This invention relates to fittings for connecting conduits, and/or a method of assembling such a fitting, and is intended particularly though not necessarily solely to provide a fitting for providing joints or intersections in domestic plumbing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fitting for connecting two or more conduits, and/or a method of assembling such a fitting, which will at least provide the public with a useful choice. Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention consists in a conduit connection fitting, comprising a core member having an axial bore therethrough and two or more spigot portions; and a sleeve member encasing a central part of said core member; said spigot portions extending beyond the ends of said sleeve member; said sleeve member being stepped adjacent each spigot portion ,so as to provide an annular rebate.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a method of assembling a conduit connection fitting, comprising the steps of: providing a core member having an axial bore therethrough and two or more spigot portions and positioning a sleeve member about the central part of said core member so that said spigot portions extend beyond the ends of said sleeve member, said sleeve member being stepped adjacent each spigot portion so as to provide an annular rebate.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

The preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a cross section of a three way conduit connection fitting constructed in accordance with the invention. Referring now to the Figure, a conduit connection fitting 1 is provided, comprising a core member 2 having an axial bore 3 therethrough and two or more spigot portions such as 4 and 5, and a sleeve member 6 encasing a central part of the core member 2. The spigot portions 4, 5 extend beyond the ends of the sleeve member 6. The sleeve member 6 is stepped adjacent each spigot portion 4, 5 so as to provide an annular rebate 9, 10 adjacent each spigot portion.

In the assembled form as shown, the fitting further preferably includes a collar 11 positioned on each rebate such as 9 and extending around each spigot portion such as 4 so as to provide an annular slot 15 between the inner surface of the collar 11 and the outer surface of the spigot 4. The collars 11 are preferably constructed of a material capable of being swaged onto a conduit 16 when the end of said conduit is positioned in the annular slot 15. The collars may for example be constructed of copper, aluminium, or other suitable materials as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The sleeve portion 6 is preferably constructed of a substantially resilient material, at least in the region of the rebates 9, and may suitably be constructed of a moulded plastics material such as EVA or polyethylene. In at least the preferred form of the invention, the sleeve member 6 is moulded in two halves, which may be hinged to one another, allowing the sleeve member to be opened in order to enable it to be fitted around the core member 2 during assembly of the fitting. The spigot portions such as 4 and 5 of the core member 2 may also preferably include one or more circumferential ribs 17 on the outer surfaces thereof. The core member may

suitably be constructed of copper or any other suitable material as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

The assembly and use of the conduit connection fitting 5 in accordance with the invention will now be described. The conduit connection fitting of the invention is assembled by positioning the sleeve member 6 about the central part 7 of the core member 2 having an axial bore therethrough, so that the spigot portions such as 4 and 5 10 extend beyond the ends of the sleeve member 6. If the sleeve member 6 is provided in two halves, preferably hinged together, then the core member 2 may be positioned in one half of the encasing sleeve member 6 and the second half of sleeve member 6 then positioned around the other ₁₅ side of the core member 2. The two halves may be bonded together at this point, or fixed together by the addition of further components to the fitting.

Collars such as 11 can then be push fitted onto the fitting so as to rest on the rebate 9 of the sleeve member ₂₀ 6 and extend around the protruding spigot portions 4, 5, thus providing an annular slot 15.

In use as a connection fitting, the end of a conduit 16 is pushed into the annular slot 15, and the collar 11 is swaged so as to grip the end of the conduit 16 between the ₂₅ inner surface of the collar 11 and the outer surface of the spigot portion 4. If ribs 17 are provided on the spigot portion 4, these can aid in securing the conduit member 16 once swaged.

The resilient material of the rebate 9 of the sleeve 3 _Q member 6 is able to be compressed or squeezed during the swaging process, so that the jaws of the swage machine are able to sufficiently close around the collar even relatively close to the end of the sleeve member 6.

It will be apparent that with a plurality of conduits ₃₅ 16 fitted in this way to the various spigot portions such as 4 and 5 of the fitting, a joint is provided in a system of conduits. This fitting and method are particularly

suitable for the connection of domestic plumbing pipes such as polybutylene pipes.

It will be apparent that a conduit connection fitting and/or a method of assembling the same is provided which has the advantage of providing a substantially non-leaking joint which is able to be readily assembled and, once assembled, easily used in connecting pipes or conduits by a simple technique of push fitting and swaging. The rebated sleeve portion is particularly advantageous in providing a close and leak proof seal while not interfering with the swaging process, while the rigid, for example copper, core member provides a good base for the swaging and a rigid connection portion.