US 12,404,961 B2
Pipe fittings
David Scott Jordan, Tulsa, OK (US); and Donald Wayne Wartluft, Tulsa, OK (US)
Assigned to Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed by Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/360,777.
Application 17/360,777 is a continuation of application No. 15/644,549, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, granted, now 11,060,647.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/361,299, filed on Jul. 12, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0324987 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 37/092 (2006.01); F16L 41/02 (2006.01); F16L 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/0925 (2013.01) [F16L 41/021 (2013.01); F16L 43/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipe fitting comprising:
an outer casing having a first port opening and a second port opening;
a hollow inner casing positioned within the outer casing and having a first opening and a second opening;
first and second grippers positioned within the inner casing, wherein the first gripper has an opening aligned with the first port opening, and the second gripper has an opening aligned with the second port opening; and
a stiffener having a first end and a second end, the stiffener being positioned within the first and second gripper openings such that the stiffener is aligned with the first and second port openings, the stiffener including:
a first pair of grooves in an outer surface of the first end of the stiffener and a first pair of sealing members, wherein one sealing member in the first pair of sealing members is positioned within one of the grooves of the first pair of grooves; and
a second pair of grooves in an outer surface of the second end of the stiffener and a second pair of sealing members, wherein one sealing member in the second pair of sealing members is positioned within one of the grooves of the second pair of grooves;
wherein the first pair of grooves are positioned on the stiffener so that when a first pipe is inserted into the first port opening, the first pipe passes over the first end of the stiffener and each sealing member in the first pair of sealing members and into the first gripper so that each sealing member in the first pair of sealing members contacts an interior wall of the first pipe, and wherein the second pair of grooves are positioned on the stiffener so that when a second pipe is inserted into the second port opening, the second pipe passes over the second end of the stiffener and each sealing member in the second pair of sealing members and into the second gripper so that each sealing member in the second pair of sealing members contacts an interior wall of the second pipe.