Importance

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Abstract

A coupler for connecting a pair of plastic pipes aligned end-to-end includes a rigid plastic sleeve having a center portion and two end portions. An internal passage longitudinally extends through the sleeve and is sized for receiving ends of the pipes. The center portion has a pair of spaced apart annular sealing grooves located within the internal passage. Each of the end portions has circumferentially spaced apart slits longitudinally extending from an end of the sleeve and forming a plurality of elements deflectable toward and away from the pipes. An annular flexing groove is located within the internal passage and near an inner end of the slits for increasing the flexibility of the elements. Each of the end portions also has an annular locking groove located within the internal passage and on the elements. O-rings are located within the sealing grooves for encircling the pipes and forming seals between the sleeve and the pipes. Split metal locking rings are located within the locking grooves for encircling the pipes and locking the pipes in the sleeve when the locking rings are in engagement with the pipes. Band clamps encircle the elements of the sleeve radially outward of the locking rings for deflecting the elements toward the pipes to engage the locking rings with the pipes. Preferably the end portions of the sleeve also have an annular forming groove located within the internal passage and between the locking groove and the respective end of the sleeve. O-rings are located within the forming groove for encircling the pipes and rounding the ends of the pipes.

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First Claim