Pipe cap

1. A pipe cap comprising

a) a body;

b) a close-ended bore defined by the body, the close-ended bore comprising an internal surface and being sized and dimensioned to accept and rigidly retain an end of a pipe section for which the pipe cap is to be used;

c) an end connector comprising an axially facing interior surface and a radially facing interior surface, the axially facing interior surface having a groove formed therein, wherein the bore extends out through the end connector;

d) a gasket well defined in the internal surface of the bore;

e) a gasket disposed within the gasket well for sealing the body to the end of the pipe section, such that fluids are prevented from flowing out the end of the pipe section via the bore in the body;

f) a gasket retaining ring disposed between the end connector and the gasket for retaining the gasket within the gasket well, the gasket retaining ring having a shoulder disposed within the groove of the end connector; and

g) a gripper washer disposed in the internal surface of the bore between the end connector and the gasket retaining ring;

wherein the shoulder of the gasket retaining ring prevents the gripper washer from contacting the radially facing interior surface of the end connector.

2. The pipe cap according to claim 1 , wherein the gasket comprises one or more O-rings.

3. The pipe cap according to claim 1 , further comprising a gripper washer well defined in the internal surface of the end connector.

4. The pipe cap according to claim 3 , wherein the gripper washer is retained within the gripper washer well.

5. The pipe cap according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper washer comprises a washer-like structure having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery comprising a plurality of gripping fingers which are bent inwardly.

6. A method of using a pipe cap, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the pipe cap according to claim 1 ; and

b) inserting one end of a pipe section into the close-ended bore through the end connector.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the gasket comprises one or more O-rings.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a gripper washer well defined in the internal surface of the end connector, the gripper washer being retained within the gripper washer well.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the gripper washer comprises a washer-like structure having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery comprising a plurality of gripping fingers which are bent inwardly.

10. The pipe cap of claim 1 , wherein the gasket retaining ring is formed from polyvinyl chloride.

11. The pipe cap of claim 1 , wherein the gasket retaining ring and the end connector are formed from a same material.

12. The pipe cap of claim 11 , wherein the gasket retaining ring and the end connector are formed from polyvinyl chloride.

13. A pipe cap comprising

a) a body;

b) a close-ended bore defined by the body, the close-ended bore comprising an internal surface and being sized and dimensioned to accept and rigidly retain an end of a pipe section for which the pipe cap is to be used;

c) an end connector comprising an axially facing interior surface and a radially facing interior surface, the axially facing interior surface having a groove formed therein, wherein the bore extends out through the end connector;

d) a gasket well defined in the internal surface of the bore;

e) a gasket disposed within the gasket well for sealing the body to the end of the pipe section, such that fluids are prevented from flowing out the end of the pipe section via the bore in the body;

f) a gasket retaining ring disposed between the end connector and the gasket for retaining the gasket within the gasket well, the gasket retaining ring having a shoulder disposed within the groove of the end connector; and

g) a gripper washer disposed in the internal surface of the bore, between the end connector and the gasket retaining ring;

wherein the shoulder of the gasket retaining ring prevents the gripper washer from contacting the radially facing interior surface of the end connector and the end connector and the gasket retaining ring are made from a same material.

14. A pipe cap comprising

a) a body;

b) a close-ended bore defined by the body, the close-ended bore comprising an internal surface and being sized and dimensioned to accept and rigidly retain an end of a pipe section for which the pipe cap is to be used;

c) an end connector comprising an axially facing interior surface and a radially facing interior surface, the axially facing interior surface having a groove formed therein, wherein the bore extends out through the end connector;

d) a gasket well defined in the internal surface of the bore;

e) a gasket disposed within the gasket well for sealing the body to the end of the pipe section, such that fluids are prevented from flowing out the end of the pipe section via the bore in the body;

f) a gasket retaining ring disposed between the end connector and the gasket for retaining the gasket within the gasket well, the gasket retaining ring having a shoulder disposed within the groove of the end connector; and

g) a gripper washer disposed in the internal surface of the bore, between the end connector and the gasket retaining ring;

wherein the shoulder of the gasket retaining ring prevents the gripper washer from contacting the radially facing interior surface of the end connector and the end connector and the gasket retaining ring are made from polyvinyl chloride.