Anti-debris device for covering connectors in fluid system

Abstract

An anti-debris device releasably engages and covers an unconnected end of a fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector to prevent debris intrusion. The device comprises a boot defining a cavity shaped to receive the connector, a connector-receiving access opening to the cavity, and a closure member such as flexible sheet slit to form resilient fingers movable between an opening-covering position preventing intrusion of foreign matter when the boot is not being used, but that flex to a connector-receiving position when an unconnected portion of a connector is biased against the closure member. The fingers assist in retaining the device on the connector. Various embodiments allow retaining the anti-debris device to a particular connector when the device is not in use, and/or for storing/protecting multiple connectors. Related methods are also disclosed and discussed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of covering part of a fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector to prevent intrusion of dirt and debris, comprising steps of:
 providing a boot defining a closed cavity with an access opening, and that includes a slit panel of resilient material covering the access opening;   flexing the resilient material to a cavity-closed position when unstressed; and   flexing the resilient material to a cavity-access-allowing position permitting entry of an unconnected end of a quick disconnect fluid connector into the cavity when the unconnected end is pressed against the panel of resilient material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of resilient material includes a slit pattern defining inwardly-facing fingers that flex between the cavity-closed position and the cavity-access-allowing position. 
     
     
         3 . The method in  claim 2 , wherein the step of flexing the resilient material includes flexing the fingers when in the cavity-access-allowing position to frictionally engage the unconnected end to thus positively retain the boot on the unconnected end. 
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the boot includes a second access opening to the cavity and includes an additional slit panel of resilient material covering the second access opening; and including a step of extending an additional quick disconnect fluid connector against the additional slit panel to simultaneously store and protect the additional quick disconnect fluid connector in the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 1 , including a retainer on the boot, and including a step of attaching the retainer to the connector so that the boot remains with the connector even when the boot is not covering the connector. 
     
     
         6 . A method of preventing, or at least limiting, intrusion of foreign matter into a fluid system, comprising steps of:
 providing a fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector having a fluid-conveying passageway;   providing a boot with a cavity shaped to receive an unconnected end of the fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector, the boot having a closed end, a second end defining a connector-receiving access opening, and a closure member for covering the connector-receiving access opening; and   flexing the closure member to an opening-covering position that covers the connector-receiving opening to prevent intrusion of foreign matter into the cavity when the boot is not being used, but flexing the closure member to a connector-receiving position when engaged by the unconnected end so that the foreign matter still will not enter the cavity nor contact the unconnected end of the connector even when the boot comes into contact with debris.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of flexing the closure member to the connector-receiving position includes pressing the unconnected end against the closure member to move the closure member sufficiently out of the way so that the unconnected end can be extended into the cavity with minimal clearance around the unconnected end in a vicinity of the closure member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the closure member is made of a resilient material and includes at least one slit with fingers of material around the slit, and wherein the step of flexing the closure member includes flexing the fingers out of the way as the unconnected end of the connector is extended into the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . An anti-debris device for covering part of a fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector, comprising:
 a boot defining a closed cavity with an access opening, and including resilient fingers that flex to a cavity-closed position when unstressed, but that flex to a cavity-access-allowing position permitting entry of an unconnected end of a quick disconnect fluid connector into the cavity when the unconnected end is pressed against the fingers.   
     
     
         10 . The anti-debris device in  claim 9 , wherein the fingers are shaped to frictionally engage the unconnected end to thus positively retain the boot on the unconnected end. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-debris device in  claim 9 , wherein no part of the anti-debris device enters a passageway defined by the connector. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-debris device in  claim 9 , wherein the boot includes a second access opening to the cavity and second fingers covering the second access opening, such that an additional quick disconnect fluid connector can be simultaneously stored and protected in the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . An anti-intrusion device for covering a fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector, the connector including a fluid-conveying passageway, comprising:
 a boot defining a cavity shaped to receive an unconnected end of the fluid-conveying quick disconnect connector, the boot defining a connector-receiving access opening, and a closure member normally covering the connector-receiving access opening but being flexibly movable to a connector-receiving position with minimal clearance around the unconnected end and the closure member so that, when engaged, foreign matter will not enter the cavity nor enter a covered portion of the connector.   
     
     
         14 . The device in  claim 13 , wherein the closure member is made of a resilient panel of material. 
     
     
         15 . The device in  claim 13 , wherein the closure member is a sheet of resilient material extending across the access opening. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein one or more slits in the sheet define inwardly-facing fingers that flex out of the way to permit extending the unconnected end of the connector into the cavity but that flex to a planar condition when the unconnected end is removed. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , including an anchoring device connected to the boot and that includes an elongated section with a retainer end configured to be attached to a functional component of a fluid system.