US Patent:
20020185868, Dec 12, 2002
Inventors:
Ronald Snyder - Schnecksville PA, US
Charles Wilk - Northampton PA, US
Lawrence Thau - Flemington NJ, US
Douglas Dole - Whitehouse Station NJ, US
Terrance Carom - Allentown PA, US
International Classification:
F16L039/00
US Classification:
285/374000, 285/345000, 285/317000
Abstract:
A coupling for joining pipe segments together is disclosed. The coupling is derived from a standard fitting and has a housing with a socket and a first expanded region adjacent to the socket and a second expanded region adjacent to the first expanded region. A sealing member is positioned in the first expanded region, a retainer is positioned in the second expanded region and a support washer having transversely oriented radial and coaxial flanges is positioned adjacent to the retainer. A lip turned inwardly on the second expanded region overlaps the radial flange and captures the support washer, retainer and sealing member within the coupling. The retainer has a plurality of radial teeth angularly oriented to engage a pipe and prevent its removal from the coupling.