Service Port Cap with Click Lock

• US 20140069133A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airsept Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airsept Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 11,027,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/292
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00485 Valves for air-conditioning devices, e.g. thermostatic valves valves per se F16K; thermostatic valves per se G05D23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00571 of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1157 using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A service port cap has a body configured to be snapped onto a service port such as an automotive air conditioning service port. The cap has an axial slot allowing the body to spread as it is pressed onto the service port. A rubberized plug in the top of the cap bears and seals against the end of the service port. Should a fluid leak develop through the service port, the rubberized plug maintains a seal until the pressure is sufficient to overcome the seal created by the plug. At this point, the leaking fluid is directed out through the axial slot in the cap. Thus, the cap does not blow off and the flow of leaking fluid is controlled so that it does not spew. One embodiment includes a locking ring that slides to a locking position to lock the cap onto a service or other port to form a fixed seal.

Claims

1. A cap configured to fit onto and seal a port, the cap comprising:

a cap body having a generally hollow interior an inner wall, an outer wall, a top portion closing off the hollow interior, a mid portion, and a bottom portion;

at least one slot formed in the cap and extending from the bottom portion toward the mid portion;

an annular groove formed around the inner wall of the cap body;

an annular bulge formed around the outer wall of the cap body generally radially aligned with the annular groove; and

a seal within the hollow interior, the seal being configured and positioned to engage and seal against an end of a port onto which the cap is fitted.

2. A cap as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a locking ring disposed around the cap body and being movable between an unlocked position surrounding the mid portion of the body and a locked position surrounding the bottom portion of the body.

3. A cap as claimed in claim 2 wherein the locking ring comprises an interior annular groove that receives the annular bulge of the cap body when the locking ring is in its locked position.

4. A cap as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a tether extending from the locking ring.

5. A cap as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a mounting ring formed at a distal end of the tether sized to fit around the port to hold the locking ring and the cap to the port when the cap is removed from the port.

6. A cap as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of slots formed at spaced intervals around the body and extending from the bottom portion of the body toward the mid portion of the body.

7. A cap as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mid portion of the body is formed with external facets and the locking ring is formed with cooperating internal facets, the external and internal facets together preventing excessive rotation of the locking ring around the body.

8. A cap as claimed in claim 7 wherein the body is formed with six external facets and the locking ring is formed with six internal facets.

9. A cap as claimed in claim 2 further comprising at least one rib projecting outwardly from the cap body and extending in an axial direction with respect thereto and at least one cooperating slot formed along an interior surface of the locking ring, the slot receiving the rib to prevent excessive rotation of the locking ring around the body.

10. A cap as claimed in claim 9 wherein the at least one rib comprises a pair of ribs and the at least one cooperating slot comprises a pair of cooperating slots.

11. A cap as claimed in claim 2 wherein the locking ring further comprises a radially projecting annular rim.

12. A cap as claimed in claim 11 wherein the top portion of the cap body comprises a radially projecting annular rim.

13. A cap as claimed in claim 11 wherein the annular rim of the locking ring has a diameter larger than the annular rim of the cap body to allow the locking ring to be pushed from its unlocked position to its locked position.

14. A method of sealing a port having an end, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a cap on the port; and

(b) sliding a locking ring to a locked position on the cap to prevent the cap from dislodging from the port.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the cap has an annular bulge and wherein step (b) comprises sliding the locking ring over the annular bulge of the cap.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the locking ring has in internal annular groove and wherein step (b) further comprises sliding the licking ring over the annular bulge of the cap until the annular bulge of the cap is disposed within the internal annular groove of the locking ring.

17. A cap for covering a hollow port having an end, the cap comprising:

a cap body defining an interior cavity sized to fit over the end of the port;

at least one axial groove in the cap body positioned to permit the cap body to expand as it is fitted over the end of the port; and

a locking ring surrounding the cap body and being movable to a locked position wherein the locking ring prevents the body from expanding after it is fitted over the end of the port.

18. A cap as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a tether extending from the locking ring for securing the cap to a structure.

19. A cap as claimed in claim 17 wherein the cap body has an external annular bulge and wherein the locking ring has an interior annular groove that receives the annular bulge when the locking ring is moved to its locked position.

20. A cap as claimed in claim 19 wherein the port comprises a service port.

21. A cap as claimed in claim 20 wherein the service port comprises a service port of an air conditioning system.

22. A cap as claimed in claim 21 wherein the air conditioning system comprises an automotive air conditioning system.