Tube plug seal
AssigneeForm Rite
InventorsFrank Dean Hawley, Matthew David Lutzke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tube plug seal has an improved tear line pattern which tears when a mating tube having a circumference smaller than the seal is inserted through the seal. The improved tear line pattern is designed to initially tear where the circumference of the mating tube applies the highest stress. As a result, the improved tear line includes a portion which extends at least partially circumferentially about an axial center point of the seal. More specifically, the circumferential portion of the improved tear line pattern generally aligns with a circumference of the mating tube. In one embodiment the improved tear line pattern is C-shaped.
Claims20
A tube plug comprising:
- a body having a central portion for enclosing and opening;
- a tear line formed in said central portion extending at least partially circumferentially relative to an axial center point of the seal, at least a portion of said circumferentially extending tear line being at a location aligned with an outer diameter of a tube which is to be mounted within said tube plug seal;
- and
- structure for securing said seal in the opening.
A tube plug seal and mating tube comprising:
- a tube having a forward end with a predetermined circumference;
- and
- a tube plug seal having a tear line, said tear line including a circumferential portion aligning with the predetermined circumference of said tube and tearing along said circumferential portion as the mating tube is inserted into and through the tube plug seal.
A fluid handling system comprising:
- a tube having a forward end with a predetermined circumference;
- a housing containing fluid, the housing including a fluid port;
- and
- a tube plug seal disposed in the fluid port, the tube plug seal having a tear line including a portion extending at least partially circumferentially, aligning with the predetermined circumference of said tube and tearing as said tube is inserted into and through the tube plug seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.