BACKGROUND OF THE I NVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a plumbing fitting which requires no crimping or soldering.

[0002] There have been numerous proposals for push-to-connect plumbing fittings which eliminate the need for additional labor steps in providing a connection of a fluid conduit to the fitting. With push-to-connect fittings, typically no soldering is necessary nor is crimping required. One proposal is disclosed in U.S. Publication 2010/0171302 published on July 8, 2010. Push-to-connect fittings may require a separate tool for the removal of a fluid conduit from the fitting once assembled and, in some cases, integrally includes a release ring for such purpose. Nearly all of the push-to-connect fittings employ a gripping ring made of a metal, such as stainless steel, with tines that extend inwardly and engage and hold a fluid conduit inserted into the fitting. Also, the fittings typically include at least one O-ring providing a fluid-tight seal for the connection.

[0003] Unfortunately, most of the push-to-connect fittings are relatively complicated to manufacture and require expensive tooled parts and/or forming processes to complete. As a result, they can become fairly expensive in an environment where competition is relatively vigorous.

SUM MARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A push-to-connect plumbing fitting comprising a housing for receiving a fluid conduit. The housing has an internal annular shoulder and is made of a material that allows it to be formed. A generally cylindrical first cartridge has an internal annular groove and a radially spaced outer annular groove and is positioned in the housing. An

O-ring is positioned within the internal annular groove to provide a seal with a fluid conduit, and a second O-ring is positioned within the outer annular groove to provide a seal between the first cartridge and the housing. A gripping ring is positioned in the housing adjacent and in contact with the first cartridge and has inwardly projecting annularly spaced tines for gripping and holding a fluid conduit inserted into the housing past the gripping ring. A second generally cylindrical cartridge is positioned in the housing adjacent the gripping ring on a side opposite the first cartridge, wherein the housing includes a lip at one end to engage the second ca rtridge for holding the first and second cartridges a nd the gripping ring in compression against the annular shoulder in the housing.

[0005] By employing first and second O-rings on inner and outer surfaces of a cartridge, independent sizing of the O-rings is possible for individual sealing functions. Also, the spaced-apart cartridges can be integrally molded of a polymeric materia l and a re easy to assemble, resulting in a relatively i nexpensive yet effective push-to-connect fitting. I n a preferred em bodiment, a release ring is also provided, such that a separate tool is not necessary to disconnect a fluid conduit from the fitting.

[0006] These and other featu res, objects a nd advantages of the present invention will become appa rent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompa nying drawings.

BRI EF DESCRI PTI ON OF TH E DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plum bing fitting embodying the push-to-connect structure of this invention at opposite ends;

[0008] Fig. 2 is a vertica l cross-sectional view of the fitting shown in Fig. 1;

[0009] Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one end of the fitting shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

[0010] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the fitting of Fig. 3;

[0011] Fig. 5 is a side elevationa l view of the fitting;

[0012] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting taken along section line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

[0013] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the first cartridge;

[0014] Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the ca rtridge shown in Fig. 7;

[0015] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first cartridge taken a long section lines IX-IX in Fig. 8;

[0016] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the gri pping ring;

[0017] Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the gripping ring shown in Fig. 10;

[0018] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the gripping ring ta ken along section lines XI I-XI I in Fig. 11;

[0019] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the second cartridge; [0020] Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the second ca rtridge shown in Fig. 13;

[0021] Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the second cartridge shown in Figs. 13 and 14; and

[0022] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the second cartridge taken along section line

XVI-XVI in Fig. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring initially to Fig. 1, there is shown a plumbing fitting 10 embodying the present invention. The fitting 10 includes a push-to-connect assembly 30, 30' (Figs. 2 and 4) at each end 12 and 14 for the in-line coupling of two fluid conduits, such as conduit 11 shown in phantom in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the fitting 10 can take on a variety of forms, including elbows, T's, and adapters, and the push-to-connect assembly 30 can be integrally included with other plum bing fittings, such as valves and the like.

[0024] Referring to Figs. 2-16, the details of construction of fitting 10 is provided. Fitting

10 includes a housing 16 (Fig. 2) made of a material which can be formed to captively hold the push-to-connect assemblies 30 and 30 ^' within opposite ends of the housing. The generally cylindrical housing 16 includes enlarged diameter outer sections 18 (Figs. 2, 5, and 6) at each end between which is a narrower diameter section 17 having an inner annular extending rib 15 (Figs. 2 and 6) forming a stop for the end of a fluid conduit 11 inserted therein. The enlarged outer sections 18 house the push-to-connect assemblies 30, 30' and, once positioned within sections 18 of housing 16, the outer peripheral ends of housing 16 are crimped over to define lips 19 for captively holding the push-to- connect assemblies 30, 30' between a shoulder 13 at the inner end of sections 18 and the roll-formed a nnular lips 19.

[0025] The housing 16 can be made of any suitable material which is capable of deforming to provide a lip 19 once the push-to-connect assemblies 30, 30' have been inserted into sections 18. Typically, the housing 16 is made of copper or a copper alloy material or other metal typically used for plumbing fittings and which is suitably ductile for such purpose.

[0026] The push-to-connect structure is identical for each of the ends 12 and 14 so that only assembly 30 is discussed in detail. The push-to-connect assembly 30 comprises a first generally cylindrical molded polymeric cartridge 40 (Figs. 2-4 and 6-9) having a first annular surface 42 which abuts the annular shoulder 13 of housing 16. Adjacent the first surface is a ring seal seat comprising an external annular groove 41, which receives an outer O-ring 43 providing a fluid-tight seal between the inner cylindrical wall of housing 16 and the first cartridge 40. Axially spaced from the first surface 42 is a ring seal seat comprising an inner annular groove 44 (best seen in Fig. 9) for receiving an internal 0- ring 46 which provides a seal between cartridge 40 and a fluid conduit (such as conduit 11 shown in phantom form in Fig. 2) when inserted into the fitting 10. The O-rings 43, 46 can be independently sized to accommodate individual sealing functions. The conduit 11 can be made of a polymeric material, a copper alloy, or any suitable fluid conduit in common use in fluid handling or plumbing systems. The end of the conduit 11 engages the inwardly projecting rib 15 of the housing 16, which serves as a stop for the insertion of the conduit. The first cartridge 40 includes an inclined or ramped outer surface 48 axially spaced from the O-ring groove 44 and facing outwardly and in remote relationship to the first surface 42.

[0027] A gripping ring 50 (Figs. 4 and 10-12) is generally circular, including a circular outer ring 52 seated against the annular surface 45 of cartridge 40, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6. A plurality of inwardly angled, spaced-apa rt tines 54 extend inwardly from ring 52, as best seen in Fig. 12, and are dimensioned to grip and hold a conduit, such as conduit 11, once inserted into the fitting 10, extended through the gripping ring 50 and seated against rib 15.

[0028] The first cartridge 40 can be integrally molded of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS, PVC, or the like. The annular surface 45 of first cartridge 40 opposite surface 42 includes a plurality of angularly spaced, upwardly projecting tabs 47 (Figs. 4 and 7), which index with and are matingly received in slots 63 (Figs. 13 and 15) in the second cartridge 60 to prevent rotation between the cartridges once assembled as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. The O-rings 43, 46 are made of suitable elastomeric material typically employed for fluid fittings. The gripping ring 50 is made of a noncorrosive spring steel material, such as stainless steel.

[0029] The second generally cylindrical cartridge 60 (Figs. 13-16) likewise is integrally molded of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS, PVC, or the like, and has an outer annular recess 62 (Figs. 15 and 16) which receives and overlies the circular ring 52 of the gripping ring, as best seen in Figs. 3 a nd 6. The second cartridge 60 also includes an outer annula r rim 61 which engages annular surface 45 of cartridge 40. The rim 61 includes slots 63 (Figs. 13 and 15) which are shaped a nd spaced to indexably receive the tabs 47 of cartridge 40. Cartridge 60 includes an internally formed shoulder 64 (Best seen in fig. 16), which lockably receives locking tabs 74 of the legs 72 of the release ring 70, as also shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The second cartridge includes an outer annular shoulder 66 over which structure, such as the lip 19 of housing 16, is formed to compressibly hold the inner and outer cartridges with the gripping ring sandwiched therebetween in place against the shoulder 13 of the housing outer section 18. Other structure, such as indentations, may serve to secure the cartridges within fitting 10. An annular extension 67 of cartridge 60 extends through lip 19, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0030] The release ring 70 is generally cylindrical and includes a plurality of flexible legs

72 (Figs. 2-4) in axially spaced relationship and which has tapered locking tabs 74 at the ends with the tapered tabs 74 of legs 72 engaging the tines 54 of the gripping ring 50 when the release ring 70 is moved downwardly in a direction indicated by arrow A in Figs. 2 and 3 to engage the gripping ring tines, spreading them outwardly to release a fluid conduit, such as conduit 11. The release ring 70 includes an outer collar 78, which provides a working surface against which to push the release ring for releasing a fluid conduit therein. Collar 78 also provides a surface on which indicia 77 (Fig. 2) can be formed for identifying the fitting, size and manufacturer, if desired. Release ring 70 can likewise be integrally molded of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS, PVC, or like.

[0031] By providing inner and outer O-rings 46 and 43, respectively, a sealed connection is provided between the first cartridge and the housing, as well as a fluid conduit inserted therein. The sizes of O-rings 46, 43 can be selected to optimize the sealing efficacy. Assembly 30 is manufactured by assembling the cartridges with the O-rings and gripping ring into the outer end 18 of housing and roll-forming the lip 19 to hold the assembly in position. The release ring 70 can then be optionally included and inserted into the assembly to provide a release mechanism for removing a conduit if desired. The resultant plumbing fitting 10 is relatively inexpensive but reliable fitting which provides a fluid-tight connection for a fluid conduit and can be employed in a variety of plumbing fittings. It is easy to assemble and provides a reliable leak-free fluid connection. It will become a pparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.