Flue pipe connector for a vent cap
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorHerman W. Wilkerson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vent cap having a quick release fastener for connecting the vent cap to a flue pipe of a furnace or other such combustion system is disclosed. The fastener is designed for attachment to a tubular stub connector of the vent cap and has a clip portion for engaging a slot in the flue pipe to lock the vent cap and flue pipe tigether between the clip portion and a shoulder portion of the fastener. The vent cap is easily disconnected from the flue pipe by rotating the vent cap about the longitudinal axis of the flue pipe to remove the clip portion of the fastener from the slot in the flue pipe and then, pulling the vent cap apart from the flue pipe.
Claims4
A fastener for connecting pipe sections of the type wherein a first pipe section is inserted into a second pipe section having a slot spaced a selected distance from the leading edge of the second pipe section, said fastener comprising:
- a top part for attaching the fastener to the surface of the first pipe section;
- a shoulder extending outward from the top part, generally perpendicular to the surface of the first pipe section when the top part is attached thereto, for providing a stop when the two pipe sections are connected by the fastener;
- a unitary middle part extending, generally parallel to the surface of the first pipe section, a distance approximately equal to the distance between the slot and the leading edge of the second pipe section;
- and
- a bottom part extending from the middle part back toward the shoulder, said bottom part having a smooth, rounded, outer edge which contacts the outside surface of the second pipe section to provide a surface for sliding contact between the smooth, rounded, outer edge of the bottom part and the outside surface of the second pipe section when the first pipe section is inserted into the second pipe section, and said bottom part biased inward by the middle part for engaging the slot in the second pipe section to catch the second pipe section between the shoulder and the smooth, rounded, outer edge of the bottom part of the fastener when the first pipe section is inserted into the second pipe section with the fastener aligned with the slot, whereby the pipe sections may be disconnected by rotating the first pipe section relative to the second pipe section to slide the smooth, rounded, outer edge of the bottom part of the fastener out of the slot onto the outside surface of the second pipe section so that the pipe sections may be pulled apart.
A flue pipe cap connector to releasibly secure a flue pipe cap to the end of a flue pipe wherein the flue pipe has a slot cut in the wall thereof a predetermined distance from the end of the flue pipe and wherein a tubular portion of the flue pipe cap extends into the flue pipe, said connector comprising:
- a unitary strip of resilient material having an elongated center portion, a shoulder portion extending at essentially right angles from one end of said center portion, a connector portion extending from the end of the shoulder portion essentially parallel to the center portion, and a clip portion extending from the other end of the center portion back toward the shoulder portion, said clip portion being slightly longer than said shoulder portion, and said clip portion having a beveled outer edge which contacts the outside surface of the flue pipe to provide a surface for sliding contact between the beveled outer edge and the outside surface of the flue pipe;
- and
- a fastening means for securing the connector portion to the tubular portion of the flue pipe cap, said center portion being of a length essentially equal to the distance of the slot from the end of the flue pipe whereby when the tubular portion of the flue pipe cap is inserted into the flue pipe and the end of the flue pipe abuts the shoulder portion, the resilient action of the center portion forces the clip portion to extend into the slot and whereby rotation of the flue pipe cap within the flue pipe causes the beveled outer edge of the clip portion to ride out of the slot onto the outside surface of the flue pipe against the resilient action of the center portion.
A vent cap having a fastener for connecting the vent cap to a flue pipe having a slot spaced a selected distance from its leading edge, said vent cap comprising:
- a top section having a tubular stub portion with a slot spaced a selected distance from the leading edge of the tubular stub portion;
- a unitary strip of resilient material having an elongated center portion, a shoulder portion extending at essentially right angles from one end of said center portion, a connector portion extending from the end of the shoulder portion essentially parallel to the center portion, and a clip portion extending from the other end of the center portion back toward the shoulder portion, said clip portion being slightly longer than said shoulder portion and said clip portion having a smooth, rounded, outer edge which contacts the outside surface of the flue pipe to provide a surface for sliding contact between the smooth, rounded, outer edge of the clip portion and the outside surface of the flue pipe when the tubular stub portion of the vent cap is inserted into the flue pipe;
- and
- a fastening means for securing the connector portion of the unitary strip of resilient material to the inside surface of the tubular stub portion when the connector portion is inserted through the slot in the tubular stub portion, said center portion being of a length essentially equal to the distance between the leading edge of the flue pipe and the slot in the flue pipe whereby when the tubular stub portion of the vent cap is inserted into the flue pipe and the leading edge of the flue pipe abuts the shoulder portion of the resilient strip, the resilient action of the center portion forces the clip portion to engage the slot in the flue pipe and whereby rotation of the vent cap within the flue pipe causes the smooth, rounded, outer edge of the clip portion to ride out of the slot in the flue pipe onto the outside surface of the flue pipe against the resilient action of the center portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.