TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to telescopic connectors, and more particularly, to a telescopic connector having a male member, a female member, and a spring therebetween for controlling relative axial movement of the male and female members.

BACKGROUND ART

It is often desirable to adjust the distance from a floor to a suspended object. As an example, the suspended objects may include ventilation ducting, ceiling panels, electrical conduits, or sprinkler heads. Typically, these objects are suspended from the ceiling or other support members using threaded rods with nuts that are axially positioned along the rod to locate the suspended object.

One standard version of an adjustable length telescopic connector used in the fire sprinkler industry comprises an outer member having a threaded opening at one end for screwing onto a drop pipe, the drop pipe attaching to a support member such as a ceiling or a rafter, and at the other end having interior threads. An inner member having threads on its outer surface is then screwed into the outer member. By varying the amount of the inner member which is screwed into the outer member, the length of the connector may be varied. The lower end of the inner member is often threaded, interiorly or exteriorly, to accommodate connection with an object to be suspended, such as a sprinkler head or the like.

Although this standard connection works satisfactorily, the close tolerances required for the threaded connection between the inner and outer members generally requires the connector to be assembled off site or the use on site of a skilled worker who must be taken from other jobs for a significant period of time. Further, if the threads become damaged or corroded, later repositioning of the connector requires reworking the threads.

Another type of connector involves placing a solvent on the outer periphery of a male member or in the inner periphery of a female member. The members are then telescopically joined with the solvent dissolving the interacting peripheries forming a weld-like joint therebetween.

This type of joint has disadvantages. The members may not be readily separated once joined. Also, typically, solvents used are toxic. Therefore, the use of this type of telescopic connection is disfavored.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The connector of the present invention includes a male member, which may be hollow in the event that fluid transport to a suspended object is desired, a female member in a telescopic relationship with the male member with a radial gap forming between the members, and a spring, which functions as a lockring. The spring may include at least one release finger, or alternatively, the female member may posses a cam, to facilitate expanding the spring. The spring includes two ends and an engageable portion between the members. The recesses cooperate such that when the spring is manipulated to expand, the spring will seat within the female recess wherein the remainder of the spring

extending beyond the recess is not sufficient to bridge the radial gap between the telescoping members. However when the spring is seated in the male recess, the remaining portion of the spring outside the male recess extends a distance greater than the gap between the members, restricting relative axial movement between the male and female members.

The male member may have helical threads along its outer periphery which threadingly cooperate with the unexpanded spring such that rotation of the female member and spring about the male member will result in relative axial movement between the members. Using a spring with at least one release finger requires that the release finger projects through an opening in the female member proximate the female recess. The release finger is manipulated to expand the spring for releasing the members.

In another embodiment, the female member has a recess in communication with the gap between the male and female members. The recess has a first shoulder portion for sufficiently receiving the engageable portion of the spring such that the spring is free of the male member when the spring expands. The recess further has a second shoulder portion engageable with the spring when the spring is not expanded.

The female member also has a cam in communication with the recess. The cam has a first portion adjacent the first shoulder portion of the recess and is engageable with an end of the spring to expand the engageable portion of the spring. The cam further has a second portion adjacent the second shoulder portion of the recess.

The male member of this embodiment has a positioning recess axially alignable with the recess in the female member, when the spring is not expanded, to receive the engageable portion of the spring into engagement with the second shoulder portion of the recess in the female member whereby to lock the members against relative axial movement in response to force on one of said members in one axial direction.

An end of the spring is engageable with the first portion of the cam in the female member to expand the engageable portion of the spring out of the positioning recess of the male member in response to force on one of the members in another axial direction, whereby to release the lock of the members and permit the relative axial movement of the members in response to force on one of the members in the one axial direction.

The male member also may include a retaining groove for receiving a retaining clip thereon. The retaining clip, when received in the retaining groove, is located with respect to the telescopic end of the male member such when the clip abuts the telescopic end of the female member, the clip prevents the male member from being sufficiently telescopically inserted into the female member to allow the spring to expand and the members to be released. The retaining clip may be removed from the male member to allow further relative telescopic insertion of the members and for their release.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a telescopic connector or hanger between a support member and a suspended object which provides two-way translation in adjusting the length therebetween, circumventing the need to translate one

connector member the full length of travel relative to the other member prior to release in a second direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable, force or weight bearing telescopic connector having a male member and a female member which are telescopically engageable with a gap therebetween which allows for relative axial movement. The telescopic connector has an expandable spring located between the members. When expanded, the spring allows for relative axial movement between the members; when not expanded, the spring restricts relative axial movement. The spring has at least one release finger, which extends through an opening in the female member, operative to expand the spring. The female member further has a recess along its interior periphery for receiving the spring, the recess having a first shoulder portion and at least one cam surface. When the spring is expanded, the spring locates within the shoulder providing clearance between the spring and the male member. The male member has a series of recesses located along its outer periphery, each recess having at least one cam surface. When the spring is not expanded, the spring will wedge between the cam surfaces of the recess of the female member and one of the recesses of the male member, thus restricting relative axial movement and providing force bearing capability, in at least one direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a quick connect/disconnect telescopic connector having a male member and a female member, which are positionable in telescopic relation and configured to prove a gap therebetween sufficient to allow relative axial movement, and a spring. The spring is an expandable spring for selectively restricting the members against relative axial movement in response to

force on one of the members in one axial direction and for releasing the members for relative axial movement in response to force on one of the members in another axial direction. The spring has two ends and an engageable portion between the members, the ends being operable to expand the engageable portion of the spring away from the male member.

The female member has a recess in communication with the gap between the male and female members. The recess has a first shoulder portion for sufficiently receiving the engageable portion of the spring such that the spring is free of the male member when the spring expands. The recess further has a second shoulder portion engageable with the spring when the spring is not expanded.

The female member also has a cam in communication with the recess. The cam has a first portion adjacent the first shoulder portion of the recess and is engageable with an end of the spring to expand the engageable portion of the spring. The cam further has a second portion adjacent the second shoulder portion of the recess.

The male member of this embodiment has a positioning recess axially alignable with the recess in the female member, when the spring is not expanded, to receive the engageable portion of the spring into engagement with the second shoulder portion of the recess in the female member whereby to lock the members against relative axial movement in response to force on one of said members in one axial direction.

An end of the spring is engageable with the first portion of the cam in the female member to expand the engageable portion of the spring out of the

positioning recess of the male member in response to force on one of the members in another axial direction, whereby to release the lock of the members and permit the relative axial movement of the members in response to force on one of the members in the one axial direction.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating a first embodiment of the connector of the present invention wherein the male member has threads along its periphery;

FIG, 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, partly in elevation and with parts broken away, illustrating the spring in a contracted or non-expanded position engaging both the male and female members;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing a radially inwardly projecting ridge portion, located on the inner diameter of the spring, engaging a recess formed between threads on the male member and showing a radially outwardly projecting bulbous portion of the spring engaging the cam surface of the recess of the female member, thus restricting downward axial movement of the female member relative to the male member.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, with parts broken away to show the spring in elevation and wherein the release fingers of

the spring are spread laterally apart expanding the spring, thus providing a radial gap between the spring and male member. In this position the female member is free to move axially upward or downward relative the male member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4, wherein the spring has been expanded causing the spring to seat within a shoulder portion of the recess of the female member. Radial gaps between the male member and the spring and between the female member and the male member are also shown;

FIG. 6 shows a side elevational view of the spring of FIGS. 1-4 wherein the release fingers do not cross over one another;

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of an alternate version of the spring wherein the release fingers cross over one another;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the spring illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the recesses in the male member are separate longitudinally spaced recesses;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9, showing the spring engaging both the male member and the female member, thus preventing the male member from moving axially downward relative to the female member;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view, taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9, wherein the spring is expanded to

provide a radial gap between the spring and the male member, allowing for two-directional axial translation of the male member relative to the female member;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10, showing the spring engaging a shoulder portion in the male member and a cam surface in the female member, thus preventing axially downward translation of the male member relative to the female member;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11, showing the spring seated in the shoulder portion of the recess of the female member with a radial gap existing between the spring and the male member;

FIG. 14 shows a top elevational view of the spring utilized in the FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 shows a side elevational view of the spring;

FIG. 16 is a top cross-sectional view of an alternative version of the first embodiment wherein the female member is hexagonal-shaped and is threadedly rotatable about the male member;

FIG. 17 is cross-sectional view, taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16 with the male member partly broken away, showing a spring, partly in elevation, with a pair of inwardly projecting ridge portions, in a closed position, on the male member to restrict the female member from moving axially downward relative the male member;

FIG. 18 is a top elevational view of the spring utilized in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view, similar to

FIG. 17, showing a second alternative version of the female member and spring of the first embodiment designed for weight or force support in either axial direction;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 17, illustrating in solid line the alternative version spring of FIG. 19 engaging a first cam surface on the female member and in phantom line, the spring engaging a second cam on the female member.

FIG. 21 is a side elevation view, with parts cut-away, of a third embodiment having a cam for expanding a spring;

FIG. 22 is a top elevational view taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a top elevational view taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG 24 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken line 24-24 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a partial sectional view taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a top elevational view of the spring shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 27 is a top elevational view of the retaining clip shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 28 is a side elevational view, with a partial cut-away, of a male member being telescopically inserted into a female member;

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view showing the positioning spring cooperatively residing in the male and female recesses and preventing withdrawal of the male member from the female member;

FIG 30 is a side view illustrating the spring in an expanded state, locating in a first shoulder of the female recess, and allowing for separation of the male and female members; and

FIG. 31 is a side view showing the spring in an expanded state and the members being axially separated.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment herein disclosed, the telescopic connector 10 of the present invention has a telescopically engaging female member 12 and male member 14, with a radial gap 25 formed therebetween. Also interposed between the male member 14 and female member 12 is a spring 28, which functions as a lockring. In the first preferred embodiment, female member 12 and male member 14 are circular in cross-section with the male member having threads 34 on its outer periphery. Threads 34 may be of any standard configuration, i.e., American National (Unified) , International Standardization Organization (ISO) Metric, Acme or the like or may be of a special configuration.

In FIG. 1, male member 14 is threadedly connected to a drop pipe 18 which further connects to some support means, such as a ceiling or a rafter which is not shown. Alternatively, the male member 14 could

connect directly to the support means or the female member 12 could be the member connecting to the drop pipe 18 or directly to the support means, with the male member 14 being telescopically movable relative the fixed female member 12.

Female member 12 includes ledge 20 upon which suspended object 21 rests. However, any variety of attachment means between the female member 12 and suspended object 21 could be used such as threadedly connecting the outer periphery of female member 12 with a suspended object.

The inner diameter of female member 12 is constant with the exception of a recess 22 located therein which is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Recess 22, located distal the telescopic end 23 of female member 12, consists of a shoulder portion 24 and a cam surface 26, the cam surface 26 being more proximate the telescopic end of female member 12. A rectangular opening 40 in female member 12 is located adjacent the recess 22 as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the male member 14 contains threads 34 on its outer radial periphery. In between each of the threads

34 is formed continuous helical positioning recesses 36. Each thread 34 has a cam surface 38. See FIGS. 3 and 5.

Spring 28, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, includes an arcuate engaging portion 29 terminating in two ends, each end connecting to a release finger 30, the release fingers 30 being cooperative to expand the engageable portion 29 of the spring 28. In cross- section, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the engaging portion 29 has a radially inward protruding ridge portion 32 and radially outward protruding bulbous

portion 33. The inner diameter of spring 28, at rest or in its free state, is slightly less than the root diameter of recesses 36 formed between adjacent threads 34 on male member 14, and the outer diameter of spring 28 which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of female member 12, when the spring 28 is engaged about male member 14. Hence, in the free or relaxed state, the engaging portion 29 will locate in a particular selected recess 36 with respect to recess 22, as seen in FIG. 3.

In operation, the male pipe 14 is threadedly fastened to the drop pipe 18. Spring 28 is inserted into the distal end 23 of the female member 12 with the release fingers 30 extending through opening 40 and engaging portion 29 snapping into recess 22.

The release fingers 30 then are spread laterally apart expanding the engaging portion 29 until the bulbous portion 33 is seated in shoulder portion 24 of recess 22, as shown in FIG. 5. Next, female member 12 is placed over the male member 14 in a male-female relationship and adjusted axially upwardly.

With the spring 22 seated in the shoulder portion 24, a radial gap 37 exists between the ridge portion 32 of spring 28 and threads 34 of male member 14. The female member 12 is adjusted axially upward and downward until ledge 20 is at the desired height. The release fingers 30 are then released allowing the engaging portion 29 to contract until the ridge portion 32 engages the desired recess 36 of the male member 14, as shown in FIG. 3. The female member 12 is then allowed to axially translate downwardly until the cam surface 26 traps the engaging portion 29 against recess 36. Hence, the female member 12 is restricted against

downward axial translation relative to the male member 14.

To readjust the height, the female member 12 is translated axially upward in conjunction with the release fingers 30 being manipulated to expand the engaging portion 29 until the bulbous portion 33 is again seated in shoulder portion 24, reestablishing radial gap 37. The female member 12 is translated axially upwardly or downwardly as desired, and again the release fingers 30 are released with the female member 12 being lowered until the engaging portion 29 is engaged between a cam surface 26 and a selected recess 36 of male member 14, again as shown in FIG. 3.

With the spring 28 as shown in FIGS. 1-6, the release fingers 30 are spread laterally apart to expand the engaging portion 29 of spring 22. In FIGS. 7 and 8 an alternate variation (with similar components as described above being designated by the letter A) of the spring is shown wherein the release fingers 30A cross- over one another such that expansion of the engaging portion 29A is accomplished by squeezing laterally together the release fingers 30A.

FIG. 9 shows a second preferred embodiment of a telescopic connector 110. In this embodiment, male member 114 has separate, longitudinally spaced positioning recesses 136. Female member 112 is connected to a drop pipe or other support means. As in the first embodiment, it is also possible to fixedly secure the male member 114, with the female member 112 moving axially relative thereto. A suspended object may be attached to male member 114. (The drop pipe, support means, or the suspended object is not shown in FIG. 9.) The particular embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is capable of fluid transport, i.e. from a drop pipe through the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

female member 112 through the male member 114 to another device such as a sprinkler head.

Female member 112, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, has an annular recess 122 comprising a cam surface 126 and a shoulder portion 124. The shoulder portion 124 is more distal the telescopic end 121 of female 112 than is the cam surface 126. A rectangular opening 140 is located adjacent the recess 122 as seen in Figs 9-11. Recess 122 is located proximate the telescopic end of female member 112.

The male member 114, as shown in this particular embodiment, has a longitudinal passageway 116 for transporting fluid.. Accordingly, proximate the telescopic end 118 of male member 114 are a pair of annular seal recesses 142 sized to cooperate with the inner diameter of female member 112 via elastic O-rings 144 to provide a fluid tight connection therebetween.

The male member 114 has a series of longitudinally spaced annular recesses 136 formed on its outer radial periphery. Each recess 136, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, has a shoulder portion 139 and a cam surface 138, the shoulder portion 139 being more proximate the telescopic end 118 of the male member 114 than the cam surface 138.

Spring 128, as best seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, has an arcuate engaging portion 129 terminating in two ends, each end connecting to release fingers 130. The release fingers 130 are laterally disposed from one another and cooperatively expand the engageable portion 129, which is preferably round in cross-section. The inner and outer diameters of the engageable portion 129, in an unexpanded state, are slightly less than the outer diameter of the male member 114 and slightly greater

than the inner diameter of the female member 112 when engaged in recess 136. Hence, in the unexpanded state, the engaging portion 129 will seek to seat in shoulder portion 139 of recess 136 of male member 114, as shown in FIG. 12.

In operation, spring 128 is inserted into the telescopic end 121 of the female pipe 112 with the release fingers 130 passing through opening 140 with the engaging portion 129 snapping into recess 122. The female member 112 is then connected to a drop pipe or support means, preferably for this embodiment, a drop pipe capable of delivering fluid to the female member 112.

Each of the O-rings 144 are placed in a seal recess 142 located on the telescopic end 118 of the male member 114. The release fingers 130 are then spread laterally causing the engaging portion 129 to expand with the engaging portion 129 seating within the shoulder portion 124 of recess 122 of female member 112, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13.

The male member 114 is then inserted into the female member 112 in a male-female relationship. The 0- rings 144 form a fluid-tight seal between the male and female members 112 and 114, respectively. FIG. 13 illustrates a radial gap 137 which exists between the engaging portion 129 of spring 128 and the male member 114. The male member 114 is adjusted axially to a desired height and the release fingers 130 are released. Downward movement of male member 114 will cause the engaging portion 129 of spring 128 to wedge between the shoulder portion 139 of recess 136 and the cam surface 126 of recess 122, as seen in FIG. 12, preventing any further downward axially movement of the male member 114.

To readjust the male member 114 relative to female member 112, the male member 114 is translated axially upward slightly and the release fingers 130 are manipulated to expand the engaging portion 129 of spring 128, producing the radial gap 137 between the engaging portion 129 of spring 128 and male member 114, allowing for two-way axial movement of the male member 114 relative to the female member 112. The male member 114 is moved axially to the desired new position, and release fingers 130 are released. Pulling downward on the male member 114 will again wedge male member 114 into a locked position relative to female member 112. It is also possible to simply push male member 114 upwards.with respect to female member 112, with spring 128 sliding past male member 114 as it resides within recess 122.

A device such as a sprinkler head, not shown, may be fluidly attached to the male member 114 to take advantage of the fluid transporting capability of this particular embodiment.

Another variation (with similar components as described above being designated by the letter B) of the first embodiment of the invention, i.e., an embodiment where the male member 14 has helical threads 34 about its outer periphery, is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Female member 12B may support weight or a downward force on its upper surface and has a hexagonal outer periphery with flats 19B which are engageable with a wrench (not shown.) Also, spring 28B has an arcuate engageable portion 29B which includes a pair of radially inwardly protruding ridge portions 32B and bulbous portion 33B which are configured, respectively, to threadingly engage cam surfaces 38B of threads 34B of male member 14B and to abut cam surface 26B of female member 12B when spring 28B is in its free or contracted srate,

preventing axial downward movement of female member 12B relative to male member 14B. Spring 28B is shown in FIG. 18.

In the event the suspended object, such as a ceiling, is supported on the top surfaces of a number of female members 12B, a particular telescopic connector 10B of a series of supporting telescopic connectors 10B, may, without lifting the suspended object therefrom, be adjusted. To lower the female member 12B, a wrench is placed on the peripheral flats 19B of female member 12B and turned such that it is threadedly lowered about male member 14B. The circumferential engagement of release fingers 3OB against rectangular opening 4OB will prevent spring 28B from rotating relative to female member 12B.

When clearance exists between the suspended object and the female member 12B, i.e., the support is provided to the suspended object by other female members 12B, the engaging portion 29B may be expanded, via release fingers 3OB, into the shoulder portion 24B and the female member 12B may be freely lowered to a desired height. Release fingers 3OB are then released allowing for reengagement of spring 28B with cam surfaces 38B on threads 34B of male member 14B and cam surface 26B of female member 12B. Accordingly, this procedure is repeated until all the female members 12B are lowered to their desired heights.

Conversely, to raise the female members 12B, the female members 12B are threaded upwardly upon male member 14B to their desired heights. If the suspended object can be lifted from the upper surface of female member 12B, the engaging portion 29B may be expanded by release fingers 3OB, into shoulder portion 24B, and female member 12B lifted upwardly with release fingers 3OB being released at the desired height.

Another variation of the first preferred embodiment (with similar components being designated by the letter C) , allowing for axially support by either the male or female member and in either direction, is illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20. This variation is similar to the aforementioned variation B, except, in this case, recess 22C in female member 12C has first and second cam surfaces 26C and 26C, located above and below, respectively, shoulder portion 24C. Also, the bulbous portion 33C of spring 28C has first and second cam surfaces 35C and 35C which are engageable with upper and lower cam surfaces 26C and 26C, respectively, when spring 28C is in its free state. In phantom, is shown spring 28C engaging a lower second cam portion 26C ¹ when a force is acting either upwardly on the female member or downwardly on the male member. Similarly, threads 34C may be considered to have first and second cam surfaces 38C and 38C.

The amount of axial "play" in this connection is limited by the axial distance separating one set of engaging cam surfaces, i.e. 26C and 35C or 26C and 35C, when the other set of cam surfaces are engaged. Again, the female member 12C may be axially translated by threadedly rotating the female member 12C about the male member 14C, or else by expanding the engaging portion 29C into shoulder portion 24C and sliding female member 12C relatively to male member 14C. The operation of release fingers 30C and engaging portion 29C are as described above.

As shown in FIG. 19, female member 12C and spring 28C may serve as a fastener. Male member 14C may be generally smooth (not shown) with threads 34C cut-in along a mid-portion. Release fingers 30C .are expanded and female member 12C is slid over the smooth portion of male member 14C until female member 12C is positioned

over threads 34C. The release fingers 30C are released with female member 12C movably restricted relative to male 14C.

In the event female member 12C is used like a nut and bolt connection, i.e., where an object (not shown) is to be clamped with support on one side provided by either the upper or lower surface of the female member 12C, female member 12C is translated until spring 28C is firmly wedged between female member 12C and male member 14C. The rotating of female member 12C relative to male 14C, will put male member 14C under a pre-load, as with a typical bolt and a nut connection, and will work with any version of this first embodiment, wherein the male member 14, 14B or 14C is threaded, thus preventing the connection 10 from vibrating loose.

The male and female members, as well as the spring, are preferably, in these first and second embodiments, made of metal although a plastic or other suitable material will also work. While the drawings show components that are circular in cross-section, these embodiments can also be used with male members, female members, and springs that are not circular in cross-section. This invention contemplates that either the male or female member may be fixedly secured with the other member moving axially relative thereto. By properly orientating the recesses on the members, this invention can restrict against relative axial movement of the members either apart or together.

FIGS. 21-31 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown, this embodiment is not telescopically adjustable as in the first two embodiments. Looking to Fig. 21, telescopic connector

210 comprises a female member 212, a male member 214, a

spring 216, a retaining clip 218, and an elastic O-ring 220.

As seen in FIGS. 28 and 31, female member 212 includes an annular recess 222 along its inner periphery, a telescopic end 224, a cam 226 which is in communication with recess 222, and a seal groove 228, also located along the inner periphery.

Fig. 25 better illustrates recess 222. Recess 222 has an annular first shoulder portion 230 and an annular second shoulder portion 232. First shoulder portion 230 is sufficient in size to receive spring 216 therein, when spring 216 is in an expanded state, such that spring 216 is free of the outer periphery of male member 214, as shown in FIG. 30. Second shoulder portion 232 includes a cam portion 234 which slants radially inwardly. As shown in FIG. 28, second shoulder portion 232 is also sized to receive spring 228 therein, with the exception of cam portion 234, while allowing the outer periphery of male member 214 to pass thereby.

Cam 226, is best seen in FIG. 25 and is in communication with recess 222. Cam 226 includes a first portion 236 having circumferentially spaced first lands 238 and circumferentially spaced cam lands 242 and a second portion 240 having circumferentially spaced second lands 244. The pairs of lands 238, 242 and 244 are radially outwardly extending surfaces, relative to recess 222, and are used to circumferentially position spring 216. Fig. 24 shows first portion 236 and second portion 240 are radially raised relative to recess 224, which is shown in phantom lines, thereby providing the pairs of lands 238, 242 and 244.

Male member 214, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 31, has a telescopic end 246, a positioning recess 248, a

collar 250 which has an outer periphery greater in diameter than the remainder of the periphery of male member 214, and an annular retainer groove 252. Retainer groove 252 is located more distal to telescopic end 246 than is positioning recess 248. Collar 250, while larger than the remainder of the outer periphery of male member 214, is still receivable within the telescopic end 222 of female member 212, as seen in FIG 29. Retaining groove 252 is sized and configured to partially receive retaining clip 218 therein, as shown in FIG 21.

Spring 216 is shown in FIG. 26. Spring 216 is preferably made of a spring steel and is round in cross- section. Spring 216 has a pair of ends 254 with a gap therebetween. The inner diameter of spring 216, in a free unexpanded state, is preferably slightly less than the outer diameter of the outer periphery of male member 214. Therefore spring 216 can be positioned in positioning recess 248. The outer diameter of spring 216, when located in the positioning recess 248, should be greater than the inner diameter of the telescopic end 246 of male member 214.

Retaining clip 218 is displayed in FIG. 27. Retaining clip 218 has a pair of enlarged ends 258 with apertures 260 therein. Retaining clip 218 should have an inner diameter which allows retention within retaining groove 252 and an outer diameter which is larger than inner diameter of telescopic end 224 of female member 212. Preferably, retaining clip 218 is also made of a spring steel.

In operation, elastomeric O-ring 220 is inserted through telescopic end 224 and placed into seal groove 228. Spring 216 then is inserted into the second shoulder portion 232 of recess 222 of female member 212

with ends .154 of spring 216 being spaced about the second lands 244 of second portion 240 of cam 234. Retaining clip 218 is slid over the outer periphery of male member 214 and placed into retainer groove 252. Preferably, a tool (not shown) having a pair of noses which are inserted into apertures 260 of retaining clip 218 may be used to expand retaining clip 218 to assist in the insertion and removal of retaining clip 218 relative to male member 214.

As shown in FIG. 28, the telescopic end 246 of male member 214 is telescopically inserted into a telescopic end 224 of female member 212. Spring 216 may expand slightly while still residing within the second shoulder portion 232 of recess 222 to allow the outer periphery of male member 214 to pass thereby. Male member 214 is further telescopically inserted until retaining clip 218 abuts the telescopic end 224 of female member 212. Retaining clip 218 allows male member 214 to be sufficiently inserted into female member 212 to axially align spring 228 between recess 222 and second shoulder portion 232. However, spring 216 is prevented from reaching first shoulder portion 230 and allowing the unlocking of the members 212 and 214.

FIG. 21 illustrates the retaining clip 218 abutting the telescopic end 224 of female member 212 with the engageable portion 256 of spring 216 cooperatively residing within second shoulder portion 232 of female member 212 and positioning recess 248 of male member 214. FIG. 23 shows the engaging portion 256 of spring 216 partially engaged with male positioning recess 248 and partially engaged with second shoulder portion 232 with the ends 254 of spring 216 locating about the second lands 244 of cam 226.

Applying an axial force to either of the members 212 or 214 in an attempt to separate the members 212 or 214 will result in the engaging portion 256 of spring 216 being wedged between male positioning recess 248 and cam portion 234 of recess 222. This wedging action can be ascertained from FIG. 24. Retaining clip 218 prevents male member 214 from further telescopic insertion within female member 212 and the above described wedging action prevents telescopic withdrawal of male member 214 from female member 212. Therefore telescopic connector 210 is locked axially in place.

Male member 214 may be quickly withdrawn from female member 212 with the removal of retaining clip 218 and further relative inward telescopic insertion of the members 212 and 214. FIG. 30 shows retaining clip 218 missing from male member 214 and collar 250 pushing upon the engaging portion 256 of spring 216. As the engaging portion 256 of spring 216 is pushed telescopically inwardly by collar 250, spring ends 254 will abut cam lands 242 of cam 226 causing spring 216 to diametrically expand. Spring 216 is pushed telescopically sufficiently inwardly until spring 216 is seated in first shoulder portion 230 with the spring ends 254 abutting against first lands 238 of cam 226.

Male member 214, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, may then be withdrawn from female member 212. Spring ends 254 are kept circumferentially spaced apart by first lands 238 such that a gap 262 is formed between the inner diameter of spring 216 and the outer periphery of male member 214.

A tool, preferably with a sharp end (not shown) may then be inserted axially behind spring ends 254 and pulled telescopically outwardly relative to female member 212 to dislodge the spring ends 254 so that they

locate about second portion 240 of cam 226 and the engageable portion 256 is returned within second shoulder portion 232. Telescopic connector 212 may then be joined again with the insertion of male member 214 into female member 212, as described above.

A second smaller inner periphery of female member 212 may be provided to form shoulders 264 such that male telescopic end 218 is prevented from being telescopically inserted past shoulders 268, as seen in FIG. 30.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.