Abstract:
A tubing clamp and method are described using an inner ring providing shape support to a layflat tubing to provide a compression surface against which an outer split ring with segmented pressure fingers can be compressed using an overcenter clamp to secure a back folded first end of a piece of tubing to a second overlaid tubing end.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
       [0004]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to improvements in a pipe clamp for a flexible lay flat tubing such as that used in row crop irrigation systems. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements particularly suited for applying appropriate pressure to the clamping area and frictionally engaging a sufficient amount of tubing without tearing or otherwise damaging the tubing. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Known Art 
         [0008]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, pipe clamps are known in various forms to apply high amounts of pressure to pipe joints. However, it is not know how to quickly attach low pressure irrigation tubing without tearing or damaging the tubing. 
         [0009]    Poly lay flat flexible irrigation tubing  10  is a polyethylene tubing used with irrigating row crops in level grade farming sold under trade names like POLYPIPE or DURAPIPE. Poly-Pipe lay-flat flexible tubing is a long, generally one thousand foot or more, seamless tube packaged flattened in convenient rolls which can be unwound from the back of a vehicle or manually. Poly-Pipe lay-flat flexible tubing is not designed to transfer water over hills or up grades. This is an extremely low cost temporary irrigation system for use in irrigating fields. Typically provided in diameters of 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, or 18 inches and a thickness of 7 or 10 mil. It is designed for high volume low pressure flows and is not designed for use in moving water uphill or over berms. Thus, unlike flexible pipes used on fire trucks, poly pipe is not designed for high pressure and is not provided with couplings or connectors because it has to be cut to length in the field. In typical applications, miles of pipe are laid in the spring and taken up and recycled each fall. Because the pipe is provided in short sections, hundreds, if not thousands of connections may have to be done each spring and then removed each fall. 
         [0010]    Patents disclosing information relevant to pipe clamps include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,666, issued to Sisk on Mar. 3, 1998, entitled Pipe coupler gasket with triangular sealing ridges; U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,465, issued to Sisk on Jul. 30, 1996 entitled Pipe, valve and/or tee coupler; U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,052, issued to Hendrickson on Jan. 10, 1995 entitled Releasable handle-type fastener for pipe couplings; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,263, issued to Hendrickson on Nov. 22, 1994 entitled Releasable fastener for pipe couplings. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. From these prior references it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved over center pipe clamp is needed to overcome these limitations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is directed to an improved over center pipe clamp using an inner ring, outer ring with extending arms and compression fingers, and an over center clamp. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an over center pipe clamp is provided using a clamping segments and spacing segments to provide high gripping force sufficient for use with thin wall tubing while providing a low pressure sealing force in a quick installation and quick removal pipe clamp. A method for installing the splice is taught so that the interior of the pipe flow is not impeded with flapping or exposed end sections. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of the overcenter pipe clamp with extending compression fingers of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a larger view of the overcenter pipe clamp of  FIG. 1  showing an open position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a larger view of the overcenter pipe clamp of  FIG. 1  showing a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cutaway view of the overcenter pipe clamp of  FIG. 1  showing the first and second pipe ends with the clamp in an open position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side cutaway view of the overcenter pipe clamp of  FIG. 1  showing the first and second pipe ends with the clamp in a closed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a larger side cutaway view of the first and second pipe ends with the clamp in an open position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a larger side cutaway view of the first and second pipe ends with the clamp in a closed position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the outer ring. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a left side view of the outer ring. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the outer ring. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a right side view of the outer ring. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the outer ring. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a back view of the outer ring. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the outer ring. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is another angle of an isometric view of the outer ring. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the inner ring. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a left side view of the inner ring. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a front view of the inner ring, the back view being the same. 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a right side view of the inner ring. 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a bottom view of the inner ring. 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is an isometric view of the inner ring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7  of the drawings, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as a lay flat pipe quick clamp  100  for poly lay flat flexible irrigation tubing  10 .  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7  show the poly lay flat flexible irrigation tubing  10  with a pipe inner surface  12 , non-structural collapsing pipe wall  14  with a cracking or minimum bend  15 , and a pipe outer surface  16 . The minimum bend  15  is the sharpest radius that may be used without cutting or tearing the tubing  10 . A first tubing end  20  and second tubing end  30  are shown for clamping. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7  of the drawings the lay flat pipe quick clamp  100  is constructed from an inner shape ring  200 , an outer split ring  300 , and an overcenter clamp  400 . 
         [0036]    The inner shape ring  200  includes an inner flow surface  202  between a left folding edge  204  and a right folding edge  206  so that either direction of flow may be utilized in the tubing  10 . Each folding edge  204 ,  206  has a minimum folding radius  208  greater than the minimum bend  15  of the tubing. The inner shape ring  200  also includes an outside clamping surface  210  that is used to contact the tubing  10  and compressably secure it in position. The outside clamping surface  210  defines width for the ring clamping surface  201 . In this embodiment, the ring clamping surface  201  extends from the left folding edge  204  to the right folding edge  206 . 
         [0037]    The outer split ring  300  includes an inside clamping surface  302  that works with the outside clamping surface  210  of the inner ring  200  to compressably, sealably, and frictionally hold the tubing  10  in position. The outer split ring  300  includes a left capturing edge  304  and right capturing edge  306 . Each capturing edge  304 ,  306  is shown with multiple capturing segments  308  alternating with multiple spacing segments  318  around the outer ring  300 . Each capturing segment  308  includes an extending arm  310  reaching out an extending distance  311  to support a catch finger  312 . Each catch finger is made with a finger depth  314  terminating at a finger tip  315  with a tip radius  316  greater than the minimum bend  15  of the tubing  10 . If the left edge is provided with a capturing segment  308  then the preferred embodiment uses a spacing segment  318  on the right edge. These alternating sections and opposite alternating sides provide gripping while flexing alternating sides of the outer ring  300  to prove the downward force without harming the thin wall of the tubing  10 . In this manner, only one half of the gripping force is applied on one side of the outer ring  300  such that the tubing is not exposed to a continuous or circular point load to stress the rubbing  10 . 
         [0038]    The outer ring  300  is split at an adjustable joint  320 . The adjustable joint  320  includes a left ring end  322  with a left clamping surface  324  and a left sliding overlap finger  326  separated by a ring gap  327  to a right ring end  328  with a right clamping surface  330  and a right sliding overlap finger  332 . 
         [0039]    The adjustable joint is opened, closed, and secured by an overcenter clamp  400 . The overcenter clamp is built off of a base handle riser  402  connected to the right ring end  328  by rivets, glue or the other securing method. The base handle riser  402  includes a handle pivot  404  that pivotally supports a layflat pipe clamp handle  406  the is positioned to be able to provide an over center clamping force to lock the handle in position. The handle  406  includes an arm pivot  408  connecting an extending catch arm  410  with a length adjuster  412  for engaging a catch slot  416  in a catch riser  414  secured to the left ring end  322 . 
         [0040]    As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first tubing end  20  is passed through the inner flow surface  202  of the inner ring  200  to form a first pipe through section  500 . The first tubing  20  is then folded back upon itself to form a first pipe rise deflection section  502  and then passes back over the ring clamping surface  201  to form a first pipe center span section  504 , first pipe drop deflection section  506 , and first pipe overage section  508 . The second tubing end  30  is positioned over the installed first tubing end  20  to form a right pipe rise deflection section  510 , a right pipe center span section  512 , a right pipe drop deflection section  514 , and a right pipe overage section  516 . As can be noted by  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the inner ring and outer ring provide a wide clamping surface to seal and frictionally engage the tubing  10  and hold it in position with additional force provided by the capturing segments  308 . The extending arm  310  allows for an flexing pressure to be absorbed and applied to the catch finger  312 . The ring material for the outer ring  300  should be selected to allow for this flexible pressure to be applied to the catch finger  312  and the finger depth  314  should be selected to provide the requisite force based on the thickness of the tubing  10  to secure the tubing  10  in place without tearing the tubing  10 . 
         [0041]    Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements:
       Poly lay flat flexible irrigation tubing  10     Pipe inner surface  12     Non-structural collapsing pipe wall  14     Pipe outer surface  16     First tubing end  20     Second tubing end  30     Lay flat pipe quick clamp  100     Inner shape ring  200     Inner flow surface  202     Ring clamping surface  201     Left Folding edge  204     Right folding edge  206     Folding radius  208     Outside clamping surface  210     Outer split ring  300     Inside clamping surface  302     Left Capturing edge  304     Right capturing edge  306     Capturing segment  308     Extending arm  310     Extending distance  311     Catch finger  312     Finger depth  314     Finger tip  315     Tip radius  316     Spacing segment  318     Adjustable joint  320     First ring end  322     First clamping surface  324     First sliding overlap finger  326     Ring gap  327     Right ring end  328     Right clamping surface  330     Right sliding overlap finger  332     Overcenter clamp  400     Handle riser  402     Handle pivot  404     Layflat pipe clamp handle  406     Arm pivot  408     Extending catch arm  410     Length adjuster  412     Catch riser  414     Catch slot  416     First pipe through section  500     First pipe rise deflection section  502     First pipe center span section  504     First pipe drop deflection section  506     First pipe overage section  508     Second pipe rise deflection section  510     Second pipe center span section  512     Second pipe drop deflection section  514     Second pipe overage section  516         
 
         [0094]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0095]    When interpreting the claims of this application, method claims may be recognized by the explicit use of the word ‘method’ in the preamble of the claims and the use of the ‘ing’ tense of the active word. Method claims should not be interpreted to have particular steps in a particular order unless the claim element specifically refers to a previous element, a previous action, or the result of a previous action. Apparatus claims may be recognized by the use of the word ‘apparatus’ in the preamble of the claim and should not be interpreted to have ‘means plus function language’ unless the word ‘means’ is specifically used in the claim element. The words ‘defining,’ ‘having,’ or ‘including’ should be interpreted as open ended claim language that allows additional elements or structures. Finally, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element of the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.