Plug assembly and a method for sealing a hole
OwnerKeith Thomas Potts, Sherrill Dean Teasterinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual stage plug assembly 10 which provides a first sealing stage which is cooperatively provided by the insertion members 12, 14 (including the unexpanded portion 24) and a second sealing stage which is provided by selectively expandable member 24. The plug assembly 10 is selectively inserted into a hole, such as hole 80, which is formed in a tangible entity, such as basement wall 82, and the members 12 and 14 cooperates with member 24 to seal the hole 80, thereby preventing water and/or other liquid from entering and passing through the hole 80.
Claims8
A method for sealing a hole in a wall, said wall including a surface which abuts a liquid which flows throw said hole, said method comprising the steps of obtaining material which selectively expands when contracted by said liquid;
- forming said material in a cylindrical shape having a first longitudinal axis of symmetry;
- obtaining an insertion member having a hardness greater than the hardness of the formed material and having exposed ends and a second longitudinal axis of symmetry, wherein said insertion member has a plurality of internal threads and a hexagonal shaped body;
- obtaining a threaded member having second threads which are complimentary to said internal threads;
- causing said threaded member to traverse said formed cylindrical shaped material and engage said internal threads of said insertion member, thereby attaching said formed expandable material to one end of said insertion member, whereby said first and said second longitudinal axes of symmetry are aligned;
- placing said formed expandable material within said hole and proximate to said liquid wherein said insertion member is distal from said liquid and wherein said formed expandable material impedes the flow of said liquid as said liquid travels through said hole and to said insertion member, whereby said formed expandable member provides a first primary seal of said hole within said wall and impedes said flow of said liquid in a direction to said insertion member.
A method for sealing a hole in a wall, said wall including a surface which abuts a liquid which flows throw said hole, said method comprising the steps of obtaining material which selectively expands when contracted by said liquid;
- forming said material in a rounded shape having a first longitudinal axis of symmetry;
- obtaining an insertion member having a hardness greater than the hardness of the formed material and having exposed ends and a second longitudinal axis of symmetry, wherein said insertion member has a plurality of internal threads and is hexagonal shaped body;
- obtaining a threaded member having second threads which are complimentary to said internal threads;
- causing said threaded member to traverse said formed rounded shaped material and to engage said internal threads of said insertion member, thereby attaching said formed expandable material to one end of said insertion member, whereby said first and said second longitudinal axes of symmetry are aligned;
- placing said formed expandable material within said hole and proximate to said liquid, wherein said insertion member is distal from said liquid and wherein said formed expandable material is positioned between said liquid and said insertion member and wherein said formed expandable material impedes the flow of said liquid as said liquid travels through said hole and to said insertion member, whereby said formed expandable member provides a first primary seal of said hole within said wall and at least impedes said flow of said liquid in a direction to said insertion member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.