Stop assembly for pipe couplings

Abstract

A stop assembly for limiting motion of a shank of a fastener through an opening in a body is disclosed. The stop assembly has a retention element that is positionable on the shank. The retention element has a first surface that engages the shank for holding it at a predetermined position on the shank. A second surface on the retention element engages the body, and limits the motion of the shank relative to the body. Application of sufficient force to the body or removal of the retention element from the shank will allow the body and the fastener to move relatively to one another.

1 . A stop assembly for limiting the motion of a shank of a fastener extended through an opening in a body, said stop assembly comprising: 
 a retention element positionable on said fastener at a predetermined position along the shank, said retention element having a first surface portion engageable with said shank for holding said retention element at said predetermined position; and    said retention element further having a second surface portion engageable with said body, engagement of said second surface portion with said body limiting motion of said shank through said opening.    
   
   
       2 . A stop assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second retention element positionable on said fastener at a second predetermined position along said shank, said second retention element having a first surface portion engageable with said shank for holding said second retention element at said second predetermined position;    said second retention element further having a second surface portion engageable with a second body having a second opening therein, engagement of said second surface portion with said second body limiting motion of said shank through said second opening.    
   
   
       3 . A stop assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said retention element has an aperture oriented transversely to said shank and permitting removal of said retention element from said shank by movement of said retention element transversely thereto, removal of said retention element allowing relative motion between said shank and said body.  
   
   
       4 . A stop assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said retention element comprises a clip having first and second legs positioned adjacent to one another defining said aperture, said legs being flexible and resiliently biased to engage said shank, said clip being positionable on said shank by deforming said legs to receive said shank therebetween.  
   
   
       5 . A stop assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said clip comprises a wire, said wire having a reverse curve defining said legs, said legs having a curvature sized and shaped to receive said shank therebetween.  
   
   
       6 . A stop assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said clip comprises a plate having a slot therein defining said aperture, said shank being movable through said slot for removal of said clip from said shank.  
   
   
       7 . A stop assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said retention element has an aperture therethrough for receiving said shank, said aperture having a diameter less than the diameter of said shank, said body engaging said shank with an interference fit, said retention element being movable lengthwise along said shank for positioning said retention element at said predetermined position.  
   
   
       8 . A stop assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said retention element comprises an o-ring.  
   
   
       9 . A stop assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said shank has an undercut that receives said O-ring.  
   
   
       10 . A stop assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said retention element comprises a collar formed from an elastic material.  
   
   
       11 . A stop assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said retention element comprises a flexible, elastic plate.  
   
   
       12 . A stop assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said retention element comprises: 
 a washer having an inner diameter defined by a plurality of flexible teeth extending radially inwardly, said teeth being engageable with said shank for holding said washer at said predetermined position, said teeth being flexibly deformable and allowing relative motion between said washer and said shank.    
   
   
       13 . A stop assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said retention element comprises a frangible material engaging said body and said fastener, said frangible material being separable from one of said retention element and said body upon the application of force to said shank to permit relative motion between said body and said shank.  
   
   
       14 . A stop assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said frangible material is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, solder, caulk and paint.  
   
   
       15 . A pipe coupling positionable straddling facing end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, said pipe coupling comprising: 
 a plurality of coupling segments engageable with said pipe elements for holding them in said end to end relationship, said coupling segments being positioned in facing relation and having paired aligned openings extending therethrough;    a fastener having an elongated shank extending through a pair of said aligned openings for joining said coupling segments together;    a retention element having a first surface portion engaged with said shank, said retention element having a second surface portion engaged with one of said coupling segments for limiting motion of said fastener relative to said one coupling segment.    
   
   
       16 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a second retention element having a first surface portion engaged with said shank, said second retention element having a second surface portion engaged with the other of said coupling segments for limiting motion of said fastener relative to said other coupling segment, said first and second retention elements cooperating to maintain said coupling segments in spaced apart relation.    
   
   
       17 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 16 , wherein one of said retention elements has an aperture oriented transversely to said shank and permitting removal of said one retention element from said shank by movement of said retention element transversely thereto, removal of said one retention element allowing relative motion between said fastener and one of said coupling segments.  
   
   
       18 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 17 , wherein said one retention element comprises a clip having first and second legs positioned adjacent to one another defining said aperture, said legs being flexible and resiliently biased into engagement with said shank, said clip being positioned on said shank by deforming said legs to receive said shank therebetween.  
   
   
       19 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 18 , wherein said clip comprises a wire, said wire having a reverse curve defining said legs, said legs having a curvature sized and shaped to receive said shank therebetween.  
   
   
       20 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 17 , wherein said clip comprises a plate having a slot therein defining said aperture, said shank being movable through said slot for removal of said clip from said shank.  
   
   
       21 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 16 , wherein one of said retention elements has an aperture therethrough for receiving said shank, said aperture having a diameter less than the diameter of said shank, said one retention element engaging said shank with an interference fit, said one retention element being movable along said shank for permitting relative motion between said fastener and one of said coupling segments.  
   
   
       22 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 21 , wherein said one retention element comprises an o-ring.  
   
   
       23 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 21 , wherein said one retention element comprises a collar formed from an elastic material.  
   
   
       24 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 21 , wherein said one retention element comprises a flexible, elastic plate.  
   
   
       25 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 21 , wherein said one retention element comprises: 
 a washer having an inner diameter defined by a plurality of flexible teeth extending radially inwardly, said teeth being engageable with said shank, said teeth being flexibly deformable and allowing relative motion between said washer and said fastener.    
   
   
       26 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 15 , wherein said retention element comprises a frangible material engaging said one of said coupling segments and said shank, said frangible material being separable from one of said shank and said one coupling segment upon the application of force to said fastener to permit relative motion between said one coupling segment and said fastener.  
   
   
       27 . A pipe coupling according to  claim 15 , wherein said shank is attached to said one of said coupling segments, said retention element cooperating with said other coupling segment to hold said coupling segments in spaced apart relation.