Patent ID: 7097211

Claim:
A system for coupling a plurality of pipes end-to-end in a locked configuration to thereby form an enclosed conduit comprising: a plurality of pipes, each said pipe having a receiving end and an insertion end, a first annular ring track formed on an inner surface of said receiving end, an opposing annular ring track formed on an outer surface of said insertion end, said receiving end of each said pipe sized to tightly receive an insertion end of another of said pipes, each said pipe having an anti-reversing locking ring in said receiving end ring track, said ring having a gap therethrough and a flattened portion positioned substantially opposite said gap, said flattened portion biasing said ring against said first ring track to thereby assist in maintaining said ring in said first ring track, said ring having a partial conic profile, a leading edge formed on a larger diameter opening of said ring, said leading edge having a flattened profile, a trailing edge formed on a smaller diameter opening of said ring, said trailing edge having a substantially annular groove formed therein, said ring positioned in said receiving end ring track with said leading edge of said ring closer to said receiving end than said insertion end, such that when said insertion end of one said pipe is inserted into said receiving end of another of said pipes, said trailing end of said ring drops into said opposing ring track of said insertion end to thereby couple said pipes in the locked configuration.