Patent ID: 6519815
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
In a pipe coupling of the type comprising a sleeve adapted to receive one pipe inside one end and another pipe inside the other end, said sleeve having a cross-section including a roundish sector and a radially projecting channel-shaped sector, said channel-shaped sector comprising a pair of sidewalls extending outwardly from the roundish sector and being separated from each other at the outer ends to form an opening in the sleeve, said sleeve comprising a single piece of sheet material and each of said sidewalls being folded back on itself to form a bight and provide a double layer of sheet material, a spline disposed between the sidewalls and having a concave surface opposite each sidewall, a pair of bars each having a convex surface, one bar being disposed against one sidewall opposite one concave surface of the spline and the other bar being disposed against the other sidewall opposite the other concave surface of the spline, each of said sidewalls having a retaining member including said bight on the outer edge thereof and disposed outwardly of the spline and the respective bar, and a force applying means including at least one bolt and nut with the bolt extending laterally through the bars, sidewalls and, said tightening means being adapted to draw the bars together and force the sidewalls against the concave surfaces of the spline with said retaining members being trapped against the outer surfaces of the spline and bars whereby the sleeve may be stretched around said pipes, the improvement wherein said bight in each of said retaining members has a plurality of protuberances extending from said sheet material for reinforcing said bight against deformation when it is drawn into engagement with said spline and bar.