US 11,835,159 B2
Preassembled coupling having a seal
Philip Wayne Bancroft, Belvidere, NJ (US)
Assigned to VICTAULIC COMPANY, Easton, PA (US)
Filed by Victaulic Company, Easton, PA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,135.
Application 17/498,309 is a division of application No. 15/994,299, filed on May 31, 2018, granted, now 11,168,816, issued on Nov. 9, 2021.
Application 18/096,135 is a continuation of application No. 17/498,309, filed on Oct. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,739,867.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/514,229, filed on Jun. 2, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0167928 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 17/04 (2006.01); F16L 21/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 17/04 (2013.01) [F16L 21/065 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
first and second segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second shoulders located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said shoulders, each said shoulder comprising a first surface facing said central space and a second surface oriented at an angle with respect to said first surface, said first and second surfaces of said first shoulder meeting at a first cusp, said first and second surfaces of said second shoulder meeting at a second cusp;
a seal positioned within said central space, said seal comprising a ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof;
first and second attachment members positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments attaching said segments to one another, said attachment members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another; wherein
contact between said first cusp and said first lobe and said second cusp and said second lobe between said first and second attachment members on each said segment maintaining said first and second segments in spaced relation sufficient to permit insertion of said pipe elements into said central space, said ring being closer to said back surface at points proximate to said first and second attachment members than at points on said segments between and distal to said first and second attachment members.