Lateral connector for underground pipes

A method of forming a junction between a hub and sleeve assembly and a corrugated pipe, the corrugated pipe having a pipe wall including an inner pipe wall and an outer pipe wall, the outer pipe wall including a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys disposed between the plurality of peaks, the method comprising:

• inserting a sleeve of the hub and sleeve assembly through an opening of the pipe wall of the corrugated pipe to engage the inner pipe wall of the corrugated pipe with a portion of at least one pipe stop feature extending from the sleeve, the sleeve defined by a first end and a second end and an outer body extending therebetween;
• the outer body having a nominal thickness at a proximal portion and a second thickness at a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a region of increased thickness and including at least a transition region from the nominal thickness to the increased thickness, and wherein the at least one pipe stop feature of the sleeve is defined by an inner radial stop and an outer radial stop extending from an outer surface of the sleeve and an opening arranged between the inner radial stop and the outer radial stop, and wherein the step of engaging at least one stop pipe feature of the sleeve with the corrugated pipe includes receiving a portion of the inner pipe wall between the inner radial stop and the outer radial stop such that a radial inner surface of the opening of the at least one pipe stop feature is in direct abutment with the outer radial surface of the inner pipe wall and a gap extends longitudinally between at least one of the outer radial stop and the inner radial stop and the inner pipe wall of the corrugated pipe
• inserting a hub of the hub and sleeve assembly within the sleeve until a bottom edge of the hub engages with at least one hub stop feature extending from a bottom surface of the sleeve such that a portion of the hub is compressed against the region of increased thickness and laterally aligned with the portion of the sleeve that is engaged with the inner pipe wall, such that a compressive seal is formed between the corrugated pipe and the hub and sleeve assembly around an entire circumference of the hub and sleeve assembly, wherein the compressive seal is formed between the radial inner surface of the opening of the at least one pipe stop feature and the outer radial surface of the inner pipe wall;
• and
• inserting a second pipe into a flared portion of the hub.