The redundant latch/verifier is releasably coupled to the connector body and movable between an unlatched position and a latched position. It includes spaced apart fingers with verifying tabs that permit movement to the latched position only after full insertion of the male member. The fingers have release tabs to manually spread the extension beams. In another form, the connector globe valve body includes locking pads extending radially inward. The legs of the primary retainer are located inward of the locking pads preventing the legs from moving to a released position if said male member is pulled in a direction to remove it from the connector body.

In automotive and other fields, quick connector couplings, which generally include a male member received and sealingly retained in a female connector body, are often utilize to provide a fluid connection between two components or conduits, thusestablishing a fluid line between the two components. Use of quick connector couplings is advantageous in that a sealed and secured fluid line may be established with a minimum amount of time and expense.

A number of methods and mechanisms exist for securing the male member and female connector body of a quick connector coupling together.

One type of retention mechanism involves use of a retainer in the form of a retention lip inserted through slots formed in the exterior of the connector body. Beams extending through the slots are poised between the male member upset and therearward surfaces defining the slots, thereby preventing disconnection of the coupling. Due to the physical appearance of such retainers, they are referred to in the trade as "horseshoe" retainers. An example of this type of retainer is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,792, to Kalahassthy et al., which is herein incorporated by reference. The "horseshoe" retainer, disclosed in the ’792 patent, permits easy release of the coupling without significantly increasing the complexity of the coupling. Application for U.S. Ser. No. 11/087,358 filed Mar. 23, 2005 disclosed various arrangements of connectors with horseshoe type retainers and a redundant latch/verifier. The disclosure of that application is incorporated by reference herein.

MORE NEWS