Patent Publication Number: US-2015084336-A1

Title: Corrugated pipe coupling and repair apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application number 61881721, filed 24 Sep. 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to corrugated drain pipes and, more particularly, to means of joining sections of corrugated drain pipes. 
     Couplings for corrugated drain pipe currently on the market provide a very loose fit when connecting sections together. The loose connection between and to sections of corrugated drain pipe allows roots to grow into and/or debris to enter the pipes, resulting in blockages. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a means for providing a tight coupling when joining sections of corrugated drain pipes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a corrugated tubular coupling for joining two cylindrical corrugated sections comprises: a first portion of the tubular coupling, wherein the first portion is defined along its length by a first edge and a first outer edge, a second portion of the tubular coupling, wherein the second portion is defined along its length by the first edge and a second outer edge, wherein the first and second portions are pivotably connected along the first edge; and a snap closure provided along the length of the outer edges, the snap closure positionable in a locked position sandwiching the joining two cylindrical corrugated sections between the first portion and the second portion and an unlocked position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of joining two cylindrical sections having a plurality of corrugated segments, comprises the steps of: providing a tubular coupling having a plurality of corrugated segments, wherein the tubular coupling comprises: a first portion of the tubular coupling, wherein the first portion is defined along its length by a first edge and a first outer edge, a second portion of the tubular coupling, wherein the second portion is defined along its length by the first edge and a second outer edge, wherein the first and second portions are pivotably connected along the first edge; a snap closure provided along the length of the outer edges, and the snap closure positionable in a locked position sandwiching the joining two cylindrical corrugated sections between the first portion and the second portion and an unlocked position; placing the two cylindrical corrugated sections end-to-end on the first or second portion so that the each cylindrical corrugated section has at least a predetermined number of corrugated segments mated with the complementary corrugated segments of the first or second portion; and positioning the snap closure in the locked position. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a detail section view of  FIG. 4  of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a section view and detail section views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 5B  is a section view and detail section views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated snap closure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated snap closure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a detail section view of  FIG. 7  of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated hinge of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a detail section view of  FIG. 7  of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated hinge of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a corrugated coupling for coupling two cylindrical corrugated sections. The corrugated coupling may be a tubular element comprising a first portion and a second portion pivotably connected along a first edge, wherein the first edge comprises an integrated hinge. Each portion may have opposing second edges that come together in a closed configuration, forming the tubular element. Each second edge may provide a portion of an integrated snap closure that is positionable in a locked position sandwiching the joining two cylindrical corrugated sections between the first portion and the second portion and an unlocked position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7B , the present invention may include a corrugated coupling  10  for coupling two corrugated sections  20 . The corrugated coupling  10  may be made of material that can be repeatedly bent without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, various plasticized materials. The corrugated coupling  10  may include a pair of opposing portions  12 A,  12 B, which have aligned alternating corrugated sections of ridges  14  and grooves  16 . The ridges  14  and grooves  16  may be arranged and spaced for mating with a portion of the complementary ridges  34  and grooves  36  of the corrugated sections  20  being coupled. 
     Each opposing portions  12 A,  12 B may be substantially half of a tubular element that may be the corrugated coupling  10  in a closed configuration. An effective outside diameter of the corrugated coupling  10 , when the pair of opposing portions  12 A,  12 B are in the closed configuration, as defined by the flat segments  24  of the ridges  14  may be uniform along the length of the corrugated coupling  10 . The effective outside diameter is adapted to snugly envelope an effective outside diameter of the corrugated sections  20 . The flat segments  24  may be rounded and suitable sized for enabling mating with the complementary ridges  34  being coupled, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 4A . 
     The grooves  16  may be suitably shaped for enabling mating with complementary grooves  36  of the corrugated sections  20  being coupled, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 4A . The depths of the grooves  16  may be suitably shallower than the complementary grooves  36 , forming a gap therebetween for enabling adequate as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 4A . The gap affords the corrugated coupling  10  to be used to repair damaged sections of pipe that have been buried. In order for the corrugated coupling  10  to seal properly the soil in the complementary grooves  36  may need to be cleaned out if not for the gap, which may not be practical in some in situ situations, if not very difficult. The shallow grooves  16  on the corrugated coupling  10  may be designed so that it will still function properly if the complementary grooves  36  are not fully cleaned out. 
     The opposing portions  12 A,  12 B may be pivotably connected to one another along the entirety of first edges  32 A and  32 B by an integral hinge  40  that pivots along a fold segment  42  disposed between first edges  32 A and  32 B, so that the coupling  10  is positionable from a closed configuration to an open configuration. The hinge  40  may be integrated to the coupling  10  so as to eliminate gaps along the length thereof, where debris could penetrate. The fold segment  42  may be a portion of the hinge  40  having a decreased cross sectional area so that bending forces about the hinge  40  “buckles” the fold segment  42  portion before other portions of the hinge  40 . 
     The perimeter of the corrugated coupling  10  is formed by outer edges  52 A and  52 B. Integrated along the length of outer edges  52 A and  52 B may be a snap closure means  50  for latching opposing portions  12 A,  12 B together. 
     According to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the snap closure means  50  includes a latching hook segment  54  and a complementary snap cantilever segment  56  which interact and lock the coupling  10  in the closed configuration when the opposing portions  12 A,  12 B are brought together. The snap closure  50  may be positionable in a locked position and an unlocked position that complement the closed configuration and the open configuration, respectively. In the locked position the corrugated coupling  10  may be designed to form a tight joint with the corrugated sections  20  or other pipes and tubes they sandwich, preventing the latter from being pulled out from the corrugated coupling  10 . 
     The snap cantilever  56  extends radially outwards from the second outer edge  52 B having a generally rectangular cross-section. The latching hook  54  extends radially outwards from the first outer edge  52 A and comprises a body portion  58  joined along its length to a latching portion  60 . The body portion  58  may have a generally rectangular cross-section substantially similar to the cross-section of the snap cantilever  56 . The latch portion  60  may have a L-shape that extends generally perpendicularly from the body portion  58  facing the snap cantilever  56  so as to present a lead-in notch  62  near the distal end of the latch portion  60  for facilitating the interacting of the segments  54 ,  56  when the coupling moves to the closed configuration. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the snap closure means  50  may include a plurality of F-shaped prongs  62  and a prong snap cantilever  64 . The plurality of F-shaped prongs  62  may be arranged spaced apart and perpendicularly joined along portions of the first outer edge  52 A. The prong snap cantilever  64  may define prong apertures  66  cooperating with the F-shaped prongs  62  for receiving and latching thereto. The prong snap cantilever  64  may be perpendicularly joined along the length of second outer edge  52 B, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Each F-shaped prong may have at least one lead-in beveled edge  70  and a latching flange  68  for facilitating reception by the prong apertures  66  and for latching to the prong apertures  66 , respectively. The prong snap cantilever may be integrated along the length of second outer edge  52 B. 
     The integrated components  40 ,  54 ,  56  are formed simultaneously when manufactured as a unitary piece. The sheet may be formed in any suitable way of unitary construction, including but not limited to injection molding, casting, stamping, extrusion, milling, 3D printing or the like. 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. Providing the corrugated coupling  10  as disclosed above. In the open configuration, a user may place the two corrugated sections  20  end to end within one half of the pair of opposing portions  12 A,  12 B so that at least a predetermined number of complementary ridges  34  mate with the ridges  14  of the one coupling  10  half. In certain embodiments, the predetermined number of complementary ridges  34  is three. Then the user moves the coupling  10  to the closed position resulting in the interacting and locking of the snap closure. Upon completion of use, the user may unlock the snap closure  50 , move the pair of opposing portions  12 A,  12 B to the open position, and remove at least one of the two corrugated sections  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, the corrugated coupling  10  may be used to easily repair pipe or tube sections that have been damaged, preventing roots and debris from penetrating the pipe in the damaged area. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.