peripheral grooves is located at the intersection of said first wall and said reduced diameter body portion and interrupts said peripheral surface immediately adjacent said first wall, said beveled shoulder being located radially contiguous to said one peripheral groove and engaging and compressing said sealing member in said one groove in such a manner that said sealing member in said one groove is placed under compression and applies axial and radial compressive forces between said first and second coupling members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
In a quick connect-disconnect coupling for a conduit, comprising first and second coupling members and retaining means for interlocking said members: said first coupling member having a generally cylindrical configuration comprising a main body portion, a reduced diameter body portion having a peripheral surface, and a first wall extending radially of and intersecting said portions, said main body portion having a peripheral groove therein; said second coupling member positioned over said first coupling member and having a principal cylindrical bore generally contiguous with said reduced diameter body portion, an enlarged diameter bore generally contiguous with said main body portion, and a second wall contiguous with said first wall and extending radially of and intersecting said bores, the intersection of said second wall and said principal bore forming a beveled shoulder, said enlarged diameter bore having a peripheral groove opposite the peripheral groove in said first coupling member; said retaining means comprising a U-shaped member having legs, said legs inserted into the peripheral grooves of said first and second coupling members to interlock said members; said reduced diameter body portion of said first coupling member having a plurality of spaced peripheral grooves therein, and resilient sealing members positioned within said grooves and contacting said second coupling member to create a fluid-tight seal, the improvement wherein one of said peripheral grooves is located at the intersection of said first wall and said reduced diameter body portion and interrupts said peripheral surface immediately adjacent said first wall, said beveled shoulder being located radially contiguous to said one peripheral groove and engaging and compressing said sealing member in said one groove in such a manner that said sealing member in said one groove is placed under compression and applies axial and radial compressive forces between said first and second coupling members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The coupling of claim 1, in which said first wall is disposed substantially at a right angle to said peripheral surface of said reduced diameter portion of said first coupling member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The coupling of claim 1, in which said second wall is disposed substantially parallel to said first wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coupling of claim 1 in which said one peripheral groove has a generally semi-circular cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The coupling of claim 1, in which said sealing member in said one groove is an elastomeric O-ring having a Shore A durometer hardness in the range of 30 to 50.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The coupling of claim 1, including a plurality of sealing members positioned within the other of said peripheral grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The coupling of clim 6 in which said plurality of sealing members comprises an elastomeric O-ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The coupling of clim 6 in which said plurality of sealing members comprises an elastomeric O-ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coupling of claim 7 in which said plurality of sealing members comprises a polymeric sealing ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
294 words
In a method of making a quick connect-disconnect coupling which comprises a first coupling member with a generally cylindrical configuration having a main body portion, a reduced diameter body portion having a peripheral surface, and a first wall extending radially of and intersecting said portions, and a second coupling member having a principal cylindrical bore, an enlarged diameter bore, and a second wall extending radially of and intersecting said bores and forming a beveled shoulder at its intersection with said principal bore; comprising the steps of positioning said second coupling member over said first coupling member so that said principal cylindrical bore is generally contiguous with said reduced diameter body portion, said enlarged diameter bore is generally contiguous with said main body portion, and said first and second walls are contiguous with each other, forming opposite peripheral grooves in said main body portion and said enlarged diameter bore, inserting a U-shaped retaining means having legs into said grooves to interlock said first and second coupling members; forming a plurality of spaced peripheral grooves in said reduced diameter body portion of said first coupling member, and positioning resilient sealing members within said grooves which contact said second coupling member thereby creating a fluid-tight seal, the improvement comprising the steps of forming one of said peripheral grooves at the intersection of said first wall and said reduced diameter portion in a manner to interrupt said peripheral surface immediately adjacent said first wall, and forming said beveled shoulder to be radially contiguous to said one groove and engage and compress said sealing member in said one groove in such a manner that said sealing member in said one groove is placed under compression and applies axial and radial compressive forces between said first and second coupling members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
294 words
In a method of making a quick connect-disconnect coupling which comprises a first coupling member with a generally cylindrical configuration having a main body portion, a reduced diameter body portion having a peripheral surface, and a first wall extending radially of and intersecting said portions, and a second coupling member having a principal cylindrical bore, an enlarged diameter bore, and a second wall extending radially of and intersecting said bores and forming a beveled shoulder at its intersection with said principal bore; comprising the steps of positioning said second coupling member over said first coupling member so that said principal cylindrical bore is generally contiguous with said reduced diameter body portion, said enlarged diameter bore is generally contiguous with said main body portion, and said first and second walls are contiguous with each other, forming opposite peripheral grooves in said main body portion and said enlarged diameter bore, inserting a U-shaped retaining means having legs into said grooves to interlock said first and second coupling members; forming a plurality of spaced peripheral grooves in said reduced diameter body portion of said first coupling member, and positioning resilient sealing members within said grooves which contact said second coupling member thereby creating a fluid-tight seal, the improvement comprising the steps of forming one of said peripheral grooves at the intersection of said first wall and said reduced diameter portion in a manner to interrupt said peripheral surface immediately adjacent said first wall, and forming said beveled shoulder to be radially contiguous to said one groove and engage and compress said sealing member in said one groove in such a manner that said sealing member in said one groove is placed under compression and applies axial and radial compressive forces between said first and second coupling members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of forming said first wall to be substantially at a right angle to said peripheral surface of said reduced diameter portion of said first coupling member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of forming said second wall to be substantially parallel to said first wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of forming said one groove to be substantially semi-circular in cross section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 including the step of positioning a plurality of sealing members within the other of said peripheral grooves.