QUICK CONNECT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING FOR USE IN PRESSURIZED FLUID APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATING AUTO SHUT-OFF FEATURE

摘要

A quick connect assembly having a female fitting attached to an end of a first fluid coupling and exhibiting an interior passage defined by a plurality of linearly extending and circumferentially spaced fingers. Undersides of said fingers collectively define a concentric concave profile an inwardly recessed distance from a connecting end. A male fitting attaches to an end of a second fluid coupling and includes an annular projection at an intermediate location generally matching the concave profile. Upon inserting the male fitting, the female fingers outwardly deflect, following which they inwardly retract concurrent with the projection seating within the interior concave profile. A covering cap is supported upon the male fitting and, upon displacing over projecting ends of the fingers, prevents inadvertent disengagement of the fittings.

主权项

1. A quick connect assembly, comprising:
a female fitting having a nipple defining end adapted to engage a first fluid carrying conduit, said fitting exhibiting a generally elongated and three dimensional configuration established by a plurality of linearly extending and circumferentially arrayed fingers separated by a plurality of linear extending slots along said fitting, said fingers each including an inwardly spring loaded construction and each further exhibiting undersides which collectively define a recessed circumferential profile; a male fitting having a nipple defining end adapted to engage a second fluid carrying conduit, said male fitting including an annular projecting portion at an intermediate location which generally matches in shape said recessed circumferential profile of said inwardly facing surfaces of said fingers, said male fitting terminating in a fluid receiving aperture location and inserting through an open end of said female fitting defined between said extending fingers, said annular projecting portion contacting edge locations associated with said fingers, causing said fingers to outwardly deflect, following which said fingers inwardly retract concurrent with said projecting portion seating within said underside circumferential profile; and a linearly displaceable and sleeve shaped cap supported upon an intermediate location of said male fitting, said cap being biased in a direction towards said projecting portion, said cap being displaced in a counter-biasing direction away from said projecting portion and, upon said fingers engaging over said projecting portion and subsequently inwardly retracting upon said underside recessed profiles seating against said projecting portion, said cap displacing in seating position over said fingers to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said male and female fittings.