# US 2018/0023742 A1 · Connectors For Sleeved Pipe Couplings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023742 A1 - Document ID: US20180023742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/546,564 - Filed: 2016-01-28 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-28 - Assignees: Acorn Intellectual Properties Limited - Applicants: Acorn Intellectual Properties Limited - Inventors: Alexander Wood; Jonathan Clackett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023742A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/14: Joints secured by inserting between mating surfaces an element, e.g. a piece of wire, a pin, a chain - F16L 37/148: {the securing element being flexible (F16L37/144 takes precedence)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract This invention relates to a connector (10) comprising an elongate main body (12) comprising a plurality of sub-units (14) interconnected by a support wire (30) located radially outwardly, in use, of the sub-units (14), wherein the sub-units (14) are shaped such that the connector can be bent to form a loop having an at least part-circular interior (24) or exterior (20) surface. The connector is suitable for use in a sleeved pipe coupling in which the connector (10) is slidably insertable into a channel formed by aligned circumferential grooves formed on an exterior surface of a pipe and an interior surface of a sleeve. The at least part-circular interior and/or exterior surface (20, 24) may aid the formation of a seal and/or aid distribution of forces between the pipe and sleeve, in use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector comprising an elongate main body comprising a plurality of interconnected sub-units, wherein the sub-units are shaped such that the connector can be bent to form a loop having an at least part-circular interior and/or exterior surface, the shape of at least some of the sub-units comprising a substantially annular sector prism, and wherein the sub-units are interconnected by bonding them to a support strip located radially outwardly, in use, of the sub-units. ### Claim at position 2 2-22. (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1 wherein individual sub-units are formed separately and bonded to the support strip. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1 wherein the bond comprises a weld. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the support strip comprises a support wire. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The connector of claim 25, wherein the support wire is located within a groove of the sub-units, which groove is located radially outwardly, in use, of the sub-units. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The connector of claim 25, wherein the support wire terminates in a T-shaped end piece. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the shape of at least some of the sub-units having the substantially annular sector prism shape comprise a substantially flat base wall and side walls tapering inwardly from the base wall to a concave upper wall. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The connector of claim 28, wherein the concave upper wall is part cylindrical such that, in use, it substantially matches a profile of a portion of a part of a cylindrical surface to which it abuts. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The connector of claim 28, wherein a taper angle is selected such that, when the connector is bent into a loop, the side walls meet and the concave upper wall portions of the sub-units abut edge-to-edge to form a substantially continuous, part-cylindrical surface. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the shape of at least some of the sub-units having a substantially annular sector prism shape comprise a convex base wall and side walls tapering inwardly from the base to a concave upper wall. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The connector of claim 30, wherein the concave upper wall is part cylindrical such that, in use, it substantially matches a profile of a portion of a part of a cylindrical surface to which it abuts. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The connector of claim 31, wherein the taper angle is selected such that, when the connector is bent into a loop, the side walls meet and the concave upper wall portions of the sub-units abut edge-to-edge to form a substantially continuous, part-cylindrical surface. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the main body is manufactured from stainless steel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, comprising a leading end and a trailing end formed by respective end blocks that are integrally formed with the sub-units, the leading end block being tapered such that when the connector is rolled up to form a loop, the leading end block seats on the trailing end block to form a complete circumference. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each sub-unit is square or rectangular. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of sub-units are integrally formed with adjacent sub-units and are interconnected by a thin web of material which is formed by notching a solid bar to leave a thin interconnecting web between adjacent sub-units thereby formed.