US 2026/0201991 A1 · A PLUMBING CONNECTOR

Abstract

A pipe connector comprises a hollow body (1) with a tubular part to seal with an inner diameter of a pipe P. A collet (3) with axially extending through slots (34) is axially fixed to the body (1) and forms a cavity for the pipe P. A locking cap (4) is screwed A1 onto the collet to cause inward deflection of the collet onto the pipe and the pipe onto the tubular part to provide a seal. A transparent ring (5) is retained at the distal end of the collet (3), such that, when the locking cap (4) is locked and the pipe P is fully inserted, the pipe is visible through the through slots (34) and transparent ring. The locking cap (4) may not extend distally past the distal end of the cavity allowing the pipe P to be visible through the through slots (34) when the locking cap (4) is in the locked configuration. The locking cap (4) and hollow body (1) may have two pairs of stop faces (41,311, 43, 52) which engage when the locking cap reaches the locked configuration. A ring 5 may be retained on the collet by frangible elements (60) which break the when the locking cap goes beyond a fully locked position, but before it deforms the first screw thread. The locking cap (4) may have axial grooves (46) for receiving a tool which have a closed distal end, an open proximal end and a constant depth.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A pipe connector comprising:

a hollow body having a central throughway defining an axis, the body comprising a tubular part at at least one end, the tubular part having an outer face to seal, in use, with an inner diameter of a pipe placed over the tubular part:
a collet fitted over the tubular part of the body so as to be axially fixed with respect to the body and being spaced from the tubular part to form a cavity for the pipe, the inner face of the collet being configured to grip the pipe, in use, and the outer face of the collet having a first screw thread;
a locking cap having an inner face with a second screw thread which is complementary to the first screw thread, wherein screwing the locking cap onto the collet from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration causes inward deflection of the collet to press, in use, the collet onto the pipe and the pipe onto the tubular part to seal the interface between the body and the pipe;
wherein the collet has at least one axially extending through slot extending proximally from its distal end:
and
a transparent ring retained at the distal end of the collet, such that, when the locking cap is in the locked configuration and the pipe is fully inserted, the pipe is visible, in use, through the through slot and transparent ring.

3 more elements

A pipe connector comprising:

a hollow body having a central throughway defining an axis, the body comprising a tubular part at at least one end, the tubular part having an outer face to seal, in use, with an inner diameter of a pipe placed over the tubular part:
a collet fitted over the tubular part of the body so as to be axially fixed with respect to the body and being spaced from the tubular part to form a cavity for the pipe, the inner face of the collet being configured to grip the pipe, in use, and the outer face of the collet having a first screw thread;
and
a locking cap having an inner face with a second screw thread which is complementary to the first screw thread, wherein screwing the locking cap onto the collet from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration causes inward deflection of the collet to press, in use, the collet onto the pipe and the pipe onto the tubular part to seal the interface between the body and the pipe;
the locking cap having a first proximal stop face at a proximal end and a first distal stop face at a distal end,
complementary proximal and distal second stop faces are fixed with respect to the hollow body, wherein the first stop faces engage with the respective second stop faces when the locking cap reaches the locked configuration to prevent further movement of the locking cap onto the body.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

A plumbing connector

Life of this patent

A plumbing connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24