IE86027B1 - A connector - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A pipe connector arrangement comprising: first and second end pipe sections having respective first and second end connector portions; and a telescoping arrangement between the end connector portions, the telescoping arrangement comprising telescoping pipe sections, including parts of the first and second end pipe sections and at least one intermediate pipe section, allowing the distance between the end connector portions to be varied by the sliding of the telescoping pipe sections with respect to one another, wherein the telescoping arrangement is at an angle to each of the first and second end connector portions, and the diameter of the telescoping pipe sections-decreases progressively from an inlet end of the telescoping arrangement towards an outlet end of the telescoping arrangement.

Description

Title: A Connector Description of Invention THIS INVENTION relates to a connector, and in particular concerns a connector for conveying liquid, such as rainwater, between a length of guttering and a downpipe.

It is well known for houses and other types of building to have guttering to catch and channel rainwater. For instance, lengths of guttering may be provided at the edges of a roof of a house, so that rainwater landing on the roof runs into channels formed by the guttering.

A length of guttering will typically be sealed at its ends and have one or more outlets, each comprising a hole in the bottom surface of the channel, leading into a short, downwardly-extending pipe. This pipe is connected to one or more other pipes which carry rainwater down a side of the building, so that it can run into a drain.

Guttering and other rainwater collection pipes are usually formed in standard lengths, and it is generally not possible to choose, with any precision, the position of the aperture in the length of guttering. Moreover, houses and other buildings come in a very wide variety of shapes and configurations, and there are often significant constraints on the places in which pipework can be attached to the sides of a building.

The result is that the outlet aperture in a length of guttering is very rarely aligned exactly with a downpipe that is affixed to the side of a building. For this reason, a diagonal length of pipe is typically used to convey the rainwater i laterally across the side of the building in order to meet up with the top end of the downpipe. Standard “elbow” pipe sections are provided to be connected to seal? the downwardly extending outlet pipe of the guttering, and to the upper end of the downpipe, and a length of straight pipe is cut to length and inserted between the elbow sections to form a complete liquid path running from the guttering to the downpipe. To do so, however, a plumber or engineer must typically make several trips up a ladder to measure the length of the pipe required, to cut the pipe and subsequently to install the pipe correctly. This makes the installation of such pipe work systems cumbersome and expensive.

Furthermore, joining pipes to one another reliably is a perennial problem.

Many different types and sources of pipe exist, and no standard “convention” has been settled upon for attaching pipes to one another. As a result, plumbers/engineers typically resort to fairly ad hoc methods of joining pipes together, for instance placing one end of a narrow pipe within the end of a wider pipe, and hammering a normal nail through the walls of both pipe sections to keep them together. Clearly, this is undesirable, as the joint formed by these methods is not reliable, and leakage of rainwater through the holes formed by this process is also possible.

It is object of the present invention to seek to address at least some of these difficulties.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a pipe connector arrangement comprising: first and second end pipe sections having respective first and second end connector portions; and a telescoping arrangement between the end connector portions, the telescoping arrangement comprising telescoping pipe sections, including parts of the first and second end pipe sections and at least one intermediate pipe section, allowing the distance between the end connector portions to be varied by the sliding of the "telescoping pipe sections with respect to one another, wherein the telescoping arrangement is at an angle to each of the first and second end connector portions, and the diameter of the telescoping pipe sections decreases progressively from an inlet end of the telescoping arrangement towards an outlet end of the telescoping arrangement.

Advantageously, the first and second end pipe sections each have a bend formed therein between the respective end connector portion and the part of the pipe section that forms part of the telescoping arrangement.

Preferably, the first and second connector arrangements are substantially parallel with one another.

Conveniently, at least one groove is provided on a first one of the telescoping pipe sections, with a corresponding protrusion being formed on a second one of the telescoping pipe sections, wherein the protrusion may slide within the groove to allow axial sliding of the first and second pipe sections with respect to one another, with relative rotational movement of the pipe sections being prevented .

Advantageously, the first pipe section has a first end and a second end, the groove extending from the first end but stopping short of the second end so that, when the protrusion is received in the groove, if the second pipe section is pulled with respect to the first pipe section in a direction towards the second end of the first pipe section, removal of the second pipe section from the first pipe section is obstructed.

Preferably, a first telescoping pipe section has a flexible portion carrying a locking element having an inclined surface and a blocking surface, and wherein a second pipe section has an aperture in its surface in which the locking element may be received, the arrangement being such that: when the first pipe section is engaged with the second pipe section in a first direction, in an appropriate orientation, a part of the second pipe section acts on the inclined surface, deflecting the deflectable portion away from the second pipe section; further advancement of the first pipe section in the first direction causes the locking element to align with the aperture, which is of sufficient size to allow the deflectable portion to return at least part of the way towards its original position so that the locking element is received in the aperture; and when the locking element is received in the aperture, the blocking surface of the locking element abuts against a corresponding surface at an edge of the aperture so that the first pipe section may not be withdrawn from the second pipe section by pulling the first pipe section directly away from the second pipe section in a second direction, which is substantially opposite to the first direction.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a pipe connector arrangement comprising a pipe formed at least partially from a first material and having a rim forming part of a connection aperture of the pipe; and a connector clip formed from a second material, which is harder than the first material, the connector clip having a support portion extending at a proximal end thereof, at or near the rim, and a distal end, a spacer arrangement provided at or near the distal end to space the distal end away from the inner wall of the pipe section, and a cutting section provided at or near the distal end, having a cutting edge which protrudes fon/vardly from the proximal end into the interior of the aperture.

Conveniently, the spacing arrangement comprises one or more spiked barbs which extend in a direction towards the rim.

Advantageously, the connector clip is formed from a single sheet of the second material.

Preferably, the second material is a metai.

Conveniently, the support portion comprises a bend in the connector clip, with a bracing portion being provided on the opposite side of the bend, so that the connector clip may be placed over the rim of the pipe, with the attachment arrangement and the bracing portion being disposed on opposite sides of the pipe wall.

Advantageously, the pipe is provided with a retaining arrangement to prevent the connector clip from sliding around the rim of the pipe.

Preferably, the retaining arrangement comprises a pair of raised ribs or protrusions, spaced apart so that the connector clip may be received between the ribs or protrusions.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching first and second pipe sections together, comprising the steps of: providing first and second pipe sections, the second pipe section being formed from a first material; attaching a connector clip formed from a second material, which is harder than the first material, on or near the rim of the first pipe section, the connector clip having a support portion extending at a proximal end thereof, at or near the rim, and a distal end, a spacer arrangement provided at or near the distal end to space the distal end away from the inner wall of the pipe section, and a cutting section provided at or near the distal end, having a cutting edge which protrudes forwardly from the proximal end into the interior of the aperture; and attaching the first and second pipe sections to one another by pushing one of the pipe sections into an interior of the other of the pipe sections, and rotating the pipe sections with respect to one another.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figures 1, 2 and 3 shows first, second and third pipe section suitable for use with the present invention, respectively; figures 4, 5 and 6 show a connector arrangement embodying the present invention; figure 7 shows a connector clip suitable for use with the present invention; and figure 8 shows the connector clip of figure 7 attached to a pipe section.

Referring firstly to figure 1, a first pipe section 1 is shown. The first pipe section 1 has an upper section 2 which, in the depicted embodiment, has a substantially cylindrical cross-section and tenninates at one end in a first The dimensions of the first connection portion 3 are, in an advantageous connection portion 3, which takes the form of a widened portion. embodiment, ‘such that a pipe having the cross-sectional profile of the main part of the first section 2 could fit closely into the widened portion formed by the first connection portion.

At the second end of the first portion is a bend, at which the upper section joins a second section 5. The lower second section 5 also preferably has a substantially circular cross—section, and is disposed at an angle of around 22.5° to the first section 2 (although other angles may, of course, be used).

The lower second section 5 terminates in an exit aperture 6. On the outer surface of the lower section 5, at either side of the exit aperture 6, raised flanges 7 are provided protruding away from the outer surface of the lower section 5 and extending along the length of the lower section 5, towards the bend 4, for a short distance.

Where each flange 7 meets the end of the exit aperture 6, a tapered face 8 provides a smooth transition between the raised surface of the flange 7 and the edge of the exit aperture 6.

At a location between the two flanges 7, a cutaway portion 45 is formed, in which the outer diameter of the first pipe section is reduced. The cutaway section 45 extends from the edge of the exit aperture 6, a short distance towards the bend 4.

Turning to figure 2, a second pipe section 9 is shown. The second pipe section 9 is substantially straight, and has a cross-sectional profile which is such that the lower section 5 of the first pipe section 1 can fit snugly into the interior of the second pipe section 9. Therefore, if (as is the case in the depicted example) the lower section 5 of the first pipe section 1 is substantially circular in cross-section, the second pipe section 9 will also be substantially circular in cross-section.

On opposing locations on the inner surface 10 of the second pipe section 9, respective grooves 11 are formed, each of which extends from a front edge 12 of the second pipe section 9, along the length of the second pipe section 9, almost to a rear edge thereof, but terminating before the rear edge 13.

On opposing locations on the outer surface 14 of the second pipe section 9, a pair of flanges 15 are provided, raised above the outer surface 14 and extending from the front edge 12 a short distance towards the rear surface 13 of the second pipe section 9. In preferred embodiments, the flanges 15 lie immediately outside the grooves 11.

Spaced apart from the grooves 11, a tab 16 is formed at the front of edge '12 of the second pipe section 9, by a pair of indentations 17 which are formed in the wall of the second pipe section 9. The tab 16 is formed between the indentations 17. On an outer surface of the tab 16, a locking element 18 is formed. The locking element 18 has an inclined face 19, which faces towards the front edge 12, and a locking face 20, which is substantially perpendicular to the outer wall 14, and faces towards the rear edge 13 of the second pipe section 9.

Referring to figure 3, a third pipe section 21 is shown. The third pipe section 21 has an elongate, linear first section 22 having a connection aperture 23 at one end thereof. At the other end, a bend 24 is formed, connecting the first section 22 to a second, downpipe connecting portion 25. Preferably, the upper and lower sections 22,25 are disposed at an angle of around 22.5° to each other. It is also preferable that the angle between the first and lower sections 3,5 of the first pipe section 1 is the same as the angle between the upper and second sections 22,25 of the third pipe section 21.

A pair of grooves 26 are provided at opposite locations on the internal wall 27 of the first section 22. These grooves 26 extend along the length of the first upper section 22, almost to the bend 24.

At another part of the periphery of the connection aperture 23 of the third pipe section 21, a further groove 27 extends reanrvardly for a short distance, and is accommodated in a groove housing 28 which extends outwardly from the outer surface 29 of the first section 22. The groove housing 28 extends away from the aperture 23 and terminates in a rear surface 30, with the further groove 27 running all the way through the groove housing 28. Immediately adjacent the rear surface 30 is a cut-away portion 31, which provides an aperture 32, aligned with the further groove 27, into the interior of the upper section 22. On the side of the aperture 32 that is furthest from the groove housing 28, a raised stop element 33 is provided.

The first, second and third pipe sections 1,921 are assembled together.

Firstly, the second pipe section 9 is slid over the end of the second section 5 of the first pipe section 1, so that the flanges 7 of the first pipe section 1 are received in the grooves 11 of the second pipe section 9. The tapered surfaces 8 assist in inserting a pipe section 1 into the second pipe section 9. Once the first pipe section 5 has been inserted into the second pipe section 9 by a sufficient amount to allow the flanges 7 to be received in the grooves 11, it will be understood that the first and second pipe sections 1,9 may slide relatively freely in an axial direction with respect to one another, but may not rotate with respect to one another. Furthermore, complete removal of the second pipe section 9 from the first pipe section 1 is prevented by the fact that the grooves 11 do not extend all the way to the rear surface 13 of the second pipe section 9, and therefore rear portions of the flanges 7 of the first pipe section will abut against the ends of the grooves 11 if an attempt is made to remove the second pipe section 9 from the first pipe section 1.

The upper section 22 of the third pipe section 21 is then placed over the outside of the second pipe section 9. Again, the flanges 15 of the second pipe section 9 will be received in the first grooves 26 of the third pipe section 21, so that the second and third pipe sections 9,21 may slide axially with respect to one another but may not rotate with respect to one another.

The height of the locking element 18 is less than the depth of the further groove 27 in the third pipe section 21. The second and third pipe sections 9,21 are formed so that, during assembly as described above, the locking element 18 will align with the further groove 27. As the third pipe section 21 is slid of over the second pipe section 9, the inclined surface 19 of the locking element 18 will press against the interior surface of the groove housing 28, and the tab 16 of the second pipe section 9 will be deflected inwardly, allowing the third pipe section 21 to slide over the second pipe section 9. The tab 16 is aligned with the cutaway section 45 of the first pipe section which allows sufficient room for the tab 16 to deflect inwardly. As the locking element 18 aligns with the aperture 32 the locking element 18 will spring upwardly.

Further sliding of the third pipe section over the second pipe section 9 will again deflect the tab 16 of the second pipe section inwardly, allowing the third pipe section 21 to be slid fully over the second pipe section 9.

Once this is done, however, if an attempt is made to slide the third pipe section 21 completely away from the second pipe section 9, as the locking element 18 aligns with the aperture 32, the locking element 18 will spring upwardly, and its rear blocking surface 20 will abut the rear surface 30 of the groove housing 28.

These components will not be able to slide past one another, and this will effectively prevent withdrawal of the third pipe 21 from the second pipe 9.

It will be appreciated that first, second and third pipe section 1,9,21 will together form a telescoping arrangement. Figure 4 shows a downpipe connector arrangement 34 formed from the three pipe sections 1,921, with the pipe sections 1, 9,21 being pushed together so that the telescoping section is of minimum length. Figures 5 and 6 show symmetric and side views, respectively, of the downpipe connector arrangement 34 extended to its maximum extension.

It will be appreciated that the downpipe connector arrangement 34 will allow quick and simple installation of a rainwater pipe system to connect guttering to a downpipe. Because the length of the inclined section of the downpipe connector arrangement 34 is continuously variable, the downpipe connector arrangement 34 may be used to form a connection between guttering and a downpipe no matter what the lateral displacement between these components, as long. at the lateral displacement is not shorter than the minimum displacement allowed by the downpipe connector arrangement 34 (i.e. the displacement between the upper end of the first and the lower end of the third pipe sections 1,21 when the downpipe arrangement 34 is fully collapsed) or greater than the maximum displacement (i.e. the displacement between the upper end of the first and the lower end of the third pipe sections 1,21 when the downpipe connector arrangement 34 is fully extended). The pipe system can therefore be installed more quickly and simply, and with fewer operations than conventional techniques.

Although a telescoping pipe had previously been proposed, their use in channelling liquids has been very limited, since forming joints in a telescoping pipe system that are fluid tight is generally expensive and difficult. For a horizontal underground pipe, for example, telescoping pipe sections would be wholly impractical.

However, in a downwardly-inclined section of a downpipe connector, it is known that the fluid would be running in one direction only, and that the flow - rate wiil, in general, be relatively low, and so the use of telescoping pipes is possible without any negative consequences. In times of very heavy rates of flow (e.g. during a downpour) some leakage may occur, however, in such circumstances the region surrounding the pipework would in any event be soaked with rainwater and so leakage at the joints of the pipe arrangement would not cause any problems. in preferred embodiments of the invention the first and third pipe sections 1, 21 have bends 4, 24 formed therein, and also include parts (ie. the lower section of the first pipe section 1 and the upper section 22 of the third pipe section 21) which telescope with respect to other, intermediate pipe sections of the connector arrangement. This means that these embodiments require fewer pipe sections than prior art systems which involve a telescoping arrangement mounted between two pipe sections of standard diameter that include bends, and are therefore lighter, cheaper, simpler to install and more reliable.

In the description above, only one intermediate telescoping pipe section is shown between the first and third pipe sections 1, 21, i.e. the pipe sections having bends 4, 24 formed therein. However, it should be understood that any number of intermediate telescoping sections may be provided.

Referring to figure 1, at the upper edge of the connector portion 3, two outwardly protruding ribs 35 are provided. The ribs are parallel with one another and extend downwardly from the upper edge of the connector portion 3.

Referring to figure 4, a connector clip 36 is shown between the ribs 35. The connector clip 36 is shown in more detail in figure 7.

The connector clip 36 takes the form of a single piece of a hard material, such as metal. it is important that the material from which the connector clip 36 is formed is harder than that of the pipes and guttering that are to be used. The connector clip 36 takes the form of a planar sheet of material that is bent back on itself so as to form a “U”-shape when viewed from the side. A first side 37 of the connector clip 36 is substantially planar, within the main bend of the connector clip 36 being formed at an upper end of the first side 37. The bend 38, which is resilient, connects the first side 37 to a second side 39 which lies substantially parallel with the first side 37. The first and second sides 37,39 may be deflected towards or away from one another, and the bend 38 may flex elastically to accommodate this.

The second side 39 comprises a narrowed poition 40, which connects at its proximal end of the bend 38. At its distal end, a widened portion 41 (which is, preferably, of the same width as the bend 38 of the first side 37) is provided.

Where the narrowed portion 40 widens into the widened portion 41, a pair of barbs 42 project towards the bend 38, and are deflected inwardly towards the first side 37. The barbs 42 terminate in sharp points 43. At the distal end of the second side 39 a flat end is presented, having sharp, preferably square corners 45.

The barbs 42 generally comprise a spacer arrangement, which deflects the distal end 44 of the second side 39 away from the wall of the connection portion 3 and into the space within the interior of the connection portion 3. It will be appreciated that, in alternative arrangements, other types of spacer arrangement could be provided.

The sharp corners 45 of the distal end 44 of the second side 39 comprise a cutting section, which must have at least one sharp edge or point, but which need not necessarily take the form shown in the figure.

Figure 8 shows the connector clip 36 fitted over the edge of the connection portion 3 of the first pipe section 1. The bend 38 lies over the edge of the rim of the connection portion 3. The first side 37 of the connector clip (not visible in figure 8) lies against an outer surface of the connector portion 3, and lies between the ribs 35, which prevents the connector clip 36 from sliding around the rim of the connection portion 3. In preferred arrangements, a flattened portion, and/or a portion of reduced thickness, may be provided between the ribs 35 to ease the attachment of the connector clip 36.

The second side 39 of the connector clip 36 lies against the inner wall of the connection portion 3. As the connector clip 36 is slid onto the wall of the connection portion 3, the barbs 42, as described above, are deflected towards the first surface 37, will dig into the inner surface of the connection portion 3.

The tips 43 of the barbs 42 will, to some extent, dig into the wall of the connection portion 3. However, the second side 39 of the connector clip 36 will, because the barbs 42 do not lie in the plane of the second side 39, be deflected away from the inner wall, meaning that the distal end of the second side 39 will also be pushed away from the inner wall, and project into the interior space defined by the connection portion 3.

It is understood that the presence of the barbs 42 strongly resist removal of the connector clip 36 from the connection portion 3 as, if the connector clip 36 is pulled directly away from the connector portion 3, the tips 43 of the barbs 42 will dig more strongly into the inner wall of the connection portion 3.

The connector clip 36 will assist in connecting the first pipe section 1 to the downwardly extending outlet pipe of a gutter. It will be understood that the outlet pipe of the gutter (not shown) is dimensioned so that, if the connector clip 36 is not in place, the outlet pipe of the gutter will fit snugly inside the connection portion 3 of the first pipe section 1.

With the connector clip 36 in place, the connection portion 3 of the first pipe section 1 can be placed around the exterior of the other pipe of a gutter by pushing the connection portion 3 onto the gutter outlet pipe with a rotational, “screwing” action. As this occurs, the distal edge 44 of the second side 39 of the connector clip 36 will dig into the material of the outer surface of the gutter outlet pipe, scoring a groove into the outer surface as it does so. When the connection portion 3 has been fully slid onto the gutter outlet pipe in this fashion, the distal edge 44 of the second side 39 of the connector clip 36 will be strongly wedged into the material of the gutter outlet pipe. Furthermore, if one attempts to move the first pipe section from the gutter outlet pipe pulling the first pipe section 1 directly away from the gutter outlet pipe, the connector clip 36 will strongly resist this motion, as this motion will cause the distal edge 44 to be driven more strongly into the material of the outer surface of the gutter outlet pipe. It is only by withdrawing the first pipe section 1 from the gutter outlet pipe with a rotational screwing action that the two sections of pipe can be easily removed from one another.

' It will be appreciated that the connector clip 36 allows easy and effective connection of pipe sections to one another. Although the inner pipe suffers some damage through the scoring action of the distal edge 44 of the second side 39 of the connector clip 36, in general downpipe arrangements (and other rainwater pipe arrangements) are intended to be fixed to one another and to remain in place for several years (or indeed decades), and so the damage is likely to be well within acceptable limits.

Moreover, no modification or special configuration of the inner pipe is required for this type of connection to be possible — the connector clip 36 will be effective with any type of pipe, and no fitting arrangements are required on the inner pipe.

It will be appreciated that the connector clip may, in alternative arrangements, be provided on the inner pipe of a pipe fitting arrangement, and need not necessarily be on the outer pipe.

It will be appreciated that these arrangements will allow convenient, easy-to- install pipe sections, which will reduce the time and effort of installation of pipe systems.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A pipe connector arrangement comprising: first and second end pipe sections having respective first and second end connector portions; and a telescoping arrangement between the end connector portions, the telescoping arrangement comprising telescoping pipe sections, including parts of the first and second end pipe sections and at least one intermediate pipe section, allowing the distance between the end connector portions to be varied by the sliding of the telescoping pipe sections with respect to one another, wherein the telescoping arrangement is at an angle to each of the first and second end connector portions, and the diameter of the telescoping pipe sections decreases progressively from an inlet end of the telescoping arrangement towards an outlet end of the telescoping arrangement.

2. A pipe connector according to claim 1, where the first and second end pipe sections each have a bend formed therein between the respective end connector portion and the part of the pipe section that forms part of the telescoping arrangement.

3. A connector arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and second connector arrangements are substantially parallel with one another.

4. A connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one groove is provided on a first one of the telescoping pipe sections, with a corresponding protrusion being formed on a second one of the telescoping pipe sections. wherein the protrusion may slide within the groove to allow axial sliding of the first and second pipe sections with respect to one another, with relative rotational movement of the pipe sections being prevented.

5. A connector arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the first pipe section has a first end and a second end, the groove extending from the first end but stopping short of the second end so that, when the protrusion is received in the groove, if the second pipe section is pulled with respect to the first pipe section in a direction towards the second end of the first pipe section, removal of the second pipe section from the first pipe section is obstructed.

6. A connector arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein a first telescoping pipe section has a flexible portion carrying a locking element having an inclined surface and a blocking surface, and wherein a second pipe section has an aperture in its surface in which the locking element may be received, the arrangement being such that: when the first pipe section is engaged with the second pipe section in a first direction, in an appropriate orientation, a part of the second pipe section acts on the inclined surface, deflecting the deflectable portion away from the second pipe section; further advancement of the first pipe section in the first direction causes the locking element to align with the aperture, which is of sufficient size to allow the deflectable portion to return at least part of the way towards its original position so that the locking element is received in the aperture; and when the locking element is received in the aperture, the blocking surface of the locking element abuts against a corresponding surface at an edge of the aperture so that the first pipe section may not be withdrawn from the second pipe section by pulling the first pipe section directly away from the second pipe section in a second direction, which is substantially opposite to the first direction.

7. A pipe connector arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.