Drainage tube coupling

Claim 2

A drainage tube coupling for use in connecting drainage tube together comprising a first member of generally U-shaped configuration in transverse cross-section having outturned flanges at upper sides thereof, said outturned flanges each having an outer portion, an inner portion, and a spacing portion extending between and connecting said outer and inner portions, and a second member that is a cover member, extending between and connecting said outer portions of said outturned flanges but being spaced from said inner portions by said spacing portions of said outturned flanges to accommodate drainage tube flanges therein, and means securing said cover member to said outer portion, said cover member and said inner portions of said first member having longitudinally smooth and straight inner surfaces between open ends and an interior portion of said cover member, said smooth and straight inner surfaces extending for sufficient distances inwardly of said ends to comprise means for facilitating sliding of drainage tube inwardly of opposite ends thereof.

Claim 3

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises permanent securing means.

Claim 4

The coupling of claim 2, wherein said cover member includes a generally flat central portion having downwardly angularly sloped side portions extending between said central portion and said flange outer portions.

Claim 5

The coupling of claim 2, wherein said permanent securing means comprises spot welds.

Claim 6

The coupling of claim 3, wherein a central interior portion of at least one of said cover member and said U-shaped member is provided with a protrusion extending out of the plane of the interior surface of said member, toward the other said member, comprising means for facilitating abutment of drainage tube ends thereagainst.

Claim 7

The coupling of claim 5, wherein said protrusion comprises a transversely extending rib, integral with its said members.

Claim 8

The coupling of claim 6, wherein free ends of at least one of said cover member and said U-shaped member are outwardly flared to accommodate the reception of drainage tube therein.

Claim 9

The coupling of claim 6, wherein said securing means are located in outermost portions of said cover member that over-lie said outer portions of said outturned flanges.

Claim 10

The coupling of claim 5, including in the combination a pair of drainage tube sections disposed inwardly of the coupling from each end thereof, frictionally held therein, on opposite sides of said protrusion.

Claim 11

The coupling of claim 9, wherein the upper surface of each said section is corrogated with apices of said corrogations cooperating to define surfaces substantially of the same configuration as the inner surface of said cover member.

Claim 12

A drainage tube coupling comprising a first member of generally U-shaped configuration in transverse cross-section having outturned flanges at upper sides thereof and a second member that is a cover member, extending between and connecting outer sides of said outturned flanges, and means securing said cover member to said outer sides, said cover member having a longitudinally smooth and straight inner surface between open ends and an interior portion of said cover member, said smooth and straight inner surface extending for sufficient distances inwardly of said ends to comprise means for facilitating sliding of drainage tube inwardly of opposite ends thereof, wherein said securing means comprise permanent securing means, wherein said cover member includes a generally flat central portion having downwardly angularly sloped side portions extending between said central portion and said flange outer sides, wherein a central interior portion of at least one of said cover member and said U-shaped member is provided with a protrusion extending out of the plane of the interior surface of said member, toward the other said member, comprising means for facilitating abutment of drainage tube ends there against, wherein said protrusion comprises a transversely extending rib, integral with its said members, wherein flanges of said U-shaped member and overlying sloped side portions of said cover member include inner spaced portions and outer portions, with the outer portions having the securing means therein, and wherein said inner spaced portions of a flange of said U-shaped member includes a transversely outwardly directed portion connected to an outer flange porTion by an angularly disposed flange portion.

Claim 13

A drainage tube coupling comprising a first member of generally U-shaped configuration in transverse cross-section having outturned flanges at upper sides thereof and a second member that is a cover member, extending between and connecting outer sides of said outturned flanges, and means securing said cover member to said outer sides, said cover member having a longitudinally smooth and straight inner surface between open ends and an interior portion of said cover member, said smooth and straight inner surface extending for sufficient distances inwardly of said ends to comprise means for facilitating sliding of drainage tube inwardly of opposite ends thereof, wherein said securing means comprise permanent securing means, wherein said cover member includes a generally flat central portion having downwardly angularly sloped side portions extending between said central portion and said flange outer sides, wherein a central interior portion of at least one of said cover member and said U-shaped member is provided with a protrusion extending out of the plane of the interior surface of said member, toward the other said member, comprising means for facilitating abutment of drainage tube ends there against, wherein said protrusion comprises a transversely extending rib, integral with its said members, wherein flanges of said U-shaped member and overlying sloped side portions of said cover member include inner spaced portions and outer portions, with the outer portions having the securing means therein, and wherein said inner spaced portions of a flange of said U-shaped member includes a transversely outwardly directed portion connected to an outer flange porTion by an angularly disposed flange portion.

Claim 14

A drainage tube coupling for use in connecting drainage tubes together, comprising a lower generally U-shaped portion in transverse cross-section having outturned flanges at upper sides thereof, said flanges each having an outer portion, an inner portion, and a spacing portion extending between and connecting said outer and inner portions, and an upper cover portion extending between and connecting said outer portions of said outturned flanges but being spaced from said inner portions by said spacing portions of said outturned flanges to accommodate drainage tube flanges therein, said cover portion and said inner flange portions having longitudinally smooth and straight inner surfaces between open ends and an interior portion of said cover portion comprising means for facilitating sliding of drainage tube inwardly of opposite ends thereof, wherein said cover portion includes a generally flat central portion having downwardly angularly sloped side portions extending between said central portion and said flange outer sides, wherein a central interior portion of at least one of said cover portion and said U-shaped portion is provided with a protrusion extending out of the plane of the interior surface of said one of said cover portion and U-shaped portion, toward the other said portion, and wherein said protrusion comprises a transversely extending rib, integral therewith and comprising means for facilitating abutment of drainage tube there against.

Claim 15

A drainage tube coupling for use in connecting drainage tubes together, comprising a lower generally U-shaped portion in transverse cross-section having outturned flanges at upper sides thereof, said flanges each having an outer portion, an inner portion, and a spacing portion extending between and connecting said outer and inner portions, and an upper cover portion extending between and connecting said outer portions of said outturned flanges but being spaced from said inner portions by said spacing portions of said outturned flanges to accommodate drainage tube flanges therein, said cover portion and said inner flange portions having longitudinally smooth and straight inner surfaces between open ends and an interior portion of said cover portion comprising means for facilitating sliding of drainage tube inwardly of opposite ends thereof, wherein said cover portion includes a generally flat central portion having downwardly angularly sloped side portions extending between said central portion and said flange outer sides, wherein a central interior portion of at least one of said cover portion and said U-shaped portion is provided with a protrusion extending out of the plane of the interior surface of said one of said cover portion and U-shaped portion, toward the other said portion, and wherein said protrusion comprises a transversely extending rib, integral therewith and comprising means for facilitating abutment of drainage tube there against.