Coupler including clamp for connection to a corrugated tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9435472-B2
Application number	US-201414482248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2014
Priority date	Oct 17, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A coupler configured to be attached to an end of a corrugated tube having a hollow shaft configured to be inserted within the corrugated tube and a flange surrounding at least a portion of the hollow shaft. The flange has a width larger than the inside diameter of the corrugated tube. A first and second arm is attached to the flange by flexible hinges. Each arm defines a clamp configured to engage an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of corrugations when the arm pivots about the flexible hinge. Each clamp may include a locking feature configured to lock the clamp to the first arm to the second arm and the clamp of the second arm to the first arm.

First claim

I claim:

1. A coupler configured to be attached to an end of a corrugated tube having an inside diameter and a plurality of corrugations of alternating smaller outside diameter and larger outside diameter, comprising:
a hollow shaft configured to be inserted within the corrugated tube;
a flange surrounding at least a portion of the hollow shaft and having a width larger than the inside diameter of the corrugated tube;
a first arm attached to the flange by a first flexible hinge and defining a first clamp configured to engage an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of corrugations when the first arm pivots about the first flexible hinge; and
a second arm attached to the flange opposite the first arm by a second flexible hinge and defining a second clamp configured to engage the outer surface of at least one of the plurality of corrugations when the second arm pivots about the second flexible hinge;
wherein the first clamp and the second clamp each have an edge configured to contact the corrugated tube defining an arc having a measurement within a range of 95°through 85°, the edges configured to engage at the outer surface of least one of the plurality of corrugations.

2. The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the first clamp includes a first locking feature configured to lock the first clamp to the second arm and wherein the second clamp includes a second locking feature configured to lock the second clamp to the first arm.

3. The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible hinge and the second flexible hinge are characterized as living hinges.

4. The coupler according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fitting disposed on a distal end of the hollow shaft and in fluid communication with the hollow shaft.

5. The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the first clamp is generally perpendicular to the first arm and wherein the second clamp is generally perpendicular to the second arm.

6. A tube assembly, comprising:
a corrugated tube having an inside diameter and a plurality of corrugations having an alternating smaller outside diameter and larger outside diameter; and
the coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow shaft is inserted within the corrugated tube and the first and second clamps engage an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of corrugations.

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Rickettson Edward R

Classifications

• F16L33/221

  the external piece comprising segments hingedly connected to an interior part · CPC title

• B60H1/3233

  characterised by condensed liquid drainage means · CPC title

• F16L33/23

  the outer parts being segmented, the segments being pressed against the hose by tangentially arranged members · CPC title

• F16L25/0045

  of the quick-acting type · CPC title

• F16L25/0036 Primary

  Joints for corrugated pipes · CPC title