SEAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20190316679A1
• Filed: 04/12/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John A. Morin
• Original Assignee: John A. Morin
• Inventors: Warren, Thomas L.
• Granted Patent: US 11,289,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/027 by means of a joint of the quick-acting type
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/10 by using sealing rings or sleeves only
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a seal apparatus for sealing an opening of a structure having a thickness at the opening. The seal apparatus includes a first section disposed at a proximal end, a second section disposed at a distal end, and an intermediate section disposed between the first and second sections. The first section defines a cone-like configuration. An opening extends through the first section, the second section, and the intermediate section.

Claims

1. A seal apparatus for sealing an opening of a structure having a thickness at the opening, the seal apparatus comprising:

a first section disposed at a proximal end, the first section defining a cone-like configuration;

a second section disposed at a distal end;

an intermediate section disposed between the first and second sections; and

an opening extending through the first section, the second section, and the intermediate section.

2. The seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening extending through the first section, the second section, and the intermediate section is configured to receive therethrough a conduit.

3. The seal apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of relief areas formed in the first section.

4. The seal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the relief areas extend a partial distance into a thickness of the first section and enable the first section to compress or collapse under pressure during passage of the first portion through the opening of the structure.

5. The seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first section is dimensioned greater than a diameter of the opening of the structure.

6. The seal apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first section is configured to be temporarily compressed during passage through the opening of the structure, and configured to expand to an original expanded configuration after passage through the opening of the structure.

7. The seal apparatus of claim 6, wherein an inner wall of the first section forms a seal between the first section and the structure after expansion of the first section to the original expanded configuration.

8. The seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the intermediate section is dimensioned greater than a diameter of the opening of the structure.

9. The seal apparatus of claim 8, wherein during assembly of the seal apparatus with the structure, the intermediate section is compressed within the opening of the structure to create a seal between the intermediate section and the opening of the structure.

10. The seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of the intermediate section is dimensioned smaller than the thickness of the structure at the opening.

11. The seal apparatus of claim 10, wherein during assembly of the seal apparatus with the structure, inner walls of the first and second sections are configured to be compressed against opposing surfaces of the structure due to the dimensional difference between the length of the intermediate section and the thickness of the structure at the opening.

12. The seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal apparatus is configured to form a first seal between an inner wall of the first section and one wall of the structure, form a second seal between an inner wall of the second section and an opposing wall of the structure, and form a third seal between the intermediate section and an inner surface of the opening of the structure.

13. The seal apparatus of claim 1, comprising a relief groove formed in an inner wall of the second section.

14. A system for sealing an opening of a structure having a thickness at the opening, the system comprising:

a first seal apparatus, comprising;

a first section disposed at a proximal end, the first section defining a cone-like configuration;

a second section disposed at a distal end;

an intermediate section disposed between the first and second sections; and

an opening extending through the first section, the second section, and the intermediate section; and

a conduit disposed within and extending through the opening of the first seal apparatus.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first seal apparatus is bonded to or capable of being bonded to the conduit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein a position of the first seal apparatus along the conduit is maintained via a friction fit.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein a connection between the first seal apparatus and the conduit forms a fluid-tight seal.

18. The system of claim 14, comprising a second seal apparatus connected to the conduit and facing an opposing direction from the first seal apparatus.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein after passage of the first section through the opening of the structure, a first seal is formed between an inner wall of the first section and one wall of the structure, a second seal is formed between an inner wall of the second section and an opposing wall of the structure, and a third seal is formed between the intermediate section and an inner surface of the opening of the structure.

19. A method of sealing an opening of a structure having a thickness at the opening, the method comprising:

positioning a first section of a seal apparatus adjacent to the opening of the structure, the seal apparatus including (i) the first section disposed at a proximal end and defining a cone-like configuration, (ii) a second section disposed at a distal end, and (iii) an intermediate section disposed between the first and second sections, an opening extending through the first section, the second section, and the intermediate section;

compressing the first section during passage of the first section through the opening of the structure; and

expanding the first section into an expanded configuration after passage of the first section through the opening of the structure.