Patent ID: 7384076

Claim:
An assembly comprising: a first pair of connected arcuate members for clamping around a first pipe, each arcuate member comprising: a curved surface, and at least one protrusion substantially extending radially inward and including a distal end that is radially spaced from the curved surface, the at least one protrusion substantially extending at least partially along the length of the curved surface; and means for connecting the first pair of arcuate members to a second pipe, said second pipe being connected to the first pipe whereby separation of the first pipe from the second pipe is restrained; wherein the arcuate members have a first material hardness and at least a portion of the at least one protrusion has a second material hardness, wherein the second material hardness is greater than the first material hardness so that the portion of the at least one protrusion penetratingly engages the first pipe when the arcuate members are clamped around the first pipe; wherein the connecting means comprises a second pair of arcuate members for clamping around the second pipe; wherein each arcuate member in the second pair comprises: a curved surface, and at least one protrusion substantially extending radially inward and including a distal end that is radially spaced from the curved surface, the at least one protrusion substantially extending at least partially along the length of the curved surface; and wherein the arcuate members in the second pair have the first material hardness and at least a portion of the at least one protrusion has the second material hardness so that the portion of the at least one protrusion penetratingly engages the second pipe when the second pair of arcuate members are clamped around the second pipe.