Segmented Grip Ring For Plastic Pipe Joint Restraint Systems

A plastic pipe joint restraint system capable of both joining a female plastic pipe, having at least one belled end, to a mating male plastic pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the restraint system comprising:

• a restraint mechanism located within a groove provided in the belled pipe end adjacent an end opening thereof which allows movement of the mating male pipe relative to the belled end of the female pipe in a first longitudinal direction but which restrains movement in a second, opposite relative direction, the restraint mechanism comprising a single piece, ring shaped casing which has a circumferential interior region and a companion segmented grip ring which is contained within the circumferential interior region of the casing;
• wherein the segmented grip ring includes a plurality of hard, arc-shaped gripping elements, each of which has an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface having at least one row of gripping teeth;
• and wherein the hard, arc-shaped gripping elements have opposing end surfaces, each of which is separated by a gap, the gap being spanned by an elastomeric segment which acts as a flexible hinge region which supplies the restraint mechanism with both radial and axial spring action.