Miniature Precision Components, Inc.

Michael Longhenry

Douglas John Callahan

Duane Eckard

Juris Julijs Pruzinskis

Brent J Ertl

Umashanker Natarajan

Brian Champion

Steve Mixter

A connector assembly and method of making and ensuring a reliable, fluid-tight connection, the assembly includes a housing a having a wall bounding a bore extending along a central longitudinal axis. The wall has a locking opening, a slot, and a window. A retaining member has a cylindrical wall received in the bore of the housing. The cylindrical wall has a detent received in the locking opening and a locking arm cantilevered by a hinge connection for pivotal movement. The locking arm is spaced from the cylindrical wall by a gap and is received in the slot when the detent is received in the locking opening. A visual indicator attached to the cylindrical wall moves radially outwardly into the window in response to the collar being fully received in the gap to provide visual evidence of a fluid-tight seal between the insertion member and the housing.

Quick connector assembly and method of establishing and ensuring a fluid-tight connection between conduits

The quick connector assembly includes an insertion member that is inserted along a longitudinal axis into a receiving member. A retaining member is disposed in the receiving member for movement in a direction of insertion that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A positioning member is disposed in the receiving member and includes a biasing portion that extends angularly from a base portion to a pair of blocking portions. The blocking portions move between an extended position and a retracted position and are oriented opposite the direction of insertion of the retaining member to block the retaining member from moving into a fully inserted position when the biasing portion is in the extended position. An annular collar of the insertion member engages the blocking portions when the insertion member is axially inserted in the receiving member to move the blocking portions into the retracted position. As a result, the retaining member is free to be moved into the fully inserted position to secure the insertion member relative to receiving member.

Quick connector assembly

Growing community of inventors

Walworth, WI, United States of America

Michael Longhenry