Symmetrical gasket for a pipe joint with increased surface contact

Claim 2

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being located on opposed sides of the centerline; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes, said bore central region having a height dimension less than a height dimension of at least one of said first and said second spaced apart lobes, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof.

Claim 3

The pipe joint of claim 1 , wherein said gasket further comprises: a first recess formed in said gasket body adjacent said first projection, said first recess being located on a first side of said centerline; and a second recess formed in said gasket body adjacent said second projection, said second recess being located on a second side of said centerline.

Claim 4

The pipe joint of claim 1 , wherein said gasket further comprises: a first lip located on an outer periphery of said gasket body and positioned on a first side of said centerline; and a second lip located on said outer periphery of said gasket body and positioned on a second side of said centerline.

Claim 5

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being located on opposed sides of the centerline; a first annular bore extending in said gasket body, said first bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes and at least one annular projection extending into said first bore from said central region, said first bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof; and a second annular bore extending in said gasket body, said second bore being spaced from said first bore and from said projections.

Claim 6

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being located on opposed sides of the centerline; a first annular bore extending in said gasket body, said first bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes and at least one annular projection extending into said first bore from said central region, said first bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof; and a second annular bore extending in said gasket body, said second bore being spaced from said first bore and from said projections.

Claim 7

The pipe joint of claim 4 , wherein said second bore is located within said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof.

Claim 8

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being located on opposed sides of the centerline; an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes and an annular projection extending into said bore from said central region, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof; and, a recess formed on a surface of the gasket body.

Claim 9

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being located on opposed sides of the centerline; an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes and an annular projection extending into said bore from said central region, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof; and, a recess formed on a surface of the gasket body.

Claim 10

The pipe joint of claim 6 , wherein said recess is located on a surface of the base of the gasket.

Claim 11

The pipe joint of claim 7 , wherein the recess is disposed on a surface opposite said first and second protrusions, and wherein the recess is bisected by said centerline.

Claim 12

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; a first gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said first gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending radially therefrom, and said first and second projections symmetrically spaced apart about the centerline; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes, said bore central region having a height dimension less than a height dimension of at least one of said first and said second spaced apart lobes, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof; and a second gasket positioned within a second annular groove formed in one of said inner and outer pipes, the second gasket adapted to provide a second seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe.

Claim 13

A pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; a first gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said first gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending radially therefrom, and said first and second projections symmetrically spaced apart about the centerline; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second spaced apart lobes, said bore central region having a height dimension less than a height dimension of at least one of said first and said second spaced apart lobes, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof; and a second gasket positioned within a second annular groove formed in one of said inner and outer pipes, the second gasket adapted to provide a second seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe.

Claim 14

The pipe joint of claim 9 , wherein the first and second gaskets occupy adjacent axial positions along the pipe joint.

Claim 15

The pipe joint of claim 10 , wherein the first gasket is in fluid communication with an exterior of the inner and outer pipes, and wherein the second gasket is in fluid communication with an interior of the inner and outer pipes.

Claim 16

A non-directional gasket which is insensitive to axial gasket orientation, comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having an axial centerline and a base adapted to sealingly engage an annular groove on a pipe; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending radially therefrom, and said first and second projections being symmetrically spaced apart about the centerline; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second transversely spaced apart lobes and an annular projection extending into said annular bore from said central region, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof.

Claim 17

A non-directional gasket which is insensitive to axial gasket orientation, comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having an axial centerline and a base adapted to sealingly engage an annular groove on a pipe; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending radially therefrom, and said first and second projections being symmetrically spaced apart about the centerline; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore comprising a central region bridging first and second transversely spaced apart lobes and an annular projection extending into said annular bore from said central region, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof.

Claim 18

The gasket of claim 12 , further comprising: a first recess formed in said gasket body adjacent said first projection, said first recess being located on a first side of said centerline; and a second recess formed in said gasket body adjacent said second projection, said second recess being located on a second side of said centerline.

Claim 19

The gasket of claim 12 , further comprising: a first lip located on an outer periphery of said gasket body and positioned on a first side of said centerline; and a second lip located on said outer periphery of said gasket body and positioned on a second side of said centerline.

Claim 20

The gasket of claim 12 , further comprising: a pair of sealing lips located on opposite sides of said base.

Claim 21

The gasket of claim 12 , wherein said first and second lobes are aligned with and extend toward the first and second projections, respectively.

Claim 22

The gasket of claim 12 , further comprising: one or more pressure ribs protruding from said first and second projections.

Claim 23

A gasket for sealing an annular space in a bell-and-spigot pipe joint, comprising: an annular elastomeric web having an inner peripheral surface formed to sealingly engage an outer periphery of an associated spigot, said web having a centerline; first and second elastomeric protrusions projecting away from said web, said protrusions being spaced apart and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline, said protrusions being deflectable to engage an inner periphery of an associated bell; a central recess defined between said first and second protrusions, said central recess being bisected by said centerline; and, a closed-wall annular bore extending in said elastomeric web, said bore being spaced from said protrusions and being so located on said elastomeric web that it is bisected by said centerline thereof, said annular bore comprises a central region bridging first and second transversely spaced apart lobes and an annular projection extending into said annular bore from adjacent said central region; and wherein the gasket can be installed in an associated pipe joint in either direction along a longitudinal axis of the associated pipe joint.

Claim 24

A gasket for sealing an annular space in a bell-and-spigot pipe joint, comprising: an annular elastomeric web having an inner peripheral surface formed to sealingly engage an outer periphery of an associated spigot, said web having a centerline; first and second elastomeric protrusions projecting away from said web, said protrusions being spaced apart and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline, said protrusions being deflectable to engage an inner periphery of an associated bell; a central recess defined between said first and second protrusions, said central recess being bisected by said centerline; and, a closed-wall annular bore extending in said elastomeric web, said bore being spaced from said protrusions and being so located on said elastomeric web that it is bisected by said centerline thereof, said annular bore comprises a central region bridging first and second transversely spaced apart lobes and an annular projection extending into said annular bore from adjacent said central region; and wherein the gasket can be installed in an associated pipe joint in either direction along a longitudinal axis of the associated pipe joint.

Claim 25

The gasket of claim 18 , wherein said first and second lobes are subjacent to said first and second protrusions, respectively.

Claim 26

The gasket of claim 18 , wherein each of said protrusions comprises a sealing member having a cross-sectional shape selected from generally triangular, semicircular, and circular shapes.

Claim 27

The gasket of claim 18 , wherein said elastomeric web further comprises first and second lips projecting radially outwardly and symmetrically located on opposing sides of said centerline.

Claim 28

The gasket of claim 18 , wherein said web comprises at least one of: a pair of additional recesses located on opposing sides of the web and symmetrically disposed about said centerline; and an auxiliary recess formed in a sealing surface disposed opposite said protrusions and bisected by said centerline.

Claim 29

A pipe joint which can accommodate one or more defects in a sealing surface forming said pipe joint to form a functional seal, said pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being symmetrically spaced apart about the centerline and defining a recess therebetween, said gasket body being deformable to increase a surface contact area when the inner pipe is inserted into the outer pipe; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore adapted to equalize pressure transversely across the surface contact area when the inner pipe is inserted into the outer pipe, said annular bore including an annular projection bisected by said gasket centerline and extending partially across said annular bore.

Claim 30

A pipe joint which can accommodate one or more defects in a sealing surface forming said pipe joint to form a functional seal, said pipe joint comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe inserted into said outer pipe, wherein one of said outer pipe and said inner pipe comprises an annular groove; and a gasket positioned within said annular groove and adapted to provide a seal between said outer pipe and said inner pipe, said gasket comprising: an annular gasket body formed of a resilient material, said gasket body having a centerline and including a base adapted to sealingly engage said groove; first and second projections running along the gasket body and extending away therefrom, and said first and second projections being symmetrically spaced apart about the centerline and defining a recess therebetween, said gasket body being deformable to increase a surface contact area when the inner pipe is inserted into the outer pipe; and an annular bore extending in said gasket body, said bore adapted to equalize pressure transversely across the surface contact area when the inner pipe is inserted into the outer pipe, said annular bore including an annular projection bisected by said gasket centerline and extending partially across said annular bore.

Claim 31

The pipe joint of claim 23 , wherein the annular bore comprises: a central region bridging first and second transversely spaced apart lobes, said bore being located in said gasket body such that it is bisected by said centerline thereof.

Claim 32

A non-directional gasket that is insensitive to axial gasket orientation for compressive installation between an inner pipe and an outer pipe, said gasket comprising: a gasket body having an axial centerline; a first and a second exterior annular projections extending outwardly from said gasket body; an annular bore in said gasket body that is substantially bisected by said centerline; and an interior annular projection extending from said gasket body into said annular bore.

Claim 33

A non-directional gasket that is insensitive to axial gasket orientation for compressive installation between an inner pipe and an outer pipe, said gasket comprising: a gasket body having an axial centerline; a first and a second exterior annular projections extending outwardly from said gasket body; an annular bore in said gasket body that is substantially bisected by said centerline; and an interior annular projection extending from said gasket body into said annular bore.

Claim 34

A non-directional gasket according to claim 25 , wherein said annular bore includes a first lobe located on one side of said centerline.

Claim 35

A non-directional gasket according to claim 26 , wherein said annular bore includes a second lobe located on another side of said centerline.

Claim 36

A non-directional gasket that is insensitive to axial gasket orientation for compressive installation between an inner pipe and an outer pipe, said gasket comprising: a gasket body having an axial centerline; a first and a second exterior annular projections extending outwardly from said gasket body; an annular bore in said gasket body that is substantially bisected by said centerline, said annular bore including a central region and a pair of lobes spaced from one another on opposing sides of said central region, said central region having a height and each of said lobes of said pair of lobes having a respective height, said height of at least one of said lobes being greater than said height of said central region.

Claim 37

A non-directional gasket that is insensitive to axial gasket orientation for compressive installation between an inner pipe and an outer pipe, said gasket comprising: a gasket body having an axial centerline; a first and a second exterior annular projections extending outwardly from said gasket body; an annular bore in said gasket body that is substantially bisected by said centerline, said annular bore including a central region and a pair of lobes spaced from one another on opposing sides of said central region, said central region having a height and each of said lobes of said pair of lobes having a respective height, said height of at least one of said lobes being greater than said height of said central region.