Union device for flexible tubing

Claim 1

A connector for rapid, fluidtight connecting to a flexible tubular member, comprising: a connecting body having therein an inner bore and having, coaxially with the bore at an end thereof, a first recess wider than and communicating with the bore and extending away from it, a first annular shoulder extending outwardly from the first recess remotely from the bore, a second recess wider than and communicating with the first recess and having a side wall extending from a periphery of the first shoulder away from that shoulder, a second annular shoulder extending outwardly from an end of the side wall remotely from the first shoulder, and a third recess wider than and communicating with the second recess and extending away therefrom to a surface of the connector body; a sealing ring inserted in the second recess, engaging the first shoulder and the side wall and having sealing ring surface portions exposed opposite the side wall and the first shoulder; a locking ring slidingly receivable in use, in a direction axial of the inner bore, in the third recess to abut an end of the locking ring against the second shoulder, the locking ring having a generally smooth inner surface receptive in use, in a direction axial of the inner bore, of an end portion of a flexible tubular member for engagement of an outer surface portion of the tubular member's end portion with one of the exposed surface portions of the sealing ring, the locking ring having an end surface at said end thereof engageable with the other exposed surface of the sealing ring to compress the sealing ring against the first shoulder and thereby against the side wall of the second recess and the outer surface portion of the tubular member's end portion; and inner and outer barbs on the locking ring, the outer barb being disposed on an outer surface of the locking ring and being inclined relative thereto to oppose withdrawal of the locking ring, once received in the third recess, from the connecting body, and the inner barb being disposed on the generally smooth inner surface of the locking ring and being inclined relative thereto, oppositely to the inclination of the outer barb, to oppose withdrawal of the flexible tubular member from the locking ring once the tubular member is received therein; thereby enabling rapid locking of the tubular member to the connecting body through the locking ring, while also enabling simultaneous fluidtight connecting of the tubular member with the connecting body through the sealing ring compressed by the locking ring.