Pipe gasket with improved low insertion geometry

摘要

A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within a socket end of a thermoplastic pipe. The gasket includes a ring shaped body which, when viewed in cross-section includes a leading nose region and a lower compression region. The leading nose region is joined to the lower compression region by a leading curved surface region which defines an angle alpha with respect to a horizontal axis drawn parallel to the central axis of the pipe. The lower compression region is joined to a secondary seal surface by a trailing curved surface region which defines a second angle beta with respect to the horizontal axis drawn parallel to the central axis of the pipe. The angles alpha and beta are selected to minimize the insertion force required when inserting the male spigot end within the female socket end of the pipe joint while guiding the spigot end and maintaining a compression seal between the pipe sections.