Stuffer plug quick connector assembly

Claim 1

In combination with a connector assembly comprising; a tubular conduit adapted to convey fluid and formed with an annular projection disposed a predetermined distance from the end of the conduit to be connected, a housing formed with an axial bore for receiving the conduit at a first end and for providing a fluid path at a second end, sealing means for providing a fluid tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, a retainer element including at least one relatively deformable portion extending substantially parallel to the axis of the conduit, at least one relatively non-axially deformable portion extending between the axially outerside of the annular projection of said conduit and a radially-extending surface of the housing and thereby maintaining the retainer element within the axial bore and preventing withdrawal of the conduit from the housing, and the relatively deformable portion of the retainer element being sufficiently long and deformable to allow sufficient radial movement of said relatively non-axially deformable portion to permit the non-axially deformable portion to be biased radially outwardly by the annular projection of the conduit as the conduit is inserted into the axial bore, and to cause the relatively non-axially deformable portion to snap radially inwardly adjacent the axially outer side of the annular projection when the conduit is positioned in place within the axial bore; the improvement comprising: a disposable stuffer-plug adapted to install the sealing means in the axial bore of the housing and detachably secure the retainer element to the housing generally at the first end thereof and said stuffer-plug being removable from the housing to enable connection of the conduit, the conduit coupled with the sealing means and retainer element positioned in the housing by said stuffer-plug, said stuffer-plug having a body formed with a rod-shaped portion adapted to support the sealing means and the retainer element in a generally coaxial assembly relationship thereon and be inserted into the axial bore of the housing to seal the axial bore, and means disposed adjacent one end of said rod-shaped portion for allowing withdrawal of said rod-shaped portion from the axial bore of the housing, said rod-shaped portion being formed with positioning means for maintaining the sealing means and the retainer element in said assembly relationship on said body until said stuffer-plug body is removed from the axial bore of the housing, and said rod-shaped portion including means forming an inclined surface spaced axially between said positioning means and said withdrawing means for cooperating with the retainer element to prevent the retainer element from slipping off said body before said rod-shaped portion is inserted into the axial bore of the housing and for facilitating removal of said body from the axial bore of said housing by causing a gradual outward deflection of said non-axially deformable portion as said body is pulled out of the axial bore of the housing.