Fluid connector with full insertion assurance cap disconnect tool

Abstract

A disconnect tool for disconnecting an assurance cap mounted over a tubular member of a fluid connector assembly in a connector body to which the tubular member is locked by a retainer clip carried on the connector body. The disconnect tool includes an annular collar. A plurality of axial fingers extend from the collar and engage primary latch fingers of the assurance cap where end projections of the primary latch fingers are locked in a exterior groove on the connector body. Insertion of the disconnect tool through the assurance cap urges the ends of the fingers into engagement with the primary latch fingers of the assurance cap bending the primary fingers radially outward to separate the projections of the primary latch fingers from the groove on the connector body enabling the assurance cap to be separated from the connector body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for disconnecting an assurance cap with latch fingers engagable with an exterior opening groove in a connector body carrying a retainer clip to lock a tubular member to the connector body, the tool comprising:
 an annular collar mountable over the tubular member; and   a plurality of fingers carried on an extending axially from the annular collar, the plurality of fingers positioned to engage the latch fingers on the assurance cap when the collar and plurality of fingers are engaged with the assurance cap to disengage the latch fingers from the exterior groove in the connector body to disconnect the assurance cap from the connector body.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a grip surface carried on an outer circumferential edge of the collar to affiliate gripping of a collar. 
 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an end of each of the plurality of fingers engagable with a ramp surface on the connector body when the collar and the plurality of fingers are urged into engagement with the connector body through the assurance cap to flex the latch fingers outward relative to the connector body. 
 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a ramp edge carried on an end of each of the plurality of fingers of the tool. 
 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein:
 the number of the plurality of fingers of the tool equals the number of latch fingers on the assurance cap. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method for disconnecting an assurance cap from a connector body, where the connector body has a retainer clip for locking a tubular member to the connector body and a assurance cap has latch fingers engagable with a groove in the connector body to latch the assurance cap to the connector body comprising:
 providing a disconnect tool having an annular collar and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers extending from the collar;   positioning the disconnect tool over the tubular member;   moving the disconnect tool longitudinally along the tubular member to bring the fingers on the disconnect tool through apertures in the assurance cap into engagement with the latch fingers of the assurance cap; and   continuing insertion of the fingers on the collar to separate the latch fingers from the groove in the connector body.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 flexing the ends of the fingers on the collar radially outward relative to the connector body by engagement with a ramp surface on the connector body. 
 
     
     
         6 . A fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a tubular member having an endform spaced from a first insertion end the endform defining a radially disposed shoulder;   a connector body having a bore with one open end receiving the tubular member;   a retainer clip carried on the connector body and extending partially into the bore to engage the shoulder of the tubular member to lock the tubular member in the connector body when an first insertion end of the tubular member is fully inserted into the bore in the connector body;   an assurance cap slidably mounted relative to the tubular member, the assurance cap defining a body having a plurality of primary latch fingers with end projections configured for latching in a groove in the connector body to latch the assurance cap on the connector body only when the tubular member is fully inserted into the connector body;   each of the primary latch fingers formed a first and second spaced side legs joined at one end by a center end leg, the end projections of each plurality of the primary latch fingers carried on the center end leg; and   a secondary latch carried on the assurance cap body for engaging one of the retainer clip and the tubular member to secondarily latch the assurance cap to the tubular member or the connector body and only when the tubular member is fully inserted into the bore in the connector body.   
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly of  claim 4  wherein the primary latch fingers comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced primary latch fingers extending from a first end of the assurance cap body. 
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly of  claim 6  wherein the primary latch fingers comprise:
 a radially inward projection formed an end of each of the primary latch fingers; and 
 the groove in the connector spaced from the one end of the connector body, the groove and the projections on the primary latch fingers engageable to primarily latch the assurance cap to the connector body only when the tubular member is fully inserted into the bore in the connector body. 
 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly of  claim 6  further wherein the secondary latch comprises:
 an inner support web fixed in the assurance cap body radially inward of the primary latch fingers; 
 the inner support web having a through bore through which the tubular member extends; and 
 the inner support web having an inner end positioned to engage a surface on the tubular member to provide a secondary latch between the assurance cap body and the tubular member when the tubular member is fully inserted into the bore in the connector body. 
 
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein:
 the through bore in the inner support web having a keyhole shape to facilitate mounting of the assurance cap over an endform on the tubular member. 
 
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly of  claim 6  wherein the secondary latch comprises:
 a plurality of stepped fingers circumferentially spaced between the primary latch fingers; and 
 each of the stepped fingers having an inner surface with at least one step configured to overlay a radially outward portion of the retainer clip when the assurance cap is latched to the connector body to resist radially outward expansion of the retainer clip. 
 
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly of  claim 11  further comprising:
 the primary latch fingers including a plurality of circumferentially spaced primary latch fingers extending from a first end of the assurance cap body; and 
 one of the stepped finger disposed circumferentially intermediate two primary latch fingers.