Abstract:
Replacement fittings for substantially rigid pipes. Each fitting preferably includes a main body with telescoping, sleeve members mounted on it. The sleeve members can be individually slid along the main body but cannot be removed from it. In this manner, the preferred fittings of the present invention can be handled as a single unit and all of the linked pieces will stay together and cannot be inadvertently left behind. They also cannot be accidentally lost or dropped on the way to the job site or during the repair operation. The various pieces of the fittings employ tapering surfaces that not only ensure the pieces will stay together while the fittings are being manipulated into position but also aid in creating the strongest bonds and seals with the pipes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates primarily to the field of replacement fittings or couplings for substantially rigid, plastic pipes such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipes whose ends are fixed relative to each other or otherwise cannot be easily moved relative to each other.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Background  
           [0004]    Replacing couplings or fittings between pipe ends that are fixed relative to each other or otherwise cannot be easily moved relative to each other presents special problems. Such pipes may have been initially coupled to each other in any number of easy and conventional manners (e.g., by a simple, open-ended socket coupler) when one or both of the pipes could be moved toward each other. However, once the coupled pipes are fixed in place (e.g., in the ground, in concrete, or to joists), replacing the coupling should it become broken or begin to leak becomes much more difficult. This is true because the pipes and their ends can no longer be moved (or at least not easily moved) relative to each other, particularly if the pipes are made of rigid material such as PVC. Consequently, in nearly all such cases, a replacement coupling must be used that will initially fit between the fixed ends of the pipes and then be outwardly adjustable or expandable to extend over the spaced-apart ends of the pipes.  
           [0005]    Several replacement couplings or fittings exist which have telescoping members. In use, these couplings can be initially placed between the fixed ends of the pipes and then expanded or telescoped outwardly over the pipe ends. However, these couplings have a number of pieces or parts adding to both the cost and difficulty of using them. Further, these various pieces or parts are not initially linked or joined together and must be separately handled. Consequently, in use, it is first necessary for the installer to be sure he brings all of the necessary pieces and in the right sizes to the job site. Second, he must be careful at the job site not to drop or otherwise lose any of the separable pieces of the coupling. Such disadvantages can be critical. For example, the installer may find he does not have all of the necessary pieces (or in the right sizes) when he arrives at the job site. Additionally, in the usually tight quarters of the repair area, he may easily drop or lose one of the coupling pieces.  
           [0006]    With this in mind, the replacement fitting of the present invention was developed. With it, all of the necessary pieces of the fitting are initially linked together into a single unit and cannot be inadvertently separated from one another. In use, the installer need only carry the single unit of linked pieces in one hand knowing all of the individual pieces of the fitting are there and are in the right sizes for each other. He also does not have to worry about dropping or otherwise losing any of the pieces on the way to the job site or at the site itself. Further, the repair can be accomplished with the fitting of the present invention by merely sliding individual sleeve members outwardly on a main body over the pipe ends.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention involves replacement fittings for substantially rigid pipes. Each fitting preferably includes a main body with telescoping, sleeve members mounted on it. The sleeve members can be individually slid along the main body but cannot be removed from it. In this manner, the preferred fittings of the present invention can be handled as a single unit and all of the linked pieces will stay together and cannot be inadvertently left behind. They also cannot be accidentally lost or dropped on the way to the job site or during the repair operation. The various pieces of the fittings employ tapering surfaces that not only ensure the pieces will stay together while the fittings are being manipulated into position but also aid in creating the strongest bonds and seals with the pipes.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates one of the most commonly used coupler arrangements for joining plastic pipes and in particular, plastic pipes made of rigid material such as PVC.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 shows how the prior art coupler and pipes of FIG. 1 are traditionally positioned when they are joined.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 illustrates the joined pipes of FIG. 2 as subsequently fixed in concrete. FIG. 3 also shows where the joined pipes would be conventionally cut should a break or leak develop and the coupling need to be replaced.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 shows the relative spacing of the pipes once the failed coupling of FIG. 3 is cut out. The newly cut ends of the rigid pipes as illustrated are fairly close to each other and are fixed in place relative to each other.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a common way of replacing a failed coupling if the pipes are fairly flexible and/or their ends can be moved relative to each other to accommodate a non-expanding coupler arrangement.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In it, the slidable sleeve members are shown in solid lines in their outwardly extended positions on each end of the main body of the fitting. FIG. 7 also shows in dotted lines the left sleeve member moved as far as it can be moved to the right to abut the other sleeve member.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 shows the preferred embodiment of FIG. 7 with the sleeve members retracted and the fitting of the present invention positioned between the ends of the fixed, rigid pipes.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 illustrates the basic sealing structure of the present invention with the various pieces of the fitting in their preferred sealing positions.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 shows the basic sealing structure of the present invention adapted for use in a Teeshaped fitting.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 illustrates the basic sealing structure of the present invention adapted for use in an elbow fitting  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates one of the most commonly used couplers  1  for joining the open ends  3  of cylindrical pipes such as  5 . As shown, the socket coupler  1  has a cylindrical outer surface  7  and two inwardly tapering surfaces  9  on each side. Consistent with ASTM (American Society For Testing And Materials) industry standards, each surface  9  tapers down from a diameter at  11  slightly greater than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5  to a diameter at  15  slightly less than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5 . For example, with an industry standard, schedule 40, three-fourths inch pipe  5  with an inner diameter  17  of 0.815 inches and an outer diameter  13  of 1.050 inches, each inner surface  9  of the socket coupler  1  would taper down from 1.058 inches at  11  to 1.046 inches at  15 . The industry standard taper is thus from a diameter at  11  of 0.008 inches larger than the outer diameter of the pipe  5  down to a diameter at  15  of 0.004 inches smaller than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5 . For larger pipes  5  (e.g., one inch pipe), the industry taper is greater (e.g., from a diameter at  11  of 0.010 inches larger than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5  down to 0.005 inches smaller at  15 ). Regardless of the size of pipe  5 , the industry taper is always desirable consistent with ASTM standards. It is noted at this time that all of the tapers in FIG. 1 and throughout the other drawings are greatly exaggerated in order to better illustrate the invention.  
         [0019]    When the common socket  1  of FIG. 1 is used to join pipes such as  5  which can be freely moved relative to each other, the coupling process is fairly simple. That is, sealing solvent  19  is first applied about the outer surface portions  21  of the pipes  5  adjacent the open ends  3  and on the tapering, inner surfaces  9  of the coupler  1 . The pipes  5  can then be easily moved to the joined position of FIG. 2. Typically, the coupler  1  and/or pipes  5  are twisted about the axis  23  as this is done to ensure an even and complete smearing of the sealing solvent  19  on the various surfaces  21  and  9 . Additionally, where the sections  21 ′ of the surface portions  21  immediately adjacent the pipe ends  3  abut and are pinched down against surfaces  9  of the coupler  1  in FIG. 2, the sealing material  19  is preferably one that chemically reacts and fuses the sections  21 ′ of the pipe surfaces  21  to the coupler surfaces  9 .  
         [0020]    In many common applications, the coupled pipes  5  of FIG. 2 are then fixed in place to joists, buried in the ground, or fixed in concrete  27  as illustrated in FIG. 3. Should the coupler  1  and/or pipe  5  begin to leak or become fractured (e.g., see crack  29  in FIG. 3) and need to be replaced, the coupler  1  and coupled pipes ends  3  are normally cut away at  31  creating new pipe ends  3 ′ (see FIG. 4). These new pipe ends  3 ′ as shown are spaced farther apart than the original ends  3  of FIG. 3.  
         [0021]    If the pipes  5  of FIG. 4 were not fixed in place, it would be a simple matter to re-connect the new pipe ends  3 ′ in the manner of FIGS. 1 and 2, again using a common socket coupler  1 . Additionally, if the exposed segments of the pipes sticking out of the concrete  27  were longer (see segments  5 ′ in FIG. 5) and/or the pipe material were very flexible, it might also be possible to make the re-connection in the known manner of FIGS. 5 and 6. In this manner, the exposed pipe segments  5 ′ are flexed or arched to align the pipe ends  3 ′ with the respective couplers  1  on the extension pipe  5 ″. Subsequent movement of the members  1 ,  3 ′,  5 ′, and  5 ″ downwardly to the position of FIG. 6 then serves to drive the pipe ends  3 ′ axially into the respective couplers  1  in the general manner of FIGS. 1 and 2. Other techniques also exist to re-connect pipes like  5 ′ in FIGS. 5 and 6 where the pipes  5 ′ and pipe ends  3 ′ can be flexed or otherwise moved relative to each other. However, where this is not possible as in FIG. 4 because the exposed pipe segments are too short or the material of the pipes  5  is too rigid and inflexible, it becomes necessary to use an expanding or telescoping coupler such as the fitting  2  of the present invention.  
         [0022]    As best seen in FIG. 7, the preferred embodiment of the fitting  2  of the present invention includes a main body  4  with two sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ mounted thereabout. The main body  4  as shown extends along and about the axis  8 . The individual sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ in FIG. 7 are shown in solid lines in extreme positions extending outwardly beyond the respective open ends  12  of the main body  4 . In this regard, each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ is mounted about the main body  4  for sliding movement relative to the main body  4  between at least first and second positions. However, the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ cannot be removed from about the main body  4 .  
         [0023]    More specifically, the sleeve member  6  in FIG. 7 can be slid on the main body  4  between the extreme positions of completely extended to the left (as shown in solid lines in FIG. 7) to the position shown on the right side in dotted lines in FIG. 7 abutting the extended sleeve member  6 ′. Sleeve member  6 ′ in turn can only be slid between similar extreme positions but cannot be removed from the main body  4 . In this manner, all of the pieces  4 ,  6 , and  6 ′ of the fitting  2  are linked or joined together in one unit and cannot be separated. Consequently, the fitting  2  can be carried as a unit to the job site without fear of forgetting a piece or dropping a piece. Perhaps more importantly, the fitting  2  can be manipulated into place in the usually tight quarters of the job site also without fear of dropping or losing any of the pieces of the fitting  2  necessary to make the repair.  
         [0024]    In this regard, each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ is molded of plastic (e.g., PVC). While each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ is still hot from the molding process (e.g., 200 degrees F.), the smaller ends  14  in FIG. 7 of the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ are respectively popped over the larger ends  12  of the main body  4 . This can be done, for example, manually with a rubber mallet. The hot, plastic sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ at this point have only begun to contract and will even stretch somewhat to go over the larger ends  12  of the main body  4 . Once cooled, each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ can be slid as discussed above along the main body  4  but cannot be removed from the main body  4 . Each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ can actually be slid to a number of intermediate positions but is prevented from going beyond the extreme left and right positions as illustrated in FIG. 7 in solid and dotted lines in reference to sleeve member  6 . The sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ are therefore maintained at all times on the main body  4  and these linked pieces  4 ,  6 , and  6 ′ of the fitting  2  cannot be separated from each other.  
         [0025]    In use to couple the ends  3 ′ of the fixed-inplace pipes  5  of FIGS. 4 and 8, the extended sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ of FIG. 7 are first slid inwardly on the main body  4  to the retracted positions of FIG. 8. In these retracted positions, the abutting sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ are preferably dimensioned not to extend beyond the ends  12  of the main body  4 . In this way, the distance between the ends  12  of the main body  4  defines the minimum dimension not only of the main body  4  but also of the entire fitting  2 . This minimum dimension is then no greater than and can be less than the distance or spacing between the pipe ends  3 ′ in FIG. 8. If this distance is essentially the same as the pipe spacing, then the ends  12  of the fitting  2  will somewhat rub against the pipe ends  3 ′ as the fitting  2  is manually maneuvered into place. The fitting  2  with the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ retracted as in FIG. 8 can thus be positioned as in FIG. 8 with the respective pipe ends  3 ′ and main body ends  12  adjacent and even slightly abutting one another. In this position, the pipe axes  23  and main body axis  8  are also aligned substantially in a co-linear manner. Thereafter, sealing solvent  19  is preferably applied to the outer, cylindrical surfaces  21  of the pipes S adjacent the ends  3 ′ as well as to the outwardly tapering surfaces  30  adjacent each end  12  of the main body  4 . The sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ in this regard are preferably dimensioned as in FIG. 8 so the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ in the retracted positions of FIG. 8 leave the surfaces  30  exposed so the sealing solvent  19  can be easily applied to the surfaces  30 .  
         [0026]    The respective sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ are thereafter moved to the extended positions of FIGS. 7 and 9 to form the seals (see in particular FIG. 9). This movement of the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ can be done simultaneously or sequentially (e.g., first sleeve member  6  and then sleeve member  6 ′). Regardless, the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ are preferably rotated or twisted during this movement to help smear the sealing solvent  19  over the surfaces  21  and  30  and on the covering surfaces  34  and  36  on each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ (see FIG.  9 ). The sealing solvent  19  as shown is directly between the pair of surfaces  21  and  34  and pair of surfaces  30  and  36 .  
         [0027]    Each outer surface  30  preferably tapers inwardly away from the respective main body end  12  (see FIG. 8). Conversely, the inner surface  36  on each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ preferably tapers outwardly from adjacent the respective sleeve member end  14  toward the other sleeve member end  38 . In this manner as illustrated in reference to sleeve member  6  in FIG. 9, the surfaces  30  and  36  at least substantially abut and mate with the sealing solvent  19  positioned directly therebetween. Preferably, the surfaces  30  and  36  at area  40  actually do abut and are pinched wherein the sealing solvent  19  will chemically react and fuse the surfaces  30  and  36  of PVC together at area  40  for the strongest bond and seal. Prior to the application of the sealing solvent  19 , this abutting area  40  is also part of the structure that keeps the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ from moving outwardly beyond the extended positions of FIG. 7. This in turn prevents the sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ from being removed from the main body  4  while the fitting  2  is being carried to the job site or manipulated between the pipe ends  3 ′ to be joined.  
         [0028]    Referring again to FIG. 8, the inner surface  34  adjacent surface  36  on each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ also preferably tapers inwardly from the respective sleeve member end  38 . The taper adjacent the sleeve member end  38  preferably begins at an inner diameter at  42  (see FIG. 7) that is greater than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5  of FIG. 8. Additionally, each surface  34  preferably tapers continuously downwardly to an inner diameter at step  44  in FIG. 7 that is less than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5 . Because the surface  34  in FIG. 9 tapers to an inner diameter at  44  less than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5 , the outer pipe surface  21  and sleeve surface  34  will preferably actually abut and pinch at area  46  in FIG. 9. As with surfaces  30  and  36  at  40 , the sealing solvent  19  directly between the surfaces  21  and  34  will then chemically react and fuse the surfaces  21  and  34  together at area  46 . The various surfaces do not have to abut and/or pinch to create an effective seal but preferably do so the sealing solvent can actually fuse the touching or crimped surface sections together for the strongest bond and seal.  
         [0029]    For reference and with an industry standard, three-fourths inch pipe  5  with an outer diameter  13  of 1.050 inches, the taper of surface  34  is preferably continuous from 1.058 inches at end  38  in FIG. 7 down to 1.046 inches at step  44 . As previously noted, the tapers in the drawings are greatly exaggerated to better illustrate the invention.  
         [0030]    The adjacent surfaces  34  and  36  of each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ in FIGS.  7 - 9  are preferably offset from each other at the step  44 . In this manner, the surface  34  will not tend to scrape the applied sealing solvent  19  off the surface  30  of the main body  4  as the surface  34  passes by. That is, during the coupling operation, the sealing solvent  19  is initially applied to the surface  30  on each end  12  of the main body  4  in FIG. 8. Thereafter, each sleeve member  6  and  6 ′ is slid outwardly to the extended position of FIGS. 7 and 9. If the surfaces  34  and  36  were completely continuous without the step or offset  44 , the surface  34  might have a tendency to scrape some of the sealing solvent  19  off the surface  30  as the surface  34  passed by. With the various tapers, the surfaces  30 ,  34 , and  36  are essentially frusto-conical shapes. It is again noted that all of the tapers of the drawings are greatly exaggerated. As for example as discussed above, the taper of surface  34  is essentially only from a diameter of 1.058 inches at  38  (for a three-fourths inch pipe  5 ) down to 1.046 inches at  44  over a distance of only about an inch. Surface  34  then steps down at  44  about 0.019 inches to a diameter on surface  36  of 1.008 inches. Surface  36  subsequently tapers down over a distance of less than an inch to a diameter of 0.978 inches adjacent sleeve member end  14 . The surface  34  is thus actually very close to the surface  30  as surface  34  passes by. Consequently, the increased spacing (even if only thousandths of an inch) created by the step or offset  44  offers a significant advantage to reducing the possibility that sealing solvent  19  will be scraped off surface  30  by surface  34 .  
         [0031]    Further, this offset at  44  allows the outer maximum diameter  48  of each end  12  of the main body  4  (see FIG. 8) to be less than the outer diameter  13  of the pipe  5 . Stated another way, the smaller outer diameter  48  of the ends  12  (e.g., one inch versus the 1.050 inches of pipe diameter  13  for a three-fourths inch pipe  5 ) permits the tapered surfaces  34  to preferably abut and pinch or crimp the pipe at area  46  in FIG. 9 so the sealing solvent  19  can react and fuse the surfaces  21  and  34  together at area  46 . The incline or taper of the surfaces  34  and  36  could be continuous but the offset at  44  allows for a more abrupt transition so that the tapered surface at  36  will receive and preferably abut the pipe end  3 ′ in a shorter distance. The pipe ends  3 ′ and main body ends  12  can then be positioned as closely as possible and preferably actually abut. This close spacing in turn helps keep a laminar flow through the pipes  5  and fitting  2 . The ends  12  of the main body  4  in this regard are preferably even radiused to further help maintain a laminar flow with as little turbulence (friction) as possible. The offset  44  also allows the inclines of the surfaces  34  and  36  to be different degrees or slopes relative to the axis  8 . The slopes could be uniform if desired but in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9, the slope of surface  36  is, for example, actually greater to better follow the sloping surface  30 .  
         [0032]    The embodiment of FIGS.  7 - 9  is illustrated as having sleeve members  6  and  6 ′ on each end  12  of the main body  4 . However, the basic sealing structure on each end  12  of the main body  4  could be used alone as essentially illustrated in FIG. 9. If used alone or with, for example, a coupler like  1  of FIG. 1 on the other end of main body  4 , the basic sealing structure of the present invention would still have at least a main body like  4  and at least one sleeve member such as  6  in FIG. 9. The main body  4  would still have a first, preferably cylindrical portion  4 ′ (see FIG. 9) and an integral, second portion  4 ″ with the sleeve member  6  positioned about at least a part of the main body  4 . Additionally, the outer surface at  30  would still taper outwardly from portion  4 ′ toward the end  12 . The tapering surface  36  of the sleeve member  6  in turn would also at least substantially abut and mate with the surface  30  with the sealing solvent  19  positioned directly between the surfaces  30  and  36 . Preferably, the surfaces  30  and  36  would actually abut and pinch at area  40  as discussed above to be fused together at area  40  by the reaction of the sealing solvent  19 .  
         [0033]    As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the basic sealing structure of the present invention can be easily adapted for use in Tee-shaped fittings such as  2 ′ of FIG. 10 and elbow fittings like  2 ″ of FIG. 11. Tee-fitting  2 ′ is essentially fitting  2  of FIGS.  7 - 9  with a third leg extending along an axis  8 ′ perpendicular to axis  8 . In the elbow fitting  2 ″ of FIG. 11, the parts  4 ′ of the main body extend along intersecting axes  8  and  8 ′ that are substantially perpendicular to each other. With all of the fittings  2 ,  2 ′, and  2 ″, it is preferred but not necessary to have the basic, expandable, sealing structure of the preferred embodiment on each end of the parts of the main body  4 . Nevertheless, for the fittings to still be expandable to join fixed-in-place pipes, it is only necessary that at least one end (in the cases of inline fitting  2  and elbow fitting  21 ″) and at least two ends in the case of the Tee-shaped fitting  2 ′ have the expandable structure of the present invention. Also, because of the expanding or telescoping nature of the fittings of the present invention, effective seals can still be achieved even though the pipes  5  and fittings are not exactly cut and dimensioned to create the abutting and pinched or crimped areas  21 ′ and  40  of FIG. 9. For example as illustrated in FIG. 10, the sleeve member  6  ended up only abutting the pipe  5  at the circular contact  46 . Consequently, the sealing solvent  19  would then only fuse the pipe  6  and sleeve member  6  together about the contact  46 . In FIG. 11, the sleeve member  6  ended up not actually abutting the pipe  5  so in that case, the seal between therebetween is achieved by the sealing solvent  19  alone. In this regard and although the preferred seal is achieved in the proper cutting and dimensioning of the pipe  5  and fitting as in FIG. 9, effective seals can still be obtained with the structure of the present invention in the less precise relationships illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.  
         [0034]    While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention.