# US 8,540,429 B1 · Snap-on pipe guide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,429 B1 - Document ID: US8540429B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/658,939 - Filed: 2010-02-16 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-13 - Assignees: Seescan, Inc. - Applicants: Mark S. Olsson; Eric M. Chapman; Allen W. Tucker; Dawn E. Shaffer - Inventors: Mark S. Olsson; Eric M. Chapman; Allen W. Tucker; Dawn E. Shaffer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540429B1 ## CPC - G03B 37/005: {Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe, (G03B37/02 - G03B37/06 take precedence; instruments for performing medical examinations of cavities or tubes of the body by photographic inspection A61B1/00)} - F16L 57/06: against wear (F16L57/04 takes precedence) - G01N 21/954: Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores - G01N 2021/9542: {using a probe} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A pipe guide includes a pair of cylindrical shells each having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end. A pair of curved tab arms extend circumferentially about corresponding ones of the cylindrical shells. A pair of slide-locks are configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move them into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pipe guide, comprising: a pair of cylindrical shells, each shell having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and each shell having a structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end; a curved tab arms extending circumferentially about each of the cylindrical shells; and a pair of slide-locks configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move the tab arms into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein each of the slide-locks are deflected radially inwardly as the slide-locks are slid axially over their corresponding tab arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein the vanes each have tapered frontal edges. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein at least one vane on each shell has a first recess for receiving one of said tab arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein the vanes have skids on their outer ends for engaging an interior wall of a pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein the tab arms and slide-locks have corresponding cooperating projections and detents that couple together with a snapping action. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein the keys are wedge-shaped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein the keys extend radially through corresponding openings in the shells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein each tab arm has a pair of upstanding tabs that slide on opposite sides of a corresponding vane of a shell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pipe guide of claim 1 wherein the slide-locks each have a pair of parallel upstanding flanges that slide over opposite sides of a corresponding vane of a shell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein each of the cylindrical shells includes: a lock tongue; and a catch for receiving the lock tongue of the other of the pair of shells to lock the shells together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The guide of claim 11, wherein the lock tongue includes an outwardly projecting barb to secure the lock tongue to a corresponding catch on the other of the pair of shells. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the slide locks include one or more upstanding flanges for sliding over one or more sides of a vane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1, wherein the tab arms include one or more tabs to lock or unlock. ### Claim 15 A pipe guide, comprising: a pair of cylindrical shells each having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes, at least one axially extending lock tongue, and at least one circumferentially extending catch, each of the lock tongues being configured to be received by the corresponding one of the catches as the shells are axially mated end-to-end; a pair of curved tab arms that are received in a first set of recesses formed in corresponding ones of the vanes and extend circumferentially relative to the cylindrical shells; and a pair of slide-locks that are received in a second set of recesses formed in corresponding ones of the vanes wherein the pair of slide-locks are configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move the tab arms into a locking position in which keys on the tabs extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein each of the slide-locks are deflected radially inwardly as the slide-locks are slid axially over their corresponding tab arms. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein the vanes each have tapered frontal edges. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein the vanes adjacent the second set of recesses have slots formed therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein the vanes have skids on their outer ends for engaging an interior wall of a pipe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein the tab arms and slide-locks have cooperating projections and detents that snap together. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein the keys extend radially through corresponding openings in the shells. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein the slide-locks each have a pair of parallel upstanding flanges that slide over opposite sides of a corresponding vane of a shell. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The pipe guide of claim 15 wherein each tab arm is formed with a pair of parallel upstanding tabs that slide over opposite sides of a corresponding vane of a shell. ### Claim 24 A guide, comprising: a pair of cylindrical shells, each shell having a tongue and a catch to secure a tongue of the other cylindrical shell; a plurality of vanes extending radially from each of the shells; at least one curved slide arm mounted on each of the shells and having a interior-facing key portion that is movable radially inwardly to a locked position to anchor each of the shells to a coil spring; and a circumferentially movable slide lock to slide over the curved slide arm in a first direction to position the key portion of the curved slide arm in said locked position and slide over the slide arm in a second direction opposite the first direction to release the shells from the coil spring. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The guide of claim 24, wherein the key portion comprises a wedge-shaped key.