Abstract:
A coupling ( 20 ) capable of connecting together two piping sections ( 30, 30 ) having the same outer diameter, two piping sections ( 40, 40 ) having the same inner diameter, or two piping sections ( 30, 40 ) having different diameters. The coupling ( 20 ) can have a unitary tubular structure and it can be made of the same material and in the same manner as conventional PVC piping. Installation of the coupling ( 20 ) during construction of a passageway can be accomplished in same manner as is conventionally accomplished with three distinct types of coupling.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/482,399 filed on May 4, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/598,901 filed on Feb. 15, 2012. The entire disclosures of these provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the construction industry and other applications, PVC sections are commonly used to construct conduits that serve as piping for water, drain, sewer, and/or other fluid lines. They are also used to construct conduits that serve as tunnels for wires, cables, and/or other electrical lines. PVC sections are typically supplied in an assortment of shapes, (e.g., straight, curved, elbow, tri-port, etc.), ranging lengths, and/or varying diameters. Depending upon the particular PVC sections being joined, different types of coupling are used. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A coupling is provided that can be used to connect different types of PVC sections together when constructing conduits for fluid lines, electrical lines, or other purposes. With this unitary tubular body, the number of coupling types which must be sold, stocked, stored, and/or supplied can be reduced. The coupling can be made in much the same manner as conventional PVC-section couplers. And the coupling can be used to connect PVC sections in a conventional manner (e.g., with a primer and cement), whereby it does not add any additional cost or complexity to a construction project. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1A  shows a passageway  10  for fluid lines comprising a series of PVC sections and a plurality of couplings connecting them together. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1B  shows a passageway  10  for electrical lines comprising a series of PVC sections and a plurality of couplings connecting them together. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2A-2C  show the coupling  20 . 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3A-3B ,  FIGS. 4A-4B , and  FIGS. 5A-5F  show the coupling  20  connecting together different types of the sections. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 6A-6B ,  FIGS. 7A-7B , and  FIGS. 8A-8B  show some other possible versions of the coupling  20 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Referring now to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a passageway  10  is shown in which couplings  20  are used to connect sections  30  and  40  together. The passageway  10  shown in  FIG. 1A  could be, for example, a passageway wherein the sections  30  and  40  are used to convey water, air, or another fluid in a desired flow pattern. The passageway  10  shown in  FIG. 1B  could be, for example, a passageway where the sections  30  and  40  are used as housing tunnels for wires, cables, and/or other electrical lines. 
         [0010]    In either or any case, the same coupling  20  is used to connect together a section  30  with another section  30 , a section  40  with another section  40 , and a section  30  with a section  40 . In certain connections, an adapter section  50  may also be necessary. 
         [0011]    The coupling  20  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2A-2C . The coupling  20  is a unitary tubular body comprising an inner cylindrical wall  21 , an outer cylindrical wall  22 , and open axial ends  23 . An interior stop surface  24  projects inwardly from the inner wall  21  and this stop can comprise a circular ridge situated approximately intermediate the axial ends  23 . 
         [0012]    In  FIGS. 3A-3B , the coupling  20  is shown connecting together a section  30  with another similar section  30 , wherein each section  30  is of the straight-cylindrical type. Each section  30  has a connecting end portion  31  having an exposed edge  32 , and the connecting end portion  31  has an inner diameter ID 30  and an outer diameter OD 30 . The coupling  20  receives, through each of its axial ends  23 , the connecting edge portions  31  of the sections  30 . And the sections&#39; edges  32  are abutted against opposite sides of the coupling&#39;s interior stop surface  24 . Thus, the coupling&#39;s inner cylindrical wall  21  is sized to tightly receive the sections&#39; connecting edge portions  31 . And the coupling&#39;s interior stop  24  is situated to reside next to the connecting edge portions  31  when the sections  30  are fully inserted. 
         [0013]    In  FIGS. 4A-4B , the coupling  20  is shown connecting together a section  40  with another section  40 , wherein both are of the tri-port type. Each section  40  has a connecting end portion  41  having an exposed edge  42  and an interior stop surface  43 . In the illustrated embodiment, the sections  40  are three-way-tee fittings with their relevant connecting end portions  41  being oriented perpendicular to their other connecting ends. The stop surface  43  can take the form of a tapered shoulder extending radially inward. 
         [0014]    The connecting end portion  41  has an inner diameter ID 40  and an outer diameter OD 40 . The inner diameter ID 40  of the section  40  is unequal to (e.g., greater than) the inner diameter of the section  30 . The connecting end portions  41  are received over respective axial ends  23  of the coupling  20  and their exposed edges  42  can abut against each other. The exterior stop surfaces  24  of the coupling  20  can abut against the interior stop surfaces  43  of the sections  40 . Thus, the coupling&#39;s outer cylindrical wall  22  is sized to tightly receive the sections&#39; connecting edge portions  41 . And the coupling&#39;s exterior stop  24  is situated to reside next to their interior stop surfaces  43 . 
         [0015]    In  FIGS. 5A-5B , the coupling  20  is shown connecting together a section  30  and a section  40 , wherein the section  30  is of the straight cylindrical type and the section  40  is of the tri-port type. The connecting end  31  of the piping section  30  is inserted into one axial end  23  of the coupling  20  and its edge  33  is abutted against the coupling&#39;s interior stop  24 . The opposite axial side of the coupling  30  is inserted into the connecting end  41  of the PVC section  40  and its exterior stop  24  is abutted against the section&#39;s interior stop  43 . 
         [0016]    In  FIGS. 5C-5D , the coupling  20  is shown connecting together a section  30  and a section  40 , wherein the section  30  is of the straight cylindrical type and the section  40  is of the tri-port type. In  FIGS. 5E-5F , the coupling  20  is shown connecting together a section  30  and a section  40 , wherein both sections are of the straight cylindrical type. In these embodiments, an adapter section  50  is interposed between the coupling  20  and the section  30 . 
         [0017]    Referring back to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the edge of each axial end  23  of the coupling  20  can be a flat  25  extending substantially perpendicularly between the inner wall  21  and the outer wall  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , the edge can instead be an outwardly tapering shoulder  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 7A-7B , the axial edge can comprise an axially tapering shoulder  27  in combination with an inward flat  28 . And as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8B , the axial edge can be an inwardly tapering shoulder  29 . 
         [0018]    The couplings  20 , the piping sections  30 , the piping sections  40 , and/or the adapter sections  50  may be made of any suitable material. In recent years, polyvinylchloride (PVC, UPVC, CPVC, etc.) piping has gained so much popularity in the construction industry that it seems to have become the almost exclusively used piping material. PVC (polyvinyl chloride), UPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride), and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) are all strong, rigid, and resistant to a variety of acids and bases. UPVC is further formulated to fight the effects of ultra-violet light and CPVC is further formulated to handle higher temperatures. 
         [0019]    That being said, the coupling  20  and the sections need not be made of PVC, as other plastic (e.g., polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE)) and/or non-plastic materials may also be suitable candidates. 
         [0020]    The coupling  20  can be conformed to manufacturing schedules so as to meet the needs of a broad range of industrial, commercial, and residential systems. Typical dimensions for such schedules are indicated in the tables below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Schedule 40 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pipe Size (inches) 
                 ID (inches) 
                 OD 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  ½ 
                 0.840 
                 0.622 
               
               
                   
                  ¾ 
                 1.050 
                 0.824 
               
               
                   
                  1 
                 1.315 
                 1.049 
               
               
                   
                  1¼ 
                 1.660 
                 1.380 
               
               
                   
                  1½ 
                 1.900 
                 1.610 
               
               
                   
                  2 
                 2.375 
                 2.067 
               
               
                   
                  2½ 
                 2.875 
                 2.469 
               
               
                   
                  3 
                 3.500 
                 3.068 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 4.500 
                 4.026 
               
               
                   
                  5 
                 5.563 
                 5.047 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 6.625 
                 6.065 
               
               
                   
                  8 
                 8.625 
                 7.981 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 10.750 
                 10.020 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 12.750 
                 11.938 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 14.000 
                 13.124 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 16.000 
                 15.000 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Schedule 80 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pipe Size (inches) 
                 OD (inches) 
                 ID (inches) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  ½ 
                 0.840 
                 0.546 
               
               
                   
                  ¾ 
                 1.050 
                 0.742 
               
               
                   
                  1 
                 1.315 
                 0.957 
               
               
                   
                  1¼ 
                 1.660 
                 1.278 
               
               
                   
                  1½ 
                 1.900 
                 1.500 
               
               
                   
                  2 
                 2.375 
                 1.939 
               
               
                   
                  2½ 
                 2.875 
                 2.323 
               
               
                   
                  3 
                 3.500 
                 2.900 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 4.500 
                 3.826 
               
               
                   
                  5 
                 5.563 
                 4.813 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 6.625 
                 5.761 
               
               
                   
                  8 
                 8.625 
                 7.625 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 10.750 
                 9.564 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 12.750 
                 11.376 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 14.000 
                 12.500 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 16.000 
                 14.314 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Schedule 120 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pipe Size (inches) 
                 OD (inches) 
                 ID (inches) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  ½″ 
                 .840 
                 .480 
               
               
                   
                  ¾″ 
                 1.050 
                 .690 
               
               
                   
                 1″ 
                 1.315 
                 .891 
               
               
                   
                 1¼″ 
                 1.660 
                 1.204 
               
               
                   
                 1½″ 
                 1.900 
                 1.423 
               
               
                   
                 2″ 
                 2.375 
                 1.845 
               
               
                   
                 2½″ 
                 2.875 
                 2.239 
               
               
                   
                 3″ 
                 3.500 
                 2.758 
               
               
                   
                 4″ 
                 4.500 
                 3.574 
               
               
                   
                 6″ 
                 6.625 
                 5.434 
               
               
                   
                 8″ 
                 8.625 
                 7.189 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0021]    The coupling  20  can be adapted to accommodate a wide range of section dimensions as well, assuming that there is enough diameter variance to allow for a suitable wall thickness in the coupling  20 . For example, the coupling  20  can be adapted to accommodate sections  30  having a pipe size of ½ inch and sections  40  having a pipe size ¾ inch; sections  30  having a pipe size ¾ inch and sections  40  having a pipe size 1 inch; sections  30  having a pipe size of 1 inch and sections  40  having a pipe size of 1¼ inch; sections  30  having a pipe size of 1¼ inch and sections  40  having a pipe size of 1½ inch; sections  30  having a pipe size of 1½ inch and sections  40  having a pipe size of 2 inches; sections  30  having a pipe size of 2 inches and sections  40  having a pipe size of 4 inches, etc. 
         [0022]    One may now appreciate that the coupling  20  can be used to connect different types of sections together whereby inventory can be reduced. Although the passageway  10 , the coupling  20 , the piping section  30 , and/or the piping section  40 , have been shown or described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings.