PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 15909119
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-03
Publication Date: 2018-07
Patent Classification: ["277", "612000"]

Abstract:
A mechanical coupling for joining pipe elements has a seal. The seal has sealing surfaces with one or more projections that form closable leak paths between the coupling and pipe elements being joined. The leak paths close when the coupling is properly installed. Otherwise, the leak paths remain open to ensure that improperly installed couplings can be discovered during pressure testing and before service pressure is applied.

Claim (Index 1):
A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:\n a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space; connection members being positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another; a seal positioned between said segments, said seal comprising: a ring having a peripheral wall extending circumferentially therearound, said ring being received within said channels; a first lobe attached to said peripheral wall, said first lobe extending circumferentially around said ring; a first sealing surface positioned on said first lobe, said first sealing surface extending circumferentially around said ring; at least a first projection extending from said first sealing surface; a second lobe attached to said peripheral wall opposite to said first lobe, said second lobe extending circumferentially around said ring; a second sealing surface positioned on said second lobe, said second sealing surface extending circumferentially around said ring; said segments being supported in spaced apart relation sufficient to permit said pipe elements to be inserted into said central space while said segments are attached to one another, said first and second sealing surfaces respectively contacting said pipe elements, said first projection engaging one of said pipe elements and maintaining a portion of said first sealing surface in spaced relation away therefrom; wherein tightening of said connection members draws said segments toward one another thereby compressing said portion of said first sealing surface into sealing engagement with said one pipe element thereby closing said leak path.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 13.0
- Percentile: 90.0
- Lexical Diversity: 1.41176
- Patent Class: 277.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['14963361', '15719684', '14844395', '15267755', '12561789']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.8189777410730817
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.5333119796767973
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.7904111649334533
- Mean Citation Score: 315.642116
- Max Citation Score: 387.49683
- Similarity Product: 336.6183682842529

Labels:
- Claim Label 101: 1
- Claim Label 102: 0
- Claim Label 103: 1
- Claim Label 112: 0
- Combined Label: 0
- Label 101 Adjusted: 1

Dataset: test