Fluid connector having a deformable tab and plug/connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823323-B2
Application number	US-201715448168-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A fluid connector comprising a body having a through-bore, a plurality of radially inwardly facing surfaces comprising a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter, a frusto-conical surface adjacent the first cylindrical surface, and a second cylindrical surface adjacent the frusto-conical surface, the second cylindrical surface having a second diameter, wherein the frusto-conical surface is arranged between the first and second cylindrical surfaces, and a plurality of outwardly facing surfaces comprising a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter, and a second cylindrical surface adjacent the first cylindrical surface, the second cylindrical surface having a second diameter, and a deformable tab integrally connected to the body and extending axially from the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid connector, comprising:
a body comprising:
a through-bore;
a plurality of radially inwardly facing surfaces comprising:
a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter;
a frusto-conical surface adjacent said first cylindrical surface, said frusto-conical surface extending from the first cylindrical surface radially inward in a first axial direction; and,
a second cylindrical surface adjacent said frusto-conical surface, said second cylindrical surface having a second diameter, wherein said frusto-conical surface is arranged between said first and second cylindrical surfaces; and,

a plurality of outwardly facing surfaces comprising:
a first cylindrical surface; and,
a second cylindrical surface adjacent said first cylindrical surface; and,

a deformable tab integrally connected to said body and extending axially from said second cylindrical surface in the first axial direction.

2. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , wherein said tab is circumferentially continuous.

3. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , wherein said tab is adjacent said second outwardly facing cylindrical surface.

4. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , wherein said tab is deformed radially inward.

5. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , further comprising a snap ring.

6. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , wherein said first diameter of said first inwardly facing cylindrical surface is less than said second diameter of said second inwardly facing cylindrical surface.

7. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , wherein said first diameter of said first inwardly facing cylindrical surface is larger than said second diameter of said second inwardly facing cylindrical surface.

8. The fluid connector recited in claim 1 , wherein said first diameter of said first inwardly facing cylindrical surface is equal to said second diameter of said second inwardly facing cylindrical surface.

9. A fluid connector assembly, comprising:
a hub comprising a raised lip including a radially inward facing surface;
a fluid connector comprising:
a body comprising a through-bore; and,
a deformable tab integrally connected to said body and extending axially from said body, said deformable tab operatively arranged to engage a radially outer surface of the raised lip;

a sealing member gland formed between said hub and said fluid connector when said hub is arranged within said through-bore of said fluid connector; and,
a sealing member arranged within said sealing member gland and engaged with the radially inward facing surface.

10. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 9 , wherein said tab is deformed to secure said hub to said fluid connector.

11. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 9 , wherein said tab is crimped to secure said hub to said fluid connector.

12. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 9 , wherein said sealing member is an O-ring, a valve, or a cup seal.

13. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 9 , further comprising a tubular connector arranged within the through-bore of said fluid connector.

14. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 13 , wherein said sealing member seals said fluid connector assembly on said tubular connector.

15. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 9 , wherein said fluid connector is operatively arranged to rotate relative to said hub.

16. The fluid connector recited in claim 9 , wherein said hub is manufactured from plastic.

17. A fluid connector assembly, comprising:
a body comprising:
a through-bore forming an inner surface; and,
a shoulder extending radially inward from said inner surface;

a plug arranged within said through-bore of said body, the plug comprising an indent and a tab arranged adjacent to said indent and extending radially outward from said plug; and,
a sealing member arranged in said indent and axially arranged between said tab and said shoulder, wherein said tab is operatively arranged to secure said sealing member to said shoulder.

18. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 17 , wherein said indent engages the shoulder.

19. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 17 , wherein said tab is deformable.

20. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 19 , wherein said plug comprises a channel circumferentially arranged and extending axially into said plug.

21. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 19 , wherein said deformable tab deforms to allow removal of said plug without removal of said sealing member.

22. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 17 , wherein said indent allows said plug to pressure seal said through-bore of said fluid connector.

23. A fluid connector assembly, including a plug installed within a through-bore of a fluid connector, and including a sealing member on said plug within said fluid connector, and including a cap on said fluid connector to enclose said sealing member, made by the process of:
removing said cap from said fluid connector;
installing a hub within said through-bore of said fluid connector;
securing said fluid connector to said hub, which includes deforming a tab of said fluid connector to secure said hub to said fluid connector.

24. The fluid connector assembly recited in claim 23 , made by the further step of removing said plug from said through-bore of said fluid connector.

Assignees

• Jiffy Tite Co Inc
• Oetiker Ny Inc

Inventors

• Fremont Bradley C
• Zillig Steven R

Classifications

• F16L13/163

  one collar being bent over the other · CPC title

• F16L37/38

  with fluid cut-off means in only one of two pipe-end fittings · CPC title

• F16L27/0845

  forming an angle of 90 degrees · CPC title

• F16L55/1141

  the plug being made of elastic material · CPC title

• G01L19/0007

  Fluidic connecting means · CPC title