Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-28
2001-01-23
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
C138S09600T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176267
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plastic protector, or cap, more specifically, the present invention relates to a molded protective cap for a hydraulic fitting.
2. Background Information
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional O-ring face seal for a hydraulic fitting
10
. The fitting
10
includes a stem
12
defining a hydraulic fluid passage
14
. At the end of the stem
12
is an enlarged annular flange or face
16
. An internally threaded coupling nut
18
is slidable along the stem up to the face
16
. The coupling nut
18
has a hexagonal exterior configuration with the planar faces thereof used for securing the fitting in a conventional fashion.
An existing protector
20
or cap exists for the fitting
10
. The existing protector
20
is generally a plastic component with an annular skirt
22
extending from a base
24
. The annular skirt
22
engages with the corner portions formed by adjacent faces of the coupling nut
18
to secure the protector
20
in position. The existing protector
20
additionally includes an annular stop
26
extending from the base
24
at a position adapted to abut against the face
16
. In operation, the existing protector
20
is pushed onto the coupling nut
18
when the fitting
10
is not in use, such as during shipping thereof. The protector
20
is pushed onto the coupling nut
18
until the stop
26
abuts against the face
16
at the end of the stem
12
. Frictional engagement between the skirt
22
and the corners of the hexagonal coupling nut
18
are intended to maintain the protector in position. The protector
20
is intended to prevent contamination of the fitting
10
during shipping or when the fitting
10
is not in use.
The existing protector
20
has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that only the skirt
22
frictionally engages the coupling nut
18
at the corner portions of the nut
18
, which requires a relatively long skirt
22
to provide sufficient frictional engagement to maintain the protector
20
in position. In some circumstances, this frictional engagement may not be sufficient and the protector
20
may become dislodged during shipping or the like, which can lead to contamination and/or damage to the fitting
10
. The length of the skirt
22
may result in additional alignment problems for the user increasing the difficulty in installing the protector
20
.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece molded protector for a hydraulic fitting which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a protector for an existing hydraulic fitting which provides frictional engagement between the protector and the coupling nut
18
at positions in addition to the corners of the coupling nut
18
. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a protector for a hydraulic fitting which improves alignment issues for the protector for easier installation of the protector. Further objects of the present invention are to provide a protector which is easy to manufacture and easy to use which is held in place throughout the shipping of the hydraulic fitting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects of the present invention are achieved by a protector for a hydraulic fitting according to the present invention. The protector of the present invention is in the form of a cap having a circular base with an annular skirt extending from the base. The annular skirt includes a plurality of ribs on the inner surface of the annular skirt wherein, in operation, each rib is adapted to frictionally engage one flat outer surface of the coupling nut of the hydraulic fitting and the annular skirt is adapted to frictionally engage the corners formed by adjacent flats of the connecting nut. Each of the ribs may further include a beveled or tapered end at a leading end thereof which will help center and align the protector during installation.
In one specific embodiment of the present invention, six ribs are provided, with each rib adapted to engage a separate flat of the coupling nut. The protector of the present invention may further include a stop member extending from the base with the stop adapted to abut against the face of the fitting in the installed position. The stop may be in the form of at least three radially extending panel members. The base member may further include a gripping flange extending radially beyond the annular skirt to provide assistance in removing the protector. Further, the flat outer face of the base provides sufficient surface for vendor and part information to be embossed or otherwise incorporated directly thereon. In another embodiment, the at least three radially extending panel members include beveled edges, allowing the present invention to securely abut and grip the inside, beveled walls of a second type of hydraulic fitting.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the brief description of the preferred embodiments taken together with the attached figures wherein like reference numeral represent like elements throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1229928 (1917-06-01), Frazer
patent: 1302441 (1919-04-01), Schweinert et al.
patent: 1709677 (1929-04-01), Metzinger
patent: 2304532 (1942-12-01), Boxley
patent: 2379529 (1945-07-01), Kennedy
patent: 2899483 (1959-08-01), Robertson et al.
patent: 4146058 (1979-03-01), Bercovitz
patent: 4202378 (1980-05-01), Bush et al.
patent: 4483371 (1984-11-01), Susin
patent: 485622 (1952-08-01), None
Dugan Luke
Spattifor Bernard
Szewczykowski Charles
Brinson Patrick
Niagara Plastics Company
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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