Patent ID: 6179347
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A pipe coupling, which comprises:a) a tubular body having an inner opening for receipt of a grooved end of a pipe to which the pipe coupling is to be attached, the tubular body further having an inner diameter and circumference, a central axis extending longitudinally through the tubular body and coaxially with the inner opening, a transverse peripheral inner groove, having a depth, extending radially circumferentially outwardly of the inner opening, and an aperture which is tangential to the inner groove, the aperture further being transverse to the central axis of the tubular body and in communication with the inner groove; andb) a retainer member positionable within the inner groove through the tangential opening and slidably removable therefrom, the retainer member being formed of a continuous band of resilient material, having first and second opposite ends and a length at least as long as the inner circumference of the tubular body, the retainer member assuming a frusto-conical overall configuration when positioned within the inner groove, with a cross section of the retainer member having a rhomboidal shape at each cross-section along the length of the retainer member, the retainer member having a thickness greater than the depth of the inner groove in the tubular body,such that when a pipe having an outer groove extending circumferentially about an outer surface of the pipe towards an end thereof is inserted into the tubular body of the pipe coupling, and the inner groove in the tubular body and the outer groove on the outer surface of the pipe are in alignment, the retainer member engages with and extends at least partially into the outer groove of the pipe to thereby releasably couple the pipe to the pipe coupling.