Clampless fitting for plastic pipes

A clampless fitting for one or more plastic pipes. The fitting has at least one section extending along an axis with a sealing portion and pipe gripping portion adjacent one another on the outer surface of the section. The pipe gripping portion includes a recess extending about the axis of the fitting section with a pipe gripping ring removably received in it and extending substantially about the axis. The ring is substantially C-shaped about the axis and has a plurality of pairs of first and second end segments spaced from each other along the axis and respectively joined by a central pivot segment. In operation, the fitting section is inserted in a first direction into the open end of the plastic pipe to a first location relative to the pipe in which both the sealing and pipe gripping portions are received in the pipe. The second end segment of the ring has a pipe piercing, tip section that is supported above the inner surface of the pipe as the pipe passes over the fitting section to the first relative location. Movement of the fitting section and pipe in an opposite direction away from each other will then cause the upstanding tip sections of the second end segments to pierce the inner surface of the pipe and move into the pipe wall and pivot the first and second end segments of the ring to abut one another to secure the fitting section and pipe in place.