US 12,072,050 B2
Push-fit pipe fitting
Jis Simon, Brampton (CA)
Filed by IPEX TECHNOLOGIES INC., Oakville (CA)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/363,750.
Application 17/363,750 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/CA2020/000118, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 3057911 (CA), filed on Oct. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0324986 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 37/091 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/0915 (2016.05) 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipe fitting comprising a coupling body having two or more open ends and a pipe engagement assembly for attachment to the open end for engagement of a pipe thereto, the pipe engagement assembly comprising a retainer ring and a grip ring, and the coupling body comprising a sidewall defining an internal bore sized for receiving at least a portion of the pipe and the retainer ring, the retainer ring being dimensioned to be received at least partially by the grip ring and to receive the pipe therethrough,
wherein the grip ring comprises a plurality of first projections extending inwardly towards the bore to engage the pipe, and the retainer ring comprises one or more second projections extending outwardly to releasably engage the sidewall, the retainer ring defining a plurality of slots sized to receive the first projections therethrough, wherein the slots are positioned to retain the first projections with the grip ring engaging the pipe and the second projections engaging the sidewall, thereby retaining the grip ring and the pipe to the open end,
wherein the coupling body further comprises a stop flange extending inwardly from the sidewall for abutting contact with a longitudinal end of the pipe, and the internal bore comprises an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion interposed between the enlarged diameter portion and the stop flange, wherein the enlarged diameter portion is sized for receiving the retainer ring, and the reduced diameter portion is sized for receiving the longitudinal end of the pipe,
wherein the internal bore further comprises a further enlarged diameter portion interposed between the enlarged diameter portion and the open end, the further enlarged diameter portion being sized to at least partially receive the grip ring, and the first projections comprise gripping teeth angled inwardly towards the stop flange to resist movement of the pipe away from the stop flange,
wherein the retainer ring comprises a retainer ring sidewall having first and second axial ends, the first axial end being for placement proximate to the stop flange relative to the second axial end, and the slots are open ended slots defined along a periphery of the first axial end to receive the gripping teeth therein with the grip ring received in the further enlarged diameter portion and the first axial end inserted into the enlarged diameter portion, and
wherein the sidewall defines one or more apertures located for receiving the one or more second projections, each said second projection comprising a cantilever arm extending along a longitudinal axis of the retainer ring from the first axial end to an outwardly extending protrusion for snap fit engagement in an associated one of the apertures.