IRRIGATION PIPE COUPLER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments of the invention relate to an irrigation pipe coupler and in
particular to an irrigation pipe coupler for connecting to an open end of an irrigation
pipe.
BACKGROUND
[002] When setting up an irrigation system, irrigation pipes often have to be
connected to provide the desired configuration of the irrigation system. Irrigation
pipe couplers that may be used to connect to a pipe in an irrigation system are
usually formed with annular projecting ribs that are shaped to grip and "dig" into
the inner surface of the pipe. To join an irrigation pipe to such a coupler, an end of
the coupler is pressed into an open end of the irrigation pipe and in some cases the
coupler is provided with an outer collar that presses the irrigation pipe onto the ribs
to secure the pipe on the coupler.
[003] US Patent No. 4,278,279 describes a coupling with a nipple that engages
an interior diameter of an irrigation hose. The nipple has gripping edges that are
formed on its exterior and the coupling also has a collar that can be moved in order
to securely pinch the end of the hose against the gripping edges of the coupling.

SUMMARY
[004] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and
illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be
exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.
[005] In an embodiment there is provided an irrigation pipe coupler for
engaging an open end of an irrigation pipe with an axial forward end thereof, the
coupler comprising a nipple and an outer collar each having an axis, the nipple
comprising an outwardly projecting barb; and the collar surrounding at least part of
the nipple and comprising an inwardly projecting bulge and being slidably movable
along the nipple between forward and rear terminal positions, the collar being
spaced radially outwardly from the nipple via a peripheral gap when the nipple and
the collar extend coaxially, and the gap being re-defined between the collar and
nipple for each new position of the collar when moved along the nipple, wherein the
coupler comprises a rear stop that stops the collar from sliding to positions rear to
the rear terminal position and when the collar abuts the rear stop the gap formed at
that position is adapted to receive the irrigation pipe until a position where its open
end is located rear to the bulge of the collar.
[006] Optionally, at each position of the collar along the nipple the gap
comprises a narrow region measured in the radial direction where the collar is
closest to the nipple, and wherein the narrow region gets smaller during at least part
of the forward movement of the collar along the nipple.
[007] Optionally, the coupler comprises a centering means that is adapted to
maintain the collar and nipple coaxial during movement of the collar along the
nipple.
[008] If desired, the narrow region at its smallest size is measured between
portions of the bulge and the barb.
[009] Typically, the bulge comprises a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth.

[010] Optionally, the collar comprises at least one hollow window that extends
radially through a portion of the collar at a position along the collar that is rear to
the bulge.
[011] Typically, the coupler comprises a base, the nipple extending forwardly
from the base and the collar being in sliding engagement with the base for
supporting the slidable movement of the collar along the nipple.
[012] Optionally, the sliding engagement between the collar and the base
maintains the collar and nipple substantially coaxial as the collar is slidably moved
along the nipple between the forward and rear terminal positions.
[013] In accordance with an embodiment there is also provided a method for
coupling between a coupler and an irrigation pipe comprising the steps of:
providing a coupler that is adapted to engage an open end of an irrigation pipe with
a forward end thereof, the coupler comprising a nipple and an outer collar, the
nipple comprising an outwardly projecting barb and the collar being slidably
movable in a path defined along the nipple between forward and rear terminal
positions, the coupler comprising a rear stop that stops the collar from sliding out of
the path to positions rear to the rear terminal position and the collar surrounding at
least a part of the nipple and comprising an inwardly projecting bulge, providing an
irrigation pipe having an open end, fitting the pipe with its open leading over the
nipple and then urging the pipe rearward to between the collar and nipple together
with the collar that gets engaged therewith to a position where the collar bears
against the rear stop and the open end of the pipe is rear to the bulge, and urging the
pipe forwardly together with the collar that is engaged therewith adjacent the bulge
to reach a position where the pipe is secured to the coupler.
[014] Optionally, the coupler comprises also a forward stop that stops the collar
from sliding out of the path beyond the forward terminal position.
[015] Typically, the collar comprises a hollow window that extends radially
through a portion of the collar at a position along the collar that is rear to the bulge,

and the urging of the pipe rearward to position its open end rear to the bulge is
performed until the window overlies a portion of the pipe that includes its open end.
[016] Optionally, the collar is kept spaced radially outwardly from the nipple
via a peripheral gap while being slidably moved along the nipple.
[017] Typically, the gap is re-defined between the collar and nipple for each
new position of the collar when moved along the nipple, and at each such new
position the gap comprises a narrow region measured in the radial direction where
the collar is closest to the nipple, and the narrow region gets smaller at least during
part of the forward movement of the collar along the nipple.
[018] Optionally, the narrow region gets smaller at least during the end part of
the forward movement of the pipe and collar that secures the pipe to the coupler.
[019] If desired, forward movement of the collar just beyond the position
where it can secure the pipe to the nipple is adapted to form a gap with a smaller
narrow region.
[020] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,
further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures
and by study of the following detailed descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[021] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is
intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered
illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization
and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when
read with the accompanying figures, in which:
[022] Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a main distribution pipe
and a drip irrigation pipe that branches off from the main pipe, a coupling assembly
including a coupler in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
being coupled to the chip irrigation pipe;

[023] Fig. 2 schematically shows a section of Fig. i;
[024] Fig. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of the coupling assembly
with a coupler in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[025] Fig. 4 schematically shows an exploded view of the coupler with a collar
of the coupler being displaced from its normal position in the coupler;
[026] Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross sectional view of the coupler with the
collar being located at a rear terminal position;
[027] Fig. 6 schematically shows a cross sectional view of the coupler with the
collar being located at a forward terminal position; and
[028] Figs. 7 to 10 schematically show various stages that may be performed
when coupling between an irrigation pipe and a coupler in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[029] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,
elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For
example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to
other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference
numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[030] Attention is first drawn to Figs. 1 and 2 to show a coupler 10 in
accordance with various embodiments of the present invention that can be used to
connect between irrigation pipes 12 in a field to form a desired configuration of an
irrigation system. The coupler 10 can be used in various configurations of irrigation
accessories and in the example shown in these figures it is seen that a single coupler
10 can be part of a coupling accessory 14 that connects between a main distribution
pipe 16 and a lateral drip irrigation pipe 12 that branches off from the main
distribution pipe.
[031] Attention is now drawn to Figs. 3 and 4. The coupling accessory 14 may
be threaded at its side that connects to the main distribution pipe 16 to provide

threading engagement with the main pipe. However it is noted that the coupling
accessory 14 may include any number of couplers 10. For example, in an
embodiment a coupling accessory (not shown) may include two or more couplers
10 with one of the couplers for example replacing the threaded part that is shown in
these figures.
[032] The coupler 10 has an axis X, and a core 18 and a collar 20 each with a
respective axis that is substantially coaxial with the axis X at least when the coupler
10 is fully assembled to a pipe 12. The axis X defines opposing axial forward and
rear directions F, R and each part of the coupler 10 also when described alone will
be described in an orientation where it extends coaxial to the axis X, and therefore
in relation to the axis X and to the forward and rear directions. It should be noted
that directional terms appearing throughout the specification and claims, e.g.
"forward", "rear", "up", "down" etc., (and derivatives thereof) are for illustrative
purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. In
addition it is noted that the directional terms "down", "below" and "lower" (and
derivatives thereof) define identical directions.
[033] The core 18 includes a base 22 and a nipple 24 and the collar 20
surrounds at least portions of the core 18 during use of the coupler 10. Attention is
additionally drawn to Figs. 5 and 6. The coupler 10 has a lumen 26 that is formed
therein along the axis X. The lumen 26 provides a path for fluid communication
through the coupler 10 when the coupler is assembled to an open end 28 of an
irrigation pipe 12, and the base 22 and the nipple 24 surround axially adjacent
respective rear and forward portions of the lumen 26. The base 22 has a plurality of
axially extending rails 30 (best seen in Fig. 4) that are formed on its outer periphery.
The rails 30 are symmetrically distributed about the axis X, and each rail 30 has a
rear stop 32 at a rear end of the base 22, a forward stop 34 at a forward end of the
base 22 and a neck 36 therebetween. The rear and forward stops 32, 34 project
radially outwardly above the neck 36 in each rail 30, and the nipple 24 extends
forwardly from the forward end of the base 22 and includes an outwardly projecting

peripheral barb 38 that is formed on its outer face. Barb 38 projects away from the
axis X and optionally includes two peripheral tapering surfaces 39 that converge
towards each other in a direction away from the axis X.
[034] The collar 20 has an inner space that extends axially therethrough along
the axis X. The collar 20 also has a rear anchor 40, at least one window 42 and a
peripheral bulge 44. The bulge 44 is formed on an inner face of the collar 20 that
envelopes the inner space of the collar 20 and projects radially into the inner space.
The bulge 44 has a rim 45 at a rear end thereof, and optionally the bulge 44 tapers
rearward towards the axis X on its way to the rim 45. Rim 45 may include sharp
edges or teeth that can engage and grip onto the outer face of the pipe 12 when the
coupler 10 is coupled to the pipe 12. The window 42 extends radially through the
collar 20 to communicate between the inner space of the collar 20 and the outer
exterior of the collar 20. The window 42 opens into the inner space rear to the rim
45 of the bulge 44 so that any object that is advanced rearward through the inner
space of the collar 20 can be seen from outside of the collar 20 when it passes the
rim 45.
[035] In an embodiment of the coupler 10, the collar 20 surrounds the core 18
of the coupler 10 with its anchor 40 surrounding and slidably engaging the rails 30
of the base 22 at their necks 36. The collar 20 can slide forward and rear relative to
the core 18 by virtue of the sliding engagement that exists between the anchor 40
and the necks 36. This sliding engagement also acts as a centering means that
maintains the collar 20 and nipple 24 substantially coaxial and thereby keeps
remaining portions of the collar 20 that are forward to the anchor 40 spaced radially
outwardly from the nipple 24 via a peripheral gap 46. The collar 20 can slide along
the nipple 24 between forward and rear terminal positions. In the forward terminal
position the anchor 40 engages the forward stop 34 of the base 22 which keeps it
from being detached from the core 18 (Fig. 6). In the rear terminal position the
anchor 40 engages the rear stop 32 of the base 22 which stops the collar 20 from
moving, rearward beyond that position (Fig. 5).

[036] The gap 46 between the collar 20 and the nipple 24 is re-defined for each
new position of the collar 20 when it is moved along the nipple 24. At each such
new position the gap 46 may have a narrow region 48 that is measured in the radial
direction and at that narrow region 48 the collar 20 is closest to the nipple 24. In an
embodiment, the narrow region 48 becomes smaller during at least part of the
forward movement of the collar 20 along the nipple 24.
[037] Attention is now drawn to Figs. 7 to 10. The assembly between the pipe
12 and the coupler 10 may be performed by for example axially urging the coupler
10 forwardly so that its nipple 24 first fits into the open end 28 of the pipe 12, or by
urging the pipe 12 axially rearward with its open end 28 leading to fit over the
nipple 24, or by urging both the nipple 24 and the pipe 12 axially towards each
other so that the pipe 12 is fitted onto the nipple 24 with its open end 28 facing
axially rearward. The assembly steps between the pipe 12 and the coupler 10 will
be descried herein below with respect to the optional case that the pipe 12 is urged
onto the coupler 10 however it is understood that other cases described above are
also possible. Also in the example shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the collar 20 is shown at
its forward terminal position when the assembly between the pipe 12 and the
coupler 10 begins however it is noted that the collar 20 may be at any position along
the nipple 24 when starting the assembly.
[038] To begin the assembly between the pipe 12 and the coupler 10, the pipe
12 is optionally urged rearward with its open end 28 leading in order to fit onto the
nipple 24 of the coupler 10 (Figs. 7 and 8). If the collar 20 is initially at a position
forward to its rear terminal position then the pipe 12 as it is urged rearward will start
to bear with its outer face against the collar 20 and urge the collar 20 rearward
towards its rear terminal position. The pipe 12 can be urged rearward relative to the
nipple 24 until a state where the collar 20 is at its rear terminal position and/or the
rear end 28 of the pipe 12 passes the rim 45 of the collar 20 and can be seen from
outside of the collar 20 via the window 42 (Fig. 9).

[039] Optionally, the view of the rear end 28 of the pipe 12 via the window 42
serves as a visual indication that the pipe 12 has been sufficiently urged rearward
relative to the collar 20 and nipple 24 and from this state the pipe 12 can be urged
forwardly relative to the core 18 of the coupler 10 to complete the assembly. The
outer face of the pipe 12 engages the bulge 44 of the collar 20 optionally at the rim
45 and urges the collar 20 to slide forwardly therewith. During at least part of this
forward movement, the narrow region 48 gradually decreases until a position is
reached where the pipe 12 is firmly gripped and secured between the collar 20 and
nipple 24 (Fig. 10). Optionally, at this position where the pipe 12 is firmly gripped,
the narrow region 48 is measured between portions of the bulge 44 and the barb 38.
Forward movement of the collar 20 just beyond the position where the pipe 12 is
firmly gripped to the coupler 10, may result in a formation of a gap 46 with an even
smaller narrow region 48 that increases the tightening of the coupler 10 to the pipe
12.
[040] In the description and claims of the present application, each of the
verbs, "comprise" "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to
indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing
of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.
[041] Although the present embodiments have been described to a certain
degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and
modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.

We Claim:
1. An irrigation pipe coupler for engaging an open end of an irrigation pipe
with an axial forward end thereof,
the coupler comprising a nipple and an outer collar each having an axis, the
nipple comprising an outwardly projecting barb; and the collar surrounding at least
part of the nipple and comprising an inwardly projecting bulge and being slidably
movable along the nipple between forward and rear terminal positions,
the collar being spaced radially outwardly from the nipple via a peripheral gap
when the nipple and the collar extend coaxially, and the gap being re-defined
between the collar and nipple for each new position of the collar when moved along
the nipple, wherein
the coupler comprises a rear stop that stops the collar from sliding to positions
rear to the rear terminal position and when the collar abuts the rear stop the gap
formed at that position is adapted to receive the irrigation pipe until a position
where its open end is located rear to the bulge of the collar.
2. The irrigation pipe coupler according to claim 1, wherein at each position
of the collar along the nipple the gap comprises a narrow region measured in the
radial direction where the collar is closest to the nipple, and wherein
the narrow region gets smaller during at least part of the forward movement of
the collar along the nipple.
3. The irrigation pipe coupler according to claim 1 and comprising a
centering means that is adapted to maintain the collar and nipple coaxial during
movement of the collar along the nipple.
4. The irrigation pipe coupler according to claim 3, wherein the narrow
region at its smallest size is measured between portions of the bulge and the barb.
5. The irrigation pipe coupler according to claim 4, wherein the bulge
comprises a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth.

6. The irrigation pipe coupler according to any one of the preceding claims
wherein the collar comprises at least one hollow window that extends radially
through a portion of the collar at a position along the collar that is rear to the bulge.
7. The irrigation pipe coupler according to claim 3 and comprising a base,
the nipple extending forwardly from the base and the collar being in sliding
engagement with the base for supporting the slidable movement of the collar along
the nipple.
8. The irrigation pipe coupler according to claim 7, wherein the sliding
engagement between the collar and the base maintains the collar and nipple
substantially coaxial as the collar is slidably moved along the nipple between the
forward and rear terminal positions.
.9. A method for coupling between a coupler and an irrigation pipe
comprising the steps of:
providing a coupler that is adapted to engage an open end of an irrigation pipe
with a forward end thereof, the coupler comprising a nipple and an outer collar, the
nipple comprising an outwardly projecting barb and the collar being slidably
movable in a path defined along the nipple between forward and rear terminal
positions, the coupler comprising a rear stop that stops the collar from sliding out of
the path to positions rear to the rear terminal position and the collar surrounding at
least a part of the nipple and comprising an inwardly projecting bulge,
providing an irrigation pipe having an open end,
fitting the pipe with its open leading over the nipple and then urging the pipe
rearward to between the collar and nipple together with the collar that gets engaged
therewith to a position where the collar bears against the rear stop and the open end
of the pipe is rear- to the bulge, and
urging the pipe forwardly together with the collar that is engaged therewith
adjacent the bulge to reach a position where the pipe is secured to the coupler.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the coupler comprises also a
forward stop that stops the collar from sliding out of the path beyond the forward
terminal position.
11. The method according to claims 9 or 10, wherein the collar comprises a
hollow window that extends radially through a portion of the collar at a position
along the collar that is rear to the bulge, and the urging of the pipe rearward to
position its open end rear to the bulge is performed until the window overlies a
portion of the pipe that includes its open end.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the collar is kept spaced
radially outwardly from the nipple via a peripheral gap while being slidably moved
along the nipple.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the gap is re-defined
between the collar and nipple for each new position of the collar when moved along
the nipple, and at each such new position the gap comprises a narrow region
measured in the radial direction where the collar is closest to the nipple, and the
narrow region gets smaller at least during part of the forward movement of the
collar along the nipple.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the narrow region gets
smaller at least during the end part of the forward movement of the pipe and collar
that secures the pipe to the coupler.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein forward movement of the
collar just beyond the position where it can secure the pipe to the nipple is adapted
to form a gap with a smaller narrow region.