Pipe lap joint with bridged slot

In a coupling for a pipe lap joint of the type comprising:

• an inside pipe and an outside pipe in telescoping relationship to provide an overlap region on the end of each pipe, said overlap region on the outside pipe defining a slot, said slot extending through the end of said outside pipe, a clamping band disposed around said outside pipe and covering said slot, tightening means for clamping said band around said outside pipe to clamp the pipes together and collapse the overlap region of said outside pipe into close fitting engagement with said inside pipe to cause sealing engagement of said outside pipe with said inside pipe and with said band, the improvement wherein:
• said slot has first and second sidewalls extending in the general direction of the axis of said outside pipe to an end-wall,
• said slot has a bridge extending between said sidewalls and dividing said slot into an outboard slot segment extending from said bridge to the end of said outer pipe and an inboard slot segment extending from said bridge to said end wall,
• said bridge having an axial dimension which is substantially smaller than the axial length of either said outboard slot segment or said inboard slot segment whereby said bridge is deformed when the overlap region of said outside pipe is collapsed into close fitting engagement with said inside pipe by clamping said band around said outside pipe.