Patent ID: 7575257

Claim:
A fitting for making connections with a pipe, comprising: a coupling body having an inside surface defining a bore for receiving a pipe; a ring fitting over said coupling body for sealing and mechanically connecting said coupling body to the pipe; an axisymmetrical main seal formed on said inside surface of said coupling body that seals and connects to the pipe when said ring is installed on said coupling body; an axisymmetrical inboard seal formed on said inside surface of said coupling body axially spaced from said main seal that seals and connects to the pipe when said ring is installed on said coupling body, at least one of said coupling body and said ring configured so that said inboard seal seals and connects after said main seal seals and connects to the pipe; an axisymmetrical outboard seal formed on said inside surface of said coupling body axially spaced from said main seal that connects to the pipe when said ring is installed on said coupling body, at least one of said coupling body and said ring further configured so that said outboard seal seals and mechanically connects after said inboard seal seals and connects to the pipe; and at least one of said coupling body and said ring further configured to apply a restoring load to said main seal to further seal and mechanically connect said main seal to the pipe after said outboard seal seals and connects to the pipe.