Background Art In many cases, upon connection of a hose to a faucet, the hose is generally fitted directly around a distal end of the faucet. However, an additional coupling device is used to establish a secure, strong and sealed connection. For example, a coupling device capable of withstanding a water pressure of 17.5 kgf/cm2 is utilized when a hose for connection to a washing machine is connected to a faucet.

To this end, a conventional water supply pipe-coupling device is constructed such that it can be fixed to a faucet by screwing fastening screws in four directions upon connection thereof to the faucet. Therefore, the attachment process is inconvenient, and there is a high possibility that incomplete attachment will prevent proper sealing from being maintained and cause leakage of water. Further, the conventional water supply pipe-coupling device has a structure in which sealing is maintained by bring a flat annular packing into close contact with the distal end of the faucet. However, such a structure has difficulty in maintaining proper sealing if a force pressing the. packing is weakened or uniform distribution of the force is not achieved. To overcome these /*' disadvantages, there has been proposed a water supply pipe-coupling device, which is constructed such that a packing is fitted around the distal end of the faucet. However, this still has problems in that connection thereof to the faucet is inconvenient and the sealing is deteriorated.

Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe-coupling device that allows a hose to be easily connected to a fluid supply pipe and maintains

good sealing, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe- coupling device having a clamping unit that can be easily tightened and strongly coupled to a water supply pipe through the operation of a lever.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe- coupling device that has an improved structure between a clamping unit and a packing into which a distal end of a faucet is inserted, and a method of manufacturing the same.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a water supply- coupling device having an improved hose-coupling structure.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe- coupling device having a clamping unit that can be easily tightened and strongly coupled to a water supply pipe through the operation of two levers.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe- coupling device having a clamping unit adapted to outer diameters of a variety of water supply pipes or larger outer diameters.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid coupling device coupled to a distal end of a fluid supply pipe for connecting a hose to the fluid supply pipe to extend the flow of a fluid, comprising a connection body for providing a fluid flow passage from the fluid supply pipe to the hose coupled to the connection body, and a clamp unit for fixing the connection body to the distal end of the fluid supply pipe. The connection body includes a packing that provides sealing upon connection thereof to the fluid supply pipe and has a body for receiving the distal end of the fluid supply pipe therein and a cover flange expanding substantially horizontally from the top of the body, a housing that provides a fluid flow passage bore and has a packing seating portion with a support flange on which the packing is seated and which is positioned below the cover flange and a hose coupling portion to which the hose is coupled, and an annular cover for wrapping at least a portion of the top and a rim of the cover flange of the packing. The clamp unit includes a tightening ring having a first groove formed along an inner periphery thereof to receive the cover flange and the support flange wrapped with the annular cover and further having jaws for biting the

distal end of the fluid supply pipe, and a tightening unit adapted to be connected to the tightening ring and to cause the jaws of the tightening ring to bite the fluid supply pipe, thereby achieving the coupling of the fluid coupling device to the fluid supply pipe.

In one embodiment, the annular cover comprises a rim and upper and lower flanges bent and extending from the rim so as to wrap a top surface and edge of the cover flange and a bottom surface of the support flange. The first groove of the tightening ring may have upper and lower surfaces with which the upper and lower flanges of the annular cover come into contact, respectively, and the upper and lower surfaces may be horizontal surfaces. Alternatively, the first groove of the tightening ring may have upper and lower surfaces with which the upper and lower flanges of the annular cover come into contact, respectively, and at least one of the upper and lower surfaces may be an inclined surface. Alternatively, the first groove of the tightening ring may have upper and lower surfaces with which the upper and lower flanges of the annular cover come into contact, respectively, and both the upper and lower surfaces may be inclined surfaces. In another embodiment, the annular cover comprises a rim and an upper flange bent and extending from the rim so as to wrap a top surface and edge of the cover flange and to expose a bottom surface of the support flange, and the annular cover comes into contact with an upper surface of the first groove of the tightening ring and the support flange comes into contact with a lower surface of the first groove.

In a further embodiment, the hose coupling portion includes a hose coupling end to which the hose is coupled, a collet with feet for surrounding an outer surface of the hose fitted around the hose coupling end, and a cap for surrounding the collet and pressing the feet of the collet against the hose. An inner surface of each of the feet of the collet may be provided with a pressing boss sharply protruding to press the hose.

In a still further embodiment, the tightening ring comprises a pair of semicircular supports coupled to each other, each of the semicircular supports is formed with a second groove above the first groove, the tightening ring has a pair of jaws fitted into the second grooves of the semicircular supports, and the tightening unit couples and tightens the semicircular supports. One ends of the pair of semicircular supports may

be connected by means of a hinge pin, and the other ends thereof may be connected by means of the tightening unit. The tightening unit may include a lever mechanism, and the lever mechanism may have a bolt penetrating through the other ends of the pair of semicircular supports, a nut fastened to the bolt, and a lever hingedly connected to a head of the bolt.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing the fluid coupling device, comprising the steps of preparing an annular cover preform having a rim and one of upper and lower flanges inwardly bent from one end of the rim; placing the cover flange and the support flange within the annular cover and forming the other of the upper and lower flanges by inwardly bending and deforming the end of the rim, whereby the cover flange and the support flange are wrapped with the annular cover. In one embodiment, the step of forming the other of the upper and lower flanges is performed by moving a plurality of horizontally movable side punches.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid coupling device coupled to a distal end of a fluid supply pipe for connecting a hose to the fluid supply pipe to extend the flow of a fluid, comprising a connection body that provides a fluid flow passage from the fluid supply pipe to the hose coupled to the connection body and has an upper flange portion, and a clamp unit for fixing the connection body to the distal end of the fluid supply pipe. The clamp unit includes a tightening ring having a first groove formed along an inner periphery thereof to receive the flange portion and further having jaws for biting the distal end of the fluid supply pipe, and a tightening lever mechanism that is adapted to be connected to the tightening ring and to cause the jaws of the tightening ring to bite the fluid supply pipe and has two levers, thereby achieving the coupling of the fluid coupling device to the fluid supply pipe.

In one embodiment, the tightening ring comprises a pair of semicircular supports coupled to each other, each of the semicircular supports is formed with a second groove above the first groove, the tightening ring has a pair of jaws fitted into the second grooves of the semicircular supports, and the tightening lever mechanism

couples and tightens the semicircular supports. One ends of the pair of semicircular supports may be connected by means of a hinge pin, and the other ends thereof may be connected by means of the tightening lever mechanism. The tightening lever mechanism may include a connection bar penetrating through the other ends of the semicircular supports, and the two levers rotatably coupled to both ends of the connection bar. The connection bar may comprise a pair of connection pins each of which has a head and a leg, and a coupling structure is provided between the legs of the connection pins.

In another embodiment, two tightening lever mechanism are provided to connect respective ends of the pair of semicircular supports, and each of the tightening lever mechanisms includes a lever and a connection pin that penetrates through the corresponding ends of the pair of semicircular supports and has one end supported not to escape and the other end with a head hingedly connected to the lever. The connection pin may comprise a bolt with the head, and a nut fastened thereto not to escape from an end of the relevant support.

Each of the levers may have a head and a handle, the head of the lever may be provided with a recess at the center thereof, the head of the connection pin may be inserted into the recess, and a hinge pin may penetrate through the head of the lever and the head of the connection pin.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing the fluid coupling device, comprising the steps of inserting the heads of the connection pins into the recesses formed in the heads of the levers; causing the hinge pins to penetrate through and to couple the coupled heads of the levers and connection pins; and pressing at least one end of each of the hinge pins with a punch so that the end of the hinge pin can be plastically deformed.

Brief Description of the Drawings These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of embodiments of the present invention given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water supply pipe-coupling device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the water supply-coupling device of Fig. 1, showing a connection state of a connection hose to a water supply pipe; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply pipe-coupling device, with some parts partially cut away to reveal the interiors thereof; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the coupling relationship among a housing, a packing and an annular cover, which are inserted into a groove of a tightening ring in the water supply pipe-coupling device of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 (a) and (b) are views showing an example of the process of forming the annular cover of the water supply pipe-coupling device of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view showing another example of the process of forming the annular cover of the water supply pipe-coupling device of Fig. 1; Figs. 7 (a) and (b) are enlarged sectional views of variations of the groove of the tightening ring in the water supply pipe-coupling device of Fig. 1 ; Figs. 8 (a) and (b) are sectional views showing the coupling of a jaw to the tightening ring in the water supply pipe-coupling device of Fig. 1, wherein (a) shows a state before the insertion of the jaw into the tightening ring and (b) shows a state after the insertion; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a tightening ring and jaws in a variation of the water supply pipe-coupling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the number of jaws provided in the tightening ring of the water supply pipe-coupling device is increased; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a housing, a packing and an annular cover in a variation of the water supply pipe-coupling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the coupling relationship among the housing, the packing and the annular cover thereof is different from that of the water supply pipe-coupling device of the first embodiment; Figs. 11 (a) to (c) are enlarged sectional views exemplarily showing the coupling relationship among the housing, the packing and the annular cover, which are

inserted into a groove of a tightening ring in the variation of the water supply pipe- coupling device of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a water supply pipe-coupling device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a state where the water supply pipe- coupling device of the Fig. 12 is connected to a faucet and a hose; Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply pipe-coupling device of the Fig. 12, with some parts partially cut away to reveal the interiors thereof; Figs. 15 (a) and (b) are views illustrating an example of the process of coupling a lever and a connection pin by processing and fixing a hinge pin in the water supply pipe-coupling device of the Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a view illustrating the operation of a lever mechanism of a clamping unit of the water supply pipe-coupling device of the Fig. 12; Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a water supply pipe-coupling device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of only a clamping unit of the water supply pipe-coupling device shown in Fig. 17.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a water supply pipe-coupling device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a connection body 16 for defining a water path between a hose 12 and a faucet 14 serving as a water supply pipe, and a clamping unit 18 coupled to the faucet 14 to maintain the connection body 16 in place.

The connection body 16 comprises a housing 20, a packing 22 and an annular cover 24. Further, the connection body 16 comprises a collet 26 and a cap 28 for firm coupling of the hose 12. The housing 20 is substantially cylindrical and defines a central passage bore 30 through which water passes between the faucet 14 and the hose 12. The housing 20 has an upper packing seating portion 32 and a lower hose-

connecting portion 34. The packing seating portion 32 is provided such that the packing 22 is seated above the passage bore 30. To this end, the housing 20 has a cylindrical outer wall 36 constructed such that its inner diameter is expanded to be larger than that of the passage bore 30 and extends vertically to form a packing insertion space 35. An outwardly extending support flange 38 is provided at an upper end of the outer wall 36. An outer surface of a lower portion of the outer wall 36 is provided with a knurl 39 to facilitate grasping by hand. Meanwhile, the packing insertion space 35 inside of the outer wall 36 is provided with an inner wall 40 with low height. An inner surface of the inner wall 40 is contiguous to the passage bore 30. At a contiguous point of the inner surface of the inner wall to the passage bore, the inner surface extends upwardly while being tapered to achieve an enlarged inner diameter and then extends uprightly, thereby having an inner diameter larger than that of the passage bore 30 of the inner wall 40.

The hose-connecting portion 34 at a lower portion of the housing 20 is provided with male threads 42 around which the cap 28 to be described later will be fitted. The housing 20 has a hose insertion end 44 extending from below the portion with the male threads. The hose insertion end 44 has a tapered surface 46 of which the outer diameter gradually increases upwardly so that the hose 12 can be properly fitted therearound while being substantially expanded. The hose insertion end 44 also has a catching step 48 inwardly depressed from an upper portion of the tapered surface 46.

The housing 20 is manufactured through injection molding with a plastic resin (preferably, engineering plastic material).

Referring still to Figs. 2 and 3, the packing 22 comprises a substantially funnel- shaped body 50 and a cover flange 52 formed circumferentially around an upper portion of the body 50. The packing 22 is preferably made of a resilient rubber material. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the thickness and inner inclination of the funnels-shaped body 50 can be determined to provide sealing required for the packing through deformation well shown in Fig. 2 when the faucet 14 is fitted into the body 50. A lower end of the body 50 is provided with a support step portion 54 so that it can be placed on an upper end of the inner wall 40 provided at the packing seating

portion 32 of the housing 20 and simultaneously be fitted into the inner wall 40. Of course, the lower end of the body 50 is formed with a through-hole 56 communicating with the passage bore 30. The cover flange 52 is placed on the support flange 38 of the housing 20. The cover flange 52 is provided with a rim 58 bent downwardly and extending to surround the support flange 38.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, the annular cover 24 wraps the flanges 38 and 52 in the state where the cover flange 52 is placed on the support flange 38 of the housing 20.

The annular cover 24 comprises a vertically extending rim, and upper and lower flanges radially inwardly extending from upper and lower ends of the rim, thereby substantially being''-shaped (laid U-shaped) (see Fig. 4). The annular cover 24 is made of a sheet of plastically deformable metal such as copper or copper alloy. Although Fig. 3 shows the annular cover 24 in an exploded state for the sake of convenience of illustration, the annular cover 24 is assembled through a process to be described later.

Referring again to Figs. 1 to 3, the connection body 16 is provided with the collet 26 and the cap 28 to fix the hose 12, which has been fitted into the hose insertion end 44, sufficiently to withstand desired water pressure. The collet 26 extends downwardly to converge into the center thereof, and has a plurality of feet 62 separated from one another by slits 60. A pressing protrusion 64 is formed on an inner surface of a lower end of each of the feet 62 to strongly press the hose 12. The pressing protrusion 64 is preferably constructed to be sharpened, thereby exerting high pressure on the hose 12. As well shown in Fig. 2, an outer surface of each of the feet 62 is slanted.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the cap 28 covers the collet 26 not to escape and presses the feet 62 of the collet 26. As well shown in Figs. 2 and 3, an upper portion of the cap 28 is formed with female threads 66 to be engaged with the male threads 42 of the housing 20. A lower end of the cap is provided with a ridge 68 protruding inwardly along the circumference thereof. When the cap 28 is rotated to be threadly engaged, the cap 28 is raised while the ridge 68 rides on outer inclined surfaces of the feet 62 and causes the feet 62 to deform inwardly. Then, the protrusions 64 formed at the feet 62 press the hose 12 so that the hose 12 cannot be decoupled even at high water

pressure.

Referring still to Figs. 1 to 3, the clamping unit 18 for firmly fixing the connection body 16 to the faucet 14 comprises a tightening ring 70 and a lever mechanism 72. The tightening ring 70 comprises a first semicircular support half 76 and a second semicircular support half 78, which are rotatably connected to each other by means of a hinge pin 74. One end of the first semicircular support 76 is provided with a recess 80 at the center of the thickness thereof, and projections 82 are provided on both sides of the recess 80. One end of the second semicircular support 78 is provided with a projection 84 at the center of the thickness thereof. The projection 84 is fitted into the recess 80. The projections 82 and 84 are formed with holes vertically penetrating therethrough, and the hinge pin 74 is fitted into the holes. Meanwhile, an inner periphery of each of the supports 76 and 78 is formed with circumferentially extending upper and lower grooves 92 and 94. When the two supports 76 and 78 are coupled to each other, the upper grooves 92 and the lower grooves 94 thereof form annular grooves, respectively.

Portions of the supports 76 and 78 opposite to the projections 82 and 84 are provided with substantially radially extending extensions 86 and 88, respectively. The extensions 86 and 88 are formed with tangentially extending holes 90, respectively.

When the extensions 86 and 88 abut on each other, the holes are caused to communicate with each other. A bolt 96 of the lever mechanism 72 to be described later penetrates through the holes 90.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lever mechanism 72 has a clamp lever 98, the bolt 96 rotatably connected to the clamp lever 98 by means of a hinge pin 100, and a nut 102 fastened to an end of the bolt protruding through the holes. It will be described with reference to Fig. 16 that, if a curved surface abutting on the support 76 at a portion of the clamp lever 98 of the lever mechanism 72 coupled to the bolt 76 is given a proper shape, the supports 76 and 78 move away from each other when the lever 98 is rotated to be stretched out, whereas the supports 76 and 78 move toward each other when the lever 98 is rotated to be closed up. Such a structure will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art can also understand that lever mechanisms

for use in conventional clamps can also be utilized as such a lever mechanism 72.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the flanges 38 and 52 of the housing 20 and packing 22, which have been wrapped with the annular cover 24, are inserted into the lower groove 94 of the tightening ring. Here, the flanges are inserted into the lower groove 94 when the supports 76 and 78 are tightened to move toward each other. If the annular cover 24 does not exist, the flange 52 of the packing 22 comes into direct contact with an inner surface of the groove 94. This produces large frictional force which makes the insertion into the groove 94 difficult. Therefore, it is preferred that the flanges 38 and 52 be wrapped with the annular cover 24 in the same manner as this embodiment.

An example of the process of coupling the annular cover 24 to the flanges 38 and 52 is shown in Figs. 5 (a) and (b). Referring to Fig. 5 (a), the packing 22 is inserted into a material to be formed into the''-shaped annular cover 24, i. e. an annular cover preform with a'm'-shaped (reverse L-shaped) cross section having a rim and an upper flange, as can be shown in the figure. Then, the housing 20 is placed inside the rim 58 of the packing 22. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, if the dimensions of the annular cover preform and the flanges 38 and 52 of the packing 22 and housing 20 are properly determined, the inserted state can be maintained by means of resiliency of the material of the packing 22. In such a state where the three parts are temporarily assembled, the temporarily assembled three parts are inverted and then placed on a die 104, as shown in Fig. 5 (a). Then, an upper punch 106 is lowered to exert pressure on the housing 20 so that the housing can be fixed in place.

In this state, side punches 108 shown in Fig. 5 (b) are operated in directions designated by arrows to form the annular cover 24 with the"='-shaped cross section. Fig. 5 (b) shows that there are two side punches. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that three or four side punches may be used. The use of the side punches 108 enables the formation without being influenced by the shape of the outer surface of the housing.

Fig. 6 shows a variation of the process of wrapping the flanges 38 and 52 with the annular cover 24. Referring to Fig. 6, the housing 20, the packing 22 and the

annular cover preform are temporarily assembled and then placed on a die 104a in the same manner as the example shown in Fig. 5 (a). However, the housing 20 is placed downwardly contrary to the example shown in Fig. 5 (a). Meanwhile, the die 104a has a depressed inner corner for deforming the annular cover preform. Then, an upper punch 106a is lowered to press an upper flange portion of the annular cover preform.

The cover preform is deformed to be formed into the annular cover 24 with the shaped cross section. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, since the housing 20 should be inserted into a cavity of the die 104a in accordance with the process shown in Fig. 6, there may be limitations on the shape of the outer wall of the housing 20.

Meanwhile, variations of the first embodiment of Fig. 4 are shown in Figs. 7 (a) and (b). In the variation shown in Fig. 7 (a), the sectional shape of a lower groove 94a of a support 76a or 78a is different from that of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

As for the shape of the lower groove 94a, an upper surface thereof is inclined downwardly toward the interior thereof (i. e. toward the bottom of the groove), while a lower surface thereof is inclined upwardly toward the interior thereof (i. e. toward the bottom of the groove). As for the shape of a lower groove 94b of a support 76b or 78b in the variation shown in Fig. 7 (b), an upper surface thereof is horizontal, while a lower surface thereof is inclined upwardly toward the interior thereof (i. e. toward the bottom of the groove). The case where the lower groove 94a or 94b has the inclined surface (s) is advantageous to sealing since flanges 38a and 52a, or 38b and 52b wrapped with an annular cover 24a or 24b can be more securely fitted into and coupled to the lower groove 94a or 94b.

Referring again to Figs. 1 to 3 and 8, the clamp unit 18 has a pair of jaws 110 that will be inserted into the respective upper grooves 92 of the supports 76 and 78.

Each of the jaws 110 generally takes the shape of a semicircular plate with an arcuate recess formed at the center thereof. A plurality of bosses 112 (three bosses in the embodiment shown in the figures) sharply protruding toward the center are formed equidistantly along the circumference of the arcuate recess. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the size of the arcuate recess and the height of the bosses 112

can be properly determined according to the size of the faucet 14 to be fitted thereinto.

It is preferred that the jaws 110 be made of a rigid metal plate, such as a stainless steel plate, with large thickness (e. g. , 1 to 2 mm in thickness).

Each jaw 110 is provided with a coupling hole 114. As well shown in Figs. 8 (a) and (b), a hemispherical boss 116 formed within the upper groove 92 is fitted into the coupling hole 114 when the jaw 110 is inserted into the upper groove 92. The jaw 110 inserted as such cannot easily escape from the groove. Although the jaw 110 has been described as being inserted in the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 (a) and (b), the present invention is not limited thereto. Insert-injection molding may be performed after placing a previously prepared jaw within a mold when the support is injection molded with engineering plastic. It is preferred that two or more coupling holes be made upon the insert injection molding.

Alternatively, two or more pairs of jaws may be arranged one above another in a further variance. In this case, grooves into which the jaws will be inserted and of which the number corresponds to that of the pairs of jaws are provided at an upper portion of the support. For example, referring to Fig. 9, the tightening ring comprises first and second semicircular supports 76f and 78f which are rotatably connected to each other by means of a hinge pin 74f. Each of the supports 76f and 78f has two lower grooves 94f and 95f. Jaws 110f are inserted into the respective lower grooves 94f and 95f.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11 (a) to 11 (c), there are shown parts of a variation of the water supply pipe-coupling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the coupling relationship among the housing, the packing and the annular cover is different from that of the first embodiment of the present invention.

The water supply pipe-coupling device also has a connection body and a clamp unit.

Since the clamp unit may be the same clamp unit as the first embodiment or its variations with different lower grooves of the tightening ring, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Since other structures of the connection body are the same as those of the first embodiment only except a coupling structure of a support flange 38c of a housing 20c and a cover flange 52c of a packing 22c and the structure of an annular

cover 24c, a detailed description of the same structures will be omitted.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11 (a), the annular cover 24c is different from that of the first embodiment in that it comprises a rim and a flange which is bent at and then extends radially inwardly from an upper end of the rim to have a'm'-shaped cross section. Meanwhile, as well shown in Figs. 11 (a) to (c), a rim 58c of the cover flange 52c of the packing 22c has width enough not to wrap the entire thickness of the support flange 38c of the housing 20a. The packing 22 is fitted into the annular cover 24c and the support flange 38c of the housing 20c is fitted into the cover flange 52c of the packing 22c. Then, they are inserted into lower grooves 94c, 94d or 94e of supports 76c and 78c, 76d and 78d or 76e and 78e of the clamp unit. At this time, since the structures of the lower grooves 94c, 94d and 94e shown in Figs. 11 (a) to (c) are the same as the examples shown in Figs. 7 (a), 7 (b) and 4, respectively, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. As can be seen from Fig. 11 (a), the annular cover 24c comes into contact with an upper inclined surface of the lower groove 94c and the support flange 38c of the housing 20c comes into contact with a lower inclined surface of the lower groove. Likewise, as can be seen from Fig. 11 (b), the annular cover 24c comes into contact with an upper inclined surface of the lower groove 94d and the support flange 38c of the housing 20c comes into contact with a lower inclined surface of the lower groove. In Fig. 11 (c), the annular cover 24c comes into contact with an upper horizontal surface of the lower groove 94e and the support flange 38c of the housing 20c comes into contact with a lower horizontal surface of the lower groove. In the variations shown in Figs. 10 and 11 (a) to (c), there is no need for an additional process for the annular cover 24c contrary to the first embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 12 to 14, a water supply pipe-coupling device lOg according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a connection body 16g for defining a water path between a hose 12g and a faucet 14g serving as a water supply pipe, and a clamping unit 18g coupled to the faucet 14g to maintain the connection body 16g in place.

Since the connection body 16g is the same as the first embodiment in view of their structures, a detailed description will be omitted. It will be understood by those

skilled in the art that portions of the connection body 16g designated by reference numerals in Figs. 12 to 14 correspond to respective portions of the connection body 16 designated by like reference numerals in Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring still to Figs. 12 to 14, the clamping unit 18g for firmly fixing the connection body 16g to the faucet 14g comprises a tightening ring 70g and a lever mechanism 72g. The tightening ring 70g comprises a first semicircular support 76g and a second semicircular support 78g, which are rotatably connected to each other by means of a hinge pin 74g. One end of the first semicircular support 76g is provided with a recess 80g at the center of the thickness thereof, and projections 82g are provided on both sides of the recess 80g. One end of the second semicircular support 78g is provided with a projection 84g at the center of the thickness thereof. The projection 84g is fitted into the recess 80g. The projections 82g and 84g are formed with holes vertically penetrating therethrough, and the hinge pin 74g is fitted into the holes.

Meanwhile, an inner periphery of each of the supports 76g and 78g is formed with circumferentially extending upper and lower grooves 92g and 94g. When the two supports 76g and 78g are coupled to each other, the upper grooves 92g and the lower grooves 94g thereof form substantially annular grooves, respectively.

Portions of the supports 76g and 78g opposite to the projections 82g and 84g are provided with substantially radially extending extensions 86g and 88g, respectively.

The extensions 86g and 88g are formed with tangentially extending holes 90g, respectively. When the extensions 86g and 88g abut on each other, the holes are caused to communicate with each other. Female and male connection pins 96g and 97g of the lever mechanism 72g to be described later penetrates through the holes 90g.

Referring still to Figs. 12 to 14, the clamp unit 18g has a pair of jaws 110g that will be inserted into the respective upper grooves 92g of the supports 76g and 78g.

Since the structure of the jaw 110g is the same as the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 14, the lever mechanism 72g comprises first and second clamp levers 98g and 99g, and the female and male connection pins 96g and 97g rotatably connected to the clamp levers 98g and 99g by means of hinge pins 100g and

101g, respectively. Each of the clamp levers 98g and 99g takes an identical, substantially arcuate shape, and comprises a head 104g connected to one of the female and male connection pins 96g and 97g and a handle 106g extending from the head.

The head 104g is provided, at the center of the thickness thereof, with a groove 108g into which a head of one of the female and male connection pins 96g and 97g is inserted.

The head 104g is formed with a hole 109g through which the hinge pin 100g or 101g penetrates vertically. The female and male connection pins 96g and 97g are connected to the first and second clamp levers 98g and 99g and comprise heads 112g and 113g and legs 114g and 115g, respectively. The heads 112g and 113g take the shape of a flat cylinder and have central hinge pin holes 116g and 117g communicating with the holes 109g of the clamp levers 98g and 99g, respectively. The legs 114g and 115g extend from the heads 112g and 113g, respectively. The leg 104g of the female connection pin 96g is provided with a longitudinal bore extending inwardly from a distal end thereof, and female threads are formed in the bore. A distal end of the male connection pin 97g of the leg 105g is provided with male threads 119g engaged with the female threads in the bore of the female connection pin 96g.

As well shown in Figs. 14 and 15 (a), the clamp levers 98g and 99g and the female and male connection pins 96g and 97g are coupled to each other by fitting the hinge pins 100g and 101g into the holes 109g, 116g and 117g, respectively. Then, punches 122g and 123g are moved above and below the coupled clamp levers and connection pins. Each of the punches 122g and 123g has an annular sharp boss 124g at a distal end thereof. When the boss 124g strikes the hinge pin 100g or 101g, a portion of an end of the hinge pin 100g or 101g is flared while being plastically deformed. Accordingly, the hinge pins 100g and 101g are tightly fitted into the holes 109g of the clamp levers 98g and 99g so that the hinge pins 100g and 101g can be securely coupled thereto. At this time, as shown in Fig. 15 (b), some areas of the clamp levers surrounding the hinge pins 100g and 101g may also be plastically deformed. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the hinge pins 100g and 101g are rotatably coupled to the holes 116g and 117g of the connection pins 96g and 97g.

Referring again to Figs. 12 and 14, the assembled levers 98g and 99g and connection pins 96g and 97g are fitted into the holes 90g of the semicircular supports 76g and 78g and the levers 98g and 99g are rotated, so that the connection pins 96g and 97g are coupled to each other by means of the engagement of the female and male threads.

Referring to Fig. 16, segments of an outer peripheral curve defining the head 104g of each of the levers 98g and 99g have different distances from a central axis (i. e. central axis of rotation) of the hinge. For example, assuming that a portion of the head, which abuts on the support 76g or 78g in a state where the lever 98g or 99g has been rotated to move the handle 106g far away from the support 76g or 78g, has a radius of R1 (refer to a state designated by a solid line), and a portion of the head, which abuts on the support 76g or 78g in a state where the lever 98g or 99g has been rotated to be closed up, has a radius of R2 (refer to a state designated by a one-dotted chain line), and R2 is larger than R1, those skilled in the art can understand that the movement of the supports 76g and 78g tightens the supports 76g and 78g. Since there are the two levers in the structure of the clamp unit of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 12, an increased tightened state of the tightening ring can be established. Of course, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the distance between the connection pins 96g and 97g may be adjusted through rotation.

Referring to Figs. 17 and 18, a water supply pipe-coupling device 10h according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a connection body 16h and a clamp unit 18h. Since the structure of the connection body 16h is the same as the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The clamping unit 18h for firmly fixing the connection body 16h to a faucet comprises a tightening ring 70h and a pair of identical lever mechanisms 72h. The tightening ring 70h comprises a first semicircular support 76h and a second semicircular support 78h. Both ends of the first semicircular support 76h are equally provided with substantially radially extending extensions 86h and 88h, respectively. The extensions 86h and 88h are formed with tangentially extending holes 90, respectively. When the extensions 86h and 88h abut on each other, the holes are caused to communicate with each other. A bolt 96h of

each of the lever mechanisms 72h to be described later is inserted into the holes 90h.

Since other structures of the support 76h are the same as the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring still to Figs. 17 and 18, each of the lever mechanisms 72h comprises a clamp lever 98h, the bolt 96h and a nut 102h. Since the shape and structure of the lever 98h is the same as the first and second embodiments, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The structure of the bolt 96h is the same as the first embodiment.

The bolt 96h has a head 104h. The structure of the head 104h is the same as the head of the hinge pin in the second embodiment. A leg 114h of the bolt 96h is formed with male threads. The nut 102h has female threads engaged with the male threads of the bolt 96h. It is preferred that an outer periphery of the nut 102h be provided with a knurl.

Since the coupling of the bolt 96h to the lever 98h is the same as the second embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The bolts 96h are fitted into the holes formed in the extensions 86h and 88h of the supports 76h and 78h, and the nuts 102h are then rotated to be engaged with the bolts. As can be seen from Fig.

17, the lever mechanisms 72h are installed to be symmetric with each other with respect to a central axis. It will be understood by those skilled in the art with reference to the description of the second embodiment that the tightening ring 70h is tightened by rotating and closing up the levers 98h. The clamp unit 18h of the water supply pipe- coupling device 10h according to the third embodiment constructed as above can adjust the distance between the supports 76h and 78h at both ends of each of the supports 76h and 78h, thereby being adapted to a variety of faucets with smaller and larger outer diameters.

Although the connection bodies of the water supply pipe-coupling devices of the second and third embodiments have been described as being identical with that of the first embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other connection bodies with different structures may be used so far as they can define a water flow passage and maintain appropriate sealing between a water supply pipe and a hose.

The water supply pipe-coupling devices of the aforementioned embodiments

may be used for connection of water supply hoses in washing machines and gardens.

Further, although the water supply pipe-coupling devices of the aforementioned embodiments have been described as coupling devices for water supply pipes, the present invention is not limited thereto. They may be used for connection of flow of other fluids.

The fluid coupling device of the present invention can easily connect a connection hose to a fluid supply pipe and simultaneously maintain sealing therebetween. Specifically, the fluid coupling device has the clamp unit and thus can be easily tightened and securely coupled to the fluid supply pipe through the operation of the lever (s) of the clamp unit. Sealing is greatly enhanced by improving a coupling structure between a clamp device and a packing into which a distal end of a water supply pipe is inserted. In a case where two levers are operated, the coupling device can be adapted to outer diameters of a variety of water supply pipes or larger outer diameters. In addition, a coupling structure for a hose is improved, thereby facilitating the connection of the hose and maintaining good sealing.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and also fall within the scope of the present invention.