Abstract: An end portion of a pipe fitting or coupling member is provided. The member has a central longitudinal axis, a mouth at its very end, and an annular groove for receiving a gasket. The groove presents a first end wall spaced from and axially facing the mouth. The end wall has a radial inward end and a radial outward end. A radially inwardly facing axially extending bottom wall extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis towards the mouth and extends from the radial outward end of the first end wall. The bottom wall terminates at a second wall axially facing the mouth. The second wall extends radially outwardly from the bottom wall has a radial inward end and a radial outward end, the radial inward end of the second wall connected to the bottom wall.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for manufacturing a bell end of a pipe fitting or coupling carrying a gasket. The bell has a mouth at the open end thereof and a longitudinally-extending axis, the bell carrying an annularly-extending groove securing an annularly-extending gasket; the groove comprising a bottom, a rearward wall joined to the bottom on the end of the bottom remote from the mouth of the bell, the rearward wall extending away from the bottom at an angle less than or equal to 90 degrees, the bottom terminating forwardly at a radially outwardly-directed wall and an offset longitudinally-extending wall portion extending from the end of the radially outwardly-directed wall remote from the bottom and being bent over to extend into the bell.