Water meter service coupling

A water meter service coupling facilitates removal and/or replacement of a water meter by allowing for expansion of the water service line upon disconnection of the water meter. One embodiment of the water meter service coupling includes a housing having first and second ends, an expansion piston having one end thereof slidably inserted into the first end of said housing for being slidably moved into and out of said housing, a retaining insert disposed at the outer end of said expansion piston, and a nut disposed about said retaining insert for coupling said expansion piston to a water meter, wherein the second end of said housing is coupled to a water service line and the water meter service coupling is installed in an expanded state so that upon disconnection from the water meter, the water meter service coupling may be retracted so as to allow for easy removal of the water meter.

1. A water meter coupling which comprises:

a housing having first and second ends,

an expansion piston having a first end thereof slidably inserted into said first end of said housing for being slidably moved into and out of said housing, wherein said housing and said expansion piston are formed from plastic,

a connecting means disposed at the outer second end of said expansion piston for connecting said water meter thereto comprising a retaining insert disposed at the outer second end of said expansion piston, and a nut disposed about said retaining insert for coupling said expansion piston to said water meter,

a housing having first and second ends;

an expansion piston having a first end thereof slidably inserted into said fist end of said housing for being slidably moved into and out of said housing wherein said housing and said expansion piston are formed from plastic,

a connecting means disposed at the outer second end of said expansion piston for connecting said water meter thereto.

wherein said connecting means comprises a flange member disposed at the outer second end of said expansion piston for being connected to a water meter.

4. The water meter service coupling of claim 3, wherein said flange member comprises a flange support member affixed peripherally about the exterior of the end of said expansion piston and a flange coupling member disposed peripherally about the exterior of said flange support member for coupling to a flange portion of a water meter.

5. The water meter service coupling of claim 4, further comprising:

a socket coupling insert disposed in said first end of said housing for retaining an expansion piston in said water meter service coupling and also for coupling with a water line, and

a sealing means disposed about said first end of said expansion piston for maintaining a seal within said housing.

6. The water meter service coupling of claim 5, wherein said housing, said socket coupling insert and said expansion piston are formed from polyvinyl chloride, and wherein said O-rings are formed from high grade rubber.

7. A water meter coupling which comprises:

a housing having first and second ends,

a connecting means disposed at the outer second end of said expansion piston for connecting said water thereto,

wherein said connecting means comprises a sale adapter member having a male threaded portion, said adapter member being disposed at the outer second end of said expansion piston for being connected to a water meter.

8. The water meter service coupling of claim 7, further comprising:

a socket coupling insert disposed in said first end of said housing for retaining an expansion piston in said water meter service coupling and also for coupling with a water line, and

a sealing means disposed about said first end of said expansion piston for maintaining a seal within said housing.

9. The water meter service coupling of claim 8, wherein said housing, said socket coupling insert and said expansion piston are formed from polyvinyl chloride, and wherein said O-rings are formed from high grade rubber.

10. The water meter service coupling of claim 7, wherein said male adapter comprises a cylindrical body portion and a cylindrical threaded portion having threads on the exterior thereof.

11. The water meter service coupling of claim 10, wherein said cylindrical body portion of said adapter is disposed about the exterior of the outer end of said expansion piston and said cylindrical threaded portion extends from the outer end of said expansion piston.

12. The water meter service coupling of claim 1, wherein said retaining insert comprises a cylindrical body portion and a retaining flange along the outer periphery of one end of said cylindrical body portion.

13. The water meter service coupling of claim 12, wherein said cylindrical body portion of said retaining insert is disposed within the interior of the outer second end of said expansion piston and said retaining flange extends peripherally out of the outer end of said expansion piston.

14. The water meter service coupling which comprises:

a housing having first and second ends;

a socket coupling insert disposed in said first end of said housing for retaining an expansion piston in said water meter service coupling and also for coupling with a water line;

an expansion piston having first and second ends, said first end of said expansion piston being slidably inserted into said second end of said housing for being slidably moved into and out of said housing, said expansion piston having sealing means disposed about said first end for maintaining a seal within said housing;

a retaining insert having first and second ends, said first end of said retaining insert being disposed at said second end of said expansion piston, wherein said retaining insert facilitates coupling of said expansion piston to a water meter; and

a nut for coupling to a water meter, said nut being disposed about said retaining insert so as to be retained thereby and so that said nut may be screwed on to a nipple of a water meter,

wherein said second end of said housing is coupled to a water service line, and said water meter service coupling is installed in an expanded state so that upon disconnection from said water meter said water meter service coupling may be retracted so as to allow for easy removal of said water meter, and wherein said housing, said expansion and said retaining insert are formed from plastic.

15. The water meter service coupling of claim 13, wherein said sealing means comprises two or three 0-rings disposed about said expansion piston.

16. The water meter service coupling of claim 15, wherein said housing, said socket coupling insert, said expansion piston, and said retaining insert are formed from polyvinyl chloride, wherein said nut is formed from brass, and wherein said O-rings are formed from high grade rubber.

17. The water meter service coupling of claim 13, wherein said retaining insert comprises a hollow cylindrical body and a retaining flange which extends peripherally from one end thereof, said body of said retaining insert being secured within the interior of said expansion piston so that said retaining flange peripherally extends to retain said nut.

18. The water meter service coupling of claim 14, wherein said retaining insert comprises a cylindrical body portion and a retaining flange along the outer periphery of one end of said cylindrical body portion.

19. The water meter service coupling of claim 14, wherein said retaining insert comprises a hollow cylindrical body and a retaining flange which extends peripherally from one end thereof, said body of said retaining insert being secured peripherally about the exterior of the outer second end of said expansion piston so that said retaining flange peripherally extends to retain said nut.