Irrigation pipe coupling

• US 7,523,965 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netafim Limited (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Original Assignee: Netafim Limited (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Inventors: Masarwa, Abed
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/758,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 285/139.2, 285/139.1, 285/139.3, 285/141.1, 285/136.1, 285/206, 285/208, 285/189, 285/200, 251/150, 251/146, 138/119, 239/542, 239/547
• US Class Current: 285/139.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/14 by screwing an intermediate part against the inside or outside of the wall F16L41/086 takes precedence

Abstract

A coupling is formed from inner and outer members. The inner member is attached to a pipe wall and is formed with a bulge. The outer member is retained by the inner member and is formed with a clamp that surrounds the bulge.

Claims

1. An irrigation pipe coupling between a lay flat irrigation pipe and an irrigation element, the coupling comprises an inner member attached to a wall of the pipe and an outer member,

the inner member comprises a bulge and a bore, the bore is formed about an axis in the inner member, and the bulge at least partially surrounds the axis,

the outer member comprises a clamp and a shank, the shank is retained in the bore of the inner member, and the clamp at least partially surrounds a base of the shank, wherein

at least a portion of the bulge is located between the shank and the clamp.

2. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein an imaginary plane perpendicular to the axis passes through the bulge and the clamp.

3. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 2, wherein when the pipe is not under internal fluid pressure the imaginary plane passes through a gap between the bulge and the clamp.

4. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein when the pipe is under a given internal fluid pressure at least a portion of the bulge abuts the clamp.

5. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the bulge projects a distance smaller than 5 mm out of the pipe.

6. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the shank is threadingly retained in the bore.

7. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner member is bonded to the wall.

8. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner member is formed from polyolefin material.

9. An irrigation pipe coupling for connecting to a lay flat irrigation pipe, comprising:

an inner member having unitary one-piece construction and comprising a bulge and a bore, the bore being formed about an axis in the inner member, and the bulge at least partially surrounding the axis; and

an outer member having unitary one-piece construction and comprising a clamp and a shank, the clamp at least partially surrounding a base of the shank;

wherein;

the coupling is adjustable between;

a disassembled position in which the inner and outer members are separated from each other, and

an assembled position in which the shank of the outer member is retained in the bore of the inner member and at least a portion of the inner member'"'"'s bulge is located between the shank and the clamp.

10. An irrigation pipe coupling in combination with a lay flat irrigation pipe, the irrigation pipe coupling comprising:

an inner member comprising a bulge and a bore, the bore being formed about an axis in the inner member, and the bulge at least partially surrounding the axis; and

an outer member comprising a clamp and a shank, the clamp at least partially surrounding a base of the shank;

wherein;

the coupling is adjustable between;

a disassembled position in which the inner and outer members are separated from each other, and

an assembled position in which the shank of the outer member is retained in the bore of the inner member and at least a portion of the inner member'"'"'s bulge is located between the shank and the clamp; and

wherein the coupling is in the assembled position and the inner member is attached to a wall of the pipe.

11. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein an imaginary plane perpendicular to the axis passes through the bulge and the clamp.

12. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein when the pipe is not under internal fluid pressure the imaginary plane passes through a gap between the bulge and the clamp.

13. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein when the pipe is under a given internal fluid pressure at least a portion of the bulge abuts the clamp.

14. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein the bulge projects a distance smaller than 5 mm out of the pipe.

15. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein the shank is threadingly retained in the bore.

16. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein the inner member is bonded to the wall.

17. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein the inner member is formed from polyolefin material.