Pipe jointing system

Claim 1

A system for joining first and second pipes each having an open end and an outer surface, which comprises: (a) a coupling shell having a generally cylindrical configuration with first and second open shell ends positioned opposite each other and a shell bore extending longitudinally between and open at said ends, said shell comprising a semi-rigid material; (b) a coupling sleeve including: (1) a generally cylindrical configuration; (2) opposite first and second open sleeve ends; (3) a sleeve bore extending between and open at said sleeve ends; (4) said sleeve comprising an elastomeric material; (5) said sleeve being fastened to said shell within said shell bore with said sleeve ends substantially flush with said shell ends; (6) an annular sleeve rib extending radially inwardly from said sleeve bore and positioned generally medially between said sleeve ends, said sleeve rib forming a generally circular sleeve rib opening; (7) first and second sets of sleeve ridges each positioned between a respective sleeve end and said sleeve rib; (8) each said ridge set comprising a plurality of adjacent, juxtaposed, annular, non-pitched, continuous ridges; (9) each said ridge having a first annular edge extending generally radially inwardly into said bore and a second annular edge with a medially-converging orientation, said ridge edges intersecting at a generally circular line of intersection forming an inside diameter of said coupling sleeve; (10) respective first and second edges of adjacent ridges intersecting at generally circular line intersections with greater diameters than said sleeve inside diameter; and (11) first and second annular flats each located between a respective ridge set and said rib; (c) each said pipe including: (1) a chamfered edge at the end thereof; and (2) first and second pipe end grooves each having a groove first wall extending generally radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface; a groove second wall converging radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface in a direction toward said pipe end; an annular pipe groove flat located between said pipe groove walls in generally parallel relation with respect to said pipe outer surface; and a generally circular line of intersection between said pipe groove second wall and said pipe outer surface; (d) first and second pipe end annular sealing intersections formed between each pipe end and said sleeve rib; (e) a plurality of annular pipe groove first wall intersections each formed between a respective pipe groove first wall and a respective ridge first edge; and (f) a plurality of annular ridge second edge sealing intersections each formed at an intersection of a respective sleeve ridge second edge and a respective pipe groove circular intersection line.

Claim 2

A system for joining first and second pipes each having an open end and an outer surface, which comprises: (a) a coupling shell having a generally cylindrical configuration with first and second open shell ends positioned opposite each other and a shell bore extending longitudinally between and open at said ends, said shell comprising a semi-rigid material; (b) a coupling sleeve including: (1) a generally cylindrical configuration; (2) opposite first and second open sleeve ends; (3) a sleeve bore extending between and open at said sleeve ends; (4) said sleeve comprising an elastomeric material; (5) said sleeve being fastened to said shell within said shell bore with said sleeve ends substantially flush with said shell ends; (6) an annular sleeve rib extending radially inwardly from said sleeve bore and positioned generally medially between said sleeve ends, said sleeve rib forming a generally circular sleeve rib opening; (7) first and second sets of sleeve ridges each positioned between a respective sleeve end and said sleeve rib; (8) each said ridge set comprising a plurality of adjacent, juxtaposed, annular, non-pitched, continuous ridges; (9) each said ridge having a first annular edge extending generally radially inwardly into said bore and a second annular edge with a medially-converging orientation, said ridge edges intersecting at a generally circular line of intersection forming an inside diameter of said coupling sleeve; (10) respective first and second edges of adjacent ridges intersecting at generally circular line intersections with greater diameters than said sleeve inside diameter; and (11) first and second annular flats each located between a respective ridge set and said rib; (c) each said pipe including: (1) a chamfered edge at the end thereof; and (2) first and second pipe end grooves each having a groove first wall extending generally radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface; a groove second wall converging radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface in a direction toward said pipe end; an annular pipe groove flat located between said pipe groove walls in generally parallel relation with respect to said pipe outer surface; and a generally circular line of intersection between said pipe groove second wall and said pipe outer surface; (d) first and second pipe end annular sealing intersections formed between each pipe end and said sleeve rib; (e) a plurality of annular pipe groove first wall intersections each formed between a respective pipe groove first wall and a respective ridge first edge; and (f) a plurality of annular ridge second edge sealing intersections each formed at an intersection of a respective sleeve ridge second edge and a respective pipe groove circular intersection line.

Claim 3

A method of joining first and second pipes each having an open end and an outer surface, which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a coupling shell having a generally cylindrical configuration with first and second open shell ends positioned opposite each other and a shell bore extending longitudinally between and open at said ends, said shell comprising a semi-rigid material; (b) providing a coupling sleeve including: (1) a generally cylindrical configuration; (2) opposite first and second open sleeve ends; (3) a sleeve bore extending between and open at said sleeve ends; (4) said sleeve comprising an elastomeric material; (5) said sleeve being fastened to said shell within said shell bore with said sleeve ends substantially flush with said shell ends; (6) an annular sleeve rib extending radially inwardly from said sleeve bore and positioned generally medially between said sleeve ends, said sleeve rib forming a generally circular sleeve rib opening; (7) first and second sets of sleeve ridges each positioned between a respective sleeve end and said sleeve rib; (8) each said ridge set comprising a plurality of adjacent, juxtaposed, annular, non-pitched, continuous ridges; (9) each said ridge having a first annular edge extending generally radially inwardly into said bore and a second annular edge with a medially-converging orientation, said ridge edges intersecting at a generally circular line of intersection forming an inside diameter of said coupling sleeve; (10) respective first and second edges of adjacent ridges intersecting at generally circular line intersections with greater diameters than said sleeve inside diameter; and (11) first and second annular flats each located between a respective ridge set and said rib; (c) providing each said pipe with: (1) a chamfered edge at the end thereof; and (2) first and second pipe end grooves each having a groove first wall extending generally radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface; a groove second wall converging radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface in a direction toward said pipe end; an annular pipe groove flat located between said pipe groove walls in generally parallel relation with respect to said pipe outer surface; and a generally circular line of intersection between said pipe groove second wall and said pipe outer surface; (d) inserting said first and second pipe ends through said first and second sleeve ends and into said sleeve bore; (e) engaging said first and second pipe ends with said sleeve rib to form respective first and second pipe end annular sealing intersections therebetween; (f) engaging a plurality of pipe groove first walls with respective ridge first edges to form a plurality of respective annular pipe groove first wall intersections; and (g) engaging a plurality of sleeve ridge second edges with respective pipe groove circular intersection lines to form a plurality of respective annular ridge second edge sealing intersections.

Claim 4

A method of joining first and second pipes each having an open end and an outer surface, which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a coupling shell having a generally cylindrical configuration with first and second open shell ends positioned opposite each other and a shell bore extending longitudinally between and open at said ends, said shell comprising a semi-rigid material; (b) providing a coupling sleeve including: (1) a generally cylindrical configuration; (2) opposite first and second open sleeve ends; (3) a sleeve bore extending between and open at said sleeve ends; (4) said sleeve comprising an elastomeric material; (5) said sleeve being fastened to said shell within said shell bore with said sleeve ends substantially flush with said shell ends; (6) an annular sleeve rib extending radially inwardly from said sleeve bore and positioned generally medially between said sleeve ends, said sleeve rib forming a generally circular sleeve rib opening; (7) first and second sets of sleeve ridges each positioned between a respective sleeve end and said sleeve rib; (8) each said ridge set comprising a plurality of adjacent, juxtaposed, annular, non-pitched, continuous ridges; (9) each said ridge having a first annular edge extending generally radially inwardly into said bore and a second annular edge with a medially-converging orientation, said ridge edges intersecting at a generally circular line of intersection forming an inside diameter of said coupling sleeve; (10) respective first and second edges of adjacent ridges intersecting at generally circular line intersections with greater diameters than said sleeve inside diameter; and (11) first and second annular flats each located between a respective ridge set and said rib; (c) providing each said pipe with: (1) a chamfered edge at the end thereof; and (2) first and second pipe end grooves each having a groove first wall extending generally radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface; a groove second wall converging radially inwardly from said pipe outer surface in a direction toward said pipe end; an annular pipe groove flat located between said pipe groove walls in generally parallel relation with respect to said pipe outer surface; and a generally circular line of intersection between said pipe groove second wall and said pipe outer surface; (d) inserting said first and second pipe ends through said first and second sleeve ends and into said sleeve bore; (e) engaging said first and second pipe ends with said sleeve rib to form respective first and second pipe end annular sealing intersections therebetween; (f) engaging a plurality of pipe groove first walls with respective ridge first edges to form a plurality of respective annular pipe groove first wall intersections; and (g) engaging a plurality of sleeve ridge second edges with respective pipe groove circular intersection lines to form a plurality of respective annular ridge second edge sealing intersections.