Combination sealing member and pipe couplings

In combination, first and second pipe elements and a coupling for joining said pipe elements end to end, said first and second pipe elements each having circumferential grooves at opposite ends, each of said grooves having a floor, said coupling comprising:

• a plurality of segments, each having oppositely disposed ends, and a respective connection member positioned at each said end, a first end of each said segment being connected to a second end of another of said segments such that said segments surround a central space for receiving said pipe elements;
• a pair of arcuate projections positioned on opposite sides of and extending along each of said segments;
• an arcuate surface positioned on each of said projections, each said arcuate surface being engageable with said floor of said groove in one of said pipe elements;
• a channel positioned between said projections on each of said segments;
• a seal received within said channel, said seal comprising a backwall forming a ring, first and second sidewalls positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said ring, and a tongue attached to said backwall and extending circumferentially around said ring, said tongue being positioned between said first and second sidewalls and projecting substantially radially inwardly from said backwall to be positionable between said ends of said pipe elements, said tongue comprising a plurality of sections positioned in spaced apart relation around said ring, wherein a gap extending radially inwardly from said backwall is positioned between adjacent sections of said plurality of sections;
• wherein
• at least one of said connection members is adjustably tightenable for drawing each said arcuate surface into engagement with one of said floors upon tightening of said at least one connection member.