Snap-in tee connector

A connector for connecting an end of a first corrugated conduit with an arcuate side wall of a second corrugated conduit, which side wall has an aperture therein for receiving the connector, the second conduit having an interior surface defined in part by corrugation valleys and an exterior surface defined in part by corrugation peaks, the distance between the corrugation peaks and valleys being the corrugation depth, the connector comprising:

• a generally tubular sleeve having a cylindrical first end, a second end, and a bore extending longitudinally through the sleeve between the first and second ends such that fluids are able to flow through the connector;
• said first end having a periphery which has a size and shape to be recived in said aperture, said first end further having alternting generally arcuate recesses and generally arcuate protuberances extending peripherally therearound such that the first end conform substantially with the interior surface of the second conduit, each recess having an apex at its maximum longitudinal recession and each protuberance having an apex at its maximum longitudinal protrusion;
• a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous positioning projections which project radially outward from the periphery of said first end, each positioning projection having a face for engaging the corrugation peaks of the exterior surface of the second conduit, whereby the engagement of the projection faces and corrugation peaks of the second conduit orients and positions the generally arcuate recxesses and protuberances of the first end in substantial conformity with the interior surface of the second conduit, the projection faces being longitudinally displaced longitudinally by generally said corrugation depth from the apex of each of said generally arcuate protuberances, such that under rotational forces exerted on the connector in either direction,, the projections cam against the corrugation peaks causing an outward, axial force;
• a plurality of tab means which pass yieldingly through the aperture extending radially outward from the periphery of said first end wall for engaging the corrugation valleys of the interior surface of the second conduit, each tab means being disposed generally contiguous with the apex of one of said arcuate recesses, such that under rotational forces exerted on the connector in either direction, the tab means cam against the corrugation valleys causing an inward, axial force, whereby the relative disposition of the tab means and the projection faces enable the tab means and the projection faces to engage the corrugation peaks and valleys of the second conduit in a manner which substantially prohibits rotation of the connector relative to the second conduit by causing opposing axial forces;
• and
• said second end being shaped and sized for sliding, telescoping engagement with the end of the first conduit.

A junction comprising:

• a corrugated main having a generally circular aperture in an arcuate side wall thereof, the main having an interior surface defined in part by corrugation valleys and an exterior surface defined in part by corrugation peaks;
• a corrugated lateral having an exterior cross section which is dimensioned for being partially received in said aperture;
• and
• a connector comprising a generally tubular sleeve, the sleeve having a cylindrical first end and a second end, the first end having a circular periphery and being received in said circualr aperture, the sleeve having an internal bore in which the corrugated lateral is telescopically received from the second end, the first end of the sleeve terminating in alternating generally arcuate recesses and protuberances which conform generally with the interior surface of the corrugated main, each arcuate recess having an apex at its maximum longitudinal recession, the sleeve having at least one limiting projection projecting radially inward generally adjacent each of said protuberances for limiting the telescopical reception of the corrugated lateral in the internal bore, the limiting projections being further from the second end than apexes of the arcuate recesses such that the corrugated lateral extends from the second end to at least partially within the corrugated main whereby the corrugations of the lateral increase the compressive strength of the sleeve, the sleeve having a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous positioning projections projecting radially outward generally adjacent the arcuate recesses and protuberances which engage the corrugation peaks of the exterior surface of the main for orienting and positioning the arcuate recesses and protuberances such that they conform substantially with the interior surface of the main, a plurality of tab means which pass yieldingly through the aperture extending radially outward from adjacent the first end of the sleeve and engaging the corrugation valleys of the interior surface of the main for securing the connector with the main, and at least one detent extending radially inward from the sleeve and engaging the corrugations of the lateral for securing the connector with the lateral.