Pipe seal and pipe joint

1. A gasket for positioning in an annular pocket bounded by a portion of the inner surface of a socket at one end portion of a first pipe and between the inner surface of the socket and a portion of the outer surface of a second pipe extending through a socket opening at said one end of the first pipe and into the socket, and wherein the first pipe has a first pipe interior, the gasket comprising:

a body comprised of an elastomeric material for positioning in the pocket;

an insert reinforcement comprising a polymeric material positioned within the body and extending along the length of the body;

the body comprising opposed front and rear end portions, the front end portion having a front end and facing the socket opening when the body is in the pocket, the body also comprising a central portion between the front and rear end portions, the central portion comprising first and second opposed central surface portions, the first central surface portion being positioned to face the inner surface when the body is in the pocket and the second central surface portion being sized and positioned to engage the outer surface of the second pipe when the body is in the pocket and second pipe is in the socket;

wherein the rear end portion comprises first and second fin portions, the first fin portion extending rearwardly from the central body portion and comprising an outer first fin surface positioned to engage the inner surface of the socket when the body is in the pocket, the second fin portion extending rearwardly from the central body portion and comprising a second fin inner surface positioned to engage the outer surface of the second pipe when the second pipe is in the socket, the second fin portion also extending inwardly into the first pipe interior to a greater extent than the second central surface portion at least when the second fin inner surface is not engaging the outer surface of the second pipe; and

wherein the gasket has a center between the front end of the body and the distal end of the first fin portion and wherein a portion of the insert reinforcement is positioned rearwardly of the center of the gasket.

2. A gasket according to claim 1 comprising a V-shaped recess between the first and second fin portions.

3. A gasket according to claim 2 wherein the angle between the first and second fin portions is about ninety degrees.

4. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fin portions intersect at a central location of the rear end portion of the body, the gasket comprising a recess extending into the body at the intersection of the first and second fin portions.

5. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the second fin portion is longer than the first fin portion.

6. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the front end portion is rounded.

7. A gasket according to claim 6 wherein the front end portion comprises an arcuate nose portion located nearer to the second central surface portion than to the first central surface portion.

8. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is annular with first and second ends that are joined together.

9. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the first fin surface is aligned with the first central surface portion.

10. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fin portions each have a proximate end adjacent to and coupled to the central body portion and a distal end spaced from the central body portion, each of the fin portions tapering in a direction away from their proximate end and toward their distal end.

11. A gasket according to claim 10 wherein the distal ends of the fin portions are rounded.

12. A gasket according to claim 10 wherein the second fin portion is longer than the first fin portion.

13. A gasket comprising:

an elongated body comprising an elastomeric material;

an insert strip positioned within the body and extending along the length of the body;

the body comprising a rounded front body end portion, a central body portion with opposed inner and outer central body surfaces, and a rear body end portion consisting of first and second fins, the first and second fins diverging away from one another when the gasket is in an uncompressed state;

the first fin having a distal end, wherein at least when the gasket is in an uncompressed state the first fin comprises one surface that is aligned with the outer surface of the central body portion, the second fin having a second fin proximal end portion adjacent to the central body portion and a second fin distal end portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly of the first and second central body surfaces at least when the gasket is uncompressed; and

wherein the gasket has a center between the front end portion of the body and the distal end of the first fin and wherein a portion of the insert strip is positioned rearwardly of the center of the gasket.

14. A gasket according to claim 13 wherein the gasket comprises a V-shaped recess between the first and second fins; wherein the first and second fins intersect at a central location of the central body portion, the gasket comprising a recess extending into the body at the intersection location of the first and second fins;

wherein the second fin is longer than the first fin;

wherein the front body end portion comprises an arcuate nose portion located nearer to the second central surface than to the first central surface;

wherein the first and second central surfaces are planar and substantially parallel to one another; and

wherein in transverse section the insert strip is rectangular with rounded corners.

15. A gasket according to claim 14 wherein the body and insert are annular with first and second ends that are joined together.

16. A gasketed pipe assembly comprising:

a first pipe having a first pipe interior, the first pipe comprising a socket at one end portion of the first pipe with a socket opening at one end of the first pipe adjacent to the socket, the socket having an inner surface and an annular pocket bounded by a portion of the inner surface of the first pipe;

a second pipe having an outer surface facing the inner surface of the first pipe; the second pipe extending through the socket opening and into the socket; and

a gasket comprising:

a body comprised of an elastomeric material positioned in the pocket;

an insert reinforcement comprising a polymeric material positioned within the body and extending along the length of the body;

the body comprising opposed front and rear end portions, the front end portion facing the socket opening, the body also comprising a central portion between the front and rear end portions, the central portion comprising first and second opposed central surface portions, the first central surface portion being positioned to face the inner surface of the socket, the second central surface portion being sized and positioned to engage the outer surface of the second pipe;

wherein the rear end portion comprises first and second fin portions, the first fin portion extending rearwardly from the central body portion and comprising an outer first fin surface positioned to engage the inner surface of the socket, the second fin portion extending rearwardly from the central body portion and comprising a second fin inner surface positioned to engage the outer surface of the second pipe, the second fin portion also extending inwardly into the first pipe interior to a greater extent than the second central surface portion prior to insertion of the second pipe into the socket; and

wherein the gasket has a center between the front and rear end portions, and wherein a portion of the insert reinforcement is positioned rearwardly of the center of the gasket.

17. A gasketed pipe assembly according to claim 16 comprising a recess between the first and second fin portions, wherein the first and second fin portions intersect at a central location of the rear end portion of the body, the gasket comprising a recess extending into the body at the intersection of the first and second fin portions, the second fin portion being longer than the first fin portion, and wherein the front end portion comprises an arcuate nose portion located nearer to the second central surface portion than to the first central surface portion, wherein the first and second central surface portions are planar and substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the gasket is annular with first and second ends that are joined together.