Pipe coupling

Claim 1

A pipe joint comprising, in combination: (a) two lengths of thin wall, pipe arranged end-to-end for connection one to the other but providing a gap therebetween to allow for longitudinal movement thereof, each of said pipe lengths having a continuous, circumferential, retainer ring thereon recessed from the juxtaposed ends for pipe end connection purposes to allow longitudinal movement of said pipe lengths at said pipe joint but limit the amount of angular movement of said pipe lengths to prevent leakage, each said retainer ring having an inside diameter substantially contiguous and continuously integral with the outside diameter of its respective pipe length and continuously secured thereto, said retainer rings being of substantially rectangular cross section, whereby to provide therewith a peripheral flat circumferential bearing surface thereon, a substantially radially extending circumferential shoulder facing away from said juxtaposed ends, and a substantially radially extending circumferential bearing surface facing toward said juxtaposed ends; (b) coupling means overlying and engaging said retainer rings which is yieldable and flexible during installation and thereafter allows for rotational and lateral movement of said pipe lengths comprising at least one thin band of generally U-shaped cross section having a wide base portion and in-turned legs joining said pipe ends to allow for longitudinal movement of said pipe lengths, the legs of said band engaging said circumferential shoulders of said retainer rings, and the base of said bond having a width somewhat greater than the combined width of said two pipe retainer rings to be connected, said legs of said band when assembled having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said pipe and adapted to overlie same, (c) gasket means so positioned as to form a seal between said retainer rings and said band; (d) said band having a pair of free ends adapted to approach or substantially abut each other, one of said free ends being provided with a single lug having an aperture therethrough and the other of said free ends being provided with a pair of spaced lugs having aligned apertures therethrough, said single lug extending between said spaced pair of lugs with its respective aperture in substantial alignment with the aligned apertures of said spaced lugs when said free end approach or substantially abut each other; (e) key means adapted to be snugly received within said apertures of said lugs when said free end approach or substantially abut each other; whereby to secure said lugs together and tighten said coupling means about said retainer rings so as to provide a leak tight joint.