US 2010/0133810 A1Published application

Device for connecting to ducts of various sizes and shapes

OwnerKenneth P. Krohninventor

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Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a device for connecting to ducts (such as pipe or tubing) adapted to have a range of shapes, sizes and thread styles. The device may comprise an internal seal member, a middle seal member, and an external seal member that change shape to fit adjacent to the exterior surface of the duct. The seal members may also be positioned within a casing member. Seal members may also comprise a semi-rigid tubular portion adjacent to a seal outlet, the tubular portion being adapted to flex radially outward to conform to the shape of the duct end portion. To assist in preventing them from collapsing under thrust loads tending to push the duct from the device, the seal members may also be held operatively in place by an internal support structure and an external support structure. The invention also includes various kits and methods.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A device for connecting to a duct with a duct end portion adapted to have a variety of sizes and characteristics within a given range, the device comprising:

(a) a hollow internal seal member having an internal seal inlet, an internal seal outlet, and an opening extending along the internal seal member from the internal seal outlet, and further comprising a semi-rigid tubular portion adjacent to the internal seal outlet, the internal seal member tubular portion being adapted to flex radially outward to conform to the shape of the duct end portion;
and
(b) a hollow external seal member having an external seal inlet, an external seal outlet, and an opening extending along the external seal member from the external seal outlet, and further comprising a semi-rigid tubular portion adjacent to the external seal outlet, the external seal member tubular portion being adapted to flex radially outward to conform to the shape of the duct end portion;
(c) wherein the internal seal member and the external seal member are sealed together surrounding the internal seal inlet and the external seal inlet and at least a portion of the internal seal member is positioned within the external seal member, so that the internal seal member and the external seal member are adapted to slide along one another and a seal is adapted to be formed around the perimeter of the duct by the device for ducts having a duct end portion with a size and characteristics within the given range.

1 more element

A device for connecting to a duct, the duct comprising a duct open end and a duct exterior surface adjacent to the duct open end having a size and shape that are adapted to be variable within a predetermined range, the device comprising:

(a) a duct sealing apparatus comprised of:
(i) a hollow internal seal member having an internal seal inlet and an internal seal outlet;
(ii) a hollow middle seal member having a middle seal inlet and a middle seal outlet, wherein at least a portion of the internal seal member is positioned within the middle seal member;
(iii) a hollow external seal member having an external seal inlet and an external seal outlet, wherein at least a portion of the middle seal member is positioned within the external seal member;
and
(iv) seal connecting means for operatively sealing together a portion of the internal seal member, a portion of the middle seal member, and a portion of the external seal member surrounding the internal seal inlet, the middle seal inlet, and the external seal inlet, respectively;
and
(b) an internal support structure, wherein at least a portion of the internal support structure is adapted to be deformed toward the duct sealing apparatus when the duct is inserted into the device and to assist in holding the duct sealing apparatus operatively in place;
(c) wherein a portion of the duct sealing apparatus is adapted to change shape to conform to the shape of and be positioned adjacent to the duct exterior surface for all duct exterior surfaces having a size and shape within the predetermined range.

6 more elements

A device for connecting to a duct, the device comprising:

(a) a casing member having a casing interior space and at least one casing duct opening adjoining the casing interior space;
and
(b) a variable connecting member positioned approximately within the at least one casing duct opening, wherein the variable connecting member is further comprised of:
(i) duct sealing means adapted for changing shape to conform to the shape of and being positioned adjacent to the duct, wherein the duct comprises a duct open end and a duct exterior surface adjacent to the duct open end having a size and shape adapted to be variable within a predetermined range, and the duct sealing means are further comprised of a hollow internal seal member, a hollow middle seal member, and a hollow external seal member;
and
(ii) seal support means for providing structural support to assist in holding the duct sealing means operatively in place.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/626,891Filed 28 Nov 2009
Priority: 29 Nov 2008
Published: 3 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16L 25/14
Construction or details of pipe joints not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F16L13/00 - F16L23/00: joints for pipes of different…
F16L 37/091
Combined with automatic locking: by means of a ring provided with teeth or fingers
Y10T 29/49826
Method of mechanical manufacture: assembling or joining
F16L
Pipes

Family

Application61/200,455Us provisional application · filed 29 Nov 2008
US 2010/0133810 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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