Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RIGID SELF-SEALING PIPE CLAMP SYSTEM AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the
present
invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided
herein is prior art, or
material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any
publication or
document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of pipe fittings and more
specifically
relates to a rigid self-sealing pipe clamp.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
A pipe fitting is a very short length of pipe or tube, with a socket at one or
both ends that
allows two pipes or tubes to be joined, welded (steel), brazed or soldered
(copper, brass etc.)
together. A fitting is used in pipe systems to connect straight pipe or tubing
sections, adapt to
different sizes or shapes and for other purposes, such as regulating (or
measuring) fluid flow.
Fittings allow the conveyance of water, gas, or liquid waste in domestic or
commercial
environments, and also are used for the conveyance of fluids in specialized
applications (such
as high-pressure, high-flow, high-temperature or hazardous-material). Fittings
are also used
for lighter-weight piping, especially those flexible enough to be supplied in
coiled form.
Fittings require investment in material, time, and tools to install, and are
an important part of
piping and plumbing systems. Nonetheless, many commercial fittings are not
suitable for
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heavy-duty or long-term installations. Fittings may deteriorate over time,
succumb to internal
or external stresses, or be installed improperly and thereby fail. The failure
of pipe fittings
can cause catastrophic damages of property and demand significant time and
expense for
repairs. Therefore, there is a need for fittings which are both reliable over
time and simple to
install. A suitable solution is desired.
Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as
those found
in U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,293 to Wolf and Ross, and U.S. Pat No. 4,693,482 to
Daigle et al.
This art is representative of pipe fittings. However, none of the above
inventions and patents,
taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as
claimed.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known pipe fitting art,
the present
invention provides a novel rigid self-sealing pipe clamp. The general purpose
of the present
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to
provide a fluid
connection which is both reliable over time and simple to install.
A rigid self-sealing pip clamp is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment,
combining a
left-side coupler shell (defined by an upper clamping shelf, a lower clamping
shelf, a
cylindrical pipe-clamping body, at least two 0-ring receiving channels, an
upper shelf seal-
receiving channel, a lower shelf seal-receiving channel, at least one
alignment ridge, at least
one alignment ridge receiving channel, at least four bolt-receiving apertures,
all being in
function and structural combination), a right side coupler shell (defined by
an upper clamping
shelf, a lower clamping shelf, a cylindrical pipe-clamping body, at least two
0-ring receiving
channels, an upper shelf seal-receiving channel, a lower shelf seal-receiving
channel, at least
one alignment ridge, at least one alignment ridge receiving channel, and at
least four bolt-
receiving apertures, all being in structural and functional combination), at
least two 0-rings,
at least two shelf seals, at least four bolts, and at least four nuts.
The left-side coupler shell is attachable to the right-side coupler shell,
with the 0-ring
receiving channels of the left-side coupler and the 0-ring receiving channels
of the right-side
coupler being structured to receive the 0-rings. The upper shelf-receiving
channel of the left-
side coupler, the lower shelf-receiving channel of the left-side coupler, the
upper shelf-
receiving channel of the right-side coupler, and the lower shelf-receiving
channel of the right-
side coupler are structured to receive the shelf seals. The bolt-receiving
apertures of the left-
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side coupler and the bolt-receiving apertures of the right-side coupler the
structured to receive
the bolts and nuts.
The left-side coupler shell, right-side coupler shell, and at least two 0-
rings are each
concentric to the first pipe end and the second pipe end when assembled. The
left-side
coupler shell and the right-side coupler shell are symmetrical in function,
and are assembled
in mirror image to each other, surrounding the first pipe end and the second
pipe end. The 0-
rings prevent fluid leakage around the two mated pipe ends, and the two shelf
seals prevent
fluid leakage between the upper clamping shelf of the left-side coupler shell
and the upper
clamping shelf of the right-side coupler shell, and likewise for the
respective lower clamping
shelves.
When assembled, the left-side coupler shell and the right-side coupler shell
are compressed
against the first pipe end, the second pipe end, and each other when the bolts
are threaded
into the four nuts. In this way, the first pipe end and the second pipe end
are held together by
the compression of the left-side coupler shell and the right-side coupler
shell.
The left-side coupler shell and the right-side coupler shell are aligned on an
axis parallel with
the first pipe end and the second pipe end by engagement of the one at least
one alignment
ridges with the opposing at least one alignment ridge-receiving channels on
both the upper
and lower shelves of the two coupler shells. This pair of at least one
alignment engagements
ensures consistent and complete seal of both shelf seals.
The left-side coupler shell, right-side coupler shell, 0-rings, and shelf
seals form a sealed
inner volume for communicating a flow of water when assembled around the two
pipe ends.
The left-side coupler shell and the right-side coupler shell each comprise a
semi-cylindrical
sleeve encompassing 1800 of rotation, including a raised boss at each end of
each coupler
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shell, each including one of the 0-ring receiving channels, which are grooves
recessed into an
inner face of each coupler shell. Together the coupler shells form a resilient
annular channel
forming a clinched engagement embracing the two pipe ends.
For each coupler shell, the upper and lower clamping shelves are integrally
and resiliently
attached to the cylindrical pipe-clamping body. This structure causes the
cylindrical body to
be placed under tension around the pipe ends when the upper and lower shelves
are
compressed against the shelves of the opposite coupler shell body.
The alignment ridge of the left-side coupler shell the at least one alignment
ridge of the right-
side coupler shell each engage the alignment ridge-receiving channels of the
opposite coupler
shells, thereby providing significant structural support and maintaining a
proper at least one
alignment of the two pipe ends necessary for promoting a fluid-communicating
seal over
time.
The left-side coupler shell and the right-side coupler shell are structured
and arranged to
receive, mate, and retain two opposing pipe ends, through the compression of
the two coupler
shells by application of the bolts and nuts. The 0-rings and the shelf seals
are engaged and
retained by the coupler shells against the pipe ends to form the sealed inner
volume. The 0-
rings and the coupler shells are arranged in functional combination to form a
water-tight
interior, thereby sealing the fluid contents of both pipe ends.
According to another embodiment, a method for using the rigid self-sealing
pipe clamp is
also disclosed herein. The method for providing the rigid self-sealing pipe
clamp includes the
steps of: placing the first pipe end and the second pipe end inside the left-
side coupler shell
and the right-side coupler shell, aligning the left-side coupler shell and the
right-side coupler
shell; inserting the four bolts into the four bolt-receiving apertures in the
left-side coupler
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shell and the right-side coupler shell; and compressing the left-side coupler
shell and the
right-side coupler shell around the first pipe end and the second pipe end by
threading the
four bolts into the four nuts.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a rigid
self-sealing pipe
coupler shell. Preferably, a pipe fitting should provide a fluid connection
which is both
reliable over time and simple to install and, yet would operate reliably and
be manufactured
at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable rigid self-sealing
pipe clamp to avoid
the above-mentioned problems.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and
novel features of
the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not
necessarily all such
advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of
the
invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that
achieves or
optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without
necessarily
achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features
of the
invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and
distinctly claimed in
the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features,
aspects, and advantages
of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the
following
drawings and detailed description.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification
illustrate embodiments
and method(s) of use for the present disclosure, rigid self-sealing pipe clamp
system,
constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present
disclosure.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a rigid self-sealing pipe clamp
system during an
'in-use' condition according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a disassembled the rigid self-
sealing pipe clamp
system comprising a rigid self-sealing pipe clamp assembly according to an
embodiment of
the present invention of the disclosure.
FIG. 3 is an end perspective illustrating the coupler shell according to an
embodiment of the
present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled rigid self-sealing
pipe clamp
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the rigid self-
sealing pipe clamp
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described
in
conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like
elements.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As disclosed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a.pipe
fitting and more
particularly to a rigid self-sealing pipe clamp as used to provide a simpler
and more 'rugged'
(durable) pipe fitting.
Generally speaking, the rigid self-sealing pipe clamp is a two-piece injection
molded coupler
shell with seals which are useful for both joining and repairing pipes,
particularly storm water
and sanitary sewer pipes. Installation of this system is easier than other
conventional systems.
The present invention does not require any form of soldering or adhesive
application, and
provides a rigid structural support to prevent degradation of the coupling
over time. The
clamp also provides a positive at least one alignment of the pipes being
coupled or repaired to
prevent movement of the sealed pipes, promoting the longevity of the
connection under
stress.
The clamp comprises of two symmetrical coupler shells which are attached to
each other on
either side of the pipes being coupled or repaired using a series of bolts and
nuts which pass
through holes drilled in shelves extruded outwardly from the top and bottom of
each coupler
shell. The bolts are tightened, thereby tensioning the coupler shells, sealing
the watertight 0-
rings, and securely clamping the pipes within. Completed sealing of the clamp
is achieved by
additional seals lining the separable shelves on the top and bottom of the
coupler shells. At
least one alignment ridges on either coupler shell mate with channels in the
opposite coupler
shell, fixing the enclosed pipes in a parallel orientation. Concentric bosses
on the coupler
shells provide strength as well as house the 0-rings sealing the fluid
channel.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference there
is shown in
FIGS. 1-4, various views of rigid self-sealing pipe clamp system 100
comprising left-side
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coupler shell 120 including and defined by upper clamping shelf 121, lower
clamping shelf
122, cylindrical pipe-clamping body 123, at least two 0-ring receiving
channels 124, upper
shelf seal-receiving channel 125, lower shelf seal-receiving channel 126, at
least one
alignment ridge 127, at least one alignment ridge receiving channel 128, and
at least four
bolt-receiving apertures 129, upper clamping shelf 121, lower clamping shelf
122, cylindrical
pipe-clamping body 123, at least two 0-ring receiving channels 124, upper
shelf receiving
channel 125, said lower shelf receiving channel 126, at least one alignment
ridge 127, at least
one alignment ridge receiving channel 128, and at least four bolt receiving
apertures 129
being in functional and structural combination; right side coupler shell 130
including and
defined by upper clamping shelf 131, lower clamping shelf 132, cylindrical
pipe-clamping
body 133, at least two 0-ring receiving channels 134, upper shelf seal-
receiving channel 135,
lower shelf seal-receiving channel 136, at least one alignment ridge 137, at
least one
alignment ridge receiving channel 138, and at least four bolt-receiving
apertures 139, upper
clamping shelf 131, lower clamping shelf 132, cylindrical pipe-clamping body
133, at least
two 0-ring receiving channels 134, upper shelf receiving channel 135, lower
shelf receiving
channel 136, at least one alignment ridge 137, at least one alignment ridge
receiving channel
138, and at least four bolt receiving apertures 139 being in functional and
structural
combination; at least two 0-rings 112; at least two shelf seals 114; at least
four bolts 116; and
at least four nuts 118. Alternate fastening means may be used.
Left-side coupler 120 shell is attachable to right-side coupler shell 130. At
least two 0-ring
receiving channels 124 of left-side coupler 120 and at least two 0-ring
receiving channels
134 of right-side coupler 130 are structured to receive at least two 0-rings
112. At least one
upper shelf-receiving channel 125 of left-side coupler 120, at least one lower
shelf-receiving
channel 126 of left-side coupler 120, at least one upper shelf-receiving
channel 135 of right-
side coupler 130, and at least one lower shelf-receiving channel 136 of right-
side coupler 130
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are structured to receive at least two shelf seals 114. At least four bolt-
receiving apertures 129
of left-side coupler 120 and at least four bolt-receiving apertures 139 of
right-side coupler
130 are structured to receive at least four bolts 116 and at least four nuts
118.
Left-side coupler shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130 are structured
and arranged to
receive, mate, and retain first pipe end and second pipe end, left-side
coupler shell 120 and
right-side coupler shell 130 being compressible by application of at least
four bolts and at
least four nuts. At least two 0-rings and at least two shelf seals are engaged
and retained by
left-side coupler shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130 against first
pipe end and second
pipe end. At least two 0-rings, left-side coupler shell 120, and right-side
coupler shell 130 are
arranged in functional combination to form a water-tight interior, thereby
sealing the fluid
contents of first pipe end 142, second pipe end 144.
Left-side coupler shell 120, right-side coupler shell 130, and at least two 0-
rings 112 are
preferably assembled concentric to first pipe end 142 and second pipe end 144.
Left-side
coupler shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130 are symmetrical in
function, and are
assembled in mirror image to each other, surrounding first pipe 142 end and
second pipe end
144. At least two 0-rings 112 prevent fluid leakage around first pipe end 142
and second pipe
end 144.
At least two shelf seals 114 prevent fluid leakage between upper clamping
shelf 121 of left-
side coupler shell 120 and upper clamping shelf 131 of right-side coupler
shell 130, and
between lower clamping shelf 122 of left-side coupler shell 120 and lower
clamping shelf
132 of right-side coupler shell 130.
Left-side coupler shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130 are compressed
against first pipe
end 142, second pipe end 144, and each other when at least four bolts 116 are
threaded into at
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least four nuts 118. Other fasteners may be used. First pipe end 142 and
second pipe end 144
are held together by the compression of left-side coupler shell 120 and right-
side coupler
shell 130. Left-side coupler shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130 are
aligned on an axis
parallel with first pipe end 142 and second pipe end 144 by engagement of at
least one
alignment ridge 127 of left-side coupler shell 120 with at least one alignment
ridge receiving
channel 138 of right-side coupler shell 130, and by engagement of at least one
alignment
ridge 137 of right-side coupler shell 130 with at least one alignment ridge
receiving channel
128 of left-side coupler shell 120.
Upper shelf seal-receiving channel 125 of left side coupler shell 120 and
lower shelf seal-
receiving channel 126 of left side coupler shell 120 are parallel with at
least one alignment
ridge 127 of left-side coupler shell 120 and at least one alignment ridge
receiving channel
128 of left-side coupler shell 120 for the purpose of ensuring consistent and
complete seal of
at least two shelf seals 114.
Upper shelf seal-receiving channel 135 of right side coupler shell 130 and
lower shelf seal-
receiving channel 136 of right side coupler shell 130 are parallel with at
least one alignment
ridge 137 of right-side coupler shell 130 and at least one alignment ridge
receiving channel
138 of right-side coupler shell 130 for the purpose of ensuring consistent and
complete seal
of at least two shelf seals 114.
Left-side coupler shell 120, right-side coupler shell 130, at least two 0-
rings 112, and at least
two shelf seals 114 form a sealed inner volume for communicating a flow of
water (or other
fluid) when assembled about first pipe end 142 and second pipe end 144. Left-
side coupler
shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130 each comprise a semi-cylindrical
sleeve
encompassing 1800 of rotation, including a raised boss at each end of left-
side coupler shell
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120 and right-side coupler shell 130, each including one of at least two 0-
ring receiving
channels 124 and 134, each comprising a groove recessed into an inner face of
left-side
coupler shell 120 and right-side coupler shell 130. Left-side coupler shell
120 and right-side
coupler shell 130 together comprise a resilient annular channel forming a
clinched
engagement embracing first pipe end 142 and second pipe end 144.
Upper clamping shelf 121 of left-side coupler shell 120 and lower clamping
shelf 122 of left-
side coupler shell 120 are integrally and resiliently attached to cylindrical
pipe-clamping
body 123 of left-side coupler shell 120, cylindrical pipe-clamping body 123 of
left-side
coupler shell 120 being tensioned about first pipe end 142 and second pipe end
144 when
upper clamping shelf 121 of left-side coupler shell 120 and lower clamping
shelf 122 of left-
side coupler shell 120 are compressed against upper clamping shelf 131 of
right-side coupler
shell 130 shell and lower clamping shelf 132 of right-side coupler shell 130.
Upper clamping
shelf 131 of right-side coupler shell 130 and lower clamping shelf 132 of
right-side coupler
shell 130 are integrally and resiliently attached to cylindrical pipe-clamping
body 133 of
right-side coupler shell 130, cylindrical pipe-clamping body 133 of right-side
coupler shell
130 being tensioned about first pipe end 142 and second pipe end 144 when
upper clamping
shelf 131of right-side coupler shell 130 and the lower clamping shelf 132 of
right-side
coupler shell 130 are compressed against upper clamping shelf 121 of left-side
coupler shell
120 and lower clamping shelf 122 of left-side coupler shell 120.
At least one alignment ridge 127 of left-side coupler shell 120 and at least
one alignment
ridge 137 of right-side coupler shell 130 engage at least one alignment ridge-
receiving
channel 138 of right-side coupler shell 130 and at least one alignment-
receiving ridge 128 of
left-side coupler shell 120, thereby providing structural support and
maintaining a proper at
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least one alignment of first pipe end 142 relative to second pipe end 144
necessary to promote
a fluid-communicating seal over time.
The rigid self-sealing pipe clampsystem 100 may be sold as a kit comprising
the following
parts: at least two coupler shells; at least two 0-rings; at least two shelf
seals; at least four
bolts; at least four nuts; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit
has instructions such
that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the
invention (such that
the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner).
The rigid self-sealing pipe clamp system 100 may be manufactured and provided
for sale in a
wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon
reading this
specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances,
considering
such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences,
cost, structural
requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit
contents or
arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components,
customized parts,
different fastening combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be
sufficient.
Referring now to FIG. 5 showing a flow diagram 550 illustrating method of use
500 for rigid
self-sealing pipe clamp 100 according to an embodiment of the present
invention of FIGS. 1-
4. As shown, method of use 500 may comprise the steps of: step one 501,
placing a first pipe
end and a second pipe end inside the left-side coupler shell and the right-
side coupler shell;
step two 502, aligning the left-side coupler shell and the right-side coupler
shell; step three
503, inserting the four bolts into the apertures in the left-side coupler
shell and the right-side
coupler shell; and step four 504, compressing the left-side coupler shell and
the right-side
coupler shell around the first pipe end and the second pipe end by threading
the four bolts
into the four nuts.
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It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be
carried out in many
different orders according to user preference. The use of "step of' should not
be interpreted
as "step for", in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the
provisions of 35 U.S.C.
112 (f). Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under
appropriate
circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences,
marketing
preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological
advances, etc.,
other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders
within above-
mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or
excluding certain
maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous
modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to
achieve
substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced
within the spirit and
scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to
enable the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientist, engineers
and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms
or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical
disclosure of the application.
