IP Library Granted Patent US 9,297,482
Granted Patent B2
US 9,297,482 · App. 14/677,507 · Granted Mar 29, 2016

Slip on groove coupling with multiple sealing gasket

Inventors: Peter Joseph Vandal (Providence, RI); Douglas Compton (Headland, AL)
Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
F16L21/02B23P19/04F16J15/022F16L17/04F16L21/03F16L21/06F16L21/065Y10T29/49826Y10T29/49872Y10T137/0447
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,297,482
App. No.
14/677,507
Granted
Mar 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Couplings and gaskets are disclosed. Couplings may include 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, the gasket including two primary seals and a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals.

Claims (38)

1. A coupling for joining a first pipe and a second pipe, the coupling comprising:

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 and having a concave outer diameter, the gasket including

two primary seals, each primary seal formed on an outer edge of the gasket,

a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the rib having a sealing surface,

the gasket slideable over the first pipe end such that at least a portion of the first pipe extends axially beyond each edge of the gasket, a first primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the first pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end, and a second primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the second pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end.

2. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe and the second pipe.

3. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

4. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on a radially inner surface of each primary seal.

5. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the inner surfaces of each of the upper housing and the lower housing adjacent to where the upper housing and the lower housing meet include chamfered sections.

6. The coupling of claim 1 , further comprising one or more spacers to separate the upper housing from the lower housing.

7. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.

8. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the primary seals have interior ends that angle toward an outer surface of the gasket.

9. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the corners of an outer surface of the gasket are concave.

10. The coupling of claim 1 , further comprising at least one continuous slot around an outer surface of the gasket.

11. The coupling of claim 1 , further comprising at least one retaining device, wherein each retaining device is a single wire surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing.

12. The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the lower housing and the at least one fastening device is a single unit coupled to the upper housing.

13. A gasket for sealing a first pipe and a second pipe, the gasket comprising:

a concave outer diameter;

two primary seals, each primary seal formed on an outer edge of the gasket;

a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the rib having a sealing surface defining a first axially outer edge, a second axially outer edge, and a cylindrical section facing radially inward, the cylindrical section being cylindrical when the gasket is in an uncompressed condition, the cylindrical section defined between the first axially outer edge and the second axially outer edge;

the gasket slideable over the first pipe end such that at least a portion of the first pipe extends axially beyond each edge of the gasket, a first primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the first pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end, and a second primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the second pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end.

14. The gasket of claim 13 , wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe and the second pipe.

15. The gasket of claim 13 , wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension shaped to grab the end of the first pipe as the gasket slides over the end of the first pipe.

16. The gasket of claim 13 , wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on a radially inner surface of each primary seal.

17. The gasket of claim 13 , wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends which angle toward an outer surface of the gasket.

18. The gasket of claim 13 , further comprising an outer surface having concave corners.

19. The gasket of claim 13 , further comprising at least one slot in an outer surface of the gasket.

20. A gasket for sealing a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe and the second pipe having an outer diameter, the gasket comprising:

a concave outer diameter;

two primary seals, each primary seal formed on an outer edge of the gasket;

a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the rib having a sealing surface; and

an innermost diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe and the second pipe.

21. The gasket of claim 20 , wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

22. The gasket of claim 20 , wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on a radially inner surface of each primary seal.

23. The gasket of claim 20 , wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.

Assignments (19)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2024
From: VANDAL, PETER J.; COMPTON, DOUGLAS C.
To: MUELLER TECHNOLOGIES LLP
Reel/Frame 068297/0099 →
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 →
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 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 →
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 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 →
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 →
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 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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2017
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ANVIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 040842/0438 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14019182 · Sep 5, 2013
Continuation 13554721 · Jul 20, 2012
Continuation 12490113 · Jun 23, 2009
Provisional Application 61133300 · Jun 30, 2008
Related Publication 20150211664A1 · Jul 30, 2015