Patent ID: 7591055

Claim:
A method of securing facing end portions of pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile, a circumferential groove being positioned in at least one of said end portions of at least one of said pipe elements, said method comprising the steps of: (a) first, providing a pipe coupling having a plurality of coupling segments, each said segment having a pair of ends oppositely disposed, each said end on each said segment being attached to another of said ends of another of said segments, said segments being attached to one another in spaced apart relation surrounding a central space, said coupling segments having at least one arcuate surfaces adapted to be received within said circumferential groove in said at least one pipe elements, said at least one arcuate surfaces having notches therein positioned at opposite ends of said at least one arcuate surface; (b) second, supporting said coupling segments in said spaced apart relation on a flexible resilient seal positioned within said central space, said seal having an inner diameter sized to receive said pipe elements and an outer diameter sized to support said coupling segments in said spaced apart relationship sufficient to permit axial insertion of said end portions of said pipe elements into said central space; (c) third, inserting said end portions of said pipe elements axially into said central space while all of said coupling segments are attached to one another in said spaced apart relationship, said end portions passing through said notches; and (d) fourth, drawing said coupling segments toward each other so as to engage said at least one arcuate surface of said coupling segments within said one circumferential groove in said at least one end portion of said pipe elements.