AU630615B2

AU630615B2 - An improved removable plug means

Info

Publication number: AU630615B2
Application number: AU39127/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hermann Mahler
Original assignee: W & M Klein Pty Ltd
Current assignee: W & M Klein Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-08-01
Filing date: 1989-08-01
Publication date: 1992-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-01
Also published as: AU3912789A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 630 6 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: •Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: I4 0111 46 O 'A3~S Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: TO BE CcPLETED BY APPLICIT HERMAATN MAHLER 6 Tasker Street, Lower Templestowei 3107, Victoria, Australia.

*o1o9 "Actual Inventor: Address for Service: CALLDNIANS, Patent Attorneys, of 48-50 Bridge Road, Richmond, 3121, Victoria, Australia.

Cnplete Specification for the invention entitled: "AN IMPROVED REMOVABLE PIJG MEANS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:iii IIII: IiI• I- I The present invention relates, in general terms, to a removable plug for use in the field of plumbing.

Nowadays, in the construction of either new buildings (domestic, commercial or otherwise) and/or in the renovation of existing buildings, or indeed in any context where plumbing services are involved, the situation quite often arises wherein pipe or duct carrying a fluid, such as water, needs to be worked on by a plumber in any number of different ways. By way of example only an existing pipe may well have to be coupled to a new length of piping, or alternatively a pipe protruding from a wall or wall space of a structure may need to have an appropriate fitting (faucet or '00:0, S the like) connected thereto. In such situations, and especially when water or the like is actually already connected to the property, it becomes necessary to in some way "plug" the free or open end of the pipe or piping being worked upon, whereby to prevent unwanted loss of water, not to mention make the job of connection that much easier by having .0 90 a 0 the plumber dealing with dry piping. In the past a number of different means have been employed for achieving such a result, including metal inserts, stoppers and the like. In general terms the prior art means employed have been found to suffer in terms of their efficiency. To be more specific, the prior art means employed have involved or necessitated the expenditure of an inordinate or unacceptable amount of time and effort in their positioning and, perhaps even more -3importantly, the prior art means more often than not still allowed for leakage from the pipe or piping intended to be sealed.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a form of plumbing plug which is readily insertable and equally readily removable and yet provides for sealing of the pipe or piping in an effectively leakproof manner.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided a removable sealing means for a pipe or the like ducting, said pipe or the like ducting having an externally threaded portion at the free end thereof, said sealing means including: a main body having two opposed, blind bores therein, said blind bores being separated by an intervening transverse wall, a first said blind bores having an internal thread extending along at least a portion thereof and being adapted, in use, to receive and releasably retain said threaded free end portion of said pipe or the like ducting to be sealed, with the other of said blind bores including means adapted to co-operate with a tool or the like means whereby to assist in location of said sealing means on said pipe or the like ducting.

In order that the invention may be more dearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail two preferred embodiments 1 of a removable plumbing plug in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with respect to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a plumbing plug Vt in accordance with the present invention, intended for usage in the sealing of pipe 25 or piping having an Vs 4 external thread or threaded portion towards the free end thereof; and Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of a plumbing plug in accordance with the invention, intended for usage in the sealing of pipe or piping having an internal thread or threaded portion at the free end thereof.

With reference firstly to Fig. i, there is illustrated therein a plumbing plug, generally designated i, in accordance SaL. with the present invention designed to plug or seal a pipe or piece of piping (not shown) having an externally-threaded ooooo S portion located at or towards the free end thereof. The plumbing plug as illustrated includes a main body member generally designated 2, having opposed longitudinally extending blind bores 3 and 4 located therein. The first blind bore 3 includes, at the inner end thereof, a threaded portion 5 adapted, in use, to co-operate with a corresponding or mating externally threaded portion of a pipe or piece of piping (not shown). At the innermost end of the first blind bore 3 there is preferably provided an appropriate sealing means 6 of any given type, such sealing means, preferably in the form of a rubber seal of a shape and size corresponding to the dimensions of the innermost end of the first blind bore 3, serving to minimise if not remove altogether the possibility of unwanted leakage from a pipe having the plug 1 located thereon (thereover). In an especially preferred embodiment -4there is also provided, at the innermost end of the first Sblind bore 3, means in the form of a groove (not shown), of a complementary shape to the sealing means 6, adapted to receive and retain said sealing means 6 therein.

The second blind bore 4 may be employed for purposes of receiving a tool of any given type intended to assist in i locating the plug 1 on the pipe in the prescribed manner. In the preferred embodiment illustrated a plurality of circumferentially disposed ribs 7 are located or provided around the periphery or circumference of th3 plug 1.

The arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 1 is such that, oooo• S when placed in position so that a protruding free end (threaded externally) of a given piece of piping co-operates 0 so with the blind bore 3, such piping is effectively sealed against unwanted leakage until such time as the plug 1 is removed therefrom.

.o Turning now to Fig. 2, the arrangement illustrated therein is specifically designed for sealing piping or tubing S having an internally-threaded end portion. To achieve such a result the arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 2 includes a main body portion 12 having a protruding threaded "male" portion 13 associated therewith. Preferably the main body portion 12 and protruding portion 13 will be of a unitary construction. The protruding portion 13 has associated therewith, externally of the main body portion 12 an appropriate sealing means 14, preferably in the form of a i :ii~ iy~ r rubber seal of any given shape and dimension. Once again, as with the arrangement of Fig. 1, there may be provided a groove (not shown) of a complementary shape to the sealing means 14 adapted to receive and retain said sealing means 14. The arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 2 preferably includes a blind bore 15 adapted, in use, to receive and releasably retain a tool of any given shape whereby to assist in location of the plug 11 as desired. Preferably there will be provided, within the blind bore 15, a further blind bore of a lesser diameter perhaps even extending into the protruding portion 13. The further blind bore will be of a size and shape eoeoo S complementary to the aforementioned tool, which tool may be in the form of a key, spanner or the like.

Preferably a plumbing plug in accordance with the present invention is constructed of a suitable plastics S material. It should be realised, however, that a plug in accordance with the invention could in fact be constructed of S .D any suitable material, for example a metal or even of timber, and yet still function in an acceptable manner. It should be realised, therefore, that the material of construction forms no part of the invention.

The aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the present invention and it should be understood that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the -6- 1 Fi I I Ii following claims.

i

I

I V S. S S

S

I q*S I S.

S

II

If

Claims

1. A removable sealing means for a pipe or the like ducting, said pipe or the like ducting having an externally threaded portion at the free end thereof, iaid sealing means including: a main body having two opposed, blind bores therein, said blind bores being separated by an intervening transverse wall, a first said blind bores having an internal thread extending along at least a portion thereof and being adapted, in use, to receive and releasably retain said threaded free end portion of said pipe or the like ducting to be sealed, with the other of said blind bores including means adapted to co-operate with a tool or the like means whereby to assist in location of said sealing means on said pipe or the like ducting.

2. The sealing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal threaded portion of said sealing means is disposed internally of said main body in the region of the innermost or closed end of said first blind bore, the arrangement being such that, in use, said pipe or ducting to be sealed is housed within said first blind bore in a substantially leak-proof manner.

3. The sealing means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including an additional Ssealing means to be associated with said threaded means of said main body.

4. The sealing means as claimed in claim 3, wherein said additional sealing means is in the form of a rubber or elastomeric O-ring seal or the like. I 2':0

5. The sealing means as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said main body includes a groove, of a complementary shape to said additional sealing means, adapted to receive and releasably retain therein said additional sealing means.

6. The sealing means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said groove is provided within said main body and extends circumferentially thereof in said end region of Ssaid first blind bore.

7. The sealing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, constructed of a plastics material. k

8. A removable sealing means for a pipe or the like ducting, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this day of August 1992. W. M. KLEIN PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE r o L r B 4 I 8 'b 8, "i.r r