Quick connect fitting

Claim 1

A quick connect coupling providing a body assembly having a tube end receiving passage with a seal portion and a radially extending wall for positioning a lock ring, and a tube, said tube having a peripheral groove, a snap lock ring bridging between said groove and said radially extending wall operating to lock said end portion in said passage when said end portion is assembled in said passage, seal means separate from said lock ring providing a fluidtight joint between said end portion and body assembly, said body assembly including a body member and a nut threaded to said body member, said radially extending wall being formed on said nut substantially adjacent the inner end thereof, said nut having a counterbore at its inner end, said radially extending wall being provided by the inner end of said counterbore, said nut being threaded to the body member until the inner end of said nut bottoms on said body member, said groove having a side wall adapted to engage said ring and apply outwardly directed radial pressure and axially directed longitudinal pressure to said ring to urge said ring into longitudinal contact with radially extending wall and to urge said ring away from the bottom of said groove upon the application of an axially outwardly directed pulling force on said tube, said lock ring being held within said groove prior to insertion into said passage by a circumferential band slidable along said tube and assembly, said band having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said tube end receiving passage so that said band is removed from engagement with said lock ring as the lock ring enters the passage.