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US 2004/0168734 A1Published application
Pipe fitting plug
OwnerRaymond J. Serretinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reusable pipe fitting plug for temporarily sealing the open hub on a non-threaded female pipe fitting. The pipe fitting plug has a retainer with piercing edges, expandable pins or grit type particles designed to engage the inner portion of a pipe fitting hub in order to anchor the pipe fitting plug. The pipe fitting plug further has an expandable rubber seal or expandable rubber bladder designed to provide a watertight seal.
Claims20
A pipe fitting plug comprising:
- a body which is watertight;
- an expandable sealing means surrounding said body for forming a watertight seal between said body and an interior surface of a pipe fitting hub;
- an expandable retaining means for engaging said interior surface of said pipe fitting hub and retaining said plug in said pipe fitting hub;
- and
- one or more adjusting means for causing said sealing means and said retaining means to engage and disengage said interior surface of said pipe fitting hub.
2 more elements
A pipe fitting plug comprising:
- (a) a body comprising an end piece at one end of said body;
- (b) a housing surrounding said body at the other end of said body;
- (c) an expandable sealing means surrounding said body and positioned between said end piece and said housing;
- and
- (d) an expandable retaining means, said retaining means positioned adjacent said sealing means and between said end piece and said housing,
- wherein said end piece and said housing are capable of exerting a force against said sealing means in order to expand said sealing means to form a seal between said sealing means and an inside of a pipe fitting hub, and
- wherein said end piece and said housing are capable of exerting a force against said retaining means in order to engage said retaining means and said inside of a pipe fitting hub.
4 more elements
A pipe fitting plug comprising:
- (a) a body comprising an inner chamber;
- (b) an expandable sealing means surrounding said body and in communication with said inner chamber through one or more air ports, said sealing means positioned within a recess of said body;
- (c) an expandable retaining means, said retaining means positioned within a recess of said sealing means;
- and
- (d) one or more air valves,
- wherein said one or more air valves are capable of expanding said sealing means using said one or more air ports in order to expand said sealing means to form a seal between said sealing means and said inside of a pipe fitting hub, and
- wherein said one or more air valves are capable of expanding said retaining means using said one or more air ports in order to engage said retaining means and said inside of a pipe fitting hub.
4 more elements
A method for sealing the open fitting hub of a pipe comprising:
- (a) inserting a pipe fitting plug into a pipe fitting hub,
- wherein said pipe fitting plug comprises:
- a body which is watertight;
- a sealing means surrounding said body for forming a watertight seal between said body and an interior surface of a pipe fitting hub;
- an expandable retaining means for engaging said interior surface of said pipe fitting hub and retaining said plug in said pipe fitting hub;
- and
- one or more adjusting means for causing said sealing means and said retaining means to engage and disengage said interior surface of said pipe fitting hub;
- and
- (b) adjusting said adjusting means to cause said sealing means to form a watertight seal and said retaining means to engage said interior of said pipe fitting hub.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.