Unlocking tool for a quick connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10458583-B2
Application number	US-201514841149-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

The quick release tool includes a U-shaped body which presents a base that has a first side and a second side. The body also has a pair of legs that are spaced laterally from one another and extend away from the first side of the base to respective distal ends. Each of the distal ends presents a pair of ledges that are spaced longitudinally from one another to receive fingers on the locker of the quick connector assembly. The base of the U-shaped body presents a living hinge which is spaced laterally between the legs for pivoting the distal ends of the legs away from one another in response to the application of a force onto the second side of the base, thereby allowing the locker to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid connection assembly, comprising:
a housing with an inner bore for receiving a male end form with a bead;
a locker which is movable relative to said housing between a locked position for locking the male end form within said inner bore of said housing and an unlocked position for allowing the male end form to be inserted into or removed from said inner bore of said housing;
said locker having a pair of outside legs which present tool engagement sections and wherein each of said tool engagement sections has a pair of spaced apart fingers;
a quick release tool body being generally U-shaped and presenting a base with a first side and a second side;
a pair of quick release tool legs spaced laterally from one another and extending away from said first side of said base to respective distal ends;
each distal end presenting a pair of ledges that are spaced longitudinally from one another to seat against said fingers of said tool engagement sections of said locker;
said base of said U-shaped quick release tool body having a living hinge which is spaced laterally between said quick release tool legs for pivoting said distal ends of said outside legs of said locker away from one another in response to the application of a force onto said second side of said base to allow movement of said locker from said locked position to said unlocked position.

2. The fluid connection assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second grooves extends an entire longitudinal length of said base.

3. The fluid connection assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said distal ends presents a U-shaped slot which opens in a direction opposite of said base and wherein said ledges are positioned within said U-shaped slot.

4. A method of removing a male end form from a quick connector assembly, comprising the steps of:
providing a quick connector assembly with a housing and a locker, the housing having an inner bore, the locker having a pair of outside legs, each of the outside legs having a tool engaging section, and the locker being in a locked position where the locker is retaining the male end form within the inner bore of the housing;
providing a quick release tool with a one-piece body that is generally U-shaped and presents a base and a pair of quick release tool legs and wherein the quick release tool legs extending from a first side of the base and wherein the base includes a living hinge spaced between the quick release tool legs;
engaging the quick release tool legs with the tool engaging sections of the outside legs of the locker;
applying a force to the living hinge on a second side of the base of the quick release tool;
automatically pivoting the quick release tool legs away from one another in response to the application of the force at the living hinge on the second side of the base to separate the outside legs of the locker from the housing of the quick connector assembly;
moving the locker from the locked position to an unlocked position; and
removing the male end form from the inner bore of the housing;
wherein said living hinge is defined by at least one groove formed into at least one of said first and second sides of said base to provide said base with a reduced wall thickness at said living hinge; and
wherein said at least one groove formed into at least one of said first and second sides of said base is first defined as a first groove formed into said first side of said base and a second groove formed into said second side of said base.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the step of pivoting the quick release tool legs away from one another to separate the outside legs of the locker from the housing disengages tabs on the locker or the housing from windows on the other of the locker and the housing to allow the locker to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 further including a plunger biasing the male end form against the locker and wherein the plunger automatically forces the male end form out of the inner bore of the housing in response to the locker moving from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Assignees

• Parks Brian A
• A Raymond Et Cie

Inventors

• Parks Brian A

Classifications

• F16L2201/10

  Indicators for correct coupling · CPC title

• F16L37/144 Primary

  the securing element being U-shaped · CPC title

• F16L37/0982

  with a separate member for releasing the coupling · CPC title