Rapidly assembled and disassembled connecting device

Claim 1

A connecting device capable of rapid assembly and disassembly, said device comprising: a female element having a longitudinal axis and including a body having therein a chamber defining a socket, said female element having therein two substantially parallel rectilinear passages located on opposite sides of said chamber, said passages extending entirely through said body of said female element and communicating with the exterior of said body of said female element; a male element having a spigot complementary in shape to said chamber, said spigot having formed in opposite sides thereof two substantially parallel rectilinear recesses; said female and male elements being relatively movable axially between a first axial position, whereat said spigot extends into said chamber, and a second axial position, whereat said spigot is withdrawn from said chamber; said female and male elements being relatively rotatable about said axis when said elements are in said first axial position between a locking position, whereat said recesses are aligned with respective said passage, and a releasing position, whereat said recesses and passages are out of alignment; a resiliently yieldable retaining member comprising a U-shaped spring member having two branches capable of being resiliently spread apart without permanent deformation, said branches extending into respective said passages and into respective said recesses when said female and male elements are in said locking position, thereby locking said female and male elements in said first axial position, and said branches, upon relative rotation of said female and male elements to said releasing position, being resiliently spread apart to remove said branches from said recesses, thereby enabling axial movement between said female and male elements to said second position; said passages having widths sufficient to permit insertion therethrough of said branches with said branches extending obliquely with respect to each other, and to allow additional spreading apart of said branches over the entire length thereof upon axial movement of said female and male elements from said second axial position to said first axial position; and second recesses formed in said female element, each said second recess extending between respective adjacent ends of said passages, and said branches having respective opposite end portions deformed to fit in said second recesses when said female and male elements are in said locking position.