US3792878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conduit sections
Assignee: PHONE DUCS
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract Conduit sections are connected and sealed together and buried beneath the earth''s surface to provide a sealed underground conduit for housing cables or the like therein. The conduit sections are of molded high impact plastic, the sealed joints between the conduit sections include tapered male and female portions on the ends of the sections and annular resilient gaskets therebetween, and the sections are secured together by spring clips.
Inventors
- 👤 J Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/56; F16L37/08; F16L37/12; H; H02; H02G; H02G9/00; H02G9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A conduit section for connection to similar conduit sections to provide a sealed underground conduit of desired length for housing cables or the like therein, said section being an injection molded plastic section of light weight and high strength and comprising longitudinally extending partition and enclosing walls forming a plurality of longitudinally extending passages therethrough, an outwardly tapered male portion at one end of the section, and an outwardly flared female portion at the other end of the section with internal transverse dimensions which are greater than the external transverse dimensions of the outwardly tapered male portion, the outwardly tapered male portion at said one end of the section being receivable in the outwardly flared female portion of an adjacent similar section and the outwardly flared female portion at said other end of the section receiving the outwardly tapered male portion of an adjacent similar section with clearance between the respective outwardly tapered and flared male and female portions of the sections, an annular resilient sealing gasket carried by the outwardly tapered male portion of said section having its inside face engaging and sealing said outwardly tapered male portion and its outside face engageable with the outwardly flared female portion of the adjacent section for sealing the same, said outwardly tapered male portion of the section having a groove therearound, and the inside face of the resilient sealing gasket having a continuous rib spaced intermediate its width and received in said groove with the inside face of the resilient gasket on each side of the continuous rib engaging the outwardly tapered male portion of the section on each side of said groove for locating the gasket on said male portion and increasing the sealing effect therebetween, and fastening means for securing and holding together the adjacent sections in sealed relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
A conduit section for connection to similar conduit sections to provide a sealed underground conduit of desired length for housing cables or the like therein, said section being an injection molded plastic section of light weight and high strength and comprising longitudinally extending partition and enclosing walls forming a plurality of longitudinally extending passages therethrough, an outwardly tapered male portion at one end of the section, and an outwardly flared female portion at the other end of the section with internal transverse dimensions which are greater than the external transverse dimensions of the outwardly tapered male portion, the outwardly tapered male portion at said one end of the section being receivable in the outwardly flared female portion of an adjacent similar section and the outwardly flared female portion at said other end of the section receiving the outwardly tapered male portion of an adjacent similar section with clearance between the respective outwardly tapered and flared male and female portions of the sections, an annular resilient sealing gasket carried by the outwardly tapered male portion of said section having its inside face engaging and sealing said outwardly tapered male portion and its outside face engageable with the outwardly flared female portion of the adjacent section for sealing the same, said outwardly tapered male portion of the section having a groove therearound, and the inside face of the resilient sealing gasket having a continuous rib spaced intermediate its width and received in said groove with the inside face of the resilient gasket on each side of the continuous rib engaging the outwardly tapered male portion of the section on each side of said groove for locating the gasket on said male portion and increasing the sealing effect therebetween, and fastening means for securing and holding together the adjacent sections in sealed relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 1 wherein the internal transverse dimensions of the outwardly flared female portion and the external transverse dimensions of the outwardly tapered male portion provide sufficient clearance therebetween and the fastening means are such to permit limited angular misalignment of the sections and yet sealing of the secured sections by the resilient sealing gasket regardless of the limited angular misalignment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 1 wherein the outside face of the resilient sealing gasket has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart continuous ribs for engaging the outwardly flared female portion of an adjacent section to be deformed thereby for increasing the sealing effect therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprises a first shoulder flange adjacent the male portion and a second shoulder flange adjacent the female portion of said section, and spring clips engageable with the first shoulder flange of said section and the second shoulder flange of an adjacent sectiOn and with the second shoulder flange of said section and the first shoulder flange of an adjacent section for securing the sections together in sealed relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring clips comprise an elongated bent portion for spanning the sealed joints between the sections and reversely bent end portions for gripping the shoulder flanges of the sections when hammered into place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer faces of the longitudinally extending enclosing walls are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 6 wherein said plurality of longitudinally spaced projections comprise transversely extending ribs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
279 words
A conduit section for connection to similar conduit sections to provide a sealed underground conduit of desired length for housing cables or the like therein, said section being an injection molded plastic section of light weight and high strength and comprising longitudinally extending partition and enclosing walls forming a plurality of longitudinally extending passages therethrough, an outwardly tapered male portion at one end of the section, and an outwardly flared female portion at the other end of the section with internal transverse dimensions which are greater than the external transverse dimensions of the outwardly tapered male portion, the outwardly tapered male portion at said one end of the section being receivable in the outwardly flared female portion of an adjacent similar section and the outwardly flared female portion at said other end of the section receiving the outwardly tapered male portion of an adjacent similar section with clearance between the male and female portions of the sections, an annular resilient sealing gasket carried by the outwardly tapered male portion of said section having its inside face engaging and sealing said outwardly tapered male portion and its outside face engageable with the outwardly flared female portion of the adjacent section for sealing the same, and fastening means for securing together the adjacent sections in sealed relation, the transverse dimensions between the partition and enclosing walls at a position within the length of said section being less than those at the ends of said section and gradually increasing from said position to the ends of the section to provide a guide surface in the passage at said position which forms the principal support for the cable or the like passing therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
279 words
A conduit section for connection to similar conduit sections to provide a sealed underground conduit of desired length for housing cables or the like therein, said section being an injection molded plastic section of light weight and high strength and comprising longitudinally extending partition and enclosing walls forming a plurality of longitudinally extending passages therethrough, an outwardly tapered male portion at one end of the section, and an outwardly flared female portion at the other end of the section with internal transverse dimensions which are greater than the external transverse dimensions of the outwardly tapered male portion, the outwardly tapered male portion at said one end of the section being receivable in the outwardly flared female portion of an adjacent similar section and the outwardly flared female portion at said other end of the section receiving the outwardly tapered male portion of an adjacent similar section with clearance between the male and female portions of the sections, an annular resilient sealing gasket carried by the outwardly tapered male portion of said section having its inside face engaging and sealing said outwardly tapered male portion and its outside face engageable with the outwardly flared female portion of the adjacent section for sealing the same, and fastening means for securing together the adjacent sections in sealed relation, the transverse dimensions between the partition and enclosing walls at a position within the length of said section being less than those at the ends of said section and gradually increasing from said position to the ends of the section to provide a guide surface in the passage at said position which forms the principal support for the cable or the like passing therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 8 wherein said position is substantially midway between the ends of said section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conduit section as defined in claim 8 wherein said position is near one end of said section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |