Patent ID: 6874821

Claim:
A coupler apparatus for use with concrete segments comprising: a first duct having an end and an exterior surface, said first duct having a longitudinal axis; a first coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said duct, said first coupler member having an opening at an end thereof, said opening having a central axis extending at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said first duct; a second duct having an end and an exterior surface, said second duct having a longitudinal axis in alignment of said longitudinal axis of said first duct; a second coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said second duct, said second coupler member having an opening end thereof, said opening of said second coupler member having a central axis aligned with said central axis of said first coupler member; a gasket means positioned at said end of said first coupler member and said end of said second coupler member, said gasket means for preventing liquid from passing between said ends of said first and second coupler members into an interior of either of said first and second ducts; an first seal affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship to an opposite end of said first coupler member and affixed to an exterior surface of said first duct; and a second seal affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship to an opposite end of said second coupler member and said exterior surface of said second duct, each of said first and second seals being formed of a heat shrink material, said first seal being in compressive contact with an exterior surface of said first coupler member and with said exterior surface of said first duct, said second seal being in compressive contact with an exterior surface of said second coupler member and with said exterior surface of said second duct.