Pipe connector

Claim 1

A quick-action push-in connector for fluid-carrying tubing, said connector comprising: an outer member having fluid passage means, a substantially tubular inner member at least partially, axially accommodated to said outer member, said inner member having a substantially central passage adapted to admit said tubing to effect communication of said tubing with said fluid passage means, said inner member being provided with at least one inwardly directed gripping protrusion to engage said tubing, said tubular member being constituted by at least two longitudinal portions, means for articulating said longitudinal portions to one another having an axis of articulation substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of said tubular inner member, said gripping protrusion being borne by said longitudinal portion proximate to said fluid passage means of said outer member, and wherein at least at said protrusion the inside diameter of said inner member is reducible against an elastic restoring force by interaction of said inner member with at least a portion of said outer member, and expandable against said restoring force by application of a spreading force, and is in the free, unreduced state smaller than the outside diameter of said tubing, and adapted to undergo an initial expansion when said tubing is pushed in, and wherein an attempt to pull out said tubing once pushed in, initiates said interaction, whereby said protrusion exerts a gripping effort on said tubing, preventing the withdrawal thereof, and wherein said longitudinal portion of said tubular inner member remote from said fluid passage means of said outer member extends beyond said outer member for permitting a compressive force to be applied thereto, resulting in a reactive expansion of said longitudinal portion of said tubular inner member bearing said gripping protrusion to release said tubing and permit withdrawal thereof.