Pipe coupling

A pipe coupling for receiving a plain end of a pipe, comprising:

• an annular gripper which is compressible so as to deform or move radially inwardly and into gripping engagement with the pipe;
• wherein the gripper comprises a radially outer carrier component comprising an array of circumferentially discontinuous interlinked members, the carrier component being configured to contract radially in response to a radially and/or axially compressive force applied to the pipe, a radially inner gripping component carried by the carrier component, an annular seal interlocking with the carrier component and/or the gripping component and being disposed, in use, between the carrier component and a radially outer surface of the pipe, the gripping component having a gripping surface and being arranged for axial movement relative to the carrier component, the gripping and carrier components being configured such that in use, in response to axial outwards movement of the pipe, the gripping component is moved radially inwardly and into tighter gripping contact with the pipe;
• wherein the interlinked members are interlinked by means of a tongue and groove connection between a groove on a first interlinked member and a tongue on an adjacent, second interlinked member, the opening of the groove which receives the tongue facing radially and not in alignment with a tangent of a circumferential plane of the carrier component and one of the tongue and the groove of each tongue and groove pair comprising a resiliently deformable arm, whereby to provide stability of the interlinked members in the absence of any additional support.