Patent ID: 11879571
Assignee: VICTAULIC COMPANY
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. In combination, a preassembled coupling and a captured pipe element for connecting a second pipe element to said captured pipe element, said combination comprising:
a coupling assembly comprising:
a first segment having first and second ends oppositely disposed from one another;
a second segment having first and second ends oppositely disposed from one another, said first ends of said first and second segment defining a first end of said coupling assembly, said second ends of said first and second segments defining a second end of said coupling assembly;
a first attachment member positioned at said first end of said coupling assembly;
a second attachment member positioned at said second end of said coupling assembly;
a first arcuate projection extending along a first side of said first segment and projecting toward a central space surrounded by said first and second segments, and a second arcuate projection extending along a second side of said first segment and projecting toward said central space, a first channel being defined between said first and second arcuate projections of said first segment;
a first arcuate projection extending along a first side of said second segment and projecting toward said central space, and a second arcuate projection extending along a second side of said second segment and projecting toward said central space, a second channel being defined between said first and second arcuate projections of said second segment;
a ring seal positioned within said first and second channels, and,

wherein said captured pipe element comprises:
an annular body having an end face positioned within said central space;
a circumferential groove in said annular body positioned in spaced relation to said end face, said first arcuate projections of said first and second segments being engageable with said circumferential groove;
a bead extending circumferentially around said annular body and projecting outwardly therefrom, said bead being positioned between said end face and said groove; wherein
said first and second segments are supported in spaced apart relation sufficient to permit insertion of said second pipe element into said central space while capturing said captured pipe element, said end face of said captured pipe element being retained within said central space by engagement between said bead and said coupling assembly.