Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-06-26
Hook, James (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
C138S090000, C138S09600T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250337
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mechanical plug for pipes. Particularly, the assembly of this invention relates to a two piece mechanical plug for plugging pipe ends or other pipe portions to allow easy access to the pipeline. The plug assembly of this invention is particularly useful for temporarily sealing low-pressure pipelines. The two piece plug assembly is constructed and arranged to fit various pipe constructions, i.e., PVC, ABS, copper, etc. and various pipe diameters, i.e., 1½, 2, 3 and 4 inch pipelines.
Various pipe plugs and assemblies, including mechanical plug assemblies, have been proposed and used in the past, however, each such assembly has drawbacks and limitations. Certain plugs used to seal pipe ends are difficult and costly to manufacture and to place in a pipe and/or to remove from the pipe after use. Some plugs may have to be cut off or out of the pipe to be removed, thereby destroying the plug itself, as well as potentially damaging the pipe. Other prior art pipe plugs are difficult to operate and lack sufficient sealing surfaces. Still others are constructed to deal with specific pipe sizes and do not allow for normal pipe diameter variations.
The mechanical plug assembly of this invention overcomes the shortcomings of prior art plug assemblies by providing an economical lightweight, reusable two piece mechanical plug for pipes that is easily inserted into and removed from pipelines or conduits. The plug assembly is constructed of plastic and rubber parts and does not utilize metallic portions which may corrode. The mechanical plug assembly is comprised of a rigid body member and a flexible sealing member which are joined and sealed in a pipeline by tuning the mating threads, of a predetermined thread configuration and design. The plug assembly is constructed and arranged so that it can be inserted and removed by hand, or with the assistance of a tool, such as a wrench. The plug also allows for easy access to the pipeline without damage to the plug itself or to the pipe end.
The mechanical plug assembly includes a molded rigid plastic body member which has a grasping or handle portion and a threaded sealing portion. The grasping portion is ergonomically designed and extends from the top surface of the body member and is comprised of a center grip and opposing thumb wings that allow for easy twisting and maneuvering of the body portion. The flexible sealing member is a cylindrical structure which is internally threaded in a generally cone shaped design which narrows from top to bottom. Importantly, a plurality of threads, of a specific design and configuration, are spaced external the rigid body member and internal the flexible sealing member for mating and sealing securement.
The flexible seal member of the plug assembly is generally circular in cross-section and has a cone shaped internal threaded portion. The seal member is preferably comprised of a sturdy flexible material such as rubber or the like. The seal portion is constructed and arranged to receive the threaded sealing portion of the rigid body portion to thereby radially expand the flexible seal member body. The seal member is comprised of a generally smooth outer surface, a cone shaped threaded inner surface and a top circumferential lip. The plurality of threads on the inner surface of the seal member are spaced at a predetermined distance to matingly receive the exterior threads of the rigid body member.
To seal a pipe, the seal member of the invention, having the rigid body member partially threaded therein, is place inside of the pipe or port end until the circumferential lip rests against the outer edge of the pipe port. The rigid body member of the plug assembly is then grasped by the center grip and thumb wings and further turned or threaded into the seal portion. As the threaded plug body is received by the seal member, the seal member expands outwardly so that its outer surface presses against the inner pipe surface, thus sealing the pipe. The body member and seal member remain enjoined by means of their mating thread structure. When desired, the plug body member can be turned out of the sealing member, thus making the pipe and/or its contents accessible by removal of the plug assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present assembly relates to a reusable two-piece mechanical plug assembly for pipes used to plug or seal pipe ends, ports, or other pipe portions to allow easy access to the pipeline. The two-piece plug assembly is comprised of a rigid body member and a flexible seal member which are adjoined by a plurality of mating threads, of a predetermined configuration and design. The plug assemblies may be constructed and arranged to fit pipes of different diameters and particularly pipes in a specified diameter range.
The body member of the plug assembly is comprised of a rigid material such as a durable plastic material or the like. The body member includes a top surface from which a grasping portion extends. The grasping member is comprised of a center grip and two thumb wings which extend opposite one another from the center grip. The wing members have a lower height than the center grip member. The center grip is preferably polygonal in shape i.e., square, and extends a predetermined distance upwards from the top flat surface of the plug body to provide an ergonomic grasping portion for easy turning and maneuvering of the plug body. The polygonal shape of the center grip permits a user to maneuver the plug body with their hand or with a tool, such as a wrench. When grasped by a user's hand, the palm is placed over the center grip and pressure is exerted on the opposing wings with the thumb and finger to twist the plug body member into or out of the seal member to thereby seal or remove the plug assembly. The body portion of the plug assembly is hollowed upwardly through the center of the sealing portion and the center grip. This configuration allows the plug body to be economical and lightweight.
The rigid sealing portion of the plug body is generally circular in cross-section and narrows from top to bottom. The outer edge of the sealing portion is threaded to be matingly received by the flexible seal member of the plug assembly. The threads are spaced a predetermined distance, have a predetermined pitch, and are disposed at a predetermined angle. This thread configuration permits a plug assembly of the same design (except for diameter) to be used in a range of pipe diameters.
The sealing member of the two-piece plug body assembly is generally circular in cross-section and is comprised of a sturdy flexible material such as rubber or the like. The seal member is constructed and arranged to receive the threaded sealing portion of the rigid body member. The sealing member is comprised of an outer surface, a threaded inner surface, and a top circumferential lip. The internal threads of the seal member have generally the same spacing, pitch, and angle as the external threads of the rigid body member. The seal member of the plug may be constructed and arranged to fit a specific pipe diameter range. The seal member is generally smaller than the diameter of the pipeline so that it can expand to snugly fit within the pipe end.
To seal a pipe, the sealing member with the rigid body particularly threaded therein is place inside of the pipe until the circumferential lip rests against outer edge of the pipe. The circumferential lip portion abuts the pipe end and prevents the entire seal portion from being pushed into the pipe. The rigid body member is then grasped and twisted or turned into the sealing member. As the rigid body member is matingly received by and turned into the sealing member, the seal member expands radially outward so that its outer surface presses against the inner pipe surface, thus sealing the pipe. The rigid body member and sealing member remain enjoined by the plurality of mating threads. When desired, the plug body can be turned or twisted out of the seal member, making the pipe contents accessible and the seal member may
Cherne Industries Incorporated
Eggink Anthony G.
Hook James
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