Patent ID: 7464971

Claim:
A fitting for connecting the opposed ends of two pipes that are axially aligned and in close proximity to each other, said fitting comprising two complimentary, semi-cylindrical fitting members that are adapted to be brought together and joined to each other to form a resulting cylindrical fitting that envelopes said opposed ends of said two pipes; semi-cylindrical gasket members positioned adjacent to inside surfaces of said respective semi-cylindrical fitting members; means for mechanically joining and locking said semi-cylindrical fitting members together about said ends of said pipes so that said semi-cylindrical fitting members force said semi-cylindrical gasket members associated with said semi-cylindrical fitting members into a fluid tight seal with themselves and with said ends of said pipes to produce a fluid-tight seal between said fitting and said ends of said pipes without the need to employ adhesives or cements in accomplishing the fluid-tight seal between said fitting and said ends of said pipes; wherein said means for mechanically joining and locking said semi-cylindrical fitting members together comprises ledges projecting outwardly from respective longitudinal side edges of each of said semi-cylindrical fitting members, said ledges extending essentially along the entire length of each of the respective longitudinal side edges of said semi-cylindrical fitting members, each of said ledges further having a sharp outer edge that extends along the length of each of said ledges; upstanding sidewalls projecting upwardly from each of said ledges, with said upstanding sidewalls positioned so that they extend inwardly from an end of said semi-cylindrical fitting members to a point that is no more than one-half the distance between opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical fitting members; sidewall ledges formed integrally with an upper side of each of said upstanding sidewalls, said sidewall ledges extending inwardly from said upper side of said upstanding sidewalls, with said sidewall ledges ending in a sharp inner edge, whereby, when said semi-cylindrical fitting members are brought into positions to be joined and locked together, said upstanding sidewalls of each of said semi-cylindrical fitting members extend over mutually respective ledges that project from said longitudinal side edges of said semi-cylindrical fitting members, with said upstanding sidewalls being forced over said ledges until said sharp inner edge of said sidewall ledge snaps over and locks with said sharp outer edge of said ledges.