Pipe joint

A pipe joint, comprising:

• a socket formed at an end of a pipe, the socket comprising:
• a lock ring accommodating groove formed on an inner circumference of the socket;
• and
• an opening portion on an end surface of the socket;
• an annular lock ring accommodated in the lock ring accommodating groove, the lock ring including a divided part in a circumferential direction, the lock ring being configured to elastically expand in diameter;
• a spigot formed at an end of another pipe, the spigot being inserted into the socket joining the pipes to each other, the spigot comprising a protrusion formed on an outer periphery thereof, the protrusion being allowed to pass through the lock ring when the lock ring is elastically expanded, the elastically expanded lock ring bring released after the protrusion is allowed to pass therethrough;
• and
• a spacer insertable into and removable out from the divided part of the lock ring, the spacer being configured to maintain the lock ring as being elastically expanded when the spacer is in the divided part, the spacer integrally comprising:
• a maintaining portion configured to maintain the lock ring as being elastically expanded, the maintaining portion being insertable into and removable out from a gap between two ends of the lock ring along the circumferential direction at the divided part, the maintaining portion being interposed between the two ends when the maintaining portion is inserted, the maintaining portion comprising insertion grooves on two side portions thereof, the insertion grooves being open at distal end portions of the maintaining portion;
• and
• a handle formed with the maintaining portion as a one-piece article, the handle extending from the maintaining portion that maintains the lock ring as being elastically expanded,
• wherein, when the maintaining portion is interposed between the two ends of the lock ring, the handle extends from the maintaining portion in a pipe axial direction through the opening portion of the end surface of the socket,
• wherein the spacer is removable from the gap between the two ends of the lock ring at the divided part after the spigot is inserted into the socket,
• wherein the spacer is passable through a space between an inner circumferential surface of the socket and an outer peripheral surface of the spigot in the pipe axial direction,
• wherein the spacer is collectable outside the socket through the opening portion on the end surface of the socket,
• wherein the two ends of the lock ring can be fitted into the insertion grooves when the maintaining portion is inserted into the gap between the two ends of the lock ring at the divided part, and
• wherein the maintaining portion is detachable in a removal direction from the two ends of the lock ring when the maintaining portion moves to be removed out from the gap between the two ends of the lock ring at the divided part.