Patent ID: 9435469
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: F16L

Claim Text:
1. A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising: first and second segments joined end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space for receiving said pipe elements, each one of said segments defining an eccentrically shaped gasket pocket, each one of said segments comprising: first and second projections, each positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said segments and extending toward said central axis, at least a portion of each of said projections being engageable with a respective one of said pipe elements, each of said projections having first and second notches therein positioned respectively at opposite ends thereof, each of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis; a back wall extending between said first and second projections and eccentric to said projections as manifest by said back wall having an arcuate surface facing said central axis, a distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said arcuate surfaces of said projections, as measured along a radially projecting line extending from said central axis, being a first value at a point midway between said ends of said segments, said distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said arcuate surface of said at least one projection being a second value at a point proximate to one end of each of said segments, and said distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said arcuate surface of said at least one projection being a third value at a point proximate to an opposite end of each of said segments, said first value being less than said second value and said third value; and a ring gasket positioned within said central space, said ring gasket having an outer circumference having a length greater than the sum of the lengths of said arcuate surfaces of said back walls of said first and second segments, said ring gasket supporting said first and second segments in spaced apart relation, said eccentrically shaped gasket pocket controlling a degree of distortion of said ring gasket out of round.