Patents by Inventor Richard Pepe

Richard Pepe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080007053
    Abstract: A quick connector coupling comprising a connector body, a tubular male member with an upset, a primary retainer and a separate redundant latch/verifier. The connector body defines a through bore and the male member extends into the bore. The primary retainer releasably secures the male member within the connector body. The redundant latch/verifier is releasably coupled to the connector body and movable between an unlatched position and a latched position. It includes spaced apart fingers with verifying tabs that permit movement to the latched position only after full insertion of the male member. The fingers have release tabs to manually spread the extension beams. In another form, the connector body includes locking pads extending radially inward. The legs of the primary retainer are located inward of the locking pads preventing the legs from moving to a released position if said male member is pulled in a direction to remove it from the connector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Kerin, Richard Pepe, Robert Koshay
  • Publication number: 20060285917
    Abstract: A quick connector coupling comprising a hollow female connector body, a male member having an enlarged annular upset received in the connector body, and a retainer releasably securing the male member in the connector body. A two piece insertion verifier assembly has a clip and a pull member connected together. The clip is attached to the connector body. The clip further includes a flexible cross member joining the two legs. The cross member includes an asymmetric tab, offset from its center toward one of the legs. The body has a protrusion on an outer surface. The tab and the protrusion insure proper orientation of the clip relative to the connector body and tube. With the upset secured by the retainer, it contacts the two legs of the clip to deform the legs apart to permit the clip to disengage from the connector body. However, the pull member and clip separate if a pulling force is exerted on the pull member with the male member not fully inserted into the connector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: TI GROUP AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Pepe
  • Publication number: 20050236833
    Abstract: A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid/vapor line system. The coupling comprises a female housing, a connector body, a male member and a retainer. The female housing has a bore extending from an end of the female housing and a radially enlarged section. The connector body has slots formed therethrough and a through bore extending from an end of the connector body. A portion of the connector body is located radially outward of said radially enlarged section of the female housing. The male member extends through the ends of the connector body and female housing and into the female housing bore. The male member has a tubular surface and an annular upset. The upset has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular surface. The retainer is coupled to the connector body. The retainer includes a cross member and two spaced legs extending from the cross member and through the slots. The legs are in abutting relationship with the male member upset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: David Poirier, Richard Pepe
  • Publication number: 20050218650
    Abstract: A quick connector coupling comprising a female connector body, a tubular male member, a primary retainer and a secondary latch/verifier. The female connector body has a through bore and transverse slots open to the bore. The male tubular member with an annular upset extends into the through bore. The primary retainer is disposed within the slots and releasably connects the male member to the connector body. The secondary latch/verifier is disposed in the slots and is releasably coupled to the connector body and moveable between latched position in which it precludes release of the primary retainer and an unlatched position. In one form, the secondary latch includes a retainer beam arranged to move the secondary latch to its unlatched position on insertion of the male member. In another form the secondary latch/verifier includes externally positioned verifier and additional latch to releasably retain the male member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Pepe, Jim Kerin
  • Patent number: 5628531
    Abstract: A quick connector coupling includes a hollow female connector body having a plurality of slots formed therethrough to define a plurality of radial ledges. A male member received in the connector body has an enlarged annular upset. A retainer disposed in the connector body includes locking beams extending between the upset and the radial ledges to secure the male member in the connector body. A latch is hinged about two posts formed on the exterior of the connector body. The latch includes a main body portion extending between a front edge and a rear edge. Legs depending from sides of the latch adjacent the rear edge are mounted over the posts. A latching beam depending from the front edge of the latch enters one of the slots formed in the connector body and is positioned between a radial ledge and the upset to further secure the male member in the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Bundy Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Rosenberg, Richard Pepe