Jerry Kevin Meeks

US Patent:

60657790, May 23, 2000

Filed:

Mar 23, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/046209

Inventors:

Ronald A. Moner - Twinsburg OH
Jerry L. Meeks - Macedonia OH

Assignee:

Parker-Hannifin Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F16L 37092
F16L 3708

US Classification:

285 23

Abstract:

A clip for use in combination with a fitting of a variety adapted for a releasable connection with the distal end of a length of tubing as including a body member, and an annular collet member received within a gland of the body member for slidable axial movement intermediate a rearward position accommodating the radial outward expansion of the collet member for the insertion and removal of the tubing end therethrough and a forward position effecting the radially inward contraction of the collet member about the outer tubing diameter delimiting the removal of the tubing distal end from the fitting. The clip includes a retaining portion configured to be received coaxially on the collet member intermediate an external forward end thereof and an opposing end of the fitting body member, and a shroud portion configured to extend over the forward end of the collet member for delimiting force-transmitting contact therewith tending to move the collet member from its forward to rearward position. The shroud portion is circumscribed about at least part of the outer periphery of the clip as extending axially from a forward surface of the retaining portion to a distal end defining a length of the shroud. Such length is selected so that when the retaining portion of the clip is received on the collet member, the distal end of the shroud portion terminates beyond the forward end of the collet member when the collet member is disposed in its forward position.