Abstract:
An improved system and method for facilitating pipe and conduit coupling comprises a clamp having at least one screw hole for insertion therethrough of at least one screw for insertion for a further clamp for being screwed to fasten the clamps together on ends of pipes to be coupled, at least one gasket between the clamps and pipe and including at least one retainer to engage with the screw to prevent the screw from displacement prior to being screwed into fastening relationship with the gasket and the pipe. An improved method for facilitating pipe coupling comprises providing clamps fastenable together around ends of pipes, a gasket to be placed between the clamps and the pipe ends and providing at least one retainer to engage the screw to prevent it from being displaced through a screw hole prior to fastening the clamps around the pipe ends.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to improved systems and methods for facilitating pipe and conduit coupling, i.e., coupling ends of pipes in substantially fluid-tight relationship. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Pipe coupling for coupling ends of fluid-carrying pipes in a substantially fluid-tight manner is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,066 to Morris Gittlemann. The teaching of the &#39;066 patent is incorporated by reference herein to the extent applicable. The apparatus and systems of the &#39;066 patent have been widely employed in the United States and abroad, with substantial success in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and usability. 
   Over the years experience has disclosed room for improvement of devices, constructed under the &#39;066 patent. This involves use of such devices in the field. In connection with such use, the user of the device endeavors to fasten together a pair of clamping members around pipe ends. Such fastening is accomplished by putting screws through screw holes on clamping members and screwing tight such that the clamping members fasten together to the extent that the pipe ends are substantially fluid-tight. During this operation, there has been a tendency under particular circumstances of use in the field for the screws to slide back through the screw holes while being prepared for screwing into fastening relationship, resulting in obvious inefficiency and lost time. 
   Accordingly there has been a long-felt and unfulfilled need for an improved system and method for facilitating pipe and conduit coupling. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An improved system and method for facilitating pipe and conduit coupling comprises clamping means having at least one screw hole for insertion therethrough of at least one screw for insertion through a further clamping means for being screwed to fasten said clamping means together on ends of pipes to be coupled, gasket means between said clamping means and said pipe and further including retention means for engagement with said at least one screw to prevent said at least one screw from displacement prior to said at least one screw being screwed into fastening relationship with said gasket means and said pipe. 
   An improved method for facilitating pipe coupling comprises the steps of providing clamping means fastenable together around ends of pipes to be coupled by use of at least one screw, providing gasket means for placement between said clamping means and said pipe ends, and providing at least one retention means for engaging with said at least one screw to prevent said at least one screw from being displaced through a screw hole prior to fastening of said clamp means around said pipe ends. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view somewhat simplified of clamping means with retention means in accordance with the invention in the unengaged state; 
       FIG. 2  is a respective view somewhat simplified as in  FIG. 1  with retention means in accordance with the invention in the engaged condition; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary view of a clamping member with engaged retention means in accordance with the invention; 
       FIGS. 4(   a )- 4 ( e ) are top views of forms of retention means in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of assembled pipe coupling apparatus in place on pipes, in accordance with the invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a method in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention being an improvement on the pipe coupling system disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,066 to M. Gittleman (the &#39;066 patent), the &#39;066 patent is incorporated in the instant application by reference to the extent that it is applicable. Accordingly, on occasion descriptions of common elements as between the instant specification and that of &#39;066 patent will refer to such elements in the &#39;066 patent and will be brief. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , a pipe coupling system  10  is depicted in place coupling together, in substantially fluid-tight relationship, pipes or conduits  12 ,  14  by installation thereon at the ends thereof. 
   Pipe sections  12 ,  14  are depicted as being of type with spigots that is, angular end ribs  16 , 18 , respectively. As described in detail in the specification of the &#39;066 patent, the pipe coupling system described and claimed therein includes provisions for and constructions for use with variations of pipe ends to be coupled, including end configurations and forms of transverse members thereon. 
   The present invention is usable with all variations of pipes and the forms of pipe coupling employed therewith as is more fully described hereinbelow. 
   Pipe coupling system  10  includes semi-circular clamping members  20 , 22  having, respectively, pairs of generally radial flanges  21 , 23 . Flange pair  23  defines two pairs of screw holes  48 ,  48 ′,  50 ,  50 ′; in the same manner flange pair  21  defines two pairs of screw bolts  52 , 52 ′ with another pair (not shown). The screw holes are capable of being aligned such as to permit clamp members  20 ,  22  to be fastenable together by frictional engagement shown in a specific embodiment to be in the form of two pairs of screw members  24 , 24 ′,  26 , 26 ′ having shanks  25 ,  25 ′,  27 ,  27 ′, respectively. Clamping members  20 ,  22  have internal recesses  28 ,  30  respectively and have greater external dimensions opposite recesses  28 , 30 . 
   A gasket member  32  is positionable between clamping members  20 , 22  and pipe sections  12 , 14  to effect a seal therebetween. Gasket member  32  may be made of any suitable flexible sealing material such as rubber or neoprene. Gasket member  32  has an internal annular rib  34 , as well as outer annular ribs in pairs  36 ,  37  and  38 ,  39 , respectively adjacent opposite ends of gasket member  32 . 
   Gasket member  32  defines an intermediate external annular rib  40 . Member  32  also defines external annular ribs  42 , 44  spaced from intermediate external rib  40  such as to define recesses  43 ,  45  between rib pairs  40 ,  42  and  40 ,  44 , respectively. 
   Depicted in  FIG. 1  are clamping members  20 , 22  with screw pairs  24 , 24 ′ and  26 , 26 ′ in place in screw holes  48 ,  48 ′,  50 ,  50 ′,  52 ,  52 ′, and the additional pair (not shown) on flanges pair  21  and retention, means  46  in accordance with the invention in position to be engaged with screws  24 , 24 ′  26 , 26 ′. At this point, screws  24 , 24 ′,  26 , 26 ′ will tend to fall back through the screw holes unless prevented from doing so. 
   Depicted in  FIG. 2 , are retention means  46  in place to prevent backward motion from, i.e., disengagement from, screw holes  48 , 48 ′,  50 , 50 ′,  52 ,  52 ′. 
   Retention means  46  as shown in  FIG. 4A  is in the form of a resilient peripheral disc  47  of generally circular configuration defining an internal opening  54  of generally polygonal configuration such as to accommodate and provide frictional engagement with screws  24 , 24 ′,  26 , 26 ′. A slot  56  is defined in the peripheral disc  47  for placing retention means  46  onto screws,  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′, from the ends of shanks  25 ,  25 ′,  27 ,  27 ′. 
   In addition, disposition of retention means  46  onto screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′ may be accomplished by pressing retention means  46  onto screws  24 ,  24 ′  26 ,  26 ′ through opening  54  from the sides of shanks  25 ,  25 ′,  27 ,  27 ′. 
   The mode of disposition of retention means  46  onto screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′, (i.e., through slot  54  or through opening  56 ) may be selected by the user depending upon particular conditions in the field or personal preference. 
   Additional forms of retention means are depicted in  FIGS. 4B-4F , inclusive. Depicted in  FIG. 4B  is retention means  46 ′. Retention means  46 ′ comprises a peripheral member  47 ′ of substantially square configuration defining an internal opening  54 ′ of generally square shape to accommodate and provide engagement with screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′. Slot  56 ′, defined in peripheral member  47 ′, is employed for laterally placing retention means  46 ′, onto screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′. 
     FIG. 4C  depicts yet another form of retention means designated by reference numeral  46 ″. Retention means  46 ″ comprises a generally circular disc  47 ″ of resilient material defining an opening  54 ″ for placement, upon screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′ opening  54 ″ being of star-like configuration engageable with screws  25 ,  25 ′,  26   26 ′. 
     FIG. 4D  depicts a further form of retention means designated by reference numeral  46 ′″ comprising a resilient peripheral circular disc  47 ′″ defining an internal circular opening  54 ′″ for fitting onto screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′. 
     FIG. 4E  depicts another form of retention means  46 ″″ with a periphery having ears  58 , 60 , 62 , 64  at four (4) corners thereof and defining a circular internal opening  54 ″″ for mounting on screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′. 
     FIG. 3  further depicts retention means  46  in place on screw  24  in operative position to prevent backward, outward motion of screw  24  during operation to couple pipe ends. 
   The &#39;066 patent specification depicts and describes variations in pipe end configurations and corresponding coupler constructions, and said depictions and descriptions are incorporated by reference herein. Retention means in accordance with the invention are employable to facilitate implementing pipe coupling in the application hereinabove discussed is the same manner as described and depicted herein for pipe ends with spigots. 
   The aforesaid varying applications depicted and described in the &#39;066 patent include:
         (1) Each pipe to be coupled having an end spigot (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 1);   (2) One pipe to be coupled having an end spigot, and the other pipe being without an end spigot (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 5);   (3) Neither pipe to be coupled having an end spigot (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 2);   (4) Each pipe to be coupled having an end annular rib (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 11);   (5) One pipe to be coupled having an end annular rib (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 12);   (6) Neither pipe to be coupled having an end annular rib (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 13);   (7) Only one pipe to be coupled having end annular rib or spigot (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 17); and   (8) Neither pipe to be coupled having a spigot or annular rib (&#39;066 patent, FIG. 18).       

   In operation and in accordance with the method of the invention as schematically rendered in  FIG. 6 , the user of the improved pipe coupling system  10  in accordance with the invention prepares to couple together ends of pipe sections  12 , 14 , by placing gasket  32  on the ends of the ends of pipes  12 ,  14 . The user then deploys clamp members  20 , 22  and inserts screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′ through screw holes  48 ,  48 ′,  50 ,  50 ′  52 , 52 ′, respectively. In so doing, the user positions retention means  46  on each screw as it is inserted through its respective screw hole, thus preventing each of said screws from being displaced from its position by gravity or motion of the clamping member into which it is inserted. As noted above, retention of inserted screws by retention means  46  is in the described embodiment accomplished by frictional engagement of retention means  46  with the respective screws  24 ,  24 ′,  26 ,  26 ′. Other means of retention, such as adhesives, adherent material (such as the material trademarked as VELCRO) and the like may be employed for, in or on retention means in accordance with the invention. 
   The user then aligns clamp members  20 ,  22 , places them around pipes  12 ,  14  and gasket  32  thereon, and fastens members  20 ,  22  together by means of tightening said screws until a fluid tight seal is achieved between pipes  12 ,  14  at the ends thereof. 
   The embodiments of the insertion described and depicted herein are illustrative and exemplary. The invention is defined pursuant to law by the appended claims interpreted in light of the specification and drawings.