No-lock pneumatic coupler

Abstract

A quick disconnect connector having a male member associated with a lifting device and a female member commonly associated with an inflating hose member of a conventional buoyancy compensator. The male member is not provided with a locking groove member, found with conventional couplers/connectors, to avoid the locking problems. The male member can also be provided with an outer circular flange member and a valve activating bridge member. In use, the male member is received within an internal passageway of the female member, which allows the bridge member to activate the valve to allow air to flow within a flotation chamber of the lifting device. The flange helps the operator in quickly removing the male member and also allows the operator to supply tension to depress the spring portion of the valve and open the flow of air.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A quick disconnect connector comprising: 
 a female member having an internal passageway and having a valve member disposed within said internal passageway;    a male member having a first end and a second end and an internal passageway, said male member having a valve activating member disposed at its first end;    wherein at least a portion of said male member is snugly received within said internal passageway of said female member to allow the valve activating member to activate the valve member to provide air flow to an intended device and to provide a secure but easily releasable attachment between said female member and said male member.    
     
     
         2 . The quick disconnect connector of  claim 1  wherein said valve member is a conventional Schrader valve.  
     
     
         3 . The quick disconnect connector of  claim 1  wherein said male member further including an outer flange member disposed along said male member intermediate the first end and the second end of said male member, said flange member aiding in the proper positioning of the first end of said male member within the internal passageway of said female member, said flange member also serving as a gripping means to aid in providing tension to depress a spring associated with the valve.  
     
     
         4 . The quick disconnect connector of  claim 1  wherein said male member having a locking groove free outer surface.  
     
     
         5 . A quick disconnect connector for use with an intended conventional lifting device to be deployed at depth, said quick disconnect member comprising: 
 a female member having an internal passageway and a Schrader valve disposed within said internal passageway;    a male member having a first end and a second end and having an internal passageway, said male member having a valve activating member disposed at its first end, said male member having a locking groove free outer surface, said male member having an outer flange member disposed along said male member intermediate the first end and the second end of said male member, said flange member aiding in the proper positioning of the first end of said male member within the internal passageway of said female member, said flange member also serving as a gripping means to aid in providing tension to depress a spring associated with the valve;    wherein at least a portion of said male member is snugly received within said internal passageway of said female member to allow the valve activating member to activate the valve member to provide air flow to the intended lifting device and to provide a secure but easily releasable attachment between said female member and said male member.    
     
     
         6 . A male valve activating device for use with a quick disconnect assembly, said assembly including a female member having an internal passageway and a valve disposed within the internal passageway of the female member; said male valve activating device, comprising: 
 a body member having a first end and a second end and having an internal passageway, said body member having a valve activating member disposed at its first end, said body member having a locking groove free outer surface, said body member having an outer flange member disposed along said body member intermediate the first end and the second end of said body member, said flange member aiding in the proper positioning of the first end of said body member within the internal passageway of said female member, said flange member also serving as a gripping means to aid in providing tension to depress a spring associated with the valve;    wherein the a portion of said body member is snugly received within said internal passageway of said female member to allow the valve activating member to activate the valve member to provide air flow to an intended device and to provide a secure but easily releasable attachment between said female member and said body member.