Tool for preparing fitting and conduit connection

Abstract

A tool is provided to retain a fitting component and a tube gripping device prior to assembly of the fitting and tube gripping device to a conduit end. The tool has a retaining portion that is adapted to retain the fitting component and the tube gripping device on the tool as a single assembly. The tool also protects the fitting component, the tube gripping device, and the conduit end after the fitting component and the tube gripping device are assembled to the conduit end. The tool has a protective portion that is adapted to at least partially cover at least one of the fitting component and tube gripping device after the fitting component and tube gripping device have been assembled to the conduit end.

1 . A tool for holding one or more fitting components together prior to assembly of the fitting components to a conduit end and for protecting at least one of the one or more fitting components and the conduit end after assembly of the one or more fitting components to the conduit end, the tool comprising: 
 a retaining portion adapted to retain the one or more fitting components on the tool; and    a protective portion adapted to at least partially cover at least one of the one or more fitting components and the conduit end after the fitting components have been assembled to the conduit end.    
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion and the protective portion extend in opposite directions.  
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the protective portion further comprises a bore adapted to receive the conduit end.  
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is adapted such that the retaining portion may be separated from the protective portion.  
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 4 , further comprising a groove between the retaining portion and the protective portion, wherein the retaining portion may be separated from the protective portion by fracturing the tool at the groove.  
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a plurality of prongs, adapted to engage an external surface of the fitting component.  
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of prongs comprises a tang for gripping the external surface of the fitting component.  
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the protective portion comprises a cup adapted to completely cover at least one of the fitting component and the tube gripping device.  
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the protective portion is adapted to at least partially cover male threads on the fitting component.  
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the protective portion is adapted to at least partially cover female threads on the fitting component.  
   
   
       11 . A tool for holding a fitting component having a central through bore together with a tube gripping device as a single assembly prior to assembly of the fitting component and tube gripping device to a conduit end, and for at least partially covering at least one of the fitting component, tube gripping device, and conduit end after assembly of the fitting component and tube gripping device to the conduit end, the tool comprising: 
 retaining means for retaining the fitting component and the tube gripping device on the tool as a single assembly; and    covering means for receiving and at least partially covering at least one of the fitting component and the tube gripping device after the fitting component and tube gripping device have been assembled to the conduit end.    
   
   
       12 . A system for installing a fitting on a conduit end, the system comprising: 
 a first fitting component having a bore for receiving the conduit end;    a tube gripping device;    a second fitting component having a socket for receiving the tube gripping device and at least part of the first fitting component, the first and second fitting components being adapted to secure the tube gripping device to the conduit end when the conduit end is inserted in the bore of the first fitting component and the first fitting component is tightened into the second fitting component; and    a tool, comprising a retaining portion and a protective portion;    wherein the retaining portion is adapted to retain the first fitting component and the tube gripping device;    the retaining portion is further adapted to insert the first fitting component and the tube gripping device into the socket; and    the protective portion is adapted to at least partially cover at least one of the first fitting component and the tube gripping device after the first fitting component and the tube gripping device have been assembled to the conduit end.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining portion and the protective portion extend in opposite directions.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the protective portion further comprises a bore adapted to receive the conduit end.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the tool is adapted such that the retaining portion may be separated from the protective portion.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the tool further comprises a groove between the retaining portion and the protective portion, wherein the retaining portion may be separated from the protective portion by fracturing the tool at the groove.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the protective portion of the tool comprises a plurality of prongs.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of prongs comprises a tang for gripping the fitting component.  
   
   
       19 . A system for installing a fitting on a conduit end, the system comprising: 
 a first fitting component having a bore for receiving the conduit end;    a tube gripping device;    a second fitting component having a socket for receiving at least a portion of the tube gripping device and the conduit end, the first and second fitting components being adapted to secure the tube gripping device to the conduit end when the conduit end is inserted in the bore of the first fitting component and the first fitting component is tightened onto the second fitting component; and    a tool, comprising a retaining portion and a protective portion;    wherein the retaining portion is adapted to retain the first fitting component and the tube gripping device;    the retaining portion is further adapted to insert the tube gripping device into the socket when the first fitting component is assembled to the second fitting component; and    the protective portion is adapted to at least partially cover at least one of the first fitting component and the tube gripping device after the first fitting component and the tube gripping device have been assembled to the conduit end.    
   
   
       20 . A method of preparing a conduit end for installation in a fitting having a tube gripping device, a first fitting component, and a second fitting component, the method comprising: 
 retaining the first fitting component and the tube gripping device together;    engaging the first fitting component and the tube gripping device with the second fitting component;    inserting the conduit end through the first fitting component and the tube gripping device and into the second fitting component;    tightening the first fitting component with the second fitting component to secure the tube gripping device to the conduit end;    disassembling the second fitting component from the first fitting component, the tube gripping device, and the conduit end; and    covering at least one of the conduit end, the tube gripping device, and the first fitting component.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing a tool with a retaining portion for retaining the first fitting component and the tube gripping device together.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing a protective portion on the tool, wherein covering at least one of the conduit end, the tube gripping device, and the first fitting component comprises assembling the protective portion over at least one of the conduit end, the tube gripping device, and the first fitting component.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising separating the retaining portion from the protective portion after the first fitting component and the tube gripping device have been engaged with the second fitting component.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising providing a separable connection between the retaining portion and the protective portion of the tool, wherein separating the retaining portion from the protective portion comprises separating the tool at the separable connection.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a bore in the protective portion of the tool, wherein assembling the protective portion over at least one of the conduit end, the tube gripping device, and the first fitting component comprises receiving the conduit end in the bore.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a plurality of prongs in the protective portion of the tool, wherein assembling the protective portion over at least one of the conduit end, the tube gripping device, and the first fitting component comprises engaging the prongs with an external surface of the first fitting component.