US 12,264,769 B2
Push seal pipe adapter
Joshua Pierre Cottonaro, Belmont, CA (US)
Assigned to RTF Components LLC, San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed by RTF Components LLC, San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed on May 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/322,987.
Application 18/322,987 is a continuation of application No. 17/830,226, filed on Jun. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,668,425.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/202,219, filed on Jun. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0296198 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 41/08 (2006.01); F16L 5/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 41/088 (2013.01) [F16L 5/10 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipe connector, the pipe connector comprising:
a pipe fitting comprising a passageway extending between an upstream end of the pipe fitting and a downstream end of the pipe fitting, wherein an annular seat is formed within the passageway at a location between the upstream end and the downstream end;
a grommet comprising (i) a cylindrical portion and (ii) a conical portion extending from the cylindrical portion;
wherein a passageway of the grommet extends through the cylindrical portion and the conical portion of the grommet;
wherein the conical portion has a first portion extending from the cylindrical portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion distal from the cylindrical portion, and wherein an inner surface of the first portion tapers radially inward at a first slope, and wherein the second portion of the conical portion tapers radially inward at a second slope that is different than the first slope;
wherein, with the grommet disposed within the passageway of the pipe fitting and spaced from the upstream end, the cylindrical portion engages the annular seat and the conical portion of the grommet extends partially along an inner wall of the pipe fitting between the annular seat and the downstream end;
wherein, when an upstream pipe is received through the upstream end of the pipe fitting and along the passageway of the grommet, the conical portion of the grommet compresses between and seals against the upstream pipe and the inner wall of the pipe fitting;
wherein the downstream end of the pipe fitting is configured to connect to a downstream pipe of a plumbing system; and
wherein, with the upstream pipe received through the upstream end of the pipe fitting and along the passageway of the grommet, and with the downstream end of the pipe fitting connected to the downstream pipe, the pipe fitting and grommet fluidly connect the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe.