Caterpillar Inc.
STAPLE-LOCK COUPLING

Abstract:

A connection includes a male piece configured to permit insertion into a female piece. The male piece includes an open surface extending through the male piece to permit a fluid to be communicated through the male piece and an external recessed surface portion. When the male piece is inserted into the female piece, the external recessed surface portion is aligned with an open surface extending through the female piece to form an opening extending through the connection. The opening is configured to allow a leg of a staple to be inserted through the opening to couple the male piece and the female piece together. The external recessed surface portion forms a cavity under a portion of the leg of the staple to prevent an edge of the leg of the staple from contacting the external recessed surface portion when the leg of the staple extends through the opening.