Raymond D Townsend

US Patent:

7448653, Nov 11, 2008

Filed:

Jun 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/149624

Inventors:

Jeffrey P. Jensen - Fort Collins CO, US
Ralph E. Burns - Louisville CO, US
Raymond Townsend - Johnstown CO, US
Richard W. Cairns - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Value Plastics, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F16L 37/00

US Classification:

285307, 285305, 285308, 604533

Abstract:

A female connector for releasable coupling with a male connector is disclosed herein. The male connector defines a fluid conduit and includes a male end adapted to be received within the female connector. The male end includes a coupling feature. The female connector comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation element. The opening is adapted to guide the male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the female connector. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage the coupling feature of the male end and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuation element is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male end. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature, the fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the female connector.

US Patent:

7770939, Aug 10, 2010

Filed:

Jul 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/178138

Inventors:

Jeffrey P. Jensen - Fort Collins CO, US
Ralph E. Burns - Louisville CO, US
Raymond Townsend - Johnstown CO, US
Richard W. Cairns - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Value Plastics, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F16L 37/00

US Classification:

285307, 285305, 285308, 604533

Abstract:

A fluid connector system may include a female connector for releasable coupling with a male connector. The male connector defines a fluid conduit and includes a male end adapted to be received within the female connector. The male end includes a coupling feature. The female connector comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation element. The opening is adapted to guide the male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the female connector. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage the coupling feature of the male end and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuation element is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male end. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature, the fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the female connector.

US Patent:

7806139, Oct 5, 2010

Filed:

Jan 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/336587

Inventors:

Trent Turner Packham - Fort Collins CO, US
Francis J. Lombardi - Fort Collins CO, US
Leonard L. Hofheins - Provo UT, US
Gregg D. Niven - Kaysville UT, US
Robert J. Elshof - Fort Collins CO, US
Raymond L. Townsend - Johnstown CO, US
Richard W. Cairns - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Value Plastics, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F16L 37/34

US Classification:

13761405, 13761404, 2511496

Abstract:

The present invention is a fluid conduit coupling assembly for coupling a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit. The fluid conduit coupling assembly comprises a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler is for connecting to the first fluid conduit and comprises a first housing and a first valve. The first valve comprises a first lever arm. The second coupler is for connecting to the second fluid conduit and comprises a second housing and a second valve. The second valve comprises a second lever arm. When a force is applied to couple together the couplers, at least a portion of said force is communicated to each lever arm, thereby causing each valve to pivot from a closed position to an open position. The first valve and first lever arm are contained within the first housing, and the second valve and second lever arm are contained within the second housing.

US Patent:

D652511, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Feb 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

29/385363

Inventors:

Ravikumar Narayanan - Fort Collins CO, US
Raymond L. Townsend - Johnstown CO, US

Assignee:

Value Plastics, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

2402

US Classification:

D24129

US Patent:

8113546, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

Aug 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/853063

Inventors:

Jeffrey P. Jensen - Fort Collins CO, US
Ralph E. Burns - Louisville CO, US
Raymond Townsend - Johnstown CO, US
Richard W. Cairns - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Value Plastics, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F16L 37/00

US Classification:

285307, 285305, 285308, 604533

Abstract:

A latching female tubing coupler comprises an opening, a collet finger, and an actuation member. The opening is adapted to guide a male connector along a first line of action as the male connector passes into the opening to be received within the latching female tubing coupler. The collet finger includes an engagement feature adapted to engage a coupling feature of the male connector and displace along a second line of action generally normal to the first line of action. The actuator member is adapted to displace along a third line of action generally normal to the first and second lines of action in order to disengage the engagement feature from the coupling feature of the male connector. When the engagement feature is engaged with the coupling feature on a male connector, a fluid conduit of the male connector is held in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the latching female tubing coupler.

US Patent:

8397756, Mar 19, 2013

Filed:

Sep 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/893432

Inventors:

Trent Turner Packham - Fort Collins CO, US
Francis J. Lombardi - Fort Collins CO, US
Leonard L. Hofheins - Provo UT, US
Gregg D. Niven - Kaysville UT, US
Robert J. Elshof - Fort Collins CO, US
Raymond L. Townsend - Johnstown CO, US
Richard W. Cairns - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Nordson Corporation - Westlake OH

International Classification:

F16L 37/23

US Classification:

13761405, 285320

Abstract:

A fluid conduit coupling assembly has a depressible latch mechanism that secures a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit via a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler connects to the first fluid conduit and the second coupler connects to the second fluid conduit. The depressible latch mechanism is formed by a pair of cantilevered buttons disposed in symmetrically opposed positions on one of the couplers. The cantilevered buttons have engagement lips that extend distally with catches that extend radially outward to engage a ridge formed on an interior wall of the opposing coupler. Fluid ports within the couplers interface when the couplers connect to provide fluid flow between the first and second conduits. Valves may be disposed in each of the couplers to arrest fluid flow when the couplers are detached and automatically open to allow fluid to flow when the couplers are connected.