Patent ID: 8819914

Claim:
A method of securing facing end portions of pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile, said method comprising: providing a pipe coupling assembly having a pair of coupling segments attached to one another at both ends and surrounding a central space, said coupling segments having surface regions disposed to interface circumferentially with the outer surfaces of said pipes; while said coupling segments are attached to one another at said both ends, supporting said coupling segments in spaced relation sufficient to permit insertion of said end portions of said pipe elements into said central space; while said coupling segments are attached to one another at said both ends and supported in spaced relation, axially inserting said end portions of said pipe elements into said central space; moving said coupling segments toward one another so as to first engage said surface regions of said coupling segments with said outer surfaces of said pipe elements at a first contact point located between opposite ends of said coupling segments; and deforming said coupling segments so as to next engage said surface regions of said coupling segments with said outer surfaces of said pipe elements at second and third contact points, said second and third contact points being positioned at said opposite ends of said coupling segments.