Ships – Valves – Boat plugs
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-05-08
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Valves
Boat plugs
C251S263000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227132
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a boat drain plug with cable tether and more particularly pertains to preventing a boat's drain plug from being lost.
The use of drain plug devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, drain plug devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of connecting with the drain plug to prevent misplacing are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,515 to Johnson discloses a boat plug with a connector chain incorporated and means to remind the user of the condition of the plug. U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,558 to Schultz discloses a water inlet adapter valve for a boat with a chain secured to the plug. U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,376 to Wagner and U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,502 to Ceroke disclose additional drain plug apparatus'.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a boat drain plug with cable tether for preventing a boat's drain plug from being lost.
In this respect, the boat drain plug with cable tether according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing a boat's drain plug from being lost.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether which can be used for preventing a boat's drain plug from being lost. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of drain plug devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved boat drain plug with cable tether. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a cylindrical plug portion adapted for coupling with the drain of the boat. The cylindrical plug portion has an upper end, a lower end, and an externally threaded cylindrical side wall therebetween. The upper end has a block secured thereto. The block has an aperture therethrough. The lower end is receivable within the drain with the externally threaded side wall mating with the internally threaded drain. A length of safety cable is provided that is formed into a lower loop and an upper loop by a pair of ferrules. The lower loop is coupled with the aperture of the block of the plug portion. A swivel loop is provided having a central pivot member with opposed upper and lower looping members. The lower looping member couples with the upper loop of the length of safety cable. A safety line is provided having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end couples with the upper looping member of the swivel loop. The upper end is couplable with the tie down cleat of the boat.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether which has all the advantages of the prior art drain plug devices and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a boat drain plug with cable tether economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether for preventing a boat's drain plug from being lost.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat drain plug with cable tether including a cylindrical plug portion adapted for coupling with the drain of the boat. The cylindrical plug portion has an upper end, a lower end, and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. The upper end has a block secured thereto. The block has an aperture therethrough. The lower end is receivable within the drain. A length of safety cable is provided that is formed into a lower loop and an upper loop. The lower loop is coupled with the aperture of the block of the plug portion. A swivel loop is provided having a central pivot member with opposed upper and lower looping members. The lower looping member couples with the upper loop of the length of safety cable. A safety line is provided having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end couples with the upper looping member of the swivel loop. The upper end is couplable with the tie down cleat of the boat.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3812810 (1974-05-01), Moeller
patent: 4516515 (1985-05-01), Johnson
patent: 4693690 (1987-09-01), Henderson
patent: 5966080 (1999-10-01), Bigsby
Goldstein & Canino
Sotelo Jesus D.
LandOfFree
Boat drain plug with cable tether does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Boat drain plug with cable tether, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boat drain plug with cable tether will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2513142