Reducing fastener having flexible sleeves for connecting a coated conduit to a fitting

A fastener for connecting a first coated conduit to a second coated conduit, comprising:

• a bushing having a first end, a second end, internal threading extending between the first end and the second end, and external threading extending between the first end and the second end;
• and
• polymeric material coating and surrounding an external surface of the bushing including the external threading of the bushing, the polymeric material comprising:
• a central portion coating at least the first end of the bushing;
• a first flexible sleeve formed from the polymeric material extending from the central portion toward the second end of the bushing in a first direction and creating a cavity between an inner surface thereof and the polymeric material coating the external threading of the bushing;
• and
• a second flexible sleeve formed from the polymeric material extending from the central portion in a second direction, opposite the first direction,
• wherein the first flexible sleeve extends beyond the bushing and the external threading of the busing in the first direction, and
• wherein the external threading of the bushing and the polymeric material coating the external threading of the bushing are configured to be threaded into exposed threading of the first coated conduit such that the first flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the first coated conduit to form a sealed connection and the internal threading of the bushing is configured to be threaded onto exposed threading of the second coated conduit such that the second flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the second coated conduit to form a sealed connection.

A conduit system comprising:

• a coated conduit comprising a cylindrical body with a first end comprising exposed threading;
• and
• a fastener comprising:
• a bushing having a first end, a second end, internal threading extending between the first end and the second end, and external threading extending between the first end and the second end;
• and
• polymeric material coating and surrounding an external surface of the bushing, the polymeric material comprising:
• a central portion coating at least the first end of the bushing;
• a first flexible sleeve formed from the polymeric material extending from the central portion toward the second end of the bushing in a first direction and creating a cavity between an inner surface thereof and the external threading of the bushing;
• and
• a second flexible sleeve formed from the polymeric material extending from the central portion in a second direction, opposite the first direction,
• wherein the internal threading of the bushing is threaded onto the exposed threading of the coated conduit such that the second flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the coated conduit to form a sealed connection.

A method of connecting a coated conduit to a fitting comprising:

• providing a fastener comprising:
• a bushing having a first end, a second end, internal threading extending between the first end and the second end, and external threading extending between the first end and the second end;
• and
• polymeric material coating and surrounding an external surface of the bushing, the polymeric material comprising:
• a central portion coating at least the first end of the bushing;
• a first flexible sleeve formed from the polymeric material extending from the central portion toward the second end of the bushing in a first direction and creating a cavity between an inner surface thereof and the external threading of the bushing;
• and
• a second flexible sleeve formed from the polymeric material extending from the central portion in a second direction, opposite the first direction,
• threading the external threading of the bushing into exposed threading of the fitting such that the first flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the fitting to form a sealed connection;
• and
• threading the internal threading of the bushing onto exposed threading of the coated conduit such that the second flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the coated conduit to form a sealed connection.