Snap Fitting For Plumbing

Abstract

A snap fitting far use in plumbing is provided. The snap fitting includes a main body formed of plastic and shaped to extend partially around a cylindrical pipe to snap over the pipe and an inset for extending from an interior side of the main body into a hole in the cylindrical pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for creating an additional line from a pipe through which fluid flows without cutting completely through a cross section of the pipe, the method comprising:
 providing a snap fitting having a main body formed of plastic and shaped to extend partially around a pipe of cylindrical cross section to snap over the pipe and a connector integral with the main body for the additional line extending from the main body;   drilling a hole in the pipe at a position for the additional line;   positioning the snap fitting over the hole and snapping the snap fitting in place on the pipe, such that an interior surface of the pipe remains smooth and continuous and fluid flow within the pipe is not disrupted, and such that interior walls of the connector remain smooth and edges of the hole are not exposed;   solvent welding the snap fitting in place.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the hole are beveled. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the main body comprises spaced apart members that extend partially around the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein nubs are positioned on each of the spaced apart members to assist in preventing a bonding agent to be removed while the snap fitting is snapped into place. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  Wherein the connector is a wye connector. 
     
     
         6 . The method of claim I wherein the connector is a T-connector. 
     
     
         7 . A method for creating an additional line from a cylindrical pipe through which fluid flows without cutting completely through a cross section of the cylindrical pipe, the method comprising:
 providing a snap fitting for use in plumbing to provide for installation of the additional line extending from the cylindrical pipe without cutting completely through the cross section of the cylindrical pipe, the snap fitting comprising a main body formed of plastic and shaped to extend partially around the cylindrical pipe to snap over the cylindrical pipe and a connector integral with the main body for the additional line extending from the main body of the cylindrical pipe;   creating a hole in the cylindrical pipe at a place in which the additional line needed;   snapping the snap fitting into place over the hole in the pipe such that the connector is aligned with the hole in the cylindrical pipe and such that the edges of the hole are not exposed and an interior wall of additional line of the connector extends into the hole in the main body and terminates in flush alignment with an inner edge of the interior wall of the hole in the main body;   chemically welding the main body to the cylindrical pipe with a solvent.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the creating the hole is performed by melting. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the creating the hole is performed by cutting. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the creating the hole is performed by drilling. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the edges of the hole are beveled. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the main body comprises spaced apart members that extend partially around the pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein nubs are positioned on each of the spaced apart members to assist in preventing a bonding agent to be removed while the snap fitting is snapped into place. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the connector is a wye connector. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the connector is a T-connector.