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US 4,053,084 AGranted
Filler plug
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorBruce W. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorBruce W. Anderson
Estimating the term…
A closure plug is disclosed which is especially adapted for use in retaining insulation inside the cavities of refrigerators and like appliances. The plug includes a number of petal-like flaps which are conically arrayed and originally point relatively outwardly. When an insulation nozzle is pushed against the petal flaps, the flaps are forced inwardly, and splay apart to permit nozzle insertion through the plug. After the nozzle is withdrawn, the petal flaps return to form an inverted cone pointing relatively inwardly. Beveled petal flap sides provide planar inter-petal contact and structural conical strength to resist the outward flow of insulation. The plug is fastened to a cavity-defining wall by a base having a polygonal cross-sectional shape substantially coextensive with a polygonal wall aperture, and a head of polygonal cross-sectional shape at least congruent with the wall aperture but angularly offset with respect to and depending from the base to engage the wall and retain the plug on the wall.
A one-piece plastic closure plug for use with an aperture formed in a wall, the plug including a plurality of petal flaps conically arrayed with hinged connections to said plug, and said flaps including structure so that they are originally pointing outwardly in one direction away from the plane of said wall, each petal including a peripheral rib formed along those petal flap edges located adjacent other petal flap edges to provide petal flap edges of extended thickness, said edges of extended thickness being bevelled to provide a predetermined included angle between said adjacent edges, said petal flaps further including means arranged and shaped to form an inverted cone pointing inwardly in a direction opposite to said one direction and toward the opposite side of the plane of said wall after plug use with said adjacent bevelled extended thickness flap edges being in intimate, substantially planar contact to abuttingly support one another and inhibit outward flow of material through the closure plug, and fastener means for mounting the plug in and on the wall aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.