Coupling assembly

Abstract

A male coupling for attaching to a female coupling in which rotation of the male coupling with respect to the female coupling is limited. In one embodiment, the male coupling has one or more tabs extending from a flange, the tabs limiting rotation when the male coupling is mated to a female coupling assembly for fluid conductors.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A male coupling, comprising:
 a connector;   a coupler extending from said connector, said connector and coupler defining a male coupling fluid pathway, said coupler having a terminal end disposable within a female coupling; and   means for limiting rotation of said male coupling relative to said female coupling when said male coupling is mated to said female coupling.   
     
     
         3 . A male coupling, comprising:
 a connector;   a coupler extending from the connector, said connector and coupler defining a male coupling pathway, said coupler having a terminal end disposable within a female coupling;   a flange extending from said connector or said coupler; and   a non-rotational feature extending from said flange to limit rotation of said male coupling when said male coupling is mated to a female coupling.   
     
     
         4 . The male coupling of  claim 3 , wherein said non-rotational feature axially extends from said flange. 
     
     
         5 . The male coupling of  claim 3 , wherein said non-rotational feature comprises a tab. 
     
     
         6 . The male coupling of  claim 3 , wherein said non-rotational feature comprises a plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         7 . The male coupling of  claim 3 , further comprising means for forming a fluid-tight seal when said male coupling is mated to said female coupling. 
     
     
         8 . The male coupling of  claim 7 , wherein said fluid-tight seal forming means comprises a terminal slot formed in said coupler and an  0 -ring disposed in said terminal slot. 
     
     
         9 . The male coupling of  claim 3 , wherein said non-rotational feature extending from said flange defines a pair of lateral contact surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The female coupling of  claim 3  in combination with the male coupling of  claim 3 , said female coupling forming a female coupling fluid pathway aligning with said male coupling fluid pathway when said female coupling is mated to said male coupling, said female coupling comprising:
 a latch mechanism for securing said male coupling in place when said male coupling is mated to said female coupling; 
 a coupling body connected to said latch; and 
 an extension extending from said coupling body, said extension defining a pair of radially opposed faces, said opposed faces spaced apart and said extension having an upper contact surface proximate each said opposed face such that said structure extending from said flange disposes between said upper contact surfaces when said female coupling and said male coupling are mated and such that rotation of said male coupling is limited with respect to said female coupling when said male coupling is mated to said female coupling. 
 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein rotation is limited to between about 1 degree and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein rotation is limited to between about 1 degree and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein rotation is limited to between about 1 degree and 10 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein rotation is limited to about 5 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . A male coupling mating to a female coupling, said male coupling defining a male coupling fluid pathway therethrough and comprising a flange with an abutting surface and a tab extending from said abutting surface, said tab having an alignment structure with a pair of lateral male contact surfaces, said female coupling having a female coupling fluid pathway and comprising an extension with a pair of spaced-apart faces, each of said faces having an upper female contact surface disposed so as to flank said male contact surfaces when said male and said female couplings are mated, said male coupling pathway aligning with said female coupling pathway when said male and said female couplings are mated. 
     
     
         16 . A method of mating a male coupling to a female coupling,
 said male coupling defining a male coupling fluid pathway and a tab extending from a flange,   said female coupling defining a female coupling fluid pathway and comprising a pair of radially opposed faces extending from a female coupling body and a latch mechanism to secure said male coupling to said female coupling when said male coupling and said female coupling are mated,   said method comprising mating said male coupling and said female coupling such that said male coupling fluid pathway aligns with said female coupling fluid pathway and such that said tab is disposed between said radially opposed faces to limit rotation of said male coupling with respect to said female coupling.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotation is limited to between about 1 degree and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a male coupling, comprising forming a connector and coupler such that a male fluid pathway is defined and such that a flange extends from said connector, said flange having an abutting surface, a tab extending from said contact surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said flange extends generally radially from said connector and wherein said tab extends generally axially from said flange. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said tab is dimensioned and disposed to limit rotation of said male coupling relative to said female coupling extensions to between about 1 degree and 20 degrees when said tab is disposed between said pair of faces. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a pair of tabs are formed.