Thomas R Hendrickson

US Patent:

53662636, Nov 22, 1994

Filed:

Oct 22, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/142169

Inventors:

Thomas R. Hendrickson - Pelkie MI

Assignee:

Quikcoup, Inc. - Houghton MI

International Classification:

F16L 2308

US Classification:

285364

Abstract:

A manually releasable, toggle-type fastener is provided for use, in place of the conventional bolt and nut fastener, used to secure together the adjacent bolt lugs formed on the ends of curved segments which form a circular pipe coupling. The fastener includes a pin of a shape and size to fit into the aligned bolt holes of the lugs, in place of a conventional bolt, and a lever pivotally connected to one end of the pin for swinging into a locked position adjacent its segment and into an unlocked position away from its segment. The lever has a hook-like formation on its end to which a wire-like loop is secured. The loop extends around the sides of the pin and the sides of the bolt lugs to be fastened together and has an opposite end engaging both the pin and the adjacent surface of the segment for securing the lugs together and for being restrained from release by the pin itself. The fastener may be made in different sizes to fit different size bolt lugs on different size couplings and the loop may be exchanged with different size loops for utilizing the same fastener, but with different size loops for different size coupling lugs.

US Patent:

53800524, Jan 10, 1995

Filed:

Dec 27, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/172720

Inventors:

Thomas R. Hendrickson - Pelkie MI

Assignee:

Quikcoup, Inc. - Houghton MI

International Classification:

F16L 2308

US Classification:

285364

Abstract:

A manually releasable, toggle-type fastener is provided for use, in place of the conventional bolt-and-nut fastener that is normally used to secure together the adjacent, aligned, bolt lugs formed on the ends of curved segments which form a circular pipe coupling. The fastener includes a first pin part fitted into the bolt hole of a first lug, and a second pin part fitted into the bolt hole of the second lug. A lever is pivotally connected to the first pin part for swinging into a locked position adjacent its segment and for swinging into an unlocked position away from its segment. The lever has an end to which a clamp member is releasibly secured. The clamp extends along the lugs and has an end which engages the second lug and which carries the second pin part for securing the lugs together. The fastener may be made in different sizes to fit different size bolt lugs on different size couplings. Particularly, the clamp member may be exchanged for different size clamp members for utilizing the same fastener for fastening different size coupling lugs.

US Patent:

52826546, Feb 1, 1994

Filed:

Apr 26, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/051853

Inventors:

Thomas R. Hendrickson - Pelkie MI

Assignee:

Quikcoup, Inc. - Houghton MI

International Classification:

F16L 1704

US Classification:

285112

Abstract:

A narrow, thin, metal strip is arranged around the periphery of the end portion of at least one of two pipes arranged in axial alignment for forming a coupled joint. The adjacent pipe end portions are provided with circumferential grooves. A coupling surrounds the end portions of the pipes and has radially inwardly extending keys for fitting into the grooves in the pipes. The strip has a groove formation for fitting into and lining the groove formed in the end of the pipe upon which it is arranged. The localized pressure of the key fitted into the strip groove is dispersed through the strip into the adjacent pipe areas which the strip overlies to protect the pipe groove walls and base and the pipe-end portions from being damaged by engagement with the coupling key. The strip permits coupling a pair of relatively easily damaged plastic pipes or coupling a plastic pipe and a stronger metal pipe by resisting damage to plastic pipes caused by coupling key pressure.