Patent ID: 8448993

Claim:
A pipe coupling, comprising: a cylindrical barrel sleeve having at least one circumferential flange with an inner and an outer diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to close around said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including first and second separate clamping ring portions that are releasably connected together at a pivot point in a manner so that one clamping ring portion may swing toward and away from the other to respectively close and open said clamping ring, said clamping ring portions being shaped to retain an annularly-shaped seal outward of said circumferential flange when said ring portions are connected together, each clamping ring portion having a region adjacent to said pivot point, the regions of said clamping ring portions pressing against each other when said clamping ring portions close to a bound position so as to cause said first and second separate clamping ring portions to function as a unitary structural member that will bend inwardly toward the seal as the clamping ring portions close past the bound position to thereby clamp said seal around the end of a pipe; and an exterior handle connected to a central portion of said cylindrical barrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position of said pipe coupling when said pipe coupling is put into use.