Patent ID: 8690200

Claim:
A pipe connection, comprising: a box with internal threads; a pin with external threads that mate with the internal threads of the box; a box slot extending through a side wall of the box; a pin slot formed in the pin; each of the slots having a circumferential dimension and an axial dimension, relative to an axis of the connection, that is less than the circumferential dimension; the circumferential dimension of one of the slots being greater than the circumferential dimension of the other of the slots to enable alignment of the slots when the pin and the box are made up with each other; and a locking key that has a pin section joining and radially inward from a box section, the pin section and the box section being located within the pin slot and the box slot, respectively, when the key is installed, one of the sections having at least one tooth that bites into and permanently deforms the slot having the greater circumferential dimension when the key is installed, the key having a width substantially the same as the slot having the lesser circumferential dimension.