APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING A PIPE COUPLING
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pipe coupling support having a substantially rigid body with an inner surface formed to mate with at least a portion of the exterior surface of a pipe coupling installed on pipe. In many cases, the exterior surface of the installed pipe coupling will be non-cylindrical. For example, when pipes of differing diameters or pipes manufactured from different materials must be joined with commonly available pliable couplings. In this instance the inner surface of the body of the pipe coupling support may be formed to mate with a majority of or substantially the entire exterior surface of the installed pipe coupling.
53 Citations
30 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A pipe coupling support assembly comprising:
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a rigid body having; an inner surface; a first opening having a first size, the first opening operable to receive the first pipe with the first exterior diameter; and a second opening having a second size such that the second opening is operable to receive the second portion of the installed pipe coupling when the second pipe with the second exterior diameter is inserted in to the pliable body of the installed pipe coupler; a support sleeve wherein the inner surface of the body is formed to mate with an exterior surface of the support sleeve and the support sleeve comprises an inner surface formed to mate with an exterior surface of an installed pipe coupling installed on pipe; and means for compressing the support sleeve into close engagement with the installed pipe coupling. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A pipe coupling system comprising:
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a rigid body having; a first opening having a first size, the first opening operable to receive the first pipe with the first exterior diameter; and a second opening having a second size such that the second opening is operable to receive the second portion of the installed pipe coupling when the second pipe with the second exterior diameter is inserted in to the pliable body of the installed pipe coupler; a pliable inner member, the pliable inner member comprising; a first cylindrical inner surface sized to mate with an outer surface of a first pipe having a first diameter; a second cylindrical inner surface sized to mate with an outer surface of a second pipe having a second diameter which is less than the first diameter; and a junction surface between the first and second cylindrical inner surfaces which junction surface is substantially perpendicular to the first and second cylindrical inner surfaces; and means for compressing the inner member into close engagement with a free end of the first and second pipes so that the free end of the first pipe abuts the junction surface.
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15. A method of supporting a pipe coupling installed on pipe comprising:
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providing a pipe coupling support having a rigid body with an inner surface formed to mate with an exterior surface of the installed pipe coupling;
the pipe coupling comprising support comprising;a rigid body having; a first opening having a first size, the first opening operable to receive the first pipe with the first exterior diameter; and a second opening having a second size such that the second opening is operable to receive the second portion of the installed pipe coupling when the second pipe with the second exterior diameter is inserted in to the pliable body of the installed pipe coupler; and associating the pipe coupling support with the installed pipe coupling such that the inner surface of the body is closely engaged with the exterior surface of the installed pipe coupling. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A pipe coupling support for supporting an installed pipe coupling, the installed pipe coupling connecting a first pipe having a first exterior diameter and a second pipe having a second exterior diameter different from the first exterior diameter, the installed pipe coupling including a pliable body having a first portion receiving the first pipe, a second portion receiving the second pipe, and at least one clamping apparatus securing the pliable body to the first pipe and the second pipe, the pipe coupling support comprising:
a rigid body having; a first opening having a first size, the first opening operable to receive the first pipe with the first exterior diameter; and a second opening having a second size such that the second opening is operable to receive the second portion of the installed pipe coupling when the second pipe with the second exterior diameter is inserted in to the pliable body of the installed pipe coupler. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
Specification