US5573279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quick connect coupling
Assignee: Cooper Standard Automotive Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1996-11-12
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A quick connect coupling for tubing. The coupling includes a tubular male connector member adapted to be telescopically received within a tubular female connector member assembly. The female assembly includes a first member defining a seal bore and a cylindrical socket portion forwardly of the seal bore. A second female member includes a cylindrical portion which plugs into the socket of the first member and is held in position relative to the first member by sonic welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced feet on the inner end of the second member are positioned proximate the seal to hold the seal in the seal bore and further engage the outer periphery of the pilot portion of the male member to minimize cocking of the male member relative to the female assembly. The second member also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger portions which snap into position in engagement with the rear annular face of the bead of the male member as the front annular face of the bead seats against the feet portions of the second member. The seal includes an annular main body portion, a plurality of axially spaced annular internal rib portions for sealing engagement with the pilot portion of the male member, and a plurality of axially spaced external rib portions providing an interference fit of the seal in the seal bore.
Inventors
- 👤 Perry J. Rea
- 👤 Michael R. Miller
- 👤 Dennis G. Kinder
- 👤 Christopher J. Kargula
- 👤 William E. Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/08; F16L37/084; F16L37/098; F16L37/0985; F16L37/0987; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/12; B29C66/128; B29C66/1282; B29C66/12821; B29C66/1284; B29C66/12841; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5229; B29C66/52291; B29C66/52292; B29C66/52296; B29C66/52297; B29C66/52298; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5344; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/91; Y10S285/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A quick connect coupling comprising: a tubular male connector member including a front end pilot portion and an external annular bead defined at the rear end of the pilot portion; a first female connector member defining a capture bore sized to slidably receive the pilot portion, a seal counterbore positioned forwardly of the capture bore, and a further counter bore extending forwardly from the seal counter bore and having a substantially constant diameter and cross-sectional configuration; an annular elastomeric seal positioned in the seal counterbore and defining a forward annular edge; and a second female connector member including a main body annular portion having a substantially constant diameter and cross-sectional configuration corresponding generally to the diameter and cross-sectional configuration of the further counterbore and positioned telescopically and fixedly in said further counterbore, a plurality of resilient finger portions extending rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the main body portion and defining free rearward ends for engagement with the rear annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation, and seal retainer means extending radially inwardly from the rear end of the main body portion and defining a rear face coacting with the forward annular edge of the seal to maintain the seal in the seal counterbore and a front face seating against the front annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A quick connect coupling comprising: a tubular male connector member including a front end pilot portion and an external annular bead defined at the rear end of the pilot portion; a first female connector member defining a capture bore sized to slidably receive the pilot portion, a seal counterbore positioned forwardly of the capture bore, and a further counter bore extending forwardly from the seal counter bore and having a substantially constant diameter and cross-sectional configuration; an annular elastomeric seal positioned in the seal counterbore and defining a forward annular edge; and a second female connector member including a main body annular portion having a substantially constant diameter and cross-sectional configuration corresponding generally to the diameter and cross-sectional configuration of the further counterbore and positioned telescopically and fixedly in said further counterbore, a plurality of resilient finger portions extending rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the main body portion and defining free rearward ends for engagement with the rear annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation, and seal retainer means extending radially inwardly from the rear end of the main body portion and defining a rear face coacting with the forward annular edge of the seal to maintain the seal in the seal counterbore and a front face seating against the front annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A quick connector coupler according to claim 1 wherein: the further counter bore defines an internal annular shoulder with the seal counter bore; and the main body portion of the second female connector member defines a rearward annular edge which is positioned proximate the annular internal shoulder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the main body portion of the second female connector member is fixedly secured in said further counterbore by fusion bonding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coupling according to claim 3 wherein the main body portion of the second female connector member is fixedly secured in said further counterbore by a sonic elding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a single piece annular elastomeric member defining a series of axially spaced radially inwardly extending annular seal ribs sealingly and slidably engaging the pilot portion of the male connector member in response to insertion of the pilot portion into the front end of the female connector members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A coupling according to claim 5 wherein the further counterbore of the first female connector member and the main body annular portion of the second female connector member have a circular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coupling according to claim 5 wherein the seal retainer means defines an opening sized to slidably receive the male member pilot portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupling according to claim 7 wherein the seal retainer means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retainer feet portions extending radially inwardly from the rear end of the main body portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A coupling according to claim 8 wherein the pilot portion is circular in cross section and the radially inner edges of the retainer feet portions are arcuate to correspond to the curvature of the outer diameter of the pilot portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the seal includes a tubular main body portion, a series of internal annular axially spaced rib portions defined on the interior of the main body portion for successive sealing coaction with the pilot portion as the pilot portion is inserted into the front end of the female connector members and into the capture bore, and a series of external annular axially spaced rib portions defined in the exterior of the main body portion for sealing coaction with the seal counterbore.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein the external seal rib portions have a relaxed outer diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the seal counterbore so that the seal may be positioned in the seal counterbore with a frictional interference fit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein the internal seal rib portions correspond in number to the external seal rib portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein the internal seal rib portions are respectively radially aligned with the external seal rib portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A connector assembly according to claim 13 wherein the internal seal rib portions have a relaxed inert diameter slightly less than the diameter of the pilot portion of the male connector member so that the internal rib portions deformably, sealingly, and successively engage the pilot portion as the male connector member is inserted into the seal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
263 words
A quick connect coupling comprising: a tubular male connector member including a front end pilot portion and an external annular bead defined at the rear end of the pilot portion; a first female connector member defining a capture bore sized to slidably receive the pilot portion of the tubular male connector member, a seal counterbore positioned forwardly of the capture bore, and a forward annular portion defining a cylindrical counterbore extending forwardly of the seal counterbore; an annular elastomeric seal positioned in the seal counterbore, having an axial length approximating the axial length of the seal counterbore, and defining a forward annular edge proximate the forward end of the seal counterbore; and a second female connector member fixedly secured to the first female connector member and including a cylindrical main body portion positioned telescopically and snugly within the forward annular portion of the first female connector member with its cylindrical outer surface substantially contiguous with the cylindrical counterbore, retainer lip means extending radially inwardly from the rearward edge of the main body portion and defining a rear face means coacting with the forward annular edge of the seal to retain the seal in the seal counterbore, and front face means seating against the front annular face of the male connector member bead with the members in coupled relation, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger portions extending rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the main body portion and latchingly coacting at their free rearward ends with the rear annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
263 words
A quick connect coupling comprising: a tubular male connector member including a front end pilot portion and an external annular bead defined at the rear end of the pilot portion; a first female connector member defining a capture bore sized to slidably receive the pilot portion of the tubular male connector member, a seal counterbore positioned forwardly of the capture bore, and a forward annular portion defining a cylindrical counterbore extending forwardly of the seal counterbore; an annular elastomeric seal positioned in the seal counterbore, having an axial length approximating the axial length of the seal counterbore, and defining a forward annular edge proximate the forward end of the seal counterbore; and a second female connector member fixedly secured to the first female connector member and including a cylindrical main body portion positioned telescopically and snugly within the forward annular portion of the first female connector member with its cylindrical outer surface substantially contiguous with the cylindrical counterbore, retainer lip means extending radially inwardly from the rearward edge of the main body portion and defining a rear face means coacting with the forward annular edge of the seal to retain the seal in the seal counterbore, and front face means seating against the front annular face of the male connector member bead with the members in coupled relation, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger portions extending rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the main body portion and latchingly coacting at their free rearward ends with the rear annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A coupling according to claim 15 wherein the seal comprises a single piece annular elastomeric member defining a series of axially spaced radially inwardly extending annular seal ribs sealingly and slidably engaging the pilot portion in response to insertion of the pilot portion into the front end of the first female connector member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coupling according to claim 15 wherein the retainer lip means defines an opening sized to slidably receive the male member pilot portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupling according to claim 17 wherein the retainer lip means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced retainer feet portions extending radially inwardly from the rear end of the main body portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A coupling according to claim 18 wherein the pilot portion is circular in cross-section and the radially inner edges of the retainer feet portions are arcuate to correspond to the curvature of the outer diameter of the pilot portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A coupling according to claim 18 wherein the retainer feet portions are circumferentially staggered with respect to the resilient finger portions so that a retainer foot portion is aligned circumferentially between each successive pair of resilient finger portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
A coupling according to claim 15 wherein the seal includes a tubular main body portion, a series of internal annular axially spaced rib portions defined on the interior of the main body portion for successive sealing coaction with the pilot portion as the pilot portion is inserted into the front end of the female connector members and into the capture bore, and a series of external annular axially spaced rib portions defined on the exterior of the main body portion for sealing coaction with the seal counterbore.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A connector assembly according to claim 21 wherein the external seal rib portions have a relaxed outer diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the seal counterbore so that the seal may be positioned in the seal counterbore with a frictional interference fit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector assembly according to claim 21 wherein the internal seal rib portions correspond in number to the external seal rib portions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A connector assembly according to claim 23 wherein the internal seal rib portions are respectively radially aligned with the external seal rib portions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
A connector assembly according to claim 24 wherein the internal seal rib portions have a relaxed inner diameter slightly less than the diameter of the pilot portion of the male connector member so that the internal rib portions deformably, sealingly, and successively engage the pilot portion as the male connector member is inserted into the seal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupling according to claim 15 wherein the cylindrical main body portion of the second female connector member is fusion bonded to the forward annular portion of the first female connector member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A coupling according to claim 26 wherein the main body portion of the second female connector member is bonded to the forward annular portion of the first female connector member by sonic welding.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
A coupling according to claim 26 wherein the forward annular portion of the first female connector member defines an annular front edge and the cylindrical main body portion of the second female connector member includes an external annular flange at the forward end of the main body portion coacting with the annular front edge of the front annular portion of the first female connector member to determine and limit the extent of telescopic insertion of the cylindrical main body portion of the second female connector member into the front annular portion of the first female connector member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-12 | 2000-05-13 | 2000-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-12 | 2004-05-13 | 2004-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-12 | 2008-05-13 | 2008-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |