Patent Publication Number: US-2021180739-A1

Title: Pipe insulation coupling with sealing mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 62/717,921, filed on Aug. 13, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a pipe insulation coupling. More particularly, the invention relates to a pipe insulation coupling that is molded in an open position and has an improved seal for securing a pipe within the insulation coupling. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Elastomeric insulation often covers pipes used to transport liquids and gases for commercial and industrial applications such as HVAC and refrigeration, plumbing, paint and food processing, car washing, and even brewing. This insulation protects the pipes from shocks and vibrations, creates a barrier to keep the pipes free of mold and corrosion, and improves the overall efficiency of the pipes. When installed, insulation is traditionally placed on the pipes in sections and is then sealed at the seams between sections with either an adhesive tape or an insulation coupling device. However, adhesive tape is costly and inefficient, and traditional insulation coupling devices can be cumbersome to install. 
     Many insulation coupling devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,006 to Opperthauser are molded and distributed in a “closed” position. The end user is therefore required to use a cutting device to open the insulation coupling, and some coupling devices even require the installer to make multiple cuts. Then, once cut and pried open, the insulation couplings generally cannot again be closed without the aid of an additional adhesive or clamp, complicating the process and compromising the vapor barrier, which is crucial to protect against mold and corrosion damage. Ultimately, the process of cutting, prying, and resealing compromises the integrity of the pipes and unnecessarily complicates the installation process. 
     Other traditional insulation couplings are secured to a channel in a way that makes the pipe and coupling unable to be easily adjusted or maneuvered. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,475 to Opperthauser contains a mechanism by which the insulation coupling secures to the channel via its locking feet. Once secured to the channel, the insulation coupling and accompanying pipe cannot easily be manipulated unless the coupling is fully removed. Additionally, coupling systems with locking feet do not allow the pipe insulation coupling to be supplemented with a failsafe such as a metal clamp. 
     It remains desirable to provide an insulation coupling that can be installed on a channel or any flat surface without requiring a cutting device. It also remains desirable to provide an insulation coupling that can be easily maneuvered on a channel and that can be reinforced with a metal clamp. It further remains desirable to provide an insulation coupling that forms an air-tight seal around the pipe to prevent condensation from forming around the pipe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment, there is provided a pipe insulation coupling for supporting a pipe and for coupling adjacent ends of pipe insulation tubing. The pipe insulation coupling comprises an outer tube wall, a first planar interior wall and a sealing mechanism. The outer tube wall extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The outer tube wall is split longitudinally from the first end to the second end to define a first body portion and a second body portion. The first planar interior wall extends inwardly from the outer tube wall transverse to the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends. The first planar interior wall includes a center bore for receiving the pipe. The first planar interior wall provides an abutment for the adjacent ends of the insulation tubing. The sealing mechanism extends longitudinally between the first and second ends of the outer tube wall for securing the first and second body portions together to retain the pipe and adjacent ends of insulation tubing. The sealing mechanism comprises an outward sealing face at an end of the first body portion and an inward sealing face at an end of the second body portion. When the pipe insulation coupling and the pipe insulation tubing are installed on the pipe, the sealing mechanism forms an air-tight seal to prevent air from entering the pipe insulation coupling. 
     According to another embodiment, there is provided a pipe insulation coupling for coupling adjacent ends of pipe insulation tubing and for supporting a pipe and the pipe insulation tubing along a channel having a slot. The pipe insulation coupling comprises an outer tube wall, a planar interior wall, a sealing mechanism and a base structure. The outer tube wall extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The outer tube wall is split longitudinally from the first end to the second end to define a first body portion and a second body portion. The planar interior wall extends inwardly from the outer tube wall transverse to the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends. The planar interior wall includes a center bore for receiving the pipe. The planar Interior wall provides an abutment for the adjacent ends of the insulation tubing. The sealing mechanism extends longitudinally between the first and second ends of the outer tube wall for securing the first and second body portions together to retain the pipe and adjacent ends of insulation tubing. The base structure is integrally secured to the outer tube wall. The base structure includes a horizontal planar face and a pair of rigid seating tabs extending generally vertically from the horizontal planar face. The horizontal planar face rests on the channel and the seating tabs extend into the slot of the channel when the pipe insulation coupling is mounted onto the channel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a pipe insulation coupling in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure affixed to an elongated pipe, seated in a channel, and secured with a metal clamp for subsequent installation of adjacent sections of insulation along the pipe; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is bottom view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the sealing mechanism from the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pipe insulation coupling in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the sealing mechanism from the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation view illustrating the sealing mechanism of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the pipe insulation coupling of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Directional references employed or shown in the description, figures or claims, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, upward, downward, lengthwise, widthwise, left, right, and the like, are relative terms employed for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any respect. For example, the figures illustrate pipe insulation coupling that may be mounted onto a channel or any flat surface. It will be readily apparent that the pipe insulation couplings according to the present disclosure may be mounted in any direction. 
       FIGS. 1-7  illustrate one embodiment of a pipe insulation coupling  10 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the pipe insulation coupling  10  is set in a slot  13  of a channel  12  and affixed to support an elongated pipe  11  commonly used in commercial or industrial applications. A traditional metal clamp  15  is placed around the pipe insulation coupling  10  and is mounted on the channel  12  to secure the pipe insulation coupling  10  along the channel  12 . Adjacent ends of pipe insulation tubing  14  are positioned directly against opposing anterior and posterior ends of the pipe insulation coupling  10  to create continuous insulation and a vapor barrier along the pipe  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6 , the pipe insulation coupling  10  includes an outer tube wall  22  and a base structure  16 . The outer tube wall  22  extends along a longitudinal axis  33  between a first end  37  and a second end  38  and is supported by and integrally secured to the base structure  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , the outer tube wall  22  is split longitudinally from the first end  37  to the second end  38  to define a first body portion  39  and a second body portion  40 . A sealing mechanism  18  extends longitudinally between the first  37  and second  38  ends of the outer tube wall  22  for securing the first  39  and second  40  body portions together to retain the pipe  11  and adjacent ends of the insulation tubing  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pipe insulation coupling  10  includes a planar interior wall  23  extending inwardly from the outer tube wall  22  transverse to the longitudinal axis  33  substantially midway between the first  37  and second  38  ends. The planar interior wall  23  includes a center bore  28  for receiving the pipe  11 . The planar interior wall  23  provides an abutment or stop for adjacent ends of the pipe insulation tubing  14 . The pipe insulation coupling  10  also includes a first tab  24  extending inwardly from the first body portion  39  to the center bore  28  and a second tab  25  extending inwardly from the second body portion  40  to the center bore  28 . The planar interior wall  23  is separated from both the first tab  24  and the second tab  25  by a linear slot  26  extending from each side of the outer tube wall  22  to the center bore  28 . Similarly, when the outer tube wall  22  is in the open position, the first tab  24  is separated from the second tab  25  by a slot  27  extending from the sealing mechanism  18  downward to the center bore  28 . The outer tube wall  22  includes living hinges  17  adjacent the linear slot  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the base structure  16  includes a horizontal planar face  20  and pair of seating tabs  21  that extend vertically downwardly from opposite lateral ends of the horizontal planar face  20 . The horizontal planar face  20  provides a surface sufficient for the pipe insulation coupling  10  to rest comfortably against the top surface of the channel  12 . The width of each tab  21  generally corresponds to the width of the slot  13  of the channel  12 . The seating tabs  21  therefore facilitate proper positioning and stabilization of the pipe insulation coupling  10  on the channel  12 . Additionally, the seating tabs  21  allow the pipe insulation coupling  10  to readily move across the channel  12  for easy positioning. The base structure  16  also includes vertical planar faces  19  extending from the horizontal planar face  20  to each side of the outer tube wall  22 . The outer profile shape of the vertical planar faces  19  and the outer tube wall  22  contours to the metal clamp  15  to ensure the pipe insulation coupling  10  is fully encased by the metal clamp  15  and secured to the channel  12  when installation is completed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the sealing mechanism  18  includes a female clip member  35  and a male clip member  36  that are complimentarily in shape to provide a tight, secure fit. The female clip member  35  includes an outward sealing face  29  and an inward clip detent  31 , and the male clip member  36  includes an inward sealing face  30  and an outward clip feature  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , flexing of the outer tube wall  22  at the living hinges  17  allows the first tab  24  and the second tab  25  to separate at the sealing mechanism  18  and swing outward laterally to allow for easy insertion of the pipe  11 . After the pipe  11  is satisfactorily inserted into the center bore  28 , the female clip member  35  and the male clip member  36  reversibly couple to lock the first tab  24  to the second tab  25 , thereby ensuring the pipe  11  will remain cradled in the center bore  28 . When installation is complete, the pipe insulation coupling  10  creates a vapor barrier between the adjacent ends of the pipe insulation tubing  14  and around the pipe  11  to help ensure the integrity and efficiency of the pipe  11 . In other words, the pipe insulation coupling  10  forms an air-tight seal around the pipe  11  to prevent air from entering the pipe insulation coupling  10  and reduce condensation from forming around the pipe  11 . Additional security is ultimately added by supplementing the pipe insulation coupling  10  with the metal clamp  15 . 
     The pipe insulation coupling  10  is molded with the outer tube wall  22  in the open position and with the sealing mechanism  18  unsecured, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , which saves the installer from having to use a cutting device to open the pipe insulation coupling  10 , thereby improving the overall ease of installation of the pipe insulation coupling  10 . 
       FIGS. 8-14  illustrate another embodiment of a pipe insulation coupling  41 . The pipe insulation coupling  41  includes an outer tube wall  42  and a base structure  43 . The outer tube wall  42  extends along a longitudinal axis  44  between a first end  45  and a second end  46  and is supported by and integrally secured to the base structure  43 . The outer tube wall  42  is split longitudinally from the first end  45  to the second end  46  to define an first body portion  47  and a second body portion  48 . A sealing mechanism  49  extends longitudinally between the first  45  and second  46  ends of the outer tube wall  42  for securing the first  47  and second  48  body portions together to retain the pipe  11  and adjacent ends of the insulation tubing  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the pipe insulation coupling  41  includes an first planar interior wall  50  extending inwardly from the first body portion  47  of the outer tube wall  42  transverse to the longitudinal axis  44  substantially midway between the first  45  and second  46  ends. The pipe insulation coupling  41  also includes a second planar interior wall  51  extending inwardly from the second body portion  48  of the outer tube wall  42  transverse to the longitudinal axis  44  substantially midway between the first  45  and second  46  ends. The first  50  and second  51  planar interior walls include a center bore  52  for receiving the pipe  11 . The first  50  and second  51  planar interior walls also provide an abutment or stop for adjacent ends of the pipe insulation tubing  14 . When the outer tube wall  42  is in the open position, the first planar interior wall  50  is separated from the second planar interior wall  51  by a slot  53 . The outer tube wall  42  includes a living hinge  54  adjacent a narrow end of the slot  53 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8, 9, 13 and 14 , the base structure  43  includes a horizontal wall  55 , a pair of vertical walls  56  that extend upwardly from opposite lateral ends of the horizontal wall  55 , and vertical planar faces  57  extending between the horizontal wall  55 , the vertical walls  56 , and each side of the outer tube wall  42 . The base structure  43  also includes a horizontal mounting tab  58  extending from the horizontal wall  55  below the living hinge  54 . The horizontal mounting tab  58  includes a mounting aperture  59 . 
     The sealing mechanism  49  includes a flange  60  extending downwardly from the second body portion  48  of the outer tube wall  42  and a locking tab  61  extending generally perpendicular to the flange  60 . The locking tab  61  includes a locking aperture  62 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , the sealing mechanism  49  also includes an outward sealing face  63  at the end of the first body portion  47  and an inward sealing face  64  at the end of the second body portion  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , flexing of the outer tube wall  42  at the living hinge  54  allows the second planar interior wall  51  to swing outward away from the first planar interior wall  50  to allow for easy insertion of the pipe  11 . After the pipe  11  is satisfactorily inserted into the center bore  52 , the second body portion  48  may be rotated toward the first body portion  47  to close the pipe insulation coupling  41  around the pipe  11  so that the flange  60  is flush against the adjacent vertical wall  56  of the base structure  43  and the outward sealing face  63  is in contact with the inward sealing face  64 . Fasteners (not shown) may be inserted into the mounting aperture  59  and the locking aperture  62  to secure the pipe insulation coupling  41  to any flat surface. Fastening the locking aperture  62  to the flat surface also locks the first  47  and second  48  body portions together, thereby ensuring the pipe  11  will remain cradled in the center bore  52  and also ensuring that the outward sealing face  63  maintains contact with the inward sealing face  64 . When installation is complete, the pipe insulation coupling  41  creates a vapor barrier between the adjacent ends of the pipe insulation tubing  14  and around the pipe  11  to help ensure the integrity and efficiency of the pipe  11 . In other words, the pipe insulation coupling  41  forms an air-tight seal around the pipe  11  to prevent air from entering the pipe insulation coupling  10  and reduce condensation from forming around the pipe  11 . The pipe insulation coupling  41  does not require a metal strap or clamp to secure the coupling  41  into place. 
     The pipe insulation coupling  41  is molded with the outer tube. wall  42  in the open position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , which saves the installer from having to use a cutting device to open the pipe insulation coupling  41 , thereby improving the overall ease of installation of the pipe insulation coupling  41 . 
     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.