Granted Patent B2

US 12,565,954 · App. 18/235,301 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Inventor: Ryan Fairchild Larson (Decatur, IL)

Assignee: Mueller International, LLC

F16L37/091F16L19/04F16L19/061F16L19/065F16L47/041

Abstract

Claims (18)

1 . A grip ring comprising:

a substantially frustoconical metal ring body defining a diameter that tapers from a first lateral end of the ring body to a second lateral end of the ring body opposite the first lateral end, the ring body further defining a first circumferential end, a second circumferential end opposite the first circumferential end, an inner surface defining a guide ring opening, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and

a gap defined between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end;

wherein the ring body is configured to be compressed radially inward to reduce a width of the gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end;

wherein the first lateral end of the ring body defines an arcuate edge that extends from the first circumferential end to the second circumferential end;

wherein the second lateral end of the ring body defines an arcuate engagement edge that extends from the first circumferential end to the second circumferential end; and

wherein the gap defines a first width at the first lateral end, a second width at the second lateral end, and the first width is less than the second width.

2 . The grip ring of claim 1 , wherein the grip ring is substantially C-shaped.

3 . The grip ring of claim 1 , further comprising a first retaining tab extending into the gap from the first circumferential end of the ring body.

4 . The grip ring of claim 3 , further comprising a second retaining tab extending into the gap from the second circumferential end of the ring body.

5 . The grip ring of claim 4 , wherein each of the first retaining tab and the second retaining tab extend from the ring body proximate to the first lateral end.

6 . The grip ring of claim 5 , wherein a first outer side edge of the first retaining tab and a second outer side edge of the second retaining tab are flush with a proximal edge of the ring body at the first lateral end.

7 . The grip ring of claim 1 , wherein the ring body defines a first visual indication notch configured to visually differentiate the grip ring from other grip rings.

8 . The grip ring of claim 7 , wherein the arcuate engagement edge is configured to grip a pipe.

9 . The grip ring of claim 8 , wherein:

the ring body further defines a second visual indication notch;

the first visual indication notch is formed proximate to the first circumferential end; and

the second visual indication notch is formed proximate to the second circumferential end.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (231)

Cited By (1)

US 12,680,638