Grip ring

A joint assembly comprising:

• a nut defining an inner cavity defining a conical portion;
• a grip ring positioned inside the inner cavity of the nut and comprising:
• a ring body defining an inner surface facing radially inward;
• a first tooth extending from the inner surface of the ring body, the first tooth defining an end surface facing radially inward, a first side surface extending from the end surface and towards the inner surface, and a second side surface extending from the end surface and towards the inner surface;
• each of the first side surface and the second side surface being angled in cross section with respect to the end surface, an angle between the inner surface and the first side surface being acute, the first side surface defining an axially outermost side surface of the first tooth;
• and
• a second tooth extending from the inner surface of the ring body and positioned adjacent to and offset from the first tooth, the second tooth defining an end surface facing radially inward, a first side surface extending from the end surface of the second tooth, and a second side surface extending from the end surface of the second tooth;
• each of the first side surface of the second tooth and the second side surface of the second tooth being angled in cross section with respect to the end surface of the second tooth;
• and
• a gasket positioned axially adjacent to the grip ring inside the inner cavity of the nut, the gasket defining an inner surface facing radially inward, an outer surface facing radially outward and facing the inner surface of the nut, and an axial end surface facing the grip ring.

A method of connecting a pipe length to a piping element, the method comprising:

• sliding the pipe length through a nut, a gasket, and a grip ring;
• engaging the nut with the piping element, each of the gasket and the grip ring positioned between the pipe length and the piping element, the grip ring comprising:
• a ring body defining an inner surface facing radially inward;
• a first tooth extending from the inner surface of the ring body, the first tooth defining an end surface facing radially inward, a first side surface extending from the end surface and towards the inner surface, and a second side surface extending from the end surface and towards the inner surface;
• each of the first side surface and the second side surface being angled in cross section with respect to the end surface;
• and
• a second tooth extending from the inner surface of the ring body and positioned adjacent to and offset from the first tooth, the second tooth defining an end surface facing radially inward, a first side surface extending from the end surface of the second tooth, and a second side surface extending from the end surface of the second tooth;
• each of the first side surface of the second tooth and the second side surface of the second tooth being angled in cross section with respect to the end surface of the second tooth;
• wherein intersections of each of the first side surface and the second side surface of the first tooth with the end surface of the first tooth define sharp edges;
• and
• wherein the inner surface of the ring body of the grip ring comprises a first portion proximate to a first axial end of the grip ring, a second portion proximate to a second axial end of the grip ring, and a third portion defined in an axial position between the first tooth and the second tooth;
• each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion defining a common inner diameter with respect to an axis of the grip ring;
• and
• tightening the nut against the piping element, wherein tightening the nut comprises contacting the end surface of each of the first tooth and the second tooth of the grip ring with an outer surface of the pipe length.