Patent ID: 6755446
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: E03C,F16L

Abstract:
In an under-sink waste pipe system having first and second waste pipes connected together for carrying wastewater away from a basin, a waste pipe coupling comprising:a) a first waste pipe end portion defining an outer cylindrical surface of said first waste pipe; b) a second waste pipe end portion defining an inner cylindrical surface of said second waste pipe; c) an end flange structure of said second waste pipe surrounding an end opening, said outer cylindrical surface of said first waste pipe extending into said end opening, said first waste pipe outer cylindrical surface being substantially spaced apart from said second waste pipe inner cylindrical surface, said end flange structure defining a sealing face surrounding said first waste pipe outer cylindrical surface when said first waste pipe extends into said end opening; d) a softly resilient seal ring engaging said end flange sealing face and extending radially inward past said inner cylindrical surface to engage said outer cylindrical surface of said first waste pipe, said seal ring contacting said first waste pipe outer surface and said end flange sealing face along bands of sealing contact, said seal ring including a stabilizing portion that occupies a space between the outer cylindrical surface of the first pipe and the inner cylindrical surface of second pipe, said stabilizing portion itself inhibiting radial movement of said first waste pipe with respect to the second waste pipe; e) a locking ring secured to said end flange structure, said locking ring defining an opening surrounding said first waste pipe, a force transmitting surface surrounding said opening, and a body section extending axially from said force transmitting surface toward said end flange structure, said force transmitting surface effecting resilient deformation of said seal ring so that said seal ring is urged toward resilient engagement with the outer cylindrical surface of said end portion and said sealing face of said end flange structure, said seal ring sealingly engaging said sealing face and sealingly engaging said end portion; and, f) a latching mechanism maintaining said locking ring secured to said end flange structure, said latching mechanism comprising at least first and second latching projections on one of said locking ring or end flange structure, each projection extending towards said other of said locking ring or end flange structure, and projection guiding cam surfaces formed in said other of said locking ring or end flange structure, each projection guiding cam surface terminating in a notch-like latching recess where said projection is disposed when said waste pipes are assembled together, said projection resiliently urged into said latching recess by said seal ring to maintain said locking ring latched to said end flange structure and said seal ring resiliently compressed a predetermined degree.