Reliance Worldwide has been granted a patent for a connector design. The connector includes a body with an open end and a shoulder that supports an O-ring. A cap is fitted within the open end and has legs with outwardly extending teeth that engage with a complementary recess in the body. The cap also has a collet with inwardly facing teeth to grip a tube. Axial movement of the collet causes inward deflection of its legs, applying a radially outward force to the cap’s legs, securing the connector. GlobalData’s report on Reliance Worldwide gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Reliance Worldwide, Intelligent HVACs was a key innovation area identified from patents. Reliance Worldwide's grant share as of September 2023 was 62%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Connector with snap fit cap and collet for gripping tube
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11761568B2) describes a connector design that includes a body with a through-way and an open end. The body features a shoulder that supports an O-ring and a cap that is fitted within the open end of the body. The cap is retained in the body through a snap fit mechanism, with legs extending away from the open end. These legs have outwardly extending teeth that engage with complementary recesses in the body, providing the snap fit. The cap also has a tapered surface that engages with a collet, which is located within the cap and has legs that grip a tube in the through-way. When the collet is moved towards the open end, the tapered surface causes inward deflection of the collet legs, applying a radially outward force to the legs of the cap and urging the teeth into the respective recesses.
The patent also mentions several additional features of the connector design. The faces of the teeth of the cap and the recesses in the body are provided in the same plane, which is perpendicular to the axis of the body. The cap and body can be made of different materials. Complementary features are included in the cap and body to ensure correct angular alignment. The body is equipped with a stop, in the form of a shoulder adjacent to a recess, to prevent over insertion of the cap. The recesses in the body can be closed at their radially outermost face. In some embodiments, the cap is retained entirely within the body, while in others, the collet protrudes from the open end of the body.
Overall, this patented connector design offers a secure and efficient connection mechanism for tubes or other components. The snap fit and gripping action provided by the cap and collet ensure a reliable connection, while the tapered surface and complementary features contribute to the proper alignment and functioning of the connector. The design also allows for customization, with options for different materials and configurations.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
