MXPA99006631A - Rap connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A retainer for a quick connector has a pair of waist segments, a shoulder segment, a body segment with an opening and a leg segment. The leg segment is defined by a pair of projecting elements that at least radially compress each other thereby causing the pair of waist segments to move relative to each other. In this way, an articulated connection having the equivalent diameter length of a conventional non-articulated threaded coupling is effected. The quick connector can be released by hand or with a ring tool by quick coupling inserted in orifice

Description

FAST CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to duct couplings through which fluid flows and specifically to a quick connector that retains a male duct within a female receptacle. In the automotive industry, as well as for many other industries, there is always a need for low cost, reliable and easy to assemble components. This need is especially apparent with respect to providing a connection between conduits for fluid transports such as fuel lines, brakes or refrigerants. Additionally, this connection is constituted by a male conduit that is retained within a female receptacle through the use of threaded couplings, flared couplings or through bolted flanges. More recently, a variety of quick connect retainers have been employed by quick coupling instead of conventional methods. These quick connectors typically have a plurality of flexible legs that couple an annular strip connected to a male conduit and also engage a notched groove that is formed within a female member. Two of these examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,497 entitled "Swivelable Quick Connector Assembly" which issued on July 22, 1986 and US Pat. No. 4,778,203 entitled "Swivelable Quick Connector for High Temperature Connection" to be granted on October 18, 1988, both of which were created by the inventor of the present invention and are incorporated here for reference. Other quick connectors that were created by the present inventor are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,524,995 and 4,423,892, both of which are entitled "Swivelable Quick Connector Assambly" to be issued June 25, 1985 and January 23, 1994, respectively, and which are incorporated herein by reference. While the aforementioned quick connectors show significant improvements in the art, each leg member of these devices typically must withstand the confined fluid pressure and the mechanical withdrawal force. Furthermore, the legs are compressed radially during installation. Accordingly, in order to improve the ability to either withstand forces of the longitudinal direction or generate radially directed forces, the part often of engagement with respect to the other force perpendicular to it. Therefore, it would be convenient to have a quick connector that can be easily installed and removed, be economical to manufacture and have separate segments to support longitudinal tensile forces and generate radial holding forces, but which can be much shorter than Conventional connectors by reducing the length within the female portion of the connector to the length actually achieved with the threaded connectors. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a preferred embodiment of a new and useful quick connector is used to couple a male conduit into a bore of a female receptacle. In general, a quick connector according to the present invention may be of two piece construction (including a retainer and a body segment) or three piece construction (including a sandwich retainer between front and rear washers). Regardless of the construction, the quick connectors of the present invention share in common the "quick connect" operation being, are disconnectable by hand or by use of a tool and provide a dynamic seal. The quick connector has one or more waist segments, a shoulder segment, a body segment, with an opening there (which may be separate in some cases and will consist of an internal washer and an external washer) and a leg segment. The leg segment is defined by one or more projection elements that move the waist segments radially outwardly for engagement with the female receptacle. The projecting elements are also partially compressible with each other, thus causing the pair of waist segments to move between them for installation and disassembly. The opening within the body segment encloses a portion of the male conduit. The quick connector of the present invention is advantageous over the quick connectors of the prior art, since the waist segments and shoulder segment are optimized to withstand radially compressive insertion and removal forces while transmitting retention forces in association with the female receptacle Concurrently, the body segment is optimized to support longitudinal tensile forces between the connected male conduit and the adjacent waist segments. In one version, this is achieved as the result of a flange formed at the end of the male conduit tube. In addition, the quick connector of the present invention can be easily assembled and disassembled from the inside of the coupling female receptacle, thereby providing an economical assembly system.

This is achieved by at least partial compression of the projecting elements of the leg segment with one another, thereby coupling and detaching the quick connector of the coupling female receptacle. Additionally, the present invention can be manufactured economically. Also, the quick connector is operable with most conventional articulated male conduits and the appropriate female receptacles, in order to convert the rigidly fixed conduit of conventional threaded connectors to an articulated type connection. These quick connectors of the present invention have a separate radial requirement for spring or biasing of the requirement of longitudinally abutting a wall in the female receptacle. The quick connector of the present invention holds the male conduit in alignment within the female receptacle, thereby providing adequate registration and longevity of a seal. The present invention is also beneficial in that it allows the male conduit and female receptacle to incorporate longitudinally smaller retaining and sealing areas than those associated with past high volume couplings that have little pressure drop when connected. Advantages and additional features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, which are taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of a quick connector of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a radial member of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a body segment of the first preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing another embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention in relation to a male conduit and a female conduit; Figure 4A is a section view similar to that of Figure 4, showing another embodiment of the female receptacle and another embodiment of a male conduit within which the first preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1 is employed; Figure 5 is an opposite perspective view of Figure 2, showing a radial member of a second preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a locking member employed in combination with the second preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of the Figure ; Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the interlocking member of Figure 6 assembled to a second preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 4, showing the first preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1 employed with a further embodiment of the male conduit; Figure 9 is a perspective view, similar to that of Figure 5, showing a third preferred embodiment of the radial member of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a sectional view, similar to the Figure 4, showing the first preferred embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1, in relation to another embodiment of a male conduit and a female receptacle; Figure 11 is a sectional view, similar to the Figure 4, showing a dust cover used in combination with the quick connector of the present invention of Figure 1, in relation to yet another embodiment of the male conduit; Figure 12 is a front view of an alternating retainer that can be used with the sealing methods shown here; Figure 13 is an exploded view of a retainer structure within which the retainer of Figure 12 is incorporated; Figure 14 is a perspective view of a second alternating retainer that can be employed with the sealing methods described in the present invention; Figure 15 is a sectional view of a connector using the retainer shown in Figures 12 and 13 having an inner bushing mounted on the end of the pipe and held by a small flange; and Figure 16 is a sectional view of the male conduit tube detailing a flange structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES In the automotive industry, there is a need for coupling a male tubular member or conduit with a female receptacle. For example, coolant hoses and oil hoses must be connected to a radiator or an engine block. In addition, brake hoses often need to be coupled together. With reference to Figures 1 to 4, a preferred embodiment of a retainer for a quick connector 10 is employed to operably hold an articulated male conduit 12 to a female receptacle 14. A first preferred embodiment of the male conduit 12 is a metal member rigid having a connecting portion 20, a bulged portion 22, a wedged reduced diameter portion 24, and a proximal flange portion 26 with a distal end 28. The male conduit 12 further has an annular hub or ring 30 connected circumferentially surrounding . A pair of O-ring seals 32 and an annular washer 34 are juxtaposed longitudinally between the bushing 30 and the flanged portion 26 to circumferentially surround the recessed portion 24. In coordination therewith, the female receptacle 14 has an outer face 40, a section frustoconical chamfering access 42, an annular flange section 44, a retention formation or more specifically a notched groove 46 within which there is an outer abutting confining wall 48 and an internal butt confining wall 50, an annular recessed section 52 , a frusto-conical middle section 54, a perforation 56 defined by a cylindrical inner surface and a passage 58.

A retainer for a quick connector 10 is defined by a radial member 70 and a body segment 72. As best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the radial member 70 further has a pair of shoulder segments 74, a plurality of waist segments 76, 77, 79 and 81, and a pair of leg segments 78. Each shoulder segment 74 has a pair of flanges 80 of which three side walls are projected at an angle 82 joined by a middle wall 84. , all of which are limited by a distant edge 86. Furthermore, each leg segment 78 has a pair of projecting elements 100, projecting perpendicularly from each adjacent waist segment 76, 77, 79 and 81. Each projecting element 100 it is connected at a remote end 102 by a reinforcing element 104. Portions 100, 102 and 104 provide compressible outward springing action. Waist segments 76, 77, 79 and 81 define an opening 110 having two partial cylindrical inner edges 112 and four corner areas 114. Each shoulder segment 74, the pair adjacent to waist segments 76 and 77 and the adjacent pair of projection elements 100, are separated from the symmetrically opposed shoulder segment 74, the waist segments 79 and 81 and the projection elements 100, by a pair of spaces 116. Accordingly, the projecting elements 100 can be compressed radially to each other , such that the shoulder segments 64 translate radially with each other. The leg segments 78 are also configured to move the shoulder segments 74 outwardly away from each other. With reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, the body segment 72 has a pair of substantially planar faces 150 and 152 limited by an annular peripheral edge 154 and an internal opening 156 defined by an inner edge. Four fold tabs 158 also project from the surrounding inner edge opening 156. It is noted that the opening 156 may take alternate shapes (not shown) for metal tubing and plastic tubing. The plastic pipe (as shown in Figure 1) may have a liner (illustrated as 182, described below with respect to Figure 11). This liner that is inside the plastic tube may have a slight bulge at the end (shown for example as the area 806 of Figure 16). This will result in a tube having a slight swelling at the end that runs past the washer 34, the "O" ring 32, the outer bushing 30 and the body segment 72 having the opening 156 (shown in Figure 4). ). Since the bulge takes the place of the slightly expanded section of the metal pipe (shown in Figure 4 at 22) and that avoids separation of the female part during the installation of the retainer, there must be space for the plastic of the pipe to occupy as the bulky portion of the liner passes. The area 156 of the body 62 can be composed of two partial diameters, approximately 0.1 mm (.004") different in inner diameter.This larger diameter portion will allow the plastic of the plastic wall of the pipe to pass more easily and have also the utility in locking the retainer to the assembling tube.This can be done when the outer bushing 192 is not reduced in internal diameter to act as the element that prevents the mechanical separation and pressure of the male conduit from the female receptacle. , the force of separation or extraction will be transferred through the or two seals (resulting in a better seal) with the front flange (the inner, lower bushing) that holds the seal (s) in the pipeline. the radial member 70 is assembled, the face 150 is mounted adjacent the waist segments 76, 77, 79 and 81 opposite the leg segments 78. The tabs 158 to the segment of body 72 then align with corner areas 114 of radial member 70 and are folded over a portion of each waist segment 76, 77, 79 and 81 proximate the leg segments 78. However, the space 160 is present between an edge 162 of each tab 158 and the abutting wall abutting the corner area 114. This allows the waist segments 76 , 77, 79 and 81 and the shoulder segments 74 are translatable radially to each other between the tabs 158 and the face 150 of the body segment 72. Both the radial portion 70 and the body segment 72 are preferably punched from a sheet of metallic material such as stainless steel. The opening 156 of the body segment 72 circumferentially surrounds the male duct 12 and is longitudinally trapped between the bulged portion 22 and the hub 30. This is best illustrated in Figure 1. In addition, the peripheral edge 154 and the body segment 72 have a dimension of material smaller than the annular flange section 44 and the annular recess section 52 of the female receptacle 14. Accordingly, the body segment 72 serves as a longitudinal and radial retention means between the male conduit 12 and the radial member 70. During insertion of the radial member 70 into the female receptacle 14, the chamfered section 42 serves to radially compress the shoulder segments 74 with each other. Subsequently, the leg segments 78 displace the shoulder segments 74 radially outwardly to engage the notched slot 46. Each shoulder segment 74 has an interface portion 163 that operatively couples the abutting confining walls 48 and 50 of the female receptacle 14. In this manner, the radial member 70 is designed to provide radially expansive retaining forces to retain the body segment 72 with the female receptacle 14. An alternate embodiment of a female receptacle 300 is illustrated in Figure 4A. This female receptacle 300 has a slightly restricted diameter bore 302 and a nominal diameter bore 304. In register therewith, a flanged portion 306 of a male conduit 308 has a diameter corresponding to the bore of restricted diameter 302. This allows retention of a pair of O-ring seals 310 before installation of the male conduit 308 in the female receptacle 300. This alternative is a combination of the series 500 and 600 structures of the transferee. The male conduit structures of the Figures 8 and 11 can be used alternately in combination with the quick connector 10 of the present invention. In Figure 8, a male conduit 164 has a flanged distal end 166 against which a pair of washers 168 and 170 and a pair of annular elastomeric seals 172 and 174. are located. In addition, an outer bushing 176 serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the seal 174 and a retainer for a quick connector 10. Longitudinal movement of the quick connector 10 can also be prevented by a second bushing 178. In this way, the bushings 176 and 178 are clamped around the male conduit 164 in order to longitudinally cover the quick connector 10 among them. With reference to Figure 11, a male polymeric conduit 180 is illustrated having a ferrule or flange bushing 182 inserted at a distal end 184. A pair of elastomeric seals 186 and 188 and a washer 190 are juxtaposed next to the distal end 184. The ferrule 182 serves to expand the diameter of the male conduit 180 after installation of a retainer for a quick connector 10, in order to cause the inner edge surrounding the opening 156 of the body segment 72 of the quick connector to be connected in a compressible manner. . A bushing 192 also connects in a compressible manner around the male conduit 180 when the ferrule 182 is used to expand the conduit 180. Another preferred embodiment of the leg segments 78 of the radial member 70 is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. Each projecting element 100 has a first outwardly shifted formation 200, an adjacent inwardly shifted formation 202 and a second outwardly shifted formation 204 next with a reinforcing element 206. This provides a receiving area for a finger 210 of an annular locking member 212. The interlocking member 212 is first juxtaposed in position 220 to allow compression of the projecting elements 100 during installation. The interlocking member then moves to the position 222 after installation of a retainer for a quick connection 10, in order to avoid compression of the projecting elements 100 and provide a visual indication that the connector is properly assembled. This prevents accidental disassembly of the quick connector 10 and the male conduit 12 (see Figure 4) of the female receptacle 14 (see Figure 1) and the visual confirmation that the assembly is complete. The third preferred embodiment of a radial member 400 employed in the retainer for a quick connector 10 (see Figure 1) of the present invention, is illustrated in Figure 9. The radial member has a single shoulder segment 402, a first segment of waist 404, a second waist segment 405, a third waist segment 406 and a pair of leg segments 408. Leg segments 408 serve to radially displace the shoulder segment 402 and the opposite waist segment 406 in interlocking engagement with the female receptacle 14 (see Figure 4). A peripheral section 414 of the waist segment 406 and a peripheral section 416 of the shoulder segment 402 serve as interface portions. A plurality of holes 410 are illustrated in waist segments 404, 405 and 406, to assist in the use of an installation or disassembly tool (not shown).

An additional embodiment of a female receptacle 450 and a male conduit 452 can be seen in Figure 10. The female receptacle 450 has a receiving perforation 454 and a frusto-conical portion 456, with a surrounding distal edge 458. A collar 460 tightly surrounds the access portion 456. The collar 460 has a bent section 462 defining an access chamfer and a return arm 464 with an abutting butt edge 466. A located leg 468 projects radially within the collar 460 over female receptacle 450. Another leg 469 projects radially inwardly from collar 460 to engage portion 456. Coupling male conduit 452 has a nominal section 480 and a flanged portion 482 proximal with a distal end 484. A pair of bushings 486 and 488 are clamped firmly around the nominal section 480 of the male conduit 452. An O-ring seal 490 is longitudinally trapped between the flanged portion 482 and the bushing 486., the first preferred embodiment of the quick connector 10 of the present invention is longitudinally trapped between the hubs 486 and 488, such that an interface portion 496 is operatively coupled between the abutting edge 466 and the distal edge 458 that acts as a means or retention training. Again with reference to Figure 11, a dust cover 250 is shown to prevent contaminant particles from entering the perforation 56 (see Figure 4) of the female receptacle 14 (see Figure 4) when a retainer for a quick connector 10 and conduit male 180 are inserted there. The cover 250 is constituted by an annular cube 252 which co-encloses the male conduit 180. The cube 252 can also slide longitudinally along. A somewhat parabolic shaped cup 254 projects outwardly from the annular hub 252. Further, a circumferential outer wall 256 projects from an outermost portion of the cup 254. The outer wall 256 is open toward the distal end 184 of the male conduit 180 and there has an inwardly bent lip 258. This inwardly bent lip 258 interengavably engages the female receptacle 14 (see Figure 4) to prevent contamination from entering therein. The cover 250 is preferably made from an elastomeric material such as thermoplastic rubber. With reference to Figure 12, the front strap of an external quick-connect retainer generally illustrated as 500 is illustrated wherein the waist segments, shoulders and flanges (elements 80 in Figure 2) are combined in the leg segments. 502, and transport coupling lugs 504. Coupling lugs 504 (such as element 496 in Figure 10, or element 163 in Figure 1, or element 84 of Figure 2) act to hold the quick connector 500 coupled within the female receptacle . By compressing the release lugs 506 as a whole (such as 78 and 100 in Figure 1) sufficient stroke (as elements 116 in Figure 2) is provided to detach the coupling lugs 504 and the release can subsequently be effected. The element 512 is the meeting area between the inner partial ring (or complete ring [not shown]) 514. The connection 512 between the ring 514 and the legs 512 is important because it creates a self-centering quick coupling ring (similar to element 158, the folded ears of the most fundamental approach shown and discussed previously). The element 518 is the opening in the combined version illustrated in Figure 12. The comments regarding sizing of the opening 156 previously set apply to this combined retainer. The quick connector 500 is used as a retainer with a plastic or metal pipe. Figure 13 is an exploded view of a retainer structure, generally illustrated as 501. The retainer structure 501 consists of an inner washer 510, the retainer 500 and an outer washer 520. The inner washer 510 is in this version a simple washer (in FIG. comparison with element 72 previously discussed) with two sides 522 and 524, an outside diameter 526 and an opening 528. The comments made above regarding openings 156 and 528 that are different for plastic and metal pipes are equally relevant here. The sides 522 and 524 are like the sides 150 and 152 and the outer surface 526 is similar to the surface 154 shown in Figure 3. With respect to the retainer 500, the release lugs 506 are illustrated in their normal (unstressed) position . The outer washer 52Ó is the rear washer and is not required with the shape of the retainer shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. The inner washer 510 takes the mechanical and pneumatic forces developed in the rear part of the bushing 30 of Figure 4, as a result of interlocking the outer bushing (element 30 in Figure 4) to the tube or passing mechanical forces that would otherwise separate the male assembly from the female receptacle through the "toric" ring (s) (resulting in a more airtight seal) due to the capture of the front flange in the male tube. The rear washer 520 passes the forces that will push the retainer 500 back the male pipe and away from the female receptacle (element 14 in Figure 4). The rear washer 520 is prevented from sliding back over the male tube by a bulge that is applied at one end of the liner 182 in Figure 11 or 806 in Figure 16.

Figure 14 illustrates an alternate method of arranging a retainer similar to that shown in Figure 12. The references employed for Figure 14 are 100 higher than those shown in Figure 100. An alternating retainer, generally illustrated as 600, has arms 602 that They include segments of waist, shoulders and legs. A pair of interlocking lugs 604 correspond to lugs 504 and the shoulder defined by 163 and elements 80, 82, 84 and 86 of Figures 1 and 2. A pair of release lugs 606 correspond in function to the release lugs 506 of FIG. Figure 13. Both in the illustrated embodiment and the alternate method shown in Figure 12, are easier to manufacture (both use the retainer structure of Figure 13) and show lower manufacturing cost than the type shown in Figures 1 , 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. But it will be understood that the structures of Figures 16 represent substantially the same idea expressed in different ways. Alternate methods for covering the retainer for a quick connector of Figures 12 and 14 have a feature that is in addition to the method of arranging the retainer shown in Figures 1 to 11. That is, the structures of Figures 12 and 14 are devices Automatic operation type quick coupling ring (this is assembled automatically) when used in combination with a female receptacle having a chamfered access (such as the chamfer 42 of Figure 4). With combined reference to Figures 15 and 16, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a single "toric" quick ring connector using the self-centering quick coupling ring of Figures 12 and 13 generally shown as 700. (The male duct can be a plastic tube in which case insert 800 of Figure 16 will be pushed at the end of the tube). The openings 528 and 530 of the washers 510 and 520, respectively in Figure 13, would be for plastic tubing as previously discussed and means (not shown) can be employed to ensure that the passage of the bulging area 806 (shown in Figure 16) is adjusted or allowed by the plastic wall of the pipe. Non-reciprocating pull and pull forces are achieved by the "cold flow" of the pipe plastic, retro-flow, after first making space for the bulky area 806 to pass through the washers 510 and 520. The bulged area 806 it acts to deform the outer diameter of the plastic tube in such a way as to stop the movement of the outer washer 522 in a shape similar to that of the slightly expanded area 766 of the metal tube 712 with its standard internal diameter 768. The area 764 is an area of reduced diameter and maintains a loose outer bushing 730, a "toric" ring 732 and an inner bushing 728, all of which are captured in the tube 712 by a flange 766 formed at the distal end of the pipe 712. The female receptacle 714 consists of an outer end 740, an access chamfer 142, a butt-confining stop wall 748, a diameter 746 sufficient to allow sufficient interlocking engagement possible, and a buttressed boundary wall 750 which leads to an "O" ring access chamfer 754 which itself directs to a "toric" bushing / ring diameter 756 and a wall 757 leading through through hole 758. A method Alternatively, a portion of the metal pipe may also be used to make the inner bushing as illustrated in Figure 4. With specific reference to Figure 16, a bulging end fitting for a plastic pipe, generally defined as 800, combines the inner bushing at the end opposite the bulge or just has a flange having a reduced outside diameter (not shown). The insert liner 800 is a thin wall part having an inner bushing 802, a rod portion 804, a bulged portion 806 and a smaller end 808. While the preferred embodiment of a quick connector has been described, it will be appreciated that certain modifications may be made without departing from the present invention. For example, the body segment and the radial member can be integrated as a part. In addition, the peripheral edge of the body segment may have a square shape with tabs that bend inwardly. Alternatively, the shoulder segments and the waist segments can glide over each other instead of having a space between them. Also, the seal means between the male conduit and the female receptacle may be comprised of a single elastomeric O-ring, a pumpable sealant or various other fluid seal devices as is known in the art. Furthermore, a variety of alternate forms of dust cover can be employed in combination with a quick connector, male conduit and female receptacle. While specific material has been described in an exemplary form, of course various other materials may be employed. The following is intended to cover these and any other separations of the described embodiments that fall within the real spirit of this invention.

Claims (30)

1. CLAIMS 1. - A retainer for a quick connector used to couple a male conduit having a longitudinal axis with a female receptacle, the structure is characterized in that it comprises: a body segment; a radial member connected to a body segment; a pair of waist segments formed in the radial member; interfacing portions mounted on the pair of waist segments for engagement with the female receptacle; and a leg segment connected to the pair of waist segments extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male conduit, whereby the leg segment is operable to detach the interface portions of the female member.
2. 2. - The retainer structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body segment includes a through opening defined by a surrounding inner edge, the inner edge of the body segment encloses there a predetermined portion of the male conduit.
3. 3. - The retainer structure according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the pair of waist segments has a surrounding inner edge and wherein the body segment is coupled to the pair of waist segments.
4. 4. - The retainer structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the leg segment is connected to the pair of waist segments separated from the opening within the body segment and wherein the leg segment is defined by a pair of projecting elements that they extend substantially perpendicular to the pair of belt segments, such that the leg segment is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male conduit.
5. 5. - The retainer structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the female receptacle has a piercing extending centrally through and wherein the leg segment projects through the perforation of the female receptacle to be accessible from there outward .
6. 6. - The retainer structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the pair of projecting members of the leg segment are compressible with each other and those of the interface portions are inserted into the bore of the female receptacle by allowing the pair of members projecting the paw segment when at least partially compressing each other in response to an access chamfer formed in the female receptacle, the paw segment further displaces the interface portions radially outwardly so as to be able to fit snugly into the female receptacle, the portions of interface are detachable from the female receptacle by at least partial compression of the projecting members of the leg segment with each other, whereby the quick connector can be withdrawn longitudinally from the receptacle.
7. 7. A retainer structure for use in a quick connector used to couple a male conduit having a longitudinal axis with a female receptacle, the structure is characterized in that it comprises: a radial member; a pair of waist segments formed in the radial member; interface portions mounted on the pair of waist segments for coupling with the female receptacle; and a leg segment connected to the pair of waist segments extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male conduit, whereby the leg segment is operable to detach the interface portions of the female member.
8. 8. - The retainer structure according to claim 7, characterized in that it also includes a body segment, the radial member is connected to the body segment.
9. 9. - The retainer structure according to claim 8, characterized in that the body segment includes a through opening defined by a surrounding inner edge, the inner edge of the body segment encloses a predetermined portion of the male conduit in the interior.
10. 10. - The retainer structure according to claim 9, characterized in that each of which waist segments have a surrounding inner edge and wherein the body segment engages with the pair of waist segments.
11. 11. - The retainer structure according to claim 9, characterized in that the leg segment is connected to the pair of waist segments separated from the opening of the body segment and wherein the leg segment is defined by a pair of projecting elements extending substantially perpendicular to the pair of waist segments such that the leg segment is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male channel.
12. 12. - The retainer structure according to claim 7, characterized in that the female receptacle has a piercing extending centrally through and wherein the leg segment projects through the perforation of the female receptacle to be accessible from there outward .
13. 13. - The retainer structure according to claim 12, characterized in that the pair of projecting members of the leg segment are compressible with each other and wherein the interface portions are inserted into the bore of the female receptacle by allowing the pair of projecting limbs of the leg segment, when at least partially compressed together in response to an access chamfer formed in the female receptacle, the leg segment further displaces the interface portions radially outwardly so as to be able to engage swiftly within the female receptacle, the interface portions are detached from the female receptacle at least by partial compression of the projecting members of the leg segment with each other, whereby the quick connector can be withdrawn longitudinally from the receptacle.
14. 14. - A quick connector retainer structure used to couple a male conduit having a longitudinal axis with a female receptacle, the structure is characterized in that it comprises: a body segment; a pair of waist segments operatively associated with the body segment; interfacing portions mounted on the pair of waist segments for engagement with the female receptacle; and leg segments connected to the pair of waist segments extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male conduit, whereby the leg segment is operable to detach the interface portions of the female member.
15. 15. - The retainer structure according to claim 14, characterized in that it also includes a radial member that is operatively associated with the body segment.
16. 16. The retainer structure according to claim 15, characterized in that the pair of waist segments is formed in the radial member.
17. 17. The retaining structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the body segment includes a through opening defined by a surrounding inner edge, the inner edge of body segment encloses a predetermined portion of the male conduit therein.
18. 18. - The retainer structure according to claim 14, characterized in that each of the pair of waist segments has a surrounding inner edge and wherein the body segment is coupled to the pair of waist segments.
19. 19. The retainer structure according to claim 17, characterized in that the leg segment is connected to the pair of waist segments separated from the opening within the body segment and wherein the leg segment is defined by a pair of elements. projecting members that extend substantially perpendicular to the pair of waist segments, such that the leg segment is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male channel.
20. 20. A retainer structure for a quick connector used to couple a male conduit having a longitudinal axis with a female receptacle, the structure is characterized in that it comprises: a bushing arranged around a portion of the male conduit; a radial member disposed about a portion of the male conduit, the radial member includes a pair of waist segments and an area connecting the waist segments, the waist segments have interface portions formed therein for engagement with the female receptacle, waist segments move together and further includes a pair of spaced members manipulable by operator, substantially parallel extending therefrom, the spaced members being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male conduit; and a rigid member disposed about a portion of the male member and between the hub and the radial member.
21. 21. A method for removing the male conduit from a female receptacle, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a body segment; forming a radial member, the member that is formed to include a pair of waist segments and leg segments having movable projection elements; coupling the radial member with the body segment; forming means for coupling the mobile projection elements to the leg segments; manipulating the means for removal in such a manner that each projecting element is caused to move substantially simultaneously, thereby effecting release of the male conduit from the female receptacle.
22. 22. Method for removing a male duct from a female receptacle, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a body segment; forming a radial member, the member that is formed to include a pair of opposed waist segments, the waist segments define a first waist segment and a second waist segment, the radial member is further formed to include two leg segments, each of the two leg segments is defined by a first projecting element and a second projecting element, the projecting elements are spaced, each of the projecting elements include a proximal end and a distant end, the distant ends are connected with a reinforcement , the proximal ends of both the first projecting elements are connected to the first waist segment, and the proximal ends of both the second projecting elements are connected to the second waist element; coupling the radial member with the body segment; moving at least one of the first projecting elements and the second projecting elements together through compression in this manner effecting grooving of the male conduit of the female receptacle.
23. 23. - Method for removing a male duct having a longitudinal axis of a female receptacle, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a radial member in operative association with the male conduit, the radial member having a waist segment and a pair of spaced leg segments extending from the waist segment, the pair of spaced apart leg segments are placed on opposite sides of the male conduit, the waist segment is formed to substantially accommodate a portion of the male conduit; means for substantially simultaneous positioning for removing leg segments; and moving substantially simultaneously each of the leg elements through manipulation of the means for removal, such that the waist segments move from a mating position of the female receptacle to a detaching position of the female receptacle with what the male conduit can be removed from the female receptacle. The method for removing in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that it includes the steps of: forming each of the leg elements to include a pair of projecting elements; placing the means for withdrawing in each projecting element of each of the pairs of projecting elements; and manipulating the means for withdrawing, such that each projecting element of each of the pairs of projecting elements is caused to move substantially simultaneously, thereby effecting release of the male conduit from the female receptacle. The method for removing according to claim 24, characterized in that it includes the steps of: forming each projecting element of each of the pairs of projecting elements to include a proximal end and a distal end; connecting the distal ends of the pair of projecting elements of one of the leg segments with a first reinforcement; connecting the distal ends of the pair of projecting elements of the other of the leg segments with a second reinforcement; space each projecting element of the pair of projecting elements; forming the radial member to include a first waist segment and a second waist segment; connecting the proximal ends of each of the projecting elements of each of the pairs of projecting elements with the first waist segment; and connecting one proximal end of the other of the projecting elements of each of the pair of projecting elements with the second belt member. 26. The method for removing according to claim 25, characterized in that it includes the step of forming a body segment adjacent to the first and second waist segments. 27. Method for removing a male duct having a longitudinal axis of a female receptacle, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a radial member in operative association with a male duct, the radial member having a first waist segment , a second waist segment, a leg segment, the leg segment comprises a first projecting element and a second projecting element, each of the projecting elements has a proximal end and a distal end, the radial member further includes a reinforcement, the reinforcement includes a first end and a second end, the distal end of the first projecting element is connected to the first end of the reinforcement and the distal end of the second projecting element is connected to the second end of the reinforcement, the proximal end of the first projecting element it connects to the first waist segment and the proximal end of the second projecting element connects to the the second waist element; positioning means for compressing both the first projection element and the second projection element; compress the projection elements substantially with each other; and continuing to compress the elements while disconnecting the male conduit from the receptacle. 28. The method for removing according to claim 28, characterized in that the leg segment is a first leg segment, and wherein the method includes the step of forming a second leg segment comprising a first projecting element, a second projecting element and a reinforcement that connects the projecting elements. 29. The method for removing according to claim 28, characterized in that means for compressing include for compressing substantially simultaneously the first and second leg segments. The method for removing according to claim 27, characterized in that it includes the step of removing the radial member from the female receptacle while in substantially simultaneous form removing the male conduit therefrom.