US 11,867,336 B2Granted

Flexible, foldable foreign material exclusion device

AssigneeAdvanced F.M.E. Products, Inc.

InventorsThomas J. Nolfi, Chase Penix

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Abstract

A foreign material exclusion device that is adapted to seal an area of a construction, such as a tube or pipe or other cavity, from foreign material or debris temporarily, wherein the device includes a cylindrical plug that has a plurality of resilient bodies for holding the device within a particular construction. The bodies are substantially planar, and semicylindrical in shape wherein two bodies are utilized. A flexible cover includes a first pouch which contains a first body therein and desirably a second pouch of the cover contains a second body therein, with the cover having a hinge between said first and second pouches. When the device is not in use, the bodies can be folded against one another in a closed position until they are inserted into a tube or pipe whereupon they can be opened to an open position and generally form a disk having a snug, fitted connection with a wall of the tube or pipe.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A flexible, foldable foreign material exclusion device, comprising:

a first body comprising a resilient material, wherein the first body has a first planar surface, a second planar surface and a first sidewall therebetween, wherein the first body is compressible and re-expandable in a direction parallel to at least one of the first planar surface and the second planar surface;
a second body comprising a resilient material wherein the second body has a first planar surface, a second planar surface and a second sidewall therebetween, wherein the second body is compressible and re-expandable in a direction parallel to at least one of the first planar surface and the second planar surface;
a cover comprising first pouch that encloses the first body, a second pouch that encloses the second body, and a hinge connecting the first pouch to the second pouch, wherein the hinge is a joint that allows the first pouch to be rotated in relation to the second pouch between a closed position and an open position wherein the first planar surface of the first body is parallel to the first planar surface of the second body;
a first handle having i) a first end connected to the first pouch at an area of the cover located where the first body first planar surface meets the first body sidewall beneath the cover and ii) a second end connected to the first pouch at an area of the cover located where the first body first planar surface meets the first body sidewall beneath the cover on an opposite side of the first planar surface as compared to the first handle first end;
and
a second handle having i) a first end connected to the second pouch at an area of the cover located where the second body first planar surface meets the second body sidewall beneath the cover and ii) a second end connected to the second pouch at an area of the cover located where the second body first planar surface meets the second body sidewall beneath the cover on an opposite side of the first planar surface as compared to the second handle first end.

3 more elements

A flexible, foldable foreign material exclusion device, comprising:

a foldable cylindrical plug including a first body hingedly connected to a second body such that in an open position the plug forms a cylinder and in a non-open position does not form the cylinder,
wherein the hinge allows the first body to be rotated in relation to the second body,
wherein the first body and the second body each comprise a resilient material that is compressible and recompressible in a direction perpendicular to a height of the cylinder;
wherein a handle is connected to the plug that can be used to manipulate the plug between the open position and the non-open position, and
further including a cover comprising a first pouch that encloses the first body, and a second pouch that encloses the second body, wherein the cover includes the hinge as an integral part of the cover, and wherein the hinge is formed by the cover which has a portion that extends into the area between the first body and the second body,
wherein the first pouch is closed by a first flange that extends the length of the first hinge sidewall, wherein the first flange has a first tab at a free end thereof that coextends the length of the first flange, and wherein the first tab is tucked into the pouch and is in contact with the hinge;
and
wherein the second pouch is closed by a second flange that extends the length of the second hinge sidewall, wherein the second flange has a second tab at a free end thereof that coextends the length of the second flange, and wherein the second tab is tucked into the pouch and is in contact with the hinge.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/503,801Filed 18 Oct 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Oct 2020
Published: US 2022/0128183 A128 Apr 2022
Granted: 9 Jan 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F16L 55/1018
Means for stopping flow in pipes or hoses: pivoting closing devices
F16L 55/24
Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems: preventing accumulation of dirt or other matter in pipes, e.g.…
F16L 55/1141
Plugs: the plug being made of elastic material
F16L 55/115
Means for stopping flow in pipes or hoses: caps