US5336351A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for connecting a pipe connector to a hard plastic pipe
Assignee: Tuf-Tite Inc
•
Filing: 1992-07-14
•
Granted: 1994-08-09
•
Expires: 2012-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A flexible pipe connector is disclosed for connecting to a hard plastic pipe. The flexible pipe connector, preferably made of polyethylene, has a tubing member which defines a cylindrical wall with inner and outer surfaces, the cylindrical wall having a male end which has a plurality of undercuts formed on the outer surface. The male end with the undercuts is inserted into the female end of a hard plastic pipe with a solvent weld glue applied at the inner surface thereof. The solvent weld glue liquifies the inner surface of the pipe's female end to form a liquified layer of hard plastic which is received in the male end's undercuts and then hardens into a reconfigured solid layer. In this manner, the flexible pipe connector, which is inert and normally cannot be attached with glue to a hard plastic pipe, can be sealably secured to a hard plastic pipe as the liquified layer solidifies within the undercuts to prevent separation of the pipe connector and the hard plastic pipe and to provide a seal therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore W. Meyers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:30
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C37/00; B29C37/0078; B29C37/0082; B29C65/00; B29C65/48; B29C65/4895; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5224; B29C66/52241; B29C66/5229; B29C66/52291; B29C66/52292; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5344; B29C66/61; B29C66/612; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; F; F16; F16L; F16L47/00; F16L47/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/903; Y10S285/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of sealably interconnecting a flexible pipe connector to a hard, plastic pipe component, said method comprising the steps of: forming said flexible pipe connector as a tubular element of polyethylene defined by a flexible and stretchable cylindrical wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said inner and outer surfaces being formed with a plurality of receiving means for receiving a liquefied layer of said hard plastic pipe component; applying a solvent weld glue onto a mating surface of said hard plastic pipe component so as to form said liquefied layer, said liquefied layer being adapted to harden into a reconfigured solid layer; and engaging said at least one inner and outer surface of said cylindrical wall of said flexible pipe connector with said mating surface of said hard plastic pipe component, so that said liquefied layer flows into said receiving means and hardening said liquefied layer into said reconfigured layer so that said reconfigured solid layer engages said receiving means to create a sealed interlocking interconnection between said flexible pipe connector and said hard plastic pipe component, said sealed interconnection operable to substantially prevent water drainage therethrough.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of sealably interconnecting a flexible pipe connector to a hard, plastic pipe component, said method comprising the steps of: forming said flexible pipe connector as a tubular element of polyethylene defined by a flexible and stretchable cylindrical wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said inner and outer surfaces being formed with a plurality of receiving means for receiving a liquefied layer of said hard plastic pipe component; applying a solvent weld glue onto a mating surface of said hard plastic pipe component so as to form said liquefied layer, said liquefied layer being adapted to harden into a reconfigured solid layer; and engaging said at least one inner and outer surface of said cylindrical wall of said flexible pipe connector with said mating surface of said hard plastic pipe component, so that said liquefied layer flows into said receiving means and hardening said liquefied layer into said reconfigured layer so that said reconfigured solid layer engages said receiving means to create a sealed interlocking interconnection between said flexible pipe connector and said hard plastic pipe component, said sealed interconnection operable to substantially prevent water drainage therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said hard plastic pipe component is made of polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality of undercuts disposed on said at least one of said inner and outer surfaces of said flexible pipe connector and each of said undercuts having a slanted wall, and a vertical wall perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said flexible pipe connector, each of said slanted and vertical walls being adapted to receive a portion of said liquefied layer so that when said liquefied layer hardens into said reconfigured solid layer relative longitudinal movement of said flexible pipe connector and hard plastic component is prevented.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving means on said at least one of said inner and outer surfaces of said flexible pipe connector comprises a plurality of concentric groove formed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said flexible pipe connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving means on said at least one of said inner and outer surfaces of said flexible pipe connector comprises a first plurality of grooves aligned diagonally to the longitudinal axis of said flexible pipe connector and a second plurality of grooves aligned at an angle relative to said first plurality of grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said angle is approximately 90°.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of sealably interconnecting a corrugated pipe end to a hard plastic pipe with a flexible pipe connector, said method comprising the steps of: forming said flexible pipe connector of polyethylene as a tubular member having a female end and a male end, said female end having a flexible cylindrical wall with a receiving length adapted to stretch radially outward along a length of said corrugated pipe, and said male end having an outer surface with a plurality of receiving means for receiving a liquefied layer of said plastic pipe; inserting said corrugated pipe end into said female end of said tubular member such that said receiving length of said female end exerts radially inward compressive forces on said corrugated pipe end and forms a fluid-tight seal; applying a solvent weld glue onto a mating surface of said hard plastic pipe to form said liquefied layer, said liquefied layer being adapted to harden into a reconfigured solid layer; and inserting said male end and said flexible pipe connector into said hard plastic pipe so that said liquefied layer flows into said receiving means and hardening said liquefied layer into said reconfigured solid layers so that said reconfigured solid layer engages said receiving means to create a water-tight seal between said flexible pipe connector and said hard plastic pipe.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of sealably interconnecting a corrugated pipe end to a hard plastic pipe with a flexible pipe connector, said method comprising the steps of: forming said flexible pipe connector of polyethylene as a tubular member having a female end and a male end, said female end having a flexible cylindrical wall with a receiving length adapted to stretch radially outward along a length of said corrugated pipe, and said male end having an outer surface with a plurality of receiving means for receiving a liquefied layer of said plastic pipe; inserting said corrugated pipe end into said female end of said tubular member such that said receiving length of said female end exerts radially inward compressive forces on said corrugated pipe end and forms a fluid-tight seal; applying a solvent weld glue onto a mating surface of said hard plastic pipe to form said liquefied layer, said liquefied layer being adapted to harden into a reconfigured solid layer; and inserting said male end and said flexible pipe connector into said hard plastic pipe so that said liquefied layer flows into said receiving means and hardening said liquefied layer into said reconfigured solid layers so that said reconfigured solid layer engages said receiving means to create a water-tight seal between said flexible pipe connector and said hard plastic pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1115103A
Cited
FR1264634A
Cited
US3471179A
Cited
GB1288648A
Cited
US3649055A
Cited
US3857588A
Cited
JPS5147973A
Cited
US4019760A
Cited
US4037626A
Cited
CH610080A5
Cited
US4124236A
Cited
US4137117A
Cited
US4141576A
Cited
US4591193A
Cited
US4606558A
Cited
US4810008A
Cited
JPH028587A
Cited
US4946206A
Cited
US5072972A
Cited
US5180196A
Cited
US5180195A
Cited
US5180197A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |