Dual use coupling end for pipes and fittings

1. A dual use coupling end for a pipe or fitting, comprising:

the pipe or fitting defining a dual use groove about an annular radial outer surface of a tubular end portion of the pipe or fitting, spaced a predetermined distance from an annular endwardly facing surface of the end portion configured to be held in sealed relation to a mating annular endwardly facing surface of another pipe or fitting, the dual use groove being bound and defined by a tapered or curved substantially annular cam groove surface beginning at a first predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface and extending radially into the end portion so as to gradually reduce an overall diameter thereof toward the endwardly facing surface, terminating at an annular clamp groove portion bound and defined on one end by a radially outwardly extending substantially annular clamp abutment surface oriented about perpendicular to a proximal portion of the cam groove surface closest thereto, located at a second predetermined distance less than the first predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface, the clamp abutment surface extending a predetermined distance radially outwardly from the annular clamp groove portion to an annular beveled cam abutment surface oriented at an acute angle to the clamp abutment surface, facing radially outwardly and in an opposite direction from the endwardly facing surface and disposed substantially radially outwardly relative thereto, in predetermined relation to the cam groove surface.

2. The dual use coupling end of claim 1 , wherein the cam groove surface and the cam abutment surface are configured and positioned to simultaneously engage at least one cam of a cam groove coupler when coupled about the coupling end.

3. The dual use coupling end of claim 1 , wherein the cam abutment surface is located on a radially outwardly extending annular protuberance extending about the coupling end.

4. The dual use coupling end of claim 3 , further comprising an annular seal surface about the coupling end between the protuberance and the endwardly facing surface.

5. The dual use coupling end according to claim 1 , wherein the tapered or curved substantially annular cam groove surface is a concave substantially annular cam groove surface.

6. A pipe, comprising:

an end portion having a dual use groove thereabout, spaced a predetermined distance from an annular endwardly facing surface of the end portion configured to be held in sealed relation to a mating annular endwardly facing surface of another pipe or a fitting, the dual use groove being bound and defined by a tapered or curved substantially annular cam groove surface beginning at a first predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface and extending radially into the end portion so as to gradually reduce an overall diameter thereof toward the endwardly facing surface, terminating at an annular clamp groove portion bound and defined on one end by a radially outwardly extending substantially annular clamp abutment surface oriented about perpendicular to a proximal portion of the cam groove surface closest thereto, located at a second predetermined distance less than the first predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface, the clamp abutment surface extending a predetermined distance radially outwardly from the annular clamp groove portion to an annular beveled cam abutment surface oriented at an acute angle to the clamp abutment surface, facing radially outwardly and in an opposite direction from the endwardly facing surface and disposed substantially radially outwardly relative thereto, in predetermined relation to the cam groove surface.

7. The pipe according to claim 6 , wherein the tapered or curved substantially annular cam groove surface is a concave substantially annular cam groove surface.

8. The pipe of claim 6 , wherein the cam groove surface and the cam abutment surface are configured and positioned to simultaneously engage at least one cam of a cam groove coupler when coupled about the dual use groove of the end portion.

9. The pipe of claim 6 , wherein the cam abutment surface is located on a radially outwardly extending annular protuberance extending about the dual use groove of the end portion.

10. The pipe of claim 9 , further comprising an annular seal surface about the coupling end between the protuberance and the endwardly facing surface, configured for sealingly engaging a gasket of a clamp coupler when coupled thereabout.

11. A pipe fitting, comprising

a tubular end portion having a dual use groove thereabout, spaced a predetermined distance from an annular endwardly facing surface of the end portion configured to be held in sealed relation to a mating annular endwardly facing surface of another fitting or a pipe, the dual use groove being bound and defined by a tapered or curved substantially annular cam groove surface beginning at a first predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface and extending radially into the end portion so as to gradually reduce an overall diameter thereof toward the endwardly facing surface, terminating at an annular clamp groove portion bound and defined on one end by a radially outwardly extending substantially annular clamp abutment surface oriented about perpendicular to a proximal portion of the cam groove surface closest thereto, located at a second predetermined distance less than the first predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface, the clamp abutment surface extending a predetermined distance radially outwardly from the proximal portion of the cam groove surface to an annular beveled cam abutment surface oriented at an acute angle to the clamp abutment surface, facing radially outwardly and away from the endwardly facing surface and disposed substantially radially outwardly relative thereto, in predetermined relation to the cam groove surface.

12. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , wherein the cam groove surface and the cam abutment surface are configured and positioned to simultaneously engage at least one cam of a cam groove coupler when coupled about the coupling end.

13. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , wherein the cam abutment surface is located on a radially outwardly extending annular protuberance extending about the coupling end.

14. The pipe fitting of claim 13 , further comprising an annular seal surface about the coupling end between the protuberance and the endwardly facing surface, configured for sealingly engaging a gasket of a clamp coupler when coupled thereabout.

15. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , comprising a tee.

16. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , comprising an adapter.

17. The pipe fitting of claim 11 , comprising an elbow.

18. A dual use coupling end of a pipe fitting, comprising:

a tubular end portion having an annular recessed cam groove thereabout spaced a predetermined distance from an annular endwardly facing surface of the end portion configured to be held in sealed relation to a mating annular endwardly facing surface of another pipe fitting or a pipe, the cam groove being defined by a curved or tapered cam groove surface extending gradually radially inwardly from an annular radial outer surface of the fitting adjacent to the coupling end, toward the endwardly facing surface, terminating at a radial inner surface portion comprising an annular clamp groove bound and defined on an opposite end by a radially outwardly extending substantially annular clamp abutment surface oriented about perpendicular to the radial inner surface portion of the cam groove surface, located at a predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface, the clamp abutment surface extending a predetermined distance radially outwardly from the annular clamp groove portion to an annular beveled cam abutment surface oriented at an acute angle to the clamp abutment surface, facing radially outwardly and in an opposite direction from the endwardly facing surface and disposed substantially radially outwardly relative thereto, in predetermined relation to the cam groove surface.

19. The coupling end of claim 18 , wherein the pipe fitting comprises a portion of a pipe tee.

20. The coupling end of claim 18 , wherein the pipe fitting comprises an end of a pipe.

21. The dual use coupling end according to claim 18 , wherein the curved or tapered cam groove surface is a concave cam groove surface.

22. A dual use coupling end for a pipe or pipe fitting, comprising:

a tubular pipe section having an annular recessed cam groove thereabout spaced a predetermined distance from an annular endwardly facing surface of the pipe section, the cam groove being defined by a curved or tapered cam groove surface extending gradually radially inwardly from an annular radial outer surface of the fitting adjacent toward the endwardly facing surface, to an annular clamp groove bound and defined in the tubular pipe section and terminating on an opposite end by a radially outwardly extending substantially annular clamp abutment surface located a predetermined distance from the endwardly facing surface, the clamp abutment surface extending a predetermined distance radially outwardly from the annular clamp groove portion to an annular beveled cam abutment surface oriented at an acute angle to the clamp abutment surface and facing radially outwardly and in an opposite direction from the endwardly facing surface, the cam abutment surface being disposed substantially radially outwardly of the cam groove surface and comprising a radial outward discontinuous extension thereof.

23. The dual use coupling end according to claim 22 , wherein the curved or tapered cam groove surface is a concave cam groove surface.