AU2008100232A4 - Improvements to quick-connect hose fittings - Google Patents

Description

13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 03/18 1 00 0 0 IMPROVEMENTS TO QUICK-CONNECT HOSE FITTINGS nFIELD OF THE INNOVATION This innovation relates to improvements in quick-connect fittings for the making of connections between flexible hoses and faucets (taps), pipe fittings Cand the like.

S 10 BACKGROUND 0 Over several decades the coupling of components of water delivery 00 systems such as garden hoses, spraying devices and hand-held spray onozzles and wands fitted to such hoses, has been increasingly carried out using "quick-connect" couplings instead of bayonet-type and screw-type fittings. These have male and female components that lock together in a "snap-on" manner and which can be uncoupled when required by sliding a sleeve on the female part and pulling the two components apart. They have been marketed by several manufacturers.

SAlthough these are generally convenient to use, cheap and effective, they have on occasions been found to be leaky and prone to unintended uncoupling. Connections of male components to other parts of water delivery systems have also been found sometimes to be leaky or at least difficult to seal against leakage.

The present innovation is intended to at least alleviate some instances of these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INNOVATION The invention provides a coupling component for use in a quickconnect water conduit coupling, wherein the coupling component: includes a nipple portion so shaped and sized that the coupling component is adapted for use as an interchangeable alternative to the male part of a quick-connect water conduit coupling of a type in which a nipple-shaped male part having an internal water passage extending therethrough and a single O-ring in a groove extending peripherally around the male part is received in an opening in a female part with the O-ring in sealing contact with an internal cylindrical surface of the COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 04/18 2 00

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o female part and in which the male part is in use retained in the opening 0 N by movable barbs comprised in the female part and extending into the t opening and into a peripheral recess in the male part, the barbs being releasable for movement outward in response to axial movement of a sleeve on the coupling female part so as to permit disengagement of the male and female parts; and instead of a single O-ring has two O-rings in substantially parallel grooves that extend peripherally around the nipple portion of the 1coupling component and that in use in the coupling both seal against the said internal cylindrical surface of the female part of the coupling.

0 OProviding a male coupling component with two O-rings instead of the Ci single O-ring yet otherwise the same as, and so interchangeable with, existing male components, has surprisingly been found possible (despite the compact design of couplings of the type to which the innovation is directed) and is believed also to provide both enhanced sealing against leakage and enhanced protection against unintended uncoupling.

In one embodiment, a coupling component comprise in addition to said nipple portion a body from a first side of which said nipple portion extends and from an opposing second side of which there extends a threaded portion having an external thread, a water passage extending internally through said nipple portion said body and said threaded portion, and comprising a resilient elastic washer that in use is received on the threaded portion and sealingly abuts a surface of said second side of the body that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the coupling component..

The said body may have formations thereon so as to be adapted to be gripped by a user's fingers for screwing the threaded portion into engagement with a female thread and for compressing the washer against the said surface on the second side of the body.

Preferably, coupling components according to the innovation are adapted for use in a quick-connect water conduit coupling that is adapted for use with a domestic water supply having a water pressure of up to about 7 atmospheres and of which one of the male and female parts is securable to a flexible hose of either 12mm or 18mm bore.

COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS PSSOCS PAGE 05/18 3 00 O In a further aspect, the innovation provides a quick-connect water conduit coupling including co-operating male and female parts respectively tsecurable to water conduits that are to be connected to each other wherein the male part is a coupling component as set out above.

t_ 5 The term "water conduit" could comprise, for example only, a hose such as a garden hose or a conduit within a fixed plumbing component such Sas a water supply pipe or a faucet (tap) or the like.

M The innovation is intended to be applicable to domestic and light S1 horticultural or agricultural applications.

Couplings and coupling components may (apart from their springs, 00 washers and O-rings where applicable) may be formed from suitable plastics C or metals such as brass.

Note that throughout this specification, the word "comprise" and words derived therefrom such as "comprising" and "comprised", when used in relation to a set of integers elements or steps are to be taken as indicating that the elements integers or steps are present but not to be taken as precluding the possible presence of other elements integers or steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS Figure 1 is a side elevation of male and female parts of a prior art quick-connect coupling for connecting a garden hose to a faucet and of a portion of a faucet; Figure 2 is a view of the items shown in Figure 1 now connected to each other and with the female coupling part shown partly in section; Figure 3 is a perspective view of firstly a garden hose nozzle fitted with a male part of a quick connect coupling according to the innovation and secondly of a female part of a quick-connect coupling in a positon for connection to the male part; Figure 4 is a side view of a quick-connect coupling male part made according to the present innovation; Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the male part shown in Figure 4 the section being taken at station Figure 6 is a side elevation of a further quick-connect coupling male part according to the innovation and a faucet to which it is attachable; COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 06/18 4 00 o Figure 7 is a side elevation of a union fitting for use with quick-connect Ccoupling female parts; tFigure 8 is a side elevation of the quick-connect coupling male part shown in Figure 4, now connected to a tee piece, and with a coupling female 5 part in position for connection to the male part; Figure 9 is a side elevation of a quick-connect coupling male part of N known type that is an altemrnative to the corresponding male part shown in Figure 1.

2DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows a two-part quick-connect coupling 10 for connection of 00 a garden hose 12 to a faucet (tap) 14, coupling 10 being of a type well-known Nin the art of fittings for water hoses used in gardens and horticultural and agricultural applications. Coupling 10 is of a type that has been sold in Australia under the brand name "Gardenia". Coupling 10 is shown disassembled in Figure 1 and comprises a male part 16 and a female part 18.

Male part 16 has a body 20 with a female thread (not visible) for engagement with a male thread 22 of the faucet 14. Female part 18 is secured to an end of hose 12. The male and female parts 16 and 18 are of generally circular crosssection having a mutual axis 30 (shown in Figure For use, male part 16 is screwed into place on faucet 14, and water from faucet 14 can pass through an internal passage (not shown in Figures 1 and 2) in male part 16. Connection of female part 18 to male part 16 requires female part 18 to be moved in the direction of arrow 24 so that a nipple portion 26 of male part 16 that extends from body 20 is received in an internal space 28 of female part 18.

Figure 2 is a view of coupling 10 in assembled form, with female part 18 shown partly sectioned in a longitudinal direction, the sectioning plane including the central axis 30. The part of female part 18 shown cross-hatched is not in fact monolithic but includes an arrangement for allowing several barbs 32 (of which only one is shown) to retract radially outwards in female part 18 during engagement and disengagement of male part 16 and to be held against nipple portion 26 while coupling 10 is assembled. This arrangement is operated by a cylindrical sleeve 34 on female part 18 that is spring loaded into the axial position shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which barbs COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 07/18 00 O 32 engage with nipple portion 26 and resist separation of parts 16 and 18 due 0 to water pressure in coupling 10 or any externally applied separating forces.

Sleeve 34 can be slid in the direction of arrow 36 to allow barbs 32 to move in and out for coupling and decoupling of parts 16 and 18. This arrangement is very well known in the art and so need not be shown or described here.

Nipple portion 26 of male part 16 has three portions a shoulder portion 38, a neck 40 and an end portion 42. End portion 42 is cylindrical, with a groove 44 in which is received an O-ring 46. In the coupled state shown in 2, barbs 32 lie axially between cylindrical shoulder portion 38 and end portion 42 and O-ring 46 seals against a cylindrical internal surface 48 of

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o female part 18. In this way O-ring 46 allows water that flows through the 0 internal passage in male part 16 to flow through female part 18 into an internal space 50 and from there into hose 12, but resists any tendency of the water to pass back into space 28 and leak out of the coupling 10. Female part 18 also seats on shoulder portion 38 although, in known couplings of this type, not sealingly.

Many couplings 10 as described above have been marketed, and at least in Australia some standardization has occurred to the point where different manufacturers' male and female parts of the same nominal size can be used with each other. Two basic coupling sizes are normally used in Australia, corresponding to 12mm and 18mm nominal bore hose. The main parts of couplings such as coupling 10 are made in suitable plastics and metal such as brass, the parts made with other materials being the O-ring 46 and the spring (not shown) that positions sleeve 34.

Various factors can cause leakage of water from couplings such as coupling 10, particularly where main components of parts 16 and 18 are of plastics materials. These include distortion of these components due to high temperatures and application of excessive forces, wear, presence of foreign matter and sometimes the use of male and female parts 16 and 18 from different manufacturers. Leakage can be exacerbated or parts 16 and 18 may even come apart due to rocking-type play of female part 18 relative to male part 16 as shown by arrows 52 in Figure 2.

The coupling 10 has been described by way of example, but it will be appreciated that other types of fittings with the same principle of operation are COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 88/18 6 00

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O known. For example, Figure 9 shows a fitting 60 having a nipple portion 62 0 N the same as nipple portion 26 of male part 16 including O-ring 64 the same as tO-ring 46, but having a male threaded body 66 and a flange 68 with spanner flats 70 thereon. Fitting 60 can be used with quick-connect coupling female M 5 part 18 and would be used for connecting a hose such as hose 12 to a nozzle or water-wand type device having a female thread. Figure 3 shows a triggercontrolled nozzle assembly 70 of known type and quick-connect coupling female part 18 and hose 12 in a position to be coupled to nozzle 70. Nozzle *1 70 has a female thread (not visible) in its handle 72 where a fitting such as 10 fitting 60 would be used to enable connection with female part 18.

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00 o However, instead of fitting 60, nozzle assembly 70 is fitted with a male 0coupling part 80 made according to the present innovation. Male part 80 is also shown in Figures 4 and Male part 80 has a body 102, a threaded portion 106, a nipple portion 82 and a water passage 112 along its length and is generally of circular crosssection. Nipple portion 82 includes a cylindrical shoulder portion 84 (similar to shoulder portion 38 of nipple portion.26 of male part 16), a neck portion 86 (similar to neck 40), and an end portion 88. End portion 88 is similar to end portion 42 of male part 18, except that end portion 88 has two O-rings 90 and 92 in peripheral grooves 94 and 96 instead of the one O-ring 46 of part 16.

Nipple portion 82, end portion 88, neck 86 and shoulder portion 84 are all of substantially the same length as their counterparts in conventional male part 16, namely nipple portion 26, end portion 42, neck 40 and shoulder portion 38, for direct compatibility with existing coupling female parts such as part 18.

Grooves 94 and 96 are separated by a peripheral flange 98. It has been found that many if not all available female quick-connect coupling parts such as female part 18 of coupling 10 can accommodate a nipple portion 82 with both O-rings 90 and 92 acting normally as seals. Specifically, many such female parts have surfaces like surface 48 of coupling 10 which can sealingly engage both O-rings 90 and 92. (It is of course also possible to make a female coupling part (not shown) on the same principles as part 18 but tailored specifically to fitting 80, and a coupling having such a female coupling part is within the scope of the present invention.) The purpose of the modified nipple portion 82 is to provide enhanced sealing against water leaks and enhanced COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 09/18 7 00 O resistance to unwanted separation of a quick-connect coupling including a 0 (N male coupling part with such a nipple portion. It is believed that the modified tnipple portion 82 may reduce the rocking-type play exemplified by arrows 52 and that due to the use of two O-rings 90 and 92 it also does increase the resistance to pulling-out of component A further difference between fitting 80 and fitting 60 is the presence of a resilient flexible washer 98 (made from for example a suitable plastics material or a synthetic or vulcanized natural rubber) that sealingly abuts a -1 face 100 of body 102. In the use of fitting 80 shown in Figure 3, washer 98 seals against an end of nozzle assembly 70 and so resists leakage of water 00 o from the interior of nozzle assembly 70. Devices such as nozzle assembly 0 normally have some form of internal seal (of rubber or the.like) but it is known for them to leak nevertheless. Washer 98 is additional to such internal seal and so can offer the ability to reduce such leakage.

Fitting 80 is shown with a cylindrical portion 106 with a parallel-type male thread 108, and further sealing may also be provided by a conical face 104 on portion 106 for appropriate applications. However, in some practical cases, this is unnecessary.

Body 102 is formed with ribs 110 or the like so as to be able to be rotated by hand without the need for a spanner. In domestic use, a spanner is often not available. Instead of the ribs shown in Figure 3 and 4, the body 102 could be knurled. The use of a washer 98 of suitable hardness can allow satisfactory sealing against leakage to be obtained despite only the use of S hand screwing of fitting 80 into nozzle assembly70. If leakage is noticed, body 102 can be turned by hand to compress washer 98 further and limit or eliminate such leakage.

Any or all of the features of two O-rings 90 and 92, washer 98, handrotatable body 102 and optionally conical face 104, in a quick-connect coupling either with a female part made on the principles of part 16 or adapted for use with existing such parts, provides an innovation belived to offer a useful choice for consumers, with advantages of resistance to water leakage and inadvertent uncoupling and of easy installation.

Some or all of the features described above in relation to fitting 80 can be applied in other types of quick-connect coupling made on the same COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS 83 ASSOCS PAGE 10/18 8 00 O principles. For example, Figure 6 shows a faucet 120 and a quick-connect A coupling male part 122 similar to coupling part 16 described above, except tthat it has a nipple portion 124 fitted with two O-rings 126 and 128 just as in Sfitting 80. Body 130 has a female thread (not visible) for connection to faucet 120 and although not shown, could be made with ribs or the like suitable for installation on faucet 120 without a spanner if desired. A washer (not visible) c- could be provided in body 130 for sealing against faucet 120 similarly to c washer 98.

S 1Figure-7 shows a union 150 for connecting a hose 152 fitted with a 00 10 quick-connect coupling.female part 154 (like part 18) to another hose (not 0 Sshown) similarly equipped. Union 150 comprises a body 156 having two Ci identical nipple portions 158 and 160 the same as nipple portions 82 described above and an internal flow passage (not shown) extending lengthwise through union 150.

Figure 8 illustrates how the provision in fitting 80 of washer 98 can be advantageous in applications other than that of Figure 3. A tee-piece 180 has a female thread in its three arms 182, 184 and 186 and fitting 80 is screwed into arm 186. Washer 98 provides sealing against leakage from tee-piece 180 by sealing against an end face 188 of tee-piece 180 without the need for the use of Teflon tape or the like. Some known fittings, and particularly known fittings of the quick connect male part type, are difficult to seal adequately in tee pieces and other plumbing fittings so that fitting 80 can solve this problem as well as reducing leakage in applications like that shown in Figures 3.

Quick-connect coupling female part 190 can simply be snapped on to fitting -Other variations may be made to quick-connect couplings and their applications according to the innovation as disclosed above, and will in the light of this disclosure suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.

COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13

Claims (1)

1. 2. A coupling component according to claim 1 comprising in addition to said nipple portion a body from a first side of which said nipple portion extends and from an opposing second side of which there extends a threaded portion having an external thread, a water passage extending internally through said nipple portion said body and said threaded portion, and comprising a resilient elastic washer that in use is received on the threaded portion and sealingly abuts a surface of said second COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13 13/03/2008 22:36 +613-9699-9886 D SHANKS ASSOCS PAGE 12/18 00 o side of the body that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the coupling component.. S3. A coupling component according to claim 2 wherein said body has e 5 formations thereon so as to be adapted to be gripped by a user's fingers for screwing the threaded portion into engagement with a Cfemale thread and for compressing the washer against the said surface Son the second side of the body. S10 4. A coupling component according to any one of claims 1 to 3 adapted 00 Sfor use in a quick-connect water conduit coupling that is adapted for Cuse with a domestic water supply having a water pressure of up to about 7 atmospheres and of which one of the male and female parts is securable to a flexible hose of either 12mm or 18mm bore. A quick-connect water conduit coupling including co-operating male and female parts respectively securable to water conduits that are to be connected to each other wherein the male part accords with claim 1. COMS ID No: ARCS-182904 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:42 Date 2008-03-13