Coupling assembly for tubular articles

Claim 2

A coupling assembly comprising an annular coupling having internal threads and opposed tubes having external threads inserted into said coupling with said internal threads and said external threads being in threaded engagement, an annular gasket of rigid material mounted between and in engagement with opposed ends of said tubes within said coupling, said gasket having a continuous radial portion extending between said opposed ends of said tubes, said radial portion having opposed side portions adjacent said opposed ends and a top portion spaced apart from said coupling, and a pair of opposed flanges extending from opposite sides of said continuous radial portion of said gasket and into sealing contact with an interior marginal portion extending from each opposed end of said tubes and sealing means for producing a seal between said opposed ends of said tubes and each said opposed side portions of said radial portion, said sealing means being spaced apart from said coupling and including a continuous, annular groove formed between each of said flanges and said continuous radial portion of said gasket with each said opposed ends of said tubes extending into one said groove in sealing engagement with said gasket.

Claim 3

A coupling assembly comprising an annular coupling having internal threads and opposed tubes having external threads inserted into said coupling with said internal threads and said external threads being in threaded engagement, an annular gasket of rigid material mounted between and in engagement with opposed ends of said tubes within said coupling, said gasket having a continuous radial portion extending between said opposed ends of said tubes, said radial portion having opposed side portions adjacent said opposed ends and a top portion spaced apart from said coupling, and a pair of opposed flanges extending from opposite sides of said continuous radial portion of said gasket and into sealing contact with an interior marginal portion extending from each opposed end of said tubes and sealing means for producing a seal between said opposed ends of said tubes and each said opposed side portions of said radial portion, said sealing means being spaced apart from said coupling and including a plurality of slits provided in said radial portion of said gasket with each said opposed end of said tubes extending into contact with said radial portion to compress said radial portion into sealing engagement with said opposed tube ends.

Claim 4

A coupling assembly comprising an annular coupling having internal threads and opposed tubes having external threads inserted into said coupling with said internal threads and said external threads being in threaded engagement, an annular gasket of rigid material mounted between and in engagement with opposed ends of said tubes within said coupling, said gasket having a continuous radial portion extending between said opposed ends of said tubes, said radial portion having opposed side portions adjacent said opposed ends and a top portion spaced apart from said coupling, and a pair of opposed flanges extending from opposite sides of said continuous radial portion of said gasket and into sealing contact with an interior marginal portion extending from each opposed end of said tubes and sealing means for producing a seal between said opposed ends of said tubes and each said opposed side portions of said radial portion, said sealing means being spaced apart from said coupling and including a plurality of slits provided in said radial portion of said gasket with each said opposed end of said tubes extending into contact with said radial portion to compress said radial portion into sealing engagement with said opposed tube ends.