Flexible pipe saddle

A saddle device for use in tapping into a first pipe with a second pipe, comprising:

• (a) a fitting portion having an outer end and an inner end, said fitting portion having a passage extending between said outer and inner ends, said fitting portion outer end being adapted to receive said second pipe;
• (b) a coupling portion comprising an arcuate wall means that is integral to said fitting portion inner end, said wall means having an arcuate inner surface adapted to be located on the outside diameter of said first pipe, said passage extending through said inner surface, said wall means having circumferential edge portions located so that said fitting portion is between said circumferential edge portions, said circumferential edge portions being arcuate and being adapted to fit around part of the circumference of said first pipe, said circumferential edge portions being adapted to receive means for retaining said saddle device onto said first pipe;
• (c) said wall means having generally straight connecting edge portions extending between said circumferential edge portions, wherein said fitting portion is located between said connecting edge portions;
• (d) said saddle device being made of an elastomeric material so as to be flexible, wherein said coupling portion can be flexed so as to both increase or decrease the curvature of said inner surface from an unflexed configuration so that said saddle device can be fitted onto a variety of pipe sizes, said connecting edge portions having respective stiffening means extending between said circumferential edge portions, said stiffening means being made of a material that is stiffer than said elastomeric material so as to inhibit bowing of said connecting edge portions when the curvature of said inner surface is increased.

A saddle device for use in tapping into a first pipe with a second pipe, comprising:

• (a) a fitting portion having an outer end and an inner end, said fitting portion having a cylindrical passage for receiving an end portion of said second pipe, said cylindrical passage extending between said inner and outer ends, said outer end being adapted to receive means for retaining said second pipe in said fitting portion;
• (b) a coupling portion comprising an arcuate wall means that is integral to said fitting portion inner end, said wall means having a cylindrically curved inner surface, said passage extending through said inner surface, said wall means having circumferential edge portions located so that said fitting portion is between said circumferential edge portions, said circumferential edge portions being arcuate and being adapted to receive means for retaining said saddle device onto said first pipe, said circumferential edge portions being adapted to fit around part of the circumference of said first pipe;
• (c) said wall means having longitudinal edge portions extending between said circumferential edge portions, said longitudinal edge portions being adapted to extend in a generally longitudinal direction along said first pipe when said saddle device is located on said first pipe;
• (d) said saddle device being made of an elastomeric material so as to be flexible, wherein said coupling portion can be flexed so as to both increase or decrease the radius of said inner surface so that said saddle device can be fitted onto a variety of pipe sizes;
• (e) said longitudinal edge portions each having stiffening means extending between said circumferential edge portions, said stiffening means being made of a material that is stiffer than said elastomeric material so as to prevent flexing of said longitudinal edge portions when the radius of said inner surface is decreased;
• (f) each of said longitudinal edge portions comprises integral lip means projecting from said inner surface so as to contact said first pipe when said saddle device is installed on said first pipe.