Patent ID: 7029037

Claim:
An apparatus for connecting and sealing duct sections, the apparatus comprising: (A) first and second connectors, each connector comprising: (a) a tubular member; (b) an annular flange, extending radially outwardly from an outer end of the tubular member; and (c) a rolled edge, comprising: (i) an annular radially inner bend, attached to the outer perimeter of the annular flange; (ii) an annular radially outer roll, adjacent to the radially inner bend; (iii) an annular rounded perimeter, adjacent to the annular radially outer roll and at the outer perimeter of the annular flange, the annular rounded perimeter is rounded inwardly, toward the outer end of the tubular member; (iv) whereby a tube cavity is defined within the annular radially outer roll and annular rounded perimeter; and (v) a wire rod, carried within the tube cavity; (B) whereby an excess duct sealer trough is defined between rolled edges of the first and second connectors; (C) a gasket, carried between outer annular surfaces of the annular flanges of the first and second connectors, the gasket having a first side surface directed toward the outer annular surface of the first connector and a second side surface directed toward the outer annular surface of the second connector; (D) a duct sealer, carried firstly between the first side surface of the gasket and the outer annular surface of the annular flange of the first connector, and carried secondly between the second side surface of the gasket and the outer annular surface of the annular flange of the second connector, and carried thirdly tamed in the excess duct sealer trough defined between the rolled edges of the first and second connectors; and (E) a plurality of fasteners connecting the annular flange of the first connector to the annular flange of the second connector.