Patent ID: 7798535

Claim:
A piping assembly comprising: first and second pipes having radial and axial dimensions, the first and second pipes having respective opposing ends and a circumferential dimension which respectively extends around the first and second opposing pipe ends; a clamp for coupling a joint between the first and the second pipe ends when the pipe ends are in opposing relation, the clamp comprising: a first clamp segment having a radial inner surface with first and second axial ends that substantially match the curvature of the circumference of a first segment of the first and second pipes to which the first clamp segment will be attached, the first clamp segment having a first ridge adjacent the first axial end of the first clamp segment, the first ridge extending inwardly from and circumferentially along the first clamp segment inner radial surface to mate with a corresponding complementary circumferential groove preformed in the first pipe adjacent the first pipe end, the first clamp segment having a first finger adjacent the second axial end of the first clamp segment, the first finger extending inwardly from and circumferentially along the first clamp segment inner radial surface second end to mate with a corresponding complementary pocket preformed in the second pipe adjacent the second pipe end, the first ridge extending circumferentially along the inner radial surface first end of the first clamp segment substantially further than the first finger extends circumferentially along the inner radial surface second end of the first clamp segment; a second clamp segment having a radial inner surface with first and second axial ends that substantially match the curvature of the circumference of a second segment of the first and second pipes to which the second clamp segment will be attached, the second clamp segment having a second ridge adjacent the first axial end of the second clamp segment, the second ridge extending inwardly from and circumferentially along the second clamp segment inner radial surface to mate with a corresponding complementary circumferential groove preformed in the first pipe adjacent the first pipe end, the second clamp segment having a second finger adjacent the second axial end of the first clamp segment, the second finger extending inwardly from and circumferentially along the second clamp segment inner radial surface second end to mate with a corresponding complementary pocket preformed in the second pipe adjacent the second pipe end, the second ridge extending circumferentially along the inner radial surface first end of the second clamp segment substantially further than the second finger extends circumferentially along the inner radial surface second end of the second clamp segment; and means for tightly connecting the first clamp segment to the second clamp segment around the first and second pipes when the first clamp segment and the second clamp segment span the joint.