Pipe gasket collar

Claim 2

In combination: a pair of end-to-end pipe sections; an annular collar of elastomeric material receiving adjacentends of said pipe sections therewithin with the axes of the collar and sections normally in substantial alignment, said collar having a pair of axially spaced outer bands presenting opposed end portions of the collar, and an intermediate band spanning the distance between said outer bands and being integral therewith to provide a one-piece, monolithic collar construction, said material in said intermediate band being characterized by the property of having substantially greater flexibility than the material in said outer bands, each of said pipe sections presenting an annular outside surface circumscribed by a portion of said intermediate band and by a corresponding outer band of said collar; and means securing each of said outer bands directly to said outside surface of the corresponding pipe section in fluid sealing relationship thereto, whereby said intermediate band is permitted to flex in response to relative movement of the pipe sections to a misaligned condition while the fluid seals at the outer bands are maintained.

Claim 3

In the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means includes an adhesive coating bonded to the outside surface of one of said pipe sections and the surrounding outer band of said collar.

Claim 4

In the combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pipe sections are concrete thereby providing said outside surfaces thereof with a relatively rough, irregular texture, and wherein said outer bands have sufficient flexibility to at least partially conform to the texture of said surfaces.

Claim 5

In the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the durometer hardness value of said intermediate band is substantially less than said outer bands.

Claim 6

In the combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein said collar has a continuous, annular sidewall presenting said integral bands, and wherein the thickness of said sidewall is essentially uniform.

Claim 7

In the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the durometer hardness value of said intermediate band is less than approximately 65, and wherein the durometer hardness value of said outer bands is greater than approximately 75.

Claim 8

In the combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein said material is polyurethane rubber.

Claim 9

In the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the durometer hardness value of said intermediate band is in the range of approximately 35 to 65, and wherein the durometer hardness value of said outer bands is in the range of approximately 75 to 100.

Claim 10

In combination: a pair of end-to-end concrete pipe sections; an annular collar of elastomeric material receiving adjacent ends of said pipe sections therewithin with the axes of the collar and sections normally in substantial alignment, said collar having a pair of axially spaced outer bands presenting opposed end portions of the collar, and an intermediate band spanning the distance between said outer bands and being integral therewith to provide a one-piece, monolithic collar construction, said material in said intermediate band being characterized by the property of having substantially greater flexibility than the material in said outer bands, each of said pipe sections presenting an annular outside surface having a relatively rough, irregular texture and circumscribed by a portion of said intermediate band and by a corresponding outer band of said collar, said material in the outer bands having sufficient flexibility to at least partially conform to the texture of said outside surfaces; and means securing each of said outer bands directly to the outside surface of the corresponding pipe section in fluid sealing relationship thereto, whereby said intermediate band is permitted to flex in response to relative movement of the pipe sections to a misaligned condition while the fluid seals at the outer bands are maintained, said securing means including an adhesive coating bonded to said outside surfaces and the surrounding outer bands of said collar, and annular clamping means on said outer bands maintaining radially inwardly directed forces thereon.

Claim 11

In combination: a pair of end-to-end concrete pipe sections; an annular collar of elastomeric material receiving adjacent ends of said pipe sections therewithin with the axes of the collar and sections normally in substantial alignment, said collar having a pair of axially spaced outer bands presenting opposed end portions of the collar, and an intermediate band spanning the distance between said outer bands and being integral therewith to provide a one-piece, monolithic collar construction, said material in said intermediate band being characterized by the property of having substantially greater flexibility than the material in said outer bands, each of said pipe sections presenting an annular outside surface having a relatively rough, irregular texture and circumscribed by a portion of said intermediate band and by a corresponding outer band of said collar, said material in the outer bands having sufficient flexibility to at least partially conform to the texture of said outside surfaces; and means securing each of said outer bands directly to the outside surface of the corresponding pipe section in fluid sealing relationship thereto, whereby said intermediate band is permitted to flex in response to relative movement of the pipe sections to a misaligned condition while the fluid seals at the outer bands are maintained, said securing means including an adhesive coating bonded to said outside surfaces and the surrounding outer bands of said collar, and annular clamping means on said outer bands maintaining radially inwardly directed forces thereon.

Claim 12

In the combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the durometer hardness value of said intermediate band is in the range of approximately 35 to 65, and wherein the durometer hardness value of said outer bands is in the range of approximately 75 to 100.