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.

Abstract: A coupling for either rigidly or flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of aligned pipes, is formed of a circular casing made of a pair of aligned, semi-circular segments which surround a resilient pipe gasket. The opposite ends of the segments have radially outwardly extending lugs which form pairs of overlapping fastening lugs. The lugs of at least one pair each have transversely aligned bolt holes and opposed sockets that are generally concentric with the bolt holes and open towards each other. A bolt extending through the sockets and bolt holes fasten the lugs together and cause the segments to clamp radially inwardly towards the pipes for coupling the pipes together with some permissible flexibility of relative movement. A plug having opposite end portions and a central bolt hole is removably fitted within the opposed lug sockets, with the bolt extending through its central bolt hole.

Abstract: A pipe coupling is formed of a pair of similar semicircular segments of a preselected diameter which are fastened together by separate, standard-size, length-adjustable fasteners to form a predetermined diameter circular casing for surrounding and connecting adjacent, axially aligned pipe ends. Each segment has radially arranged, opposite end faces which abut the corresponding end faces of the other segment to form a pair of diametrically aligned junctures. Depressed sockets are formed in the exterior, peripheral surface of each segment near the junctures. Each fastener is formed of an internally threaded tube having an end portion telescopically fitted within a tubular barrel, with a screw having a head engaged against the free end of the barrel and a shank extending through the barrel and threadedly engaged within the tube. The laterally extending teeth which are formed on the tube and barrel fit into the sockets on opposite sides of each juncture.

Abstract: A standard pipe coupling is formed of two, semi-circular segments that are bolted together to form a circular casing which surrounds the adjacent, axially aligned, end portions of two pipes to be connected. The casing is U-shaped in cross-section to form an exterior base and radially inwardly directed legs which are of substantially equal length. The radially inner edge portions of the legs form continuous, annular, narrow tenons which normally fit into annular grooves formed in the exterior surfaces of the pipes for interconnecting the casing and substantially equal diameter pipes. A diameter reducing insert comprising a flat, thin, segmented ring whose outer peripheral edge is formed with a continuous groove is arranged coplanar with one of the legs, and with its groove receiving the tenon of that leg.