US 11,885,451 B2
Low-spill coupling assembly
David J. Vranish, Mound, MN (US)
Assigned to Colder Products Company, Roseville, MN (US)
Filed by Colder Products Company, Roseville, MN (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/362,288.
Application 17/362,288 is a continuation of application No. 16/670,294, filed on Oct. 31, 2019, granted, now 11,079,052.
Application 16/670,294 is a continuation of application No. 16/668,537, filed on Oct. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,060,650, issued on Jul. 13, 2021.
Application 16/668,537 is a continuation of application No. 14/567,254, filed on Dec. 11, 2014, granted, now 11,067,210.
Application 14/567,254 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/212,322, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/799,612, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0324988 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 37/413 (2006.01); F16L 37/34 (2006.01); F16L 27/073 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/413 (2013.01) [F16L 27/073 (2013.01); F16L 37/34 (2013.01); Y10T 137/87957 (2015.04)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A low-spill coupling system, comprising:
a male coupling device configured to releasably mate within a female coupling device, wherein the male coupling device includes:
a male insert body defining a front face, an exterior circumferential surface of the male coupling device extending continuously rearward for a first axial length from the front face to an exterior circumferential shoulder that ramps outwardly from the exterior circumferential surface and extends rearward to an exterior circumferential groove for mating with a quick disconnect clip such that both the exterior circumferential shoulder and the exterior circumferential groove are no less in diameter than the exterior circumferential surface, a circular front opening at the front face of the male coupling device, and an interior fluid passageway which has a first bore diameter extending continuously rearward from the front face to an interior shoulder tapering to a larger second bore diameter that extends continuously rearward for a majority of an overall axial length of the male coupling device;
a rear terminal mounted to a rear end of the male insert body and defining a maximum lateral width of the male coupling device, wherein the exterior circumferential groove for mating with the quick disconnect clip is positioned axially closer to the rear end of the male insert body than the front face of the male insert body, and wherein the rear terminal of the male coupling device defines a rear terminal central bore axially aligned with the interior fluid passageway defined by the male insert body, wherein the rear terminal central bore of the rear terminal is sized no less than the first bore diameter; and
a valve member that is longitudinally slidable within the male insert body and configured to abut the interior shoulder, the valve member having a valve seal mounted thereto and having a frontmost valve face with a diameter greater than half a diameter of the exterior circumferential surface of male insert body, wherein the valve member is spring biased toward the front face so that the frontmost valve face is parallel with the front face of the male insert body and the valve seal releasably engages with the first bore diameter of the male insert body, and wherein valve member has a maximum axial length that is less than the first axial length extending from the front face to the exterior circumferential shoulder.