PIPE CONNECTOR AND SYSTEM THEREFOR

Abstract

A pipe system connector having a male portion, a female portion, and a circular gasket positioned between the male portion and female portion to form a water-tight seal. The male portion has a V-shaped dovetail tenon and the female portion has a V-shaped dovetail mortise adapted to male with the dovetail tenon. The male portion has a gage point on the dovetail tenon and the female portion has a corresponding gage point on the dovetail mortise, wherein the gage points are used to position the male portion in relation to the female portion so that a water-tight seal is created between them. The dovetail tenon and the dovetail mortise may have rounded side edges to provide increased tensile strength to the connector.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/324,948 filed on Jan. 4, 2006 in the name of the Applicant, which is now abandoned. This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/184,489 filed on Jun. 27, 2002 in the name of the Applicant, which is now abandoned. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,304 issued on Sep. 18, 2001 to Applicant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure generally relates to pipe systems, and more particularly, to a pipe connector and system therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land and is often used in the growing of crops and maintaining landscapes. Subsurface irrigation systems are often preferred because they conceal the irrigation lines so as not to adversely affect the aesthetics of the property or real estate being irrigated. However, access to the irrigation lines in order to perform repairs is limited because the irrigation lines are located underground. In order to replace a part of the irrigation line, such as a valve or cracked piping, the ground typically needs to be dug up about 3-4 feet beyond and 3-4 feet behind the repair site. This is because the subsurface irrigation lines are only slightly maneuverable and usually are not flexible enough to be bent upwardly in order to properly connect the ends of the replacement parts to the ends of the pre-existing irrigation line. Furthermore, if the part that requires replacement is the irrigation valve, the irrigation valve may not only be underground, but it may also be housed within an irrigation box which makes the irrigation valve even harder to access.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a male portion having a center channel passing therethrough and having a dovetail tenon; a female portion having a center channel passing therethrough and a dovetail mortise adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon; and a gasket positioned between the male portion and the female portion.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a connector for use in a pipe system is disclosed. The connector comprises a male portion comprising: a face; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face wherein the tubular body is adapted to connect the male portion to the pipe system; a dovetail tenon integral with a front surface of the face; and a center channel passing through the male portion; a female portion comprising: a face; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face wherein the tubular body is adapted to connect the female portion to the pipe system; a dovetail mortise recessed within a front surface of the face and adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon; a center channel passing through the female portion; and a circular gasket positioned between the male portion and the female portion.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a water pipe system is disclosed. The water pipe system water pipe system comprises piping; and at least one water pipe connector used to couple one pipe system component to another pipe system component, the pipe connector comprising: a male portion comprising: a face; a V-shaped dovetail tenon integral with a front surface of the face; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face, wherein the tubular body is adapted to couple the male portion to one pipe system component; and a center channel passing through the male portion; a female portion comprising: a face; a V-shaped dovetail mortise recessed within a front surface of the face and adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face, wherein the tubular body is adapted to couple the female portion to the other system component; a center channel passing through the female portion; and a circular groove surrounding an opening of the center channel; and a circular gasket held within the circular groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an irrigation water valve shown with a male portion of the pipe connector of the present invention coupled to each end of the valve body of the water valve.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the irrigation water valve of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the male portion of the pipe connector of the present invention being coupled at opposing ends of a four-way water pipe.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the male portion of the pipe connector of the present invention shown coupled at each of a three-way pipe.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the male portion of the pipe connector of the present invention shown in use as a union.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the male portion of the pipe connector of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the male portion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the male portion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8a is a cross-sectional view of the male portion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8b is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a female portion of the pipe connector of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of a female portion of the pipe connector of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the female portion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the female portion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of two female portions of the pipe connector shown coupled to two opposing pipe ends.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the irrigation water valve of FIG. 1 shown being coupled to the opposing pipe ends of FIG. 12 using the pipe connector of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the irrigation water valve of FIG. 1 connected to the opposing pipe ends of FIG. 12 using the pipe connector of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-14 together show the pipe connector 10 and system of the present invention. In one embodiment, the pipe connector 10 may be used with an irrigation system. However, it should be clearly understood that the pipe connector 10 of the present invention may be used as a connector in any suitable pipe system that may be used for water, gas, oil, air, etc.

FIGS. 1-2 show the pipe connector 10 of the present invention being used with an irrigation valve 100. However, it should be clearly understood that the pipe connector 10 of the present invention may be coupled to any pipe system component at any point along an irrigation line or other pipe system. For example, other parts of the irrigation line may break or crack and require replacement. The faulty part or pipe system component may be a check valve, a four-way pipe intersection (see FIG. 3), a pipe T-intersection (see FIG. 4), or a simple straight piece of piping.

In its simplest form, the pipe connector 10 may comprise a male portion 12 and a female portion 32. Referring to FIGS. 1-8a, the male portion 12 may have a face 14 and a tubular body 22 that may extend perpendicularly from a rear surface 18 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10. The face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 may define an opening 20 of a center channel 26 that passes through the tubular body 22, thereby allowing water (or gas, air, etc.) to flow unencumbered through the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10. As shown in the figures, the opening 20 may be positioned at or near a center of the face 14 of the male portion 12. The tubular body 22 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 may be threaded (see FIGS. 7 and 8) so that it may be screwed into a threaded end of standard piping (see FIG. 3). It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may still be derived from a tubular body 22 that does not have any threading 24; wherein, for example, the tubular body 22 may be friction fit within the end of the piping. In one example, if the pipe connector 10 of the present invention is used to connect to standard 1.0 inch piping, the tubular body 22 of the male portion 12 may have an outer diameter of approximately 1.30 in. and the center channel 26 may have a diameter of approximately 0.90 in. It should be clearly understood, however, that the tubular body 22 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 may have any suitable outside diameter that is compatible with the given piping. It should be further understood that the center channel 26 of the tubular body 22 of the male portion 12 may also have any suitable diameter.

As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 may be double-sided and used as a union. For example, the male portion 12 may have a tubular body 22 with a first face 14a at one end of the tubular body 22 and a second face 14b at the other end of the tubular body 22. This embodiment of the present invention would allow for a quick way to unite two ends of piping. A female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 would be coupled to each of the two ends of piping with the narrowest bottom portions of the mortises 52 pointing downwardly. The male portions 12 of the double sided pipe connector or union may then be coupled to the female portions 32 that are coupled to the cut ends of the piping so that the tenons 30 of the male portions 12 engage the mortises 52 of the female portions 32, thereby forming water-tight connections.

It should be clearly understood that the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 have more than two faces 14; for example, the male portion 12 may have three faces 14 arranged in a configuration so that it may function as a pipe T-intersection or it may have four faces 14 arranged in a cross-configuration so that it may function as a four-way pipe intersection. The male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 may have any number of suitable faces 14 in any suitable configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a dovetail tenon 30 may be formed on a front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10. The tenon 30 may have a pair of spaced apart side surfaces 28, a top surface 27, and a bottom surface 31. As shown in the front view of FIG. 6, the side surfaces 28 may be straight, the top surface 27 may be curved, and the bottom surface 31 may also be curved. In one embodiment, the tenon 30 may be V-shaped or tapered, wherein the width of the top surface 27 of the tenon 30 is greater than the width of the bottom surface 31 of the tenon 30. The side surfaces 28 may be positioned at a certain angle γ relative to one another; the angle γ being dependent upon the diameter of the center channel 26. For example, for a pipe connector 10 having a 1.00 in. diameter center channel 26, the side surfaces 28 of the tenon 30 may be positioned at an angle γ of approximately 37.5° relative to one another. In should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may also be derived from the side surfaces 28 forming an angle γ between approximately 35.5° and approximately 39.5° relative to one another for a pipe connector 10 having a 1.00 in. diameter center channel 26. The angle γ formed between the side surfaces 28 relative to one another may vary according to the size of the pipe connector 10 and the diameter of the center channel 26. It should be noted that if the angle γ formed by the side surfaces 28 relative to one another is too great of an angle, then the male portion 12 and female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may stick together and may not easily disengage. It should also be noted that if the angle γ formed by the side surfaces 28 relative to one another is too small, then a tight seal may not be created between the male portion 12 and the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10.

Referring to FIGS. 7-8, the side surfaces 28 of the male portion 12 may have rounded edges/radii 29 to provide them with more structural strength. Generally, the larger the rounded edges/radii 29, the more structurally sound the pipe connector 10 may be. Conversely, the sharper the edges/radii 29 of the side surfaces 28 of the male portion 12, the weaker and more susceptible to breakage the side surfaces 28 may be. Strong connections are important especially when there is high water pressure within the piping systems.

As shown in FIGS. 8-8a, the side surfaces 28 of the tenon 30 may form an angle α relative to the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8a, the side surfaces 28 may form an angle α of approximately 45° with the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10. It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from the side surfaces 28 of the tenon 30 and the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 forming an angle α between approximately 30° and approximately 60°.

Still referring to FIG. 8a, the tenon 30 may have a thickness that may vary according to the desired tensile strength of the pipe connector 10. For example, a pipe connector 10 with a 1.0 in. diameter center channel 30 may require a tensile strength of about 750 psi in order to help prevent the pipe connector 10 from breaking or disconnecting due to the water pressure. When measuring from the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10, the tenon 30 may have a thickness (or height) of approximately 0.25 in. for the 1.0 in. diameter fitting.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may have a face 34 and a tubular body 46 that may extend perpendicularly from a rear surface 38 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10. The face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may define an opening 40 of a center channel 48 that passes through the tubular body 46, thereby allowing water (or gas, air, etc.) to flow unencumbered through the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10. As shown in the figures, the opening 40 may be positioned at or near a center of the face 34 of the female portion 32. The tubular body 46 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may be threaded so that it may be screwed into a threaded end of standard piping. It should be clearly understood however, that substantial benefit may still be derived from a tubular body 46 that does not have any threading 47; wherein, for example, the tubular body 46 may be friction fit within the end of the piping. In one example, if the pipe connector 10 of the present invention is used to connect to standard 1.0 inch piping, the tubular body 46 of the female portion 32 may have an outer diameter of approximately of approximately 1.30 in. and the center channel 48 may have a diameter of approximately 0.90 in. It should be clearly understood, however, that the tubular body 46 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may have any suitable diameter that is compatible with the given piping. It should further be understood that the center channel 48 of the tubular body 46 of the female portion 32 may also have any suitable diameter.

Referring to FIGS. 8b-11, a dovetail mortise 52 may be formed within a front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10. The mortise 52 is configured to mate with the dovetail tenon 30 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10. The mortise 52 may be formed by a pair of spaced apart side surfaces 50 extending downwardly from the front surface 36 and recessed into the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10. In one embodiment, the mortise 52 may be V-shaped or tapered, wherein the width of a top portion of the mortise 52 is greater than the width of a bottom portion of the mortise 52. The side surfaces 50 may be positioned at a certain angle γ relative to one another; the angle γ being dependent upon the diameter of the center channel 48. For example, for a pipe connector 10 having a 1.00 in. diameter center channel 48, the side surfaces 50 of the mortise 52 may be positioned at an angle γ of approximately 37.5° relative to one another. It should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may also be derived from the side surfaces 50 forming an angle γ between approximately 35.5° and approximately 39.5° relative to one another for a pipe connector 10 having a 1.00 in. diameter center channel 48. The angle γ formed between the side surfaces 50 relative to one another may vary according to the size of the pipe connector 10 and the diameter of the center channel 48. It should be noted that if the angle γ formed by the side surfaces 50 relative to one another is too great of an angle, then the male portion 12 and female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may stick together and may not easily disengage. It should also be noted that if the angle γ formed by the side surfaces 50 relative to one another is too small, then a tight seal may not be created between the male portion 12 and the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10. Generally, the angle γ formed by the side surfaces 50 of the mortise 52 relative to one another may be equal to the angle γ formed by the side surfaces 28 of the tenon 30 relative to one another to help ensure a proper fit between the male portion 12 and the female portion 32.

As shown in the FIGS. 10-11, similar to the rounded edges/radii 29 of the side surfaces 28 of the male portion 12, the side surfaces 50 of the female portion 32 may also have rounded edges/radii 51 to provide them with more structural strength. The rounded edges/radii 51 of the side surfaces 50 of the female portion 32 and the rounded edges/radii 29 of the side surfaces 28 of the male portion 12, work together to provide the desired tensile strength for the pipe connector 10.

As shown in FIG. 8b, the side surfaces 50 of the mortise 52 may form an angle α with respect to the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8b, the side surfaces 50 may form an angle α of approximately 45° with the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10. It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from the side surfaces 50 of the mortise 52 and the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 forming an angle α between approximately 30° and approximately 60°. Generally, the angle α formed by the side surfaces 50 of the mortise 52 with the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 may be equal to the angle α formed by the side surfaces 28 of the tenon 30 with the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12. This will help to ensure a tight fit between the male portion 12 and the female portion 32.

Still referring to FIG. 8b, the mortise 52 may have a thickness that may vary according to the desired tensile strength of the pipe connector 10. As mentioned in the example above, a pipe connector 10 with a 1.0 in. diameter center channel 48 in the female portion 32 and a 1.0 in. diameter center channel 26 in the male portion 12 may require a tensile strength of about 750 psi in order to help prevent the pipe connector 10 from breaking or disconnecting due to the water pressure. When measuring from the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10, the mortise 52 may have a thickness (or depth) of approximately 0.25 in. for the 1.0 in. fitting. Generally, the mortise 52 in the female portion 32 may have the same thickness as the tenon 30 of the male portion 12. For example, where the tenon 30 may have a thickness of approximately 0.25 in., the mortise 52 may also have a thickness of approximately 0.25 in. The tenon 30 on the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 is configured to engage the mortise 52 in the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10.

As shown in FIGS. 9-10, the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may have a circular groove 42 positioned about the opening 40 of the center channel 48. The circular groove 42 may be dimensioned to receive an O-ring 56 or gasket therein. The O-ring 56 may be may be made of rubber, silicone, neoprene, fiberglass, or any other suitable material and may be of any standard size, such as 0.070 in., 0.103 in., 0.139 in., and 0.210 in. However, it should be clearly understood that the circular groove 42 may be dimensioned to receive any size O-ring 56 or gasket. The inner perimeter 43 of the circular groove 42 may be positioned at a distance away from the perimeter of the opening 40 on the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10, thereby leaving between approximately 0.075 in. and approximately 0.125 in. of space between the perimeter of the opening 40 and the inner perimeter 43 of the circular groove 42. In another embodiment, the circular groove 42 may not be positioned at a distance away from the perimeter of the opening 40 on the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10; it may be contiguous with the opening 40 on the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32. When the tenon 30 on the front surface 16 of the face 14 of the male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 engages the mortise 52 on the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10, the face 14 of the male portion 12 presses against the O-ring 56 within the circular groove 42 on the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32, thereby creating a water-tight seal between the male portion 12 and the female portion 32 of the connector 10.

Referring back to FIG. 8b, the male portion 12 and the female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 may each have a gage point 102. The gage point 102 is a reference point used to position the male portion 12 in relation to the female portion 32 so that a water-tight seal is created between them. Specifically, for the female portion 32, the gage point 102 is measured from the center point of the opening 40 of the center channel 48 to a point on the side surface 50 of the mortise 52. On the female portion 32, the height of the gage point 102 is typically located at a point that is half the thickness (depth) of the mortise 52 and its distance from the center point of the opening 40 of the center channel 48 depends upon the angle α formed by the side surface 50 with the face 34 of the female portion 32. Specifically, the gage point 102 of the female portion 32 is a buildup of tolerances that may be determined by the radius of the center channel 48, the width of the space 60 between the perimeter of the opening 40 on the face 34 of the female portion 32 and the inner perimeter 43 of the circular groove 42, the width of the circular groove 42, the clearance 58 for the O-ring 56 (the clearance 58 for the O-ring refers to the portions of the face 34 of the female portion 32 positioned between the outer perimeter 44 of the circular groove 42 and the upper edges/radii 51 of the side surfaces 50), and the width of the adjacent side 53 of the angle α formed between the side surface 50 and the face 34 of the female portion 32. For example, for a female portion 32 of a pipe connector 10 having a center channel 48 radius of 0.5 in.; a 0.10 in. wide space 60 between the perimeter of the opening 40 on the face 34 of the female portion 32 and the inner perimeter 43 of the circular groove 42; a 0.139 in. wide circular groove 42; a 0.050 in. wide clearance 58 for the O-ring 56; and a 0.125 in. wide adjacent side 53 to the angle α formed between the side surface 50 and the face 34 of the female portion 32, the gage point 102 for the female portion 32 may be determined according to the following formula where:

A=Radius of center channel

B=Width of the space between the perimeter of the opening on the face of the female portion and the outer perimeter of the circular groove)

C=O-ring size

D=Clearance for the O-ring

E=Width of Adjacent Side

Gage Point=A+B+C+D+E

Specifically, in the example provided above, the gage point 102 would be calculated as follows:

Gage Point=0.50 in.+0.100 in.+0.139 in.+0.050 in.+0.125 in.+0.914 in.

In order to determine the width of the adjacent side 53 to the angle α formed between the side surface 50 and the face 34 of the female portion 32 (the E variable in the equation above), one may consider the measurement of the opposite angle β from the angle α formed by the side surface 50 of the mortise 52 and the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32 and also consider the thickness (depth) of the mortise 52. For example, where the mortise 52 has a thickness (depth) of 0.25 in. and where the side surface 50 of the mortise 52 forms a 45° angle α with the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32, the opposite angle β would be 45° (assuming that the rounded edge/radii 51 of the side surface 50 forms, a 90° angle with the front surface 36 of the face 34 of the female portion 32). The width of the adjacent side 53 to the angle α formed between the side surface 50 and the face 34 of the female portion 32 (variable E) may be calculated according to the following formula where:

E=Width of the adjacent side to angle α

β=Opposite Angle

X=Thickness of the mortise

E=tan β×(½ X)

Specifically, in the example provided above, the width of the adjacent side 53 to the angle α formed between the side surface 50 and the face 34 of the female portion (variable E) would be calculated as follows:

E=tan 45°×½(0.25 in.)=0.125 in.

The gage point 102 for each of the side surfaces 50 of the female portion 32 would therefore be located 0.914 in. from the center point of the opening 40 of the center channel 48 and 0.125 inches down the side surface 50 of the mortise 52 (i.e. half the thickness/depth of the mortise 52). Once the gage point 102 for the female portion 32 has been determined, the same gage point 102 may be used for the male portion 12 having a tenon 30 with the same dimensions as the mortise 52. For example, the gage point 102 for the corresponding male portion 12 would be located 0.914 in. from the center point of the opening 20 of the center channel 26 and 0.125 inches high on the tenon 30 (i.e. half the thickness of the tenon 30).

As described herein, the pipe connector 10 of the present invention may be coupled to any point in a pipe system. As described herein, the pipe connector 10 may be coupled to any point of an irrigation system. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12-14, if an irrigation valve requires replacement, the piping may be cut a certain distance before and beyond the faulty irrigation valve 100, leaving two cut ends of the piping. The distance of where to cut the piping before or beyond the faulty irrigation valve 100 depends upon the size of the irrigation valve 100 as well as the size of the pipe connector 10. One female portion 32 may be coupled to one cut end of the piping and another female portion 32 may be coupled to the other cut end of the piping. The female portions 32 may be oriented so that the narrowest bottom portion of the mortise 52 is positioned at the bottom and pointing downwardly. The tubular body 46 of one female portion 32 may be screwed/inserted into one of the cut ends and secured therein with glue, epoxy, or some other suitable adhesive. The tubular body 46 of another female portion 32 may be screwed/inserted into the other cut end and also secured therein with an adhesive.

A new irrigation valve 100 may then be fitted with two male portions 12 (see FIGS. 1-2). A standard irrigation valve 100 may usually comprise a valve body, valve bonnet, diaphragm assembly, solenoid to electrically actuate the valve, and flow control handle to regulate the amount of water that flows through the valve. One male portion 12 may be coupled to one end of the valve body and another male portion 12 may be coupled to the other end of the valve body. The male portions 12 may be oriented so that the narrowest bottom surface 31 of the tenon 30 is positioned at the bottom and pointing downwardly. The tubular body 22 of one male portion 12 may be screwed/inserted into one end of the valve body and secured therein with glue, epoxy, or some other suitable adhesive. The tubular body 22 of another male portion 12 may be screwed/inserted into the other end of the valve body and secured therein with an adhesive. The male portions 12 of the new irrigation valve 100 may then be coupled to the female portions 32 coupled to the cut ends of the piping so that the tenons 30 of the male portions 12 engage the mortises 52 of the female portions 32, thereby forming water-tight connections between the irrigation valve 100 and the piping. In an alternative embodiment, the irrigation valve 100 may be constructed so that the male portions 12 are integral to either one of the ends of the valve body or integral to both ends of the valve body. In still another embodiment, the male portions 12 may not have tubular bodies 22 and the rear surface 18 of the face 14 of each male portion 12 may be coupled directly to or integral to the ends of the valve body.

As mentioned above, the pipe connector 10 of the present invention may be used to replace any faulty part of the irrigation line that may require replacement. The faulty part would be replaced as similarly described above, wherein the irrigation line is cut, a female portion 32 of the pipe connector 10 is coupled to each of the cut ends of the piping, a male portion 12 of the pipe connector 10 is coupled to each end of the replacement part, and the male portions 12 and corresponding female portions 32 are coupled together so that the tenons 30 of the male portions 12 engage the mortises 52 of the female portions 32 to form water-tight connections between the replacement part and the piping. In still another embodiment, the male portions 12 of the pipe connectors 10 may be integral to the connection points of the replacement part (e.g. check valve, four-way pipe intersection, pipe T-intersection, straight piping, etc.).

The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a male portion having a center channel passing therethrough and having a dovetail tenon;

a female portion having a center channel passing therethrough and a dovetail mortise adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon; and

a gasket positioned between the male portion and the female portion.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the dovetail tenon is integral to a face of the male portion and comprises:

a top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a pair of spaced apart side surfaces;

wherein the tenon is V-shaped.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the pair of side surfaces are positioned at an angle of between approximately 35.5° and approximately 39.7° relative to one another.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein each of the side surfaces forms an angle of between approximately 30° and 60° with a front surface of the face of the male portion.

5. The connector of claim 2 wherein the male portion further comprises a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face of the male portion.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the dovetail mortise is a recess formed within a face of the female portion and comprises:

a pair of spaced apart side surfaces; and

a circular groove surrounding an opening of the center channel that is adapted to receive the gasket;

wherein the mortise is V-shaped.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the pair of side surfaces are positioned at an angle of between approximately 35.5° and approximately 39.7° relative to one another.

8. The connector of claim 6 wherein each of the side surfaces forms an angle of between approximately 30° and 60° with the front surface of the face of the female portion.

9. The connector of claim 6 wherein the female portion further comprises a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face of the female portion.

10. The connector of claim 1 wherein the male portion and the female portion each have a gage point that is used to position the male portion in relation to the female portion so that a water-tight seal is created between them.

11. A connector for use in a pipe system comprising:

a male portion comprising: a face; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face wherein the tubular body is adapted to connect the male portion to the pipe system; a dovetail tenon integral with a front surface of the face; and a center channel passing through the male portion;

a female portion comprising: a face; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face wherein the tubular body is adapted to connect the female portion to the pipe system; a dovetail mortise recessed within a front surface of the face and adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon; a center channel passing through the female portion; and

a circular gasket positioned between the male portion and the female portion.

12. The connector of claim 11 wherein the dovetail tenon comprises:

a curved top edge;

a curved bottom edge; and

a pair of spaced apart straight side surfaces having rounded edges;

wherein the tenon is V-shaped.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein the pair of straight side surfaces are positioned at an angle of approximately 37.5° relative to one another and wherein each of the straight side surfaces forms an angle of approximately 45° with the front surface of the face of the male portion.

14. The connector of claim 11 wherein the dovetail mortise comprises:

a pair of spaced apart straight side surfaces having rounded edges; and

a circular groove surrounding and contiguous to an opening of the center channel that is adapted to receive the circular gasket;

wherein the mortise is V-shaped.

15. The connector of claim 14 wherein, the pair of straight side surfaces are positioned at an angle of approximately 37.5° relative to one another and wherein each of the straight side surfaces forms an angle of approximately 45° with the front surface of the face of the female portion.

16. The connector of claim 11 wherein the male portion has a gage point on the dovetail tenon and the female portion has a corresponding gage point on the dovetail mortise, wherein the gage points are used to position the male portion in relation to the female portion so that a water-tight seal is created between them.

17. The connector of claim 16 wherein the gage point on the female portion is located at a point on the straight side surface of the mortise that is half of a thickness of the mortise and is located at a distance from a center point of the opening of the center channel that is determined by a radius of the center channel, a width of a space between the opening and an inner perimeter of the circular groove, a width of the circular groove, a clearance space for the circular gasket, and a width of an adjacent side of an angle formed between the side surface and the face of the female portion.

18. A water pipe system comprising:

piping; and

at least one water pipe connector used to couple one pipe system component to another pipe system component, the pipe connector comprising: a male portion comprising: a face; a V-shaped dovetail tenon integral with a front surface of the face; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face, wherein the tubular body is adapted to couple the male portion to one pipe system component; and a center channel passing through the male portion; a female portion comprising: a face; a V-shaped dovetail mortise recessed within a front surface of the face and adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon; a tubular body extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the face, wherein the tubular body is adapted to couple the female portion to the other pipe system component; a center channel passing through the female portion; and a circular groove surrounding an opening of the center channel; and a circular gasket held within the circular groove.

19. The water pipe system of claim 18 wherein the dovetail tenon comprises:

a curved top edge;

a curved bottom, edge; and

a pair of spaced apart straight side surfaces having rounded edges to provide tensile strength to the water pipe connector;

wherein the pair of straight side surfaces are positioned at an angle of approximately 37.5° relative to one another; and

wherein each of the straight side surfaces forms an angle of approximately 45° with the front surface of the face of the male portion.

20. The water pipe system of claim 18 wherein the dovetail mortise comprises:

a pair of spaced apart straight side surfaces having rounded edges to provide tensile strength to the water pipe connector;

wherein the pair of straight side surfaces are positioned at an angle of approximately 37° relative to one another; and

wherein each of the straight side surfaces forms an angle of approximately 45° with the front surface of the face of the female portion.