Absorbent plugs and caps for air conditioning and refrigeration fittings

A plug and fitting combination comprising:

• a fitting for use with an air conditioning or refrigeration system or with equipment used in association with an air conditioning or refrigeration system which fitting has a generally cylindrical interior cavity open at one end and a pin extending into the cavity from an opposing end, and a plug including a piece of resilient material with a clearance hole extending into the piece, wherein the piece of resilient material is sized to be inserted into the open end of the interior cavity of the fitting with the clearance hole over the pin such that the piece is secured in the cavity and the piece comes into contact with liquid in the cavity, wherein the absorbent material is absorbent to liquids ordinarily used in association with air conditioning or refrigeration systems, wherein the absorbent material is non-shedding of its own material and is resistant to breakdown when in contact with liquids in ordinary use in an air conditioning or refrigeration system, and wherein the absorbent material contacts an interior surface of the interior cavity of the fitting when the plug is inserted into the fitting.

A cap and fitting combination comprising:

• a fitting for use in an air conditioning or refrigeration system or with equipment used in association with an air conditioning or refrigeration system which fitting has a generally cylindrical interior cavity open at one end, and a cap including an absorbent material portion and an exterior skin of non absorbent material, wherein the the cap is sized to slip securely onto an exterior of the fitting, wherein the absorbent material is absorbent to liquids ordinarily used in association with air conditioning or refrigeration systems, wherein the absorbent material is non-shedding of its own material and is resistant to breakdown when in contact with liquids in ordinary use in an air conditioning or refrigeration system, and wherein the absorbent material contacts an interior surface of the interior cavity of the fitting when the cap is slipped onto the fitting.