U.S. patent application number 17/207877 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-08 for rotating snap connection assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is NORDSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Peter D. Lewis, Kyle R. STEELE.
Application Number | 20210207748 17/207877 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005466532 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210207748 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STEELE; Kyle R. ; et
al. |
July 8, 2021 |
ROTATING SNAP CONNECTION ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A connector providing a rotating snap connection for connecting
tubes, hoses and/or other conduits where the rotatable portion of
the connector snap fits with the remaining portion of the connector
is described. A first connector can include a body defining a first
internal passage, a connecting end defining a second internal
passage, and a connecting mechanism rotatably connecting the
connecting end to the body such that the second internal passage of
the connecting end is fluidly connected with the first internal
passage. A second connector can include a first body, a second body
rotatably connected to the first body via a connecting structure,
and a connecting structure.
Inventors: |
STEELE; Kyle R.; (Windsor,
CO) ; Lewis; Peter D.; (Loveland, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NORDSON CORPORATION |
WESTLAKE |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005466532 |
Appl. No.: |
17/207877 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15405575 |
Jan 13, 2017 |
10955077 |
|
|
17207877 |
|
|
|
|
62280476 |
Jan 19, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 27/082 20130101;
F16L 37/098 20130101; F16L 41/007 20130101; F16L 47/06 20130101;
F16L 47/18 20130101; F16L 27/0845 20130101; F16L 41/03
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16L 27/08 20060101
F16L027/08; F16L 47/18 20060101 F16L047/18; F16L 37/098 20060101
F16L037/098; F16L 41/00 20060101 F16L041/00; F16L 41/03 20060101
F16L041/03 |
Claims
1. A connecting fitting configured to connect to a body comprising:
a sidewall; an interior passageway; and a retention projection
configured to fit into a retention groove of a body connection of
the body, wherein the interior passageway is configured to provide
fluid communication to an interior passageway in the body.
2. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 1 wherein the retention projection comprises a side wall;
and wherein the side wall of the retention projection is configured
to meet with a side wall of the retention groove of the body
connection of the body.
3. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 1 further comprising: an interference area configured to
receive a sealing barb of the body connection of the body.
4. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 3 wherein the interference area is configured to allow the
sealing barb to extend outwardly and embed into the interference
area.
5. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 3 wherein the interference area is configured to allow the
sealing barb to expand into the sidewall thereby creating a fluid
tight seal between the interior passageway and the interior
passageway of the body.
6. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 1 further comprising: a flared area configured and
dimensioned to receive the body connection of the body.
7. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 6 wherein the flared area is configured to slide over a
cone-shaped portion of the body connection of the body.
8. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 6 wherein the flared area is configured to flex outwardly
as the connection fitting is moved toward the body connection.
9. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body according
to claim 6 wherein the flared area is configured to flex outwardly
as the connection fitting is moved toward the body connection while
a cone-shaped portion of the body connection flexes inwardly.
10. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 6 wherein the flared area is configured to snap
inwardly as the retention projection enters the retention groove of
the body connection of the body.
11. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 1 wherein the connecting fitting is configured
to fit over the body connection.
12. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 1 wherein the interior passageway defines the
retention projection.
13. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 1 further comprising: a connecting end fitting
stop surface structured and arranged to meet a stop surface on the
body.
14. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 1 wherein the connecting fitting is further
configured to connect with a tube or hose.
15. A connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
comprising: a sidewall; an interior passageway; a retention
projection configured to fit into a retention groove of a body
connection of the body; and an interference area configured to
receive a sealing barb of the body connection of the body, wherein
the interior passageway is configured to provide fluid
communication to an interior passageway in the body.
16. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 15 wherein the retention projection comprises a
side wall; and wherein the side wall of the retention projection is
configured to meet with a side wall of the retention groove of the
body connection of the body.
17. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 15 wherein the interference area is configured
to allow the sealing barb to extend outwardly and embed into the
interference area.
18. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 15 wherein the interference area is configured
to allow the sealing barb to expand into the sidewall thereby
creating a fluid tight seal between the interior passageway and the
interior passageway of the body.
19. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 15 further comprising: a flared area configured
and dimensioned to receive the body connection of the body.
20. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 19 wherein the flared area is configured to
slide over a cone-shaped portion of the body connection of the
body.
21. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 19 wherein the flared area is configured to flex
outwardly as the connection fitting is moved toward the body
connection.
22. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 19 wherein the flared area is configured to flex
outwardly as the connection fitting is moved toward the body
connection while a cone-shaped portion of the body connection
flexes inwardly.
23. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 19 wherein the flared area is configured to snap
inwardly as the retention projection enters the retention groove of
the body connection of the body.
24. The connecting fitting configured to connect to a body
according to claim 15 wherein the connecting fitting is further
configured to connect with a tube or hose.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/405,575, filed Jan. 13, 2017, incorporated
herein by reference in in its entirety, which application claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/280,476, filed
Jan. 19, 2016, the entire disclosures of both of which are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to connectors for
tubes or hoses. More particularly, the present disclosure relates
to a connector assembly having multiple connecting ends where at
least one end is rotatable with respect to the other connecting
ends and the rotatable end is connected by a snap fit
connection.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Connectors are used for making connections with tubes, hoses
and/or conduits. Due to the variety of uses and settings where
conduits may be used, it may be desirable to adapt the connector to
connect various conduits coming to the connector at various
orientations.
[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus that
can be moved or adjusted in order to connect to various conduits
attaching to the connector at various orientations.
SUMMARY
[0005] A connector includes a body defining a first internal
passage, a connecting end defining a second internal passage, and a
connecting mechanism rotatably connecting the connecting end to the
body such that the second internal passage of the connecting end is
fluidly connected with the first internal passage. The connecting
mechanism includes a retention groove defined by either the body or
the connecting end, a retention projection defined by the other of
the body or the connecting end that does not define the retention
groove, and a sealing barb located on either the body or the
connecting end and configured to be embedded in the other of the
body and connecting end on which the sealing barb is not located.
The retention projection fits within the retention groove to
connect the connecting end with the body.
[0006] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. The body and the connecting end can be made of a
resilient material and the retention projection can be inserted
into the retention groove by a snap fit. The retention groove can
be located on the connecting end and the retention projection can
be located on the body. The sealing barb can be located on the
connecting end.
[0007] The retention groove can be annular in shape and the
retention projection can have an interrupted annulus shape. The
connector can further include a stop surface located on one of the
body and connecting end. The stop surface can be dimensioned to
stop the body and the connecting end from moving closer with
respect to each other when the retention projection is located in
the retention groove.
[0008] The connecting end can include a second barb that is
configured to attach to a hose. The connecting end can be
configured to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the body. The
sealing barb can be dimensioned so that the first internal passage
of the body and the second internal passage are fluidly sealed by
the sealing barb embedded in the other of the body and connecting
end on which the sealing barb is not located without use of an
elastomeric seal. The sealing barb, when embedded in the other of
the body and connecting end on which the sealing barb is not
located, can be proximate to an undercut or chamfered surface
located on the other of the body and connecting end on which the
sealing barb is not located. The sealing barb can define at least a
portion of the retention groove. The body can include a second
connecting end, where the connecting end and the second connecting
end can define a barb configured to retain a hose.
[0009] In another aspect, a connector includes a first body, a
second body rotatably connected to the first body via a connecting
structure, and a connecting structure. The connecting structure
includes a locking structure located on both the first and second
bodies and configured to lock the first and second bodies together
in a snap fit configuration, a first stop surface located on the
first body, a second stop surface located on the second body, and a
sealing barb located on the first body and embedded into
corresponding geometry on the second body.
[0010] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. The connecting structure can include a retaining groove
in one of the first and second bodies and a retaining projection
located in the other of the first and second bodies not containing
the retaining groove. The first body can be fastened to the second
body via the retaining projection interlocking into the retaining
groove. The retaining groove can be generally annular in shape and
the retaining projection can be dimensioned to fit in the retaining
groove.
[0011] The retaining projection can have an interrupted annulus
shape. The first and second bodies can be made of resilient
material so that the first and second bodies flex as the retaining
projection is slid toward the retaining groove. Once the retaining
projection is moved to the retaining groove, the retaining
projection can snap into place into the retaining groove. The
sealing barb and corresponding geometry on the second body can be
dimensioned so that when the sealing barb is embedded into the
corresponding geometry on the second body, the first and second
bodies can be fluidly sealed with respect to each other without use
of an elastomeric seal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector
according to one embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional of the connector shown in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a partial, close-up, cross-sectional view of the
connector shown in FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of another
connector in accordance with another embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another connector in
accordance with another embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another connector in
accordance with another embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in
FIG. 6.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a connector
in accordance with yet another embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a portion of a connector used in conjunction with
a portion of the connector shown in FIG. 8.
[0021] FIG. 10 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the
connector portions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in a connecting
attitude.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a connector in
accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Various embodiments will now be described with reference to
the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like
parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present
disclosure provides a rotating snap connection for connecting
tubes, hoses and/or other conduits where the rotatable portion of
the connector snap fits with the remaining portion of the
connector. The terms "hose" or "tube" should not be viewed as
limiting but should be understood to mean any generic type of
mechanical conduit.
[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and cross-sectional views,
respectively, of a connector 20 in accordance with an embodiment of
the present disclosure. In the cross-sectional view shown in FIG.
2, a rotating portion of the connector 20 has been rotated to be in
alignment with the remaining portion of the connector 20.
[0025] The connector 20 includes a body 22. The body 22 defines a
first interior passageway 24 which is configured to allow fluid,
whether a liquid or gas, to flow through the body 22. The connector
20 also includes a first connecting end 26, a second connecting end
28, and a third connecting end 30. One of ordinary skill the art
will understand that connectors in accordance with the present
disclosure may include more or fewer connecting ends then shown and
described herein.
[0026] Each connecting end 26, 28, 30, may include a chamfered or
curved surface 32 in order to facilitate the connecting ends 26,
28, 30 attaching to a tube or hose. The connecting ends 26, 28, 30,
may also include a first inclined surface 34 and a barb 36. The
barb 36 may be useful in retaining and/or sealing a tube or hose to
the connector 20. The connecting ends 26, 28, 30, may also include
a second inclined surface 38 that may allow the tube or hose, when
connected to the connector 20, to be friction fit onto the
connector 20. In some instances, once the second inclined surface
38 grows to be as wide as the tube or hose moving toward the end,
26, 28, or 30, the tube or hose will no longer fit onto the
connector 20 and may stop. In other instances, a stop surface 39
may be provided in order to provide a hard stop for a tube or hose
being connected to the connector 20. A gripping surface 40 may be
provided around a circumference of the stop surface 39 to allow a
user to grip the connector 20. In some embodiments, it may be
useful to twist the connector 20 when attaching or detaching a tube
or hose to the connecting ends 26, 28, 30.
[0027] In some embodiments, the connecting ends 26, 28 30 may
include interior passageways 24 or 42. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, a third connecting end 30 is rotatable with respect
to the body 22 of the connector 20. The rotatable end 30 rotates
with respect to the body 22 in the direction shown by arrow A in
FIG. 1. The third connecting end 30 includes a second interior
passageway 42 that is fluidly connected to the first interior
passageway 24 via a merging area 44. As a result, all of the
connecting ends 26, 28, 30 have interior passageways 24 and 42 that
are fluidly connected.
[0028] The third connecting end 30 attaches to the body 22 at a
connecting area 46. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged, cross-sectional
view of the connecting area 46 of the connector 20. With reference
to FIG. 3, the connecting area 46 includes a retention groove 48
defined in the third connecting end 30. A retention projection 50
is defined by the body 22. The retention projection 50 fits within
the retention groove 48 in order to lock the third connecting end
30 to the body 22. It will be appreciated that the third connecting
end 30 is generally circular in cross-section at the connecting
area 46 as shown in FIG. 1. As such, the third connecting end 30
may be able to rotate 360.degree. with respect to the body 22 while
allowing the retention projection 50 to remain in the retention
groove 48.
[0029] It should also be appreciated that both the retention groove
48 and the retention projection 50 are generally annular in shape.
A side wall 52 of the retention groove 48 provides a stop surface
and abuts a side wall 54 of the retention projection 50. In this
manner, the retention projection 50 is trapped within the retention
groove 48 thereby locking the third connecting end 30 to the body
22 while providing fluid communication between the second interior
passageway 42 of the third connecting end 30 with the first
interior passageway 24 of the body 22.
[0030] A sealing barb 56 is located on the third connecting end 30
and is embedded in the corresponding structure in the body 22. The
body 22 has corresponding structure having corresponding geometry
to receive the sealing barb 56. The shape of the corresponding
geometry may be simply a straight wall tube to receive the sealing
barb 56. Alternatively, the corresponding geometry may include
other preformed shapes to receive the sealing barb 56. The
corresponding structure in the body 22 is compliant in receiving
the sealing barb 56 to form a seal between the sealing barb 56 and
the corresponding structure of the body 22. The fact that a sharp
portion of the sealing barb 56 is embedded into the body 22
provides a fluid tight seal between the third connecting end 30 and
the body 22. The sealing barb 56 obviates the need for any other
types of seals such as elastomeric seals. However, in some
embodiments, elastomeric seals may also be used but they may not be
required in many embodiments. It will be appreciated that the
sealing barb 56 is also annular in shape and may engage the body 22
in an annular shaped contact area.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of an alternate
connector 20. The alternate connector 20 may include a rotating end
57 which includes a connecting nozzle 58 configured to receive a
tube or hose. The connecting nozzle 58 may be located in a
connecting hole 60 in which connecting threads 62 may be located.
The connecting threads 62 may threadably engage the connector 20
with a tube or hose connected to the alternative connector fitting
71.
[0032] The rotating end 57 connects to the body 22 in a manner
similarly described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3. The second
interior passageway 42 is fluidly connected to a first interior
passageway 24 in the body 22 via a merge area 44. The connecting
area 46 includes a retention groove 48 located in the rotating end
57. A retention projection 50 is located in the rotating end 57. A
side wall 52 of the retention groove 48 interacts with the side
wall 54 of the retention projection 50 in order to retain the
retention projection 50 into the retention groove 48. In this
manner, the rotating end 57 is mechanically fastened to the body 22
in a manner that allows the rotating end 57 to rotate axially with
respect to the body 22.
[0033] In both embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3, and FIG. 4, the
sealing barb 56 not only provides a sealing function to seal the
first interior passageway 24 with the second interior passageway 42
by embedding into the body 22, but the sealing barb 56 may also
define, at least in part, the retention groove 48 and help to
retain the retention projection 50 within the retention groove 48.
Interference area 64 illustrates a portion of the sealing barb 56
embedded into the body 22 in order to provide a sealing function.
The interference area 64 is referred to as an interference area
because that is where the sealing barb 56 and the body 22 are
connected and/or sealed by an interference fit. As the sealing barb
56 embeds into the body 22, it also mechanically attaches the body
22 with the connecting end 30 or 57.
[0034] An undercut, chamfer, or inclined area 66 may be provided on
the retention projection 50 as shown in both FIGS. 3 and 4. This
undercut, chamfer, or inclined area 66 may be useful during
assembly and/or disassembly of the connector 20.
[0035] The body 22 and third end 30 or rotating end 57 may be made
of a resilient material that will flex such as, for example
plastic. In some embodiments, the connector 20 may be made of
polymers. For example, the connector 20 may be made of any of the
following: polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),
nylon, polyethylene, polycarbonate, high-density polyethylene
(HDPE), or acteal. It should be understood that the foregoing list
is meant to be examples only and is in no way limiting of suitable
materials that may be used for the connector 20 in various
embodiments.
[0036] When the third connecting end 30 or rotating end 57 is being
inserted into the body 22, both the body 22 and the connecting end
30 or 57 may flex until the retention projection 50 snaps into the
retention groove 48. About at the position where the retention
projection 50 snaps into the retention groove 48, the sealing barb
56 will embed itself into the body 22. In this position, the side
wall 52 of the retention groove 48 will act as a positive stop and
prevent the retention projection 50 from moving further into the
body 22.
[0037] While various features such as the retention groove 48 and
sealing barb 56 have been attributed to either the third end 30 or
the rotating end 57 and the retention projection 50 and
corresponding structure of the body 22 for receiving the sealing
barb 56 have been attributed to specifically the body 22, it will
be appreciated that these features may be reversed. Optionally, the
body 22 may define a retention groove 48 and a retention projection
50 and the sealing barb 56 may be found on the body 22. A mere
reversal or rearrangement of position of various parts will still
fall within what is contemplated by the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another connector 20 in
accordance of the present disclosure. The connector 20 shown in
FIG. 5 includes a first connecting end 26, a second connecting end
28, a third connecting end 30, and a fourth connecting end 68.
Interior passageways 24, 42, and 70 are all fluidly connected. The
third connecting end 30 and fourth connecting end 68 are integral
with each other and both the rotate and are connected to the body
22 at the connecting area 46. The connecting area 46 has connecting
and sealing structure similar to that described above with respect
to FIGS. 1-3 and 4.
[0039] FIGS. 6 through 10 illustrate another embodiment in
accordance with the current disclosure. FIGS. 6 and 7 are
perspective and cross-sectional views of an alternative type of
connector 20. The connector 20 includes a body 22 having a first
interior passageway 24, a first connecting end 26, a second
connecting end 28, a third connecting end 30, and a fourth
connecting end 68 attached to the body 22. The second and third
connecting ends 28 and 30 are attached to the body 22 at a
connecting area 46. As shown in FIG. 7, alternative connecting
fittings 71 are present on both the second connecting end 28 and
third connecting end 30 and defined interior passageways 72 and 74.
An alternative body connection 73 is part of the body 22 and used
to connect the alternative connection fittings 71 to the body
22.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative
connection fittings of FIGS. 6 and 7. The alternative connection
fittings 71 define the interior passageway 72 or 74 and defies a
retention projection 50. A flared area 76 is also defined and
dimensioned to receive the alternative body connection shown in
FIGS. 7, 9, and 10.
[0041] FIG. 9 illustrates the alternative body connection 73
portion of the body 22 portion of the connector 20. The alternative
body connection 73 includes a chamfer, inclined, or curved surface
32, a first inclined surface 34 and retaining barb 36. A second
inclined surface 38 is also present on the alternative body
connection 73. A stop surface 80 is also located on the alternative
body connection 73.
[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates the alternative connecting fittings 71
mounted onto the alternative body connection 73 of the body 22.
Because the alternative connection fittings 71 are used on both of
the second connecting end 28 and third connecting end 30, only one
alternative connecting fitting 71 and alternative body connection
73 will be described in detail because whether they are mounted on
the second connecting end 28 or third connecting end 30 they are
the same. The interior passageways 72, 74 provide fluid
communication to the first interior passageway 24 in the body
22.
[0043] The alternative connecting fitting 71 fits over the
alternative body connection 73 by the flared area 76 sliding over
the cone-shaped portion 75 of the alternative body connection 73.
The cone-shaped portion 75 may flex inwardly and the flared area 76
may flex outwardly as the alternative connection fittings 71 is
moving toward the alternative body connection 73. The alternative
connecting fitting 71 moves towards the alternative body connection
73 until the connecting end fittings stop surface 82 meets the stop
surface 80 on the body 22. The connector 20 is dimensioned and
sized so that when the connecting end fittings stop surface 82
meets the stop surface 80, the retention projection 50 of the
alternative connecting fitting 71 fits into the retention groove 48
of the alternative body connection 73. The cone-shaped portion 75
may snap outwardly and/or the flared area 76 may snap inwardly as
the retention projection 50 enters the retention groove 48. The
side wall 54 of the retention projection 50 will meet with the side
wall 52 of the retention groove 48. The sealing barb 56 will extend
outwardly and embed itself into the alternative connection fitting
71 at the interference area 64. In the interference area 64 the
sealing barb 56 will expand into the side wall 84 of the
alternative connection fitting 71 thereby creating a fluid tight
seal between the interior passageways 72, 74 of the alternative
connection fitting 71 and the first interior passageway 24 of the
body 22. The alternative connection fitting 71 is free to rotate
axially about the alternative body connection 73.
[0044] In some embodiments, the retention projection 50 may not be
contiguous but rather may be in an interrupted shape or, in other
words, the shape of an interrupted annulus. FIG. 11 is a
cross-sectional view of the alternative connection fitting 71
showing the retention projection 50 having interruptions 86. In
some embodiments, the interruptions may have various dimensions X.
For example, in some embodiments, the distance X may be 0.02 of an
inch. In other embodiments other dimensions for X may be used. It
will be appreciated that even though the retention projection 50
has interruptions 86, this in no way prohibits rotation of the
retention projection 50 within the retention groove 48.
[0045] While the structure described in the connecting area 46 has
been described as part of a connector 20, it will be appreciated
that the structure forming the connecting area 46 in order to allow
a structure to be rotatably connected to a body is not limited to
connectors but may be used in a variety of settings in accordance
with the present disclosure.
[0046] The many features and advantages of the connector are
apparent from the detailed description, and thus, it is intended by
the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the connector. Further, since numerous modifications and variations
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the connector to the exact construction and operation
illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the connector.
* * * * *