Abstract: A manually releasable, toggle-type fastener is provided for use, in place of the conventional bolt-and-nut fastener that is normally used to secure together the adjacent, aligned, bolt lugs formed on the ends of curved segments which form a circular pipe coupling. The fastener includes a first pin part fitted into the bolt hole of a first lug, and a second pin part fitted into the bolt hole of the second lug. A lever is pivotally connected to the first pin part for swinging into a locked position adjacent its segment and for swinging into an unlocked position away from its segment. The lever has an end to which a clamp member is releasibly secured. The clamp extends along the lugs and has an end which engages the second lug and which carries the second pin part for securing the lugs together. The fastener may be made in different sizes to fit different size bolt lugs on different size couplings.

Abstract: A manually releasable, toggle-type fastener is provided for use, in place of the conventional bolt and nut fastener, used to secure together the adjacent bolt lugs formed on the ends of curved segments which form a circular pipe coupling. The fastener includes a pin of a shape and size to fit into the aligned bolt holes of the lugs, in place of a conventional bolt, and a lever pivotally connected to one end of the pin for swinging into a locked position adjacent its segment and into an unlocked position away from its segment. The lever has a hook-like formation on its end to which a wire-like loop is secured. The loop extends around the sides of the pin and the sides of the bolt lugs to be fastened together and has an opposite end engaging both the pin and the adjacent surface of the segment for securing the lugs together and for being restrained from release by the pin itself.

Abstract: A narrow, thin, metal strip is arranged around the periphery of the end portion of at least one of two pipes arranged in axial alignment for forming a coupled joint. The adjacent pipe end portions are provided with circumferential grooves. A coupling surrounds the end portions of the pipes and has radially inwardly extending keys for fitting into the grooves in the pipes. The strip has a groove formation for fitting into and lining the groove formed in the end of the pipe upon which it is arranged. The localized pressure of the key fitted into the strip groove is dispersed through the strip into the adjacent pipe areas which the strip overlies to protect the pipe groove walls and base and the pipe-end portions from being damaged by engagement with the coupling key. The strip permits coupling a pair of relatively easily damaged plastic pipes or coupling a plastic pipe and a stronger metal pipe by resisting damage to plastic pipes caused by coupling key pressure.

Abstract: A pipe coupling gasket insert is provided for optional use within a conventional C-shaped in cross-section, resilient gasket which is fitted within a conventional rigid C-shaped in cross-section coupling formed for encircling and coupling together the end portions of a pair of co-axially arranged, adjacent pipe end portions. The gasket has band-like lips formed on its inner portions for encircling and engaging the surfaces of the respective pipe end portions with the lips having free edges that are spaced apart. The pipe ends are slightly gaped apart. The insert, form of a resilient ring, is manually positioned within the gasket, for engaging the base of the C-shaped gasket, and has a radially inwardly extending rim that extends between the free edges of the gasket lips for engaging the end portions of the adjacent pipes and spanning the gap therebetween. The insert rim portion may be shaped to extend into gap or over the gap for sealing the gap between the adjacent pipe ends.

Abstract: A pipe connector for connecting a pair of conventional, circular cross-section pipes whose axes are generally coplanar but are angled relative to each other, is formed of a pair of identical, but reversely arranged, tubular sections, each having an outer end for coupling to an adjacent pipe end and an inner end coupled to the adjacent section inner end. The coupling comprises conventional, releasable, circular pipe couplings which surround and clamp adjacent pipe ends together. The connector sections are bent and flattened in cross-section so that their inner ends are engaged in the plane of the pipe axes while their outer end openings are transverse to the pipe axes and overlap and open into the ends of the pipes. The portions of the connector sections between their opposite ends are of cross-sectional areas that are roughly the same as the cross-sectional areas of their end openings.