Fitting having tabbed retainer and observation apertures
First Claim
1. A fitting for connecting a plurality of pipe elements, said fitting comprising:
- first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining a plurality of receptacles for receiving said pipe elements, at least first and second receptacles of said plurality of receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first receptacle, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second receptacle, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, each of said housing portions comprising;
at least first and second channels positioned respectively within said first and second receptacles, said first channel facing said first axis, said second channel facing said second axis, each of said first and second channels having a first floor and a second floor, said first floor having a greater radius of curvature than said second floor;
at least first and second retainers positioned respectively in said first and second channels, each of said retainers comprising a band having oppositely disposed ends, a plurality of teeth being positioned along one edge of said band, said teeth of said first retainer projecting toward said first axis, said teeth of said second retainer projecting toward said second axis, and at least one tab being positioned along an opposite edge of said band, said band overlying said first floor, said at least one tab overlying said second floor when said retainers are positioned within said channels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pipe fitting for plain end pipe is formed of housing portions defining receptacles for receiving pipe elements. The receptacles are coaxial with respective axes oriented angularly with respect to each other. Each receptacle has a channel that faces a respective axis with floors at different radii of curvature. Retainers are received within the channels. The retainers have teeth and one or more offset tabs that cooperate with the channels to prevent improper assembly of the fitting. Ring seals are received within channels positioned adjacent to the receptacles. The ring seals cooperate with the retainers to hold the segments in spaced relation sufficient to insert pipe elements into the receptacles when the fitting is pre-assembled. Apertures are provided in the receptacles to permit visual determination of the presence of the retainers post assembly.
153 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A fitting for connecting a plurality of pipe elements, said fitting comprising:
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first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining a plurality of receptacles for receiving said pipe elements, at least first and second receptacles of said plurality of receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first receptacle, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second receptacle, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, each of said housing portions comprising; at least first and second channels positioned respectively within said first and second receptacles, said first channel facing said first axis, said second channel facing said second axis, each of said first and second channels having a first floor and a second floor, said first floor having a greater radius of curvature than said second floor; at least first and second retainers positioned respectively in said first and second channels, each of said retainers comprising a band having oppositely disposed ends, a plurality of teeth being positioned along one edge of said band, said teeth of said first retainer projecting toward said first axis, said teeth of said second retainer projecting toward said second axis, and at least one tab being positioned along an opposite edge of said band, said band overlying said first floor, said at least one tab overlying said second floor when said retainers are positioned within said channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fitting for connecting pipe elements, said fitting comprising:
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first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining at least first and second receptacles for receiving said pipe elements, said first and second receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first receptacle, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second receptacle, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, each of said housing portions comprising; first and second channels positioned respectively within said first and second receptacles, said first channel facing said first axis, said second channel facing said second axis; first and second retainers positioned respectively in said first and second channels, each of said retainers comprising a band having oppositely disposed ends, a plurality of teeth being positioned along one edge of said band, said teeth of said first retainer projecting toward said first axis, said teeth of said second retainer projecting toward said second axis; and a first aperture in said first receptacle, said first aperture providing a line of sight transverse to said first axis. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification