Quick connect coupling

Claim 1

A quick connect/disconnect coupling assembly, comprising: (a) a female coupling member having a front end and a back end, said female coupling member defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough; (b) a male coupling member having a front end and a back end and defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, said male coupling member including a hollow tubular portion defining an axial bore adjacent said front end, said tubular portion being enclosed at the front end thereof by a penetrable membrane to seal off said fluid flow path, said tubular portion being constructed and arranged for removeable insertion a predetermined distance into the front end of said female coupling member, said female coupling member defining an axial tubular bore within which said tubular portion of said male coupling member is concentrically received, said tubular portion of said male coupling member including a ring-like seal about its circumference near the front end of said male coupling member for providing a fluid tight seal between the outside surface of said tubular portion and the inside surface of said tubular bore of said female coupling member upon insertion of said male coupling into said female coupling member; (c) a valve assembly adapted for reciprocating longitudinal axial movement within the tubular bore of said female coupling member between a front end position and a back end position, said valve assembly being constructed and arranged for engaging said male coupling member upon insertion of said male coupling member into said female coupling member whereby said valve assembly is caused to move toward the back end of said female coupling member into said back end position, said valve assembly at a front end including a hollow needle-like member adapted to puncture the penetrable membrane of said male coupling member, whereby fluid flow from said male coupling member to said female coupling member is enabled upon removeable attachment of said male coupling member to said female coupling member, said valve assembly including means for sealing off the fluid flow path through said female coupling member when said valve assembly is in said front end position, whereby said fluid flow through said female coupling member is prevented when said male coupling member is removed therefrom; (d) locking means proximate the front end of said female coupling member for releasably locking said male coupling member in said female coupling member, said locking means being activated upon insertion of said male coupling member a predetermined distance into said female coupling member; (e) release means interconnected to said locking means for deactivating said locking means whereby said male coupling member is released by said locking means; and, (f) spring biasing means adapted for biasing said valve assembly toward the front end of said female coupling member into said front end position, whereby when said male coupling member is released from said female coupling member, said valve assembly is biased into said front end position thereby preventing the flow of fluid through said female coupling member.