Patent ID: 7185924

Claim:
A joint restraint assembly for connecting pipe ends together, or to other objects, by gripping the outer surface of a pipe, the joint restraint assembly comprising: a body encircling the pipe, with said body having a plurality of cavities adjacent the pipe and at least one set of a corresponding plurality of threaded bores disposed through said body, each threaded bore of said at least one set of a corresponding plurality of threaded bores being in communication with a respective cavity; a threaded bolt extending through each of said threaded bores; a segment disposed within each of said cavities in said body, said segment comprising a first portion that contacts a corner of said cavity and a second portion that penetrates the outer surface of the pipe; wherein said threaded bolt displaces said segment so that said second portion initially engages the outer surface of the pipe; and wherein as mechanical or internal pressure loading applied to the pipe increases pipe pull-out forces, said segment pivots about said first portion while said segment loses contact with said threaded bolt, and whereby said segment maintains contact with the corner of the cavity while driving said second portion deeper into the outer surface of the pipe in proportion to the applied mechanical or internal pressure loading, said segment resisting pipe pull-out in proportion to the increased mechanical or internal pressure loading applied to the pipe.