FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a releasable connect/disconnect fitting connection. The fitting connection could be integrally formed with a fitting, such as a pipe connector, a tee fitting, or an elbow fitting. The releasable connect/disconnect fitting permits relatively quick connection and disconnection of a pipe to a-fitting by a mechanical type connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, there have been many different types of fitting connections to provide a connection between a pipe and a fitting through a mechanical type connection. However, the prior art connections suffer from the disadvantage that the connection is generally permanent, meaning that the fitting or connection must be destroyed or disassembled to remove the pipe. Also, the prior art connections generally do not permit relative rotation of the pipe and fitting after installation, as in many prior art connections are a solvent welded joint which generally use volatile organic solvent cements. In other words, there is no relatively efficient and/or quick manner to disconnect a pipe from a fitting once it has been connected and then reconnect another pipe or the same pipe to the fitting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to at least partially overcome some of the disadvantages of the prior art. Also, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of connection which provides more efficient connection and disconnection of a pipe to a fitting.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection to connect and disconnect a pipe to a fitting, the connection comprising: a fitting body having a pipe opening for axially receiving a pipe along a longitudinal axis and having at least one body radial opening, each body radial opening having an angled tab engaging surface; a retaining ring having at least one axially extending resilient retaining tab, each resilient retaining tab having a radially inwardly extending portion and a radially outwardly extending portion; wherein each of said radially outwardly extending portions have a chamfered body engaging surface which operatively engages the angled tab engaging surface of a corresponding body radial opening; wherein said radially inwardly extending portions engage the pipe when the pipe is in an inserted position and the retaining ring is in a first locked axial position to retain the pipe in the inserted position; wherein relative axial movement of the retaining ring with respect to the fitting body from the first locked axial position to a second unlocked axial position causes the chamfered body engaging surface of each radially outwardly extending portion to operatively engage the angled tab engaging surface of the corresponding body radial opening to resiliently radially outwardly deform each resilient retaining tab disengaging the radially inwardly extending portions from the pipe to permit removal of the pipe from the inserted position in the fitting body.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and drawings, which illustrate the invention and preferred embodiments of the invention.

