Patent ID: 7520536

Claim:
A connection for the joining of two pipes, comprising: two connector elements adapted to be fitted, one within the other, along an axis of fit (X-X) so that said two connector elements effectively join the two pipes only if a plurality of projecting members that are carried by a first of said two connector elements are not prevented from being cooperatively and fully receivable within open zones of passage of a second of said two connector elements in which said projecting members are selectively receivable during a complete joining of said two connector elements by blocking means associated with said second connector element, said blocking means being selectively removably connected to said second connector element so as to be positioned to block at least one of the zones of passage to thereby prevent said plurality of projecting members from seating within the zones of passage and such that said first and second connector elements can not be completely joined to one another, indexing means including a first projection carried by one of said two connector elements and being of a size to initially engage with the other of said two connector elements as they are being moved toward one another in a direction of fit before said projecting members engage with said second of said two connector elements, said first projection being receivable within at least one first opening within the other of said two connector elements when engaging said other of said two connector elements and as said two connector elements are angularly indexed in relative rotation with respect to one another so as to thereby align said projecting members so as to be potentially receivable within said open zones of passage of said second of said two connector elements, said projecting members being removable and selectively mounted in at least some of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to said first of said two connector elements prior to said two connector elements being urged toward one another, whereby when said two connector elements are urged toward a position of being completely joined after said projecting members are aligned to be potentially receivable within said open zones of passage of said second of said two connector elements, such complete joining is prevented if at least one of the plurality of projecting members is not mounted in a correct one of the predetermined positions and is blocked by a blocking means from being completely received within an opposing open zone of passage of said second of said two connector elements.