# US 5,707,088 A · Joint for coupling plastic corrugated pipes

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- Number: US 5,707,088 A
- Document ID: US5707088A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/520,310
- Filed: 1995-08-28
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-08-28
- Assignees: Contech Construction Products Inc.
- Inventors: Lyle Eugene Miller; James William Shade
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707088A

## CPC

- F16L 25/0045: {of the quick-acting type}
- F16L 21/08: with additional locking means (F16L21/06 takes precedence; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00)
- Y10S 285/903: Corrugated
- Y10T 29/49872: Confining elastic part in socket
- Y10T 29/49885: with coating before or during assembling
- Y10T 29/49995: Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
- Y10T 29/5367: Coupling to conduit
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A joint for coupling corrugated or ribbed pipe segments, including helical ribbed pipe segments, end-to-end includes a segment of corrugated or ribbed pipe having a plurality of corrugations or ribs spaced axially along the segment's outer surface, a spigot portion at an end of the segment where the corrugations or ribs have been partially removed to form annular bosses, an annular gasket positioned in the spigot portion, and a cylindrical coupling positioned over the spigot portion and gasket. The outer diameter of the coupling is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the corrugations or ribs, and the inner diameter of the coupling is larger than the outer diameter of the bosses such that a gap is formed between the coupling and the spigot portion. The gasket is sized to have a radial thickness slightly larger than the gap such that the gasket forms an air-tight seal between the spigot portion and the coupling when the spigot portion and gasket are inserted into the coupling. The gasket includes annular ribs extending from its outer circumference which are tapered at their leading edge to facilitate insertion of the spigot portion into the coupling, and are barb-shaped to resist separation of the spigot portion from the coupling once the joint is assembled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A joint for coupling segments of pipe having pluralities of spaced annular protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, in an end-to-end fashion, the joint comprising:
two segments of the pipe having an outer surface of a first diameter, and a plurality of substantially annular protrusions spaced axially therealong, said protrusions having outer surfaces of a second diameter;
each of said segments having a spigot portion at an end thereof, wherein said protrusions are partially removed to form annular bosses having outer surfaces of a third diameter, less than said second diameter;
a cylindrical coupling having an outer surface of a diameter substantially equal to said second diameter and including axially opposed openings for receiving said spigot portions, said openings having an inner surface of a diameter greater than said third diameter, said spigot portions being positioned within said openings, wherein an annular gap is formed between said inner surface of said opening and said annular bosses of said spigot portions; and
at least two substantially annular gaskets of elastomeric material, each of said gaskets positioned on a respective one of said spigot portions and having a portion positioned in said gap, and each of said gaskets abut said inner surface of said opening such that said gasket forms a substantially air-tight seal between said spigot portion and said coupling and wherein said gasket resists separation of said spigot portion from said coupling;
wherein each of said gaskets include an annular groove shaped to receive a selected one of said annular bosses on said spigot portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1 wherein each of said gaskets are shaped to fit between first and second ones of said annular bosses.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1 wherein said coupling includes an annular stop extending radially inwardly from said coupling inner surface of said openings and each of said segment ends abuts said annular stop.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1 wherein said segments and said coupling are formed from a plastic material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The joint of claim 4 wherein said plastic material is high-density polyethylene.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1 wherein said gasket has a first portion in said gap and a second portion extending radially between said segment outer surface and said coupling inner surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The joint of claim 6 wherein said second portion of said gasket has, prior to assembly of the joint, a radial thickness greater than a radial distance between said segment outer surface and said coupling inner surface; and said second portion of said gasket deforms to fit radially between said segment outer surface and said coupling inner surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The joint of claim 7 wherein said second portion of said gasket includes an annular barb-shaped rib extending about an outer periphery thereof; and said rib deforms to fit radially between said segment outer surface and said coupling inner surface.

### Claim 9

A joint for coupling segments of pipe having pluralities of spaced annular protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, in an end-to-end fashion, comprising:
a segment of the pipe having an outer surface of a first diameter, and a plurality of substantially annular protrusions spaced axially therealong, said protrusions having outer surfaces of a second diameter;
said segment having a spigot portion at an end thereof, wherein said protrusions are partially removed to form annular bosses having outer surfaces of a third diameter, less than said second diameter;
a cylindrical coupling having an inner surface of a diameter greater than said third diameter and having an outer surface of a diameter substantially equal to said second diameter, said coupling being positioned over said spigot portion wherein an annular gap is formed between said coupling inner surface and said annular bosses of said spigot portion; and
a substantially annular gasket of elastomeric material positioned on said spigot portion, said gasket having a portion positioned in said gap, and said gasket abuts said coupling inner surface such that said gasket forms an air-tight seal between said spigot portion and said coupling and such that said gasket retains said spigot portion within said coupling;
said gasket being shaped to fit between first and second ones of said annular bosses and said gasket includes a radially inner annular groove shaped to receive a third one of said annular bosses, said third annular boss being positioned axially between said first and second annular bosses.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The joint of claim 9 wherein said gasket includes opposing axial ends and said gasket is shaped such that said axial ends abut said first and second annular bosses so that said gasket is prevented from displacing axially relative to said spigot portion by said abutment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The joint of claim 10 wherein said gasket includes an annular rib extending about an outer periphery thereof, abutting said coupling inner surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The joint of claim 11 wherein said annular rib of said gasket is barb-shaped to resist axial movement of said spigot portion out of said coupling once inserted.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The joint of claim 12 wherein said annular rib of said gasket has a tapered leading edge to facilitate insertion of said spigot portion within said coupling.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The joint of claim 13 wherein said gasket includes a plurality of said annular ribs.

### Claim 15

A joint for end-to-end coupling of pipe segments used for lining sewer pipes or casings comprising:
a segment of pipe having an outer surface of a first diameter, and a plurality of substantially annular protrusions spaced axially therealong, said protrusions having outer surfaces of a second diameter;
said segment including a spigot portion at an end thereof, wherein said protrusions have been partially removed to form annular bosses having outer surfaces of a third diameter, less than said second diameter;
a cylindrical coupling having an inner surface of a diameter greater than said third diameter and an outer surface of a diameter substantially equal to said second diameter, said coupling being positioned over said spigot portion wherein a first annular gap is formed between said coupling inner surface and said spigot portion; and
a substantially annular gasket of elastomeric material having a axial ends, a radially inner annular groove, and a barb-shaped annular rib extending about an outer radial surface of said gasket;
said gasket being positioned on said spigot portion and being fitted between first and second selected annular bosses, such that said gasket ends respectively abut said first and said second annular bosses;
said annular groove receives a third selected annular boss positioned between said first and second bosses, such that said gasket is prevented from sliding relative to said spigot portion; and
said rib gives said gasket a radial thickness greater than a radial distance between said coupling inner surface and said segment outer surface, such that said gasket forms an air-tight seal between said spigot portion and said coupling and resists separation of said spigot portion from said coupling.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The joint of claim 15 wherein said gaskets have a plurality of said annular ribs; and said plurality of annular ribs have tapered leading edges to facilitate insertion of said spigot portions within said openings.