Patent ID: 6488319
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
A self-restrained pressure gasket for insertion within an annular groove provided in a bell end opening of a female plastic pipe capable of both joining and sealing the female plastic pipe to a mating male plastic pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the gasket comprising:an annular gasket body made of a resilient thermoplastic material; a hardened ring integrally molded within the material of the gasket body so that the hardened ring is permanently embedded within the resilient thermoplastic material, the hardened ring having an inner circumference and an outer circumference which define a circumferential hub therebetween, the circumferential hub being substantially enclosed within the thermoplastic material of the gasket body; a plurality of teeth extending from the inner circumference of the hardened ring for engaging selected points on the exterior surface of the mating male plastic pipe, the teeth having varying lengths and being spaced in an irregular pattern about the inner circumference of the hardened ring; and wherein the male and female pipes are aligned along a central axis and wherein the teeth are angled away from a vertical axis drawn perpendicular to the central axis at an angle less than 90Â°.