Split gland

A split gland comprising:

• a pair of separate unconnected essentially mirror image half glands, said pair fittable together about a mutual axis of rotation, each of said half glands comprising a threaded portion, a shoulder, a wrench engaging head portion a slot, and a concave inner surface along said mutual axis of rotation, said half glands being held together by a spring clip having a circumferential extent greater than 180 degrees disposed about said shoulders and being maintained essentially fixedly juxtaposed to one another with substantial thread alignment by a retainer fitted into said slot in each of said half glands wherein said spring clip allows said half glands to be spread sufficiently to allow said gland to be slipped laterally over tubing and wherein each said concave inner surface is defined by a wall portion and together engage the tubing and define a teardrop shape with the narrow portion being located at the area which passes laterally over the tubing so that upon removal of said gland from the tubing said teardrop shape inner surface promotes spreading of the gland.