Compressible member for use in compression joint pipe connector

Claim 1

In a re-useable compression type pipe connector having threaded male and female portions, one of which receives a pipe end; a sealing and pipe retaining means comprising a retaining ring consisting of a resilient material and having a hollow, truncated cone shaped body portion with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slits which extend in an axial direction inwardly from the smaller end of said retaining ring into the body portion thereof to define a plurality of resilient gripping teeth, each having a free end, and a sealing ring consisting of an elastomeric material and having a tubular shape; said gripping teeth being disposed at a low angle relative to the pipe surface, said angle ranging from approximately 5° to 30°; the axial length of said sealing ring being substantially longer than the axial length of said body portion of said retaining ring; said sealing ring being in surrounding and contracting relationship with the outside surface of said retaining ring where said sealing ring covers said slits in said retaining ring; the threaded portion which receives such pipe end having an annular inwardly sloping surface for engaging the outside surface of said sealing ring when said connector is assembled on a pipe end, the other portion having an internal shoulder means for engaging said body portion of said retaining ring, said annular inwardly sloping surface overlapping a portion of said gripping teeth so that as said male and female portions are threadably engaged to thereby move said internal shoulder towards said annular inwardly sloping surface, said annular inwardly sloping surface engages the outside surface of said sealing ring and causes an annular portion of said sealing ring to exert an inwardly directed force on said gripping teeth therebeneath to move them into contact with a pipe surface and simultaneously the annular portion of said sealing ring beyond said gripping teeth is moved into sealing arrangement with such pipe; each gripping tooth free end having a circumferential length to provide substantially more than point contact with a pipe surface, the arrangement of said connector being such that said gripping teeth free ends are precluded from substantially marring a pipe surface when said teeth are in contact therewith whereby the connector is re-useable to form a fluid tight seal around a pipe end previously engaged by said connector.