COUPLING WITH TONGUE AND GROOVE
First Claim
1. A coupling comprising:
- an annular gasket, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly;
at least one segment, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, and at least two ends, each segment including a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each end including at least one of a tongue and a groove, each tongue protruding circumferentially from at least one end, each groove defined circumferentially in at least one end; and
at least one fastener, wherein at least one portion of a shaft portion of the fastener is sized to engage at least one fastener hole in at least one segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling includes an annular gasket, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; at least one segment, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, and at least two ends, each segment including a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each end including at least one of a tongue and a groove, each tongue protruding circumferentially from at least one end, each groove defined circumferentially in at least one end; and at least one fastener, wherein at least one portion of a shaft portion of the fastener is sized to engage at least one fastener hole in at least one segment.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A coupling comprising:
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an annular gasket, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; at least one segment, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, and at least two ends, each segment including a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each end including at least one of a tongue and a groove, each tongue protruding circumferentially from at least one end, each groove defined circumferentially in at least one end; and at least one fastener, wherein at least one portion of a shaft portion of the fastener is sized to engage at least one fastener hole in at least one segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of coupling first and second pipe elements in end-to-end facing relationship comprising:
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obtaining a coupling, the coupling including an annular gasket, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; at least one segment, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, and at least two ends, each segment including a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each end including at least one of a tongue and a groove, each tongue protruding circumferentially from at least one end, each groove defined circumferentially in at least one end; and at least one fastener, wherein at least one portion of a shaft portion of the fastener is sized to engage at least one fastener hole in at least one segment; slipping the coupling onto the first pipe element beyond any groove proximate the end of the first pipe element; aligning the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the first pipe element; slipping the coupling onto the second pipe element such that the segments of the coupling straddle the ends of the first and second pipe elements; and engaging each fastener to deform each segment in contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second pipe elements.
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Specification