Small-diameter pipe connector

Claim 1

A connector for a small-diameter pipe having a front end and an expanded portion spaced from the front end, the expanded portion defining an axial length, said connector comprising: a connector body having a front end and a rear end defining a lock portion and formed therein with an axial through hole extending rearwardly from the front end, a small-diameter chamber rearwardly of the axial through hole and a large-diameter chamber extending from the small-diameter chamber to the rear end of the connector body, with a step defined intermediate the large-diameter chamber and the small-diameter chamber, the portion of the periphery of the connector body surrounding the large-diameter chamber having a plurality of elongate openings formed therein, a seal ring member fitted in the small-diameter chamber for sealing engagement with the pipe and small-diameter chamber, a socket body having a base portion lockingly engaged with the elongate openings of the connector body and a plurality of resilient pawls inwardly inclined and forwardly projecting from the base portion, and a spring washer with a resilient member resiliently projecting rearwardly in the large-diameter chamber, the spring washer being prevented from forward movement by the step between the large-diameter chamber and the small-diameter chamber, the resilient member of the spring washer being spaced forwardly of the pawls by a distance less than the axial length of the expanded portion of the pipe such that the expanded portion of the pipe inserted in the connector body is pushed against the resilient pawls by the resilient member of the spring washer for preventing axial shifting of the pipe in the connector body and thereby preventing wear of the seal ring member.