Fittings For Pipes, And Presses For Installing The Fittings To Pipes

Abstract

A fitting for a pipe generally includes a saddle for coupling the fitting to the pipe and a tap for establishing fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe. The saddle defines a channel extending generally longitudinally through the saddle, and the channel is free of threads. And, the tap is configured to fit within the channel of the saddle for establishing the fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A low-profile fitting for pipes, the fitting comprising:
 a saddle having a body and a clamp, the body defining a channel extending generally longitudinally through the body, and the clamp configured to couple the saddle to a pipe, the body defining a height that is less than a height of the clamp; and   a tap for establishing fluid communication with the pipe, the tap moveable relative to the saddle, and the tap configured to fit within the channel of the body of the saddle and to couple to the saddle.   
     
     
         2 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle defines a total height, and wherein the height of the body is about one-half or less of the total height of the saddle. 
     
     
         3 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle defines a total height, and wherein the height of the body is about one-third or less of the total height of the saddle. 
     
     
         4 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the channel of the body of the saddle is free of threads. 
     
     
         5 . The fitting of  claim 4  wherein the tap is free of threads and is configured to snap-fit couple to the saddle within the channel of the body of the saddle. 
     
     
         6 . A fitting for pipes, the fitting comprising:
 a saddle for coupling the fitting to a pipe, the saddle defining a channel extending generally longitudinally through the saddle, the channel being free of threads; and   a tap for establishing fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe, the tap moveable relative to the saddle, and the tap configured to fit within the channel of the saddle when establishing the fluid communication;   wherein the saddle includes first and second arcuate arms extending around greater than half of a circumference of the pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The fitting of  claim 6 , wherein the tap includes a portion configured to couple the tap to one or more other devices and establish fluid communication between the fitting, the pipe, and the one or more other devices. 
     
     
         8 . The fitting of  claim 7 , wherein the tap defines a channel extending through the tap for establishing the fluid communication between the fitting, the pipe, and the one or more other devices. 
     
     
         9 . The fitting of  claim 8 , wherein the tap includes an insert portion configured to be positioned in the pipe to thereby establish the fluid communication between the fitting, the pipe, and the one or more other devices. 
     
     
         10 . The fitting of  claim 6 , wherein the tap is adapted to couple to the saddle. 
     
     
         11 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the tap is adapted to snap-fit couple to the saddle when establishing the fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the tap includes a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, the first and second portions adapted to engage the saddle to couple the tap to the saddle. 
     
     
         13 . The fitting of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the tap includes a first flange and the second portion of the tap includes a second flange spaced apart from the first flange. 
     
     
         14 . A fitting for pipes, the fitting comprising:
 a saddle for coupling the fitting to a pipe, the saddle defining a channel extending generally longitudinally through the saddle, the saddle including a body and first and second arms configured to extend at least partly around the pipe when coupling the fitting to the pipe; and   a tap moveably coupled to the saddle for establishing fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe, the tap configured to extend within the channel of the saddle and adapted to insert at least partly into the pipe to establish the fluid communication.   
     
     
         15 . The fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the tap includes an insert portion configured to be positioned in the pipe to thereby establish the fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the tap is moveable relative to the saddle between at least a first position and a second position while the tap is coupled to the saddle. 
     
     
         17 . The fitting of  claim 16 , wherein the tap is adapted to couple to the saddle in the first position relative to the saddle prior to coupling the saddle to the pipe, and the tap is adapted to move to the second position relative to the saddle when the saddle is coupled to the pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the tap is adapted to snap-fit couple to the saddle when establishing the fluid communication between the fitting and the pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the tap includes a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, the first and second portions adapted to engage the saddle to couple the tap to the saddle. 
     
     
         20 . The fitting of  claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the tap includes a first flange and the second portion of the tap includes a second flange spaced apart from the first flange.