IP Library Granted Patent US 8,615,865
Granted Patent B2
US 8,615,865 · App. 13/300,718 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Slip on groove coupling with multiple sealing gasket

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,615,865
App. No.
13/300,718
Granted
Dec 31, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, gaskets, and couplings for connecting two pipes are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of placing the assembled coupling over one end of a pipe, aligning the second pipe with the first pipe, sliding the coupling off the end of the first pipe so that a portion of the coupling is around each pipe, and securing the coupling.

Claims (58)

1. A method of coupling two pipes, comprising:

placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe, wherein the coupling comprises:

an upper housing;

a lower housing;

at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing; and

a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings, wherein the gasket is comprised of two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket, and at least two secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over the end of the first pipe so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket, and an outer surface of the gasket having concave corners;

aligning a second pipe with the first pipe;

sliding the coupling so that at least a portion of the coupling is around each pipe; and securing the coupling.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of placing an assembled coupling over the end of the first pipe is completed without disassembling the coupling.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the coupling is completed by tightening the fastening devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of aligning the coupling with a groove in each pipe.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastening device is selected from the group consisting of bolts, clips, snap-couplings, rivets, and ties.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the two pipes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the gasket is concave.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gripping extension is adapted to grab the end of the first pipe as the gasket slides over the end of the first pipe.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on the inner surface of the gasket.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of the upper housing and the lower housing is chamfered.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the chamfered sections are on the inner surface of each of the upper housing and the lower housing adjacent to where the upper housing and the lower housing meet.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer to separate the upper housing from the lower housing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one spacer are removable.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one spacer are permanent and compressible.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one spacer are springs.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary seals have interior ends that angle toward the outer surface of the gasket.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one slot in the outer surface of the gasket.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein there is one continuous slot around the circumference of the gasket.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein there are a plurality of slots around the circumference of the gasket.

22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one retaining device.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is lubricated.

24. A method of coupling two pipes, comprising:

placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe, wherein the coupling comprises:

an upper housing;

a lower housing;

at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing; and

a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings, wherein the gasket is comprised of two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket, and at least three secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over the end of the first pipe so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket;

aligning a second pipe with the first pipe;

sliding the coupling so that at least a portion of the coupling is around each pipe; and

securing the coupling.

25. A method of coupling two pipes, comprising:

placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe, wherein the coupling comprises:

an upper housing;

a lower housing;

at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing;

a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings, wherein the gasket is comprised of two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket, and at least two secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over the end of the first pipe so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket; and

a retaining device that includes a single wire surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing;

aligning a second pipe with the first pipe;

sliding the coupling so that at least a portion of the coupling is around each pipe; and

securing the coupling.

26. A method of coupling two pipes, comprising:

placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe, wherein the coupling comprises:

an upper housing;

a lower housing;

at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing; and

a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings, wherein the gasket is comprised of two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket, and at least two secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over the end of the first pipe so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket, wherein the lower housing and the at least one fastening device is one element coupled to the upper housing;

aligning a second pipe with the first pipe;

sliding the coupling so that at least a portion of the coupling is around each pipe; and

securing the coupling.

Assignments (23)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2024
From: MUELLER TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068297/0257 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 15, 2024
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 068654/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2024
From: VANDAL, PETER J.; COMPTON, DOUGLAS C.
To: MUELLER TECHNOLOGIES LLP
Reel/Frame 068297/0099 →
RELEASE (REEL 049312 / FRAME 0447) Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FLO-RITE PRODUCTS COMPANY LLC; FLO-RITE ENERGY SALES, LLC; ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 068284/0213 →
RELEASE (REEL 049352 / FRAME 0012) Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: FLO-RITE PRODUCTS COMPANY LLC; FLO-RITE ENERGY SALES, LLC; ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 068284/0113 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS, LLC; THE RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CO. INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068294/0382 →
RELEASE (REEL 049314 / FRAME 0619) Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FLO-RITE PRODUCTS COMPANY LLC; FLO-RITE ENERGY SALES, LLC; ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 068284/0226 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: KKR LOAN ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068264/0104 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 11, 2021
From: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056787/0792 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 3, 2019
From: FLO-RITE PRODUCTS COMPANY LLC; FLO-RITE ENERGY SALES, LLC; ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049352/0012 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded May 30, 2019
From: FLO-RITE PRODUCTS COMPANY LLC; FLO-RITE ENERGY SALES, LLC; ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049314/0619 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 049301/0700 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 049301/0723 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 29, 2019
From: FLO-RITE PRODUCTS COMPANY LLC; FLO-RITE ENERGY SALES, LLC; ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049312/0447 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2017
From: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044342/0847 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2017
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 043155/0755 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2017
From: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043402/0872 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 9, 2017
From: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 041300/0136 →
PARTIAL RELEASE (REEL 034502/FRAME 0219) Recorded Jan 6, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 041272/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 040871/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2017
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 040842/0438 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 2, 2014
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC, AS GRANTOR
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034502/0219 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034498/0272 →