Quick-connect coupling and decoupling tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573259-B1
Application number	US-201514932132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2015
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A quick-connect coupling tool includes a first member and a second member. The second member is slidably affixed to the first member. The quick-connect coupling tool further includes a first pair of prongs and a second pair of prongs, the first pair of prongs is affixed to the first member, oriented in a first direction, and orthogonal to the first member. The second pair of prongs is affixed to the first member, oriented in the first direction, and orthogonal to the second member. The quick-connect coupling tool includes a first urging means for urging the first pair of prongs and the second pair of prongs apart and a second urging means for urging the first pair of prongs and the second pair of prongs together. The first urging means and the second urging means are affixed to the first member and the second member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A quick-connect coupling tool comprising:
a first member;
said first member comprising a first member top face, a first member bottom face, a first member first end, and a first member second end;
a second member;
said second member comprising a second member top face, a second member bottom face, a second member first end, and a second member second end;
said second member being slidably affixed to said first member such that said first member top face and said second member bottom face are slidably opposed to one another;
a first pair of prongs;
said first pair of prongs being affixed to said first member first end;
said first pair of prongs being oriented in a first direction, orthogonal to said first member top face;
a second pair of prongs;
said second pair of prongs being affixed to said second member first end;
said second pair of prongs being oriented in said first direction, orthogonal to said second member top face;
a first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration;
a second urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along said action line from said neutral configuration;
said first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along said action line from said neutral configuration being affixed to said first member and said second member;
said second urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along said action line from said neutral configuration being affixed to said first member and said second member; and
wherein said first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration and said second urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along said action line from said neutral configuration comprise:
a first urging member;
said first urging member being affixed to said first member second end;
said first urging member being oriented opposite said first direction, orthogonal to said first member top face;
a second urging member;
said second urging member being affixed to said second member second end;
said second urging member being oriented opposite said first direction, orthogonal to said second member top face; and
wherein said first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration comprise:
a spring;
said spring comprising a spring first end and a spring second end;
said spring first end being affixed to said first urging member; and said spring second end being affixed to said second urging member.

2. The quick-connect tool of claim 1 , wherein said first pair of prongs is shaped in a u-shaped configuration and said second pair of prongs is shaped in said u-shaped configuration.

3. The quick-connect tool of claim 1 , further comprising a light element, said light element being affixed at a position selected from a group consisting of:
(a) said second member;
(b) said first member; and
(c) second pair of prongs.

4. A quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system comprising:
a first member;
said first member comprising a first member top face, a first member bottom face, a first member first end, and a first member second end;
a second member;
said second member comprising a second member top face, a second member bottom face, a second member first end, and a second member second end;
said second member being slidably affixed to said first member such that said first member top face and said second member bottom face are slidably opposed to one another;
a quick-connect fitting;
said quick-connect fitting being shaped so as to comprise at least four regions;
said at least four regions being cylindrical;
said at least four regions being shaped so as to comprise at least two distinct diameters;
a first pair of prongs;
said first pair of prongs being affixed to said first member first end;
said first pair of prongs being oriented in a first direction, orthogonal to said first member top face;
said first pair of prongs being shaped so as to be complementary to at least one of said at least four regions;
a second pair of prongs;
said second pair of prongs being affixed to said second member first end;
said second pair of prongs being oriented in said first direction, orthogonal to said second member top face;
said second pair of prongs being shaped so as to be complementary to at least one of said at least four regions;
a first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration;
a second urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along said action line from said neutral configuration;
said first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration being affixed to said first member and said second member; and
said second urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along an action line from a neutral configuration being affixed to said first member and said second member.

5. The quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system of claim 4 wherein said first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration and said second urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs together along said action line from said neutral configuration comprises:
a first urging member;
said first urging member being affixed to said first member second end;
said first urging member being oriented opposite said first direction, orthogonal to said first member top face;
a second urging member;
said second urging member being affixed to said second member second end; and
said second urging member being oriented opposite said first direction, orthogonal to said second member top face.

6. The quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system of claim 4 , wherein said first urging means for urging said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs apart along an action line into a neutral configuration comprise:
a spring;
said spring comprising a spring first end and a spring second end;
said spring first end being affixed to said first urging member; and
said spring second end being affixed to said second urging member.

7. The quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system of claim 4 , wherein said first pair of prongs and said second pair of prongs are shaped so as to be complementary to said quick-connect fitting by each being shaped in a u-shaped configuration.

8. The quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system of claim 4 , further comprising a light element, said light element being affixed at a position selected from a group consisting of:
(a) said second member;
(b) said first member; and
(c) second pair of prongs.

9. A method of using a quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system, the quick-connect and quick-connect coupling tool system comprising:
a first member;
said first member comprising a first member top face, a first member bottom face, a first member first end, and a first member second end;
a second member;
said second member comprising a second member top face, a second member bottom face, a second member first end, and a second member second end;
said

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Elsasser Ryan N
• Koziol Mateusz P
• Mellinger Charles E
• Nguyen Annam K
• Romano Enrico A
• Samaniego Paul
• Weiss Robert

Classifications

• F16L37/02

  in which the connection is maintained only by friction of the parts being joined (F16L37/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23P19/04

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• B25B27/10 Primary

  inserting fittings into hoses · CPC title

• F16L37/26

  in which the connection is made by transversely moving the parts together, with or without their subsequent rotation · CPC title