Systems and methods for coupling pipe with angled coupling mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9739406-B2
Application number	US-201213554337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2012
Priority date	Jul 22, 2011
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism may include a connection section including a first opening, an inner flange, and an outer flange, wherein the connection section is configured to connect to a first pipe, a sleeve portion including a second opening and configured to connect to a second pipe, and a channel extending through the coupling mechanism between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the first opening is angled relative to the second opening, wherein the inner flange includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the inner flange includes a width larger than a width of the second end of the inner flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling mechanism for connecting together a plurality of pipes, the coupling mechanism comprising:
a connection section including a first opening, an inner flange, and an outer flange, wherein a recessed section is defined between the inner flange and the outer flange and surrounds the entire first opening, wherein the connection section is configured to connect to a first pipe;
a sleeve portion including a second opening and configured to connect to a second pipe;
a channel extending through the coupling mechanism between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the first opening is angled relative to the second opening,
wherein the outer flange has a substantially continuous innermost surface for mating with an exterior surface of the first pipe and the inner flange has a substantially continuous outermost surface for mating with an interior surface of the first pipe;
wherein the recessed section is angularly tapered from the inner flange to the outer flange with respect to the innermost surface and outermost surface;
wherein the outer flange has an outermost circumferential edge having a diameter that changes along the circumference of the outermost circumferential edge, wherein the outermost circumferential edge has a first section positioned opposite a second section and a third section positioned opposite a fourth section, the third and fourth sections positioned transverse to the first and second sections and connecting the first and second sections, wherein the first section has a radius larger than a radius of the second section, and the third and fourth sections have substantially the same radii, and the third and fourth sections have different radii than the first and second sections;
wherein the inner flange has an outermost circumferential edge having a diameter that changes along the circumference of the outermost circumferential edge, wherein the entire diameter of the outermost circumferential edge of the inner flange is smaller than the entire diameter of the outermost circumferential edge of the outer flange;
wherein the outermost circumferential edge of the inner flange has a first section positioned opposite a second section and a third section positioned opposite a fourth section, the third and fourth sections positioned transverse to the first and second sections and connecting the first and second sections, wherein the first section has a radius larger than a radius of the second section, and the third and fourth sections have substantially the same radii, and the third and fourth sections have different radii than the first and second sections;
wherein the first section of the inner flange includes a thickness larger than a thickness of the second section of the inner flange; and
wherein the thickness is measured transverse to the radius.

2. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the inner flange and the outer flange are configured to secure a wall of the first pipe within the recessed section.

3. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the inner flange surrounds an outer periphery of the first opening.

4. The coupling mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the outer flange surrounds an outer periphery of the inner flange.

5. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to couple the second pipe to the first pipe such that the second pipe extends from the first pipe at an angle.

6. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to couple the second pipe to the first pipe such that the second pipe extends from the first pipe at an angle between 0° and 89°.

7. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the channel is configured to receive the second pipe, and the sleeve portion is configured to form a friction fit with the second pipe.

8. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the inner flange and the outer flange of the connection section extend from the sleeve portion at an angle.

9. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising one or more ribs extending between the outer flange and the sleeve portion.

10. The coupling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the outer flange includes a substantially sinusoidal shape.

11. A coupling mechanism for connecting together a plurality of pipes, the coupling mechanism comprising:
a connection section including a first opening, an inner flange, and an outer flange, wherein a recessed section is defined between the inner flange and the outer flange and surrounds the entire first opening, wherein the connection section is configured to connect to a first pipe;
a sleeve portion including a second opening and configured to connect to a second pipe, wherein the inner flange and the outer flange of the connection section extend from the sleeve portion at an angle,
wherein the outer flange has a substantially continuous innermost surface for mating with an exterior surface of the first pipe and the inner flange has a substantially continuous outermost surface for mating with an interior surface of the first pipe;
wherein the recessed section is angularly tapered from the inner flange to the outer flange with respect to the innermost surface and outermost surface;
wherein the outer flange has an outermost circumferential edge having a diameter that changes along the circumference of the outermost circumferential edge, wherein the outermost circumferential edge has a first section positioned opposite a second section and a third section positioned opposite a fourth section, the third and fourth sections positioned transverse to the first and second sections and connecting the first and second sections, wherein the first section has a radius larger than a radius of the second section, and the third and fourth sections have substantially the same radii, and the third and fourth sections have different radii than the first and second sections;
wherein the inner flange has an outermost circumferential edge having a diameter that changes along the circumference of the outermost circumferential edge, wherein the entire diameter of the outermost circumferential edge of the inner flange is smaller than the entire diameter of the outermost circumferential edge of the outer flange;
wherein the outermost circumferential edge of the inner flange has a first section positioned opposite a second section and a third section positioned opposite a fourth section, the third and fourth sections positioned transverse to the first and second sections and connecting the first and second sections, wherein the first section has a radius larger than a radius of the second section, and the third and fourth sections have substantially the same radii, and the third and fourth sections have different radii than the first and second sections;
wherein the first section of the inner flange includes a thickness larger than a thickness of the second section of the inner flange;
wherein the thickness is measured transverse to the radius;
a channel extending through the coupling mechanism between the first opening and the second opening; and
one or more ribs extending between the outer flange and the sleeve portion.

12. The coupling mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the one or more ribs are positioned around an outer circumference of the sleeve portion.

13. A coupling mechanism for connecting together a plurality of pipes, the coupling mechanism comprising:
a connection section including a first opening having a central axis, an inner flange, and an outer flange, wherein a recessed section is defined between the inner flange and the outer flange and surrounds the entire first opening, wherein the connection section i

Assignees

• Ficker James Joseph
• Vanhoose Bill Russell
• Atchison Owen Michael
• Piazza Nicholas James
• Warden Jeffrey Alan
• Advanced Drainage Syst

Inventors

• Ficker James Joseph
• Vanhoose Bill Russell
• Atchison Owen Michael
• Piazza Nicholas James
• Warden Jeffrey Alan

Classifications

• F16L41/004 Primary

  Joining to walls at other than 90 degrees (F16L41/002, F16L41/008 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L41/00

  Branching pipes; Joining pipes to walls (F16L39/00 takes precedence {; characterised by couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/008; specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/26 }) · CPC title