Plug with engagement members

• US 8,312,898 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gabe Coscarella
• Original Assignee: Gabe Coscarella
• Inventors: Coscarella, Gabe
• Primary Examiner(s): Brinson, Patrick F
• Application Number:
  US12/722,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 138/89, 138/90, 220/237, 220/251, 137/371
• US Class Current: 138/89
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 9/00 Arrangements or fixed installations methods or devices for cleaning or clearing sewer pipes, e.g. by flushing sediment traps, rakes, screens, or the like, arranged in sewer lines E03F5/14; cleaning pipes in general, devices for cleaning pipes B08B9/02 ; gullies provided with flushing means for cleaning or emptying E03F5/0402; devices to remove obstructions in waste-pipes or sinks E03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1108 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/136 the closure device being a plug fixed by radially expanding or deforming a split ring, hooks or the like

Abstract

A plug has a plug body having an upper face and a lower face and a deformable member having opposed pipe engagement ends. A support structure is carried by the plug body and spaced from the lower face. The support structure supports the opposed pipe engagement ends of the deformable member. An actuator extends outward from the lower face of the plug body and is connected to the deformable member. The actuator adjusts the distance of a central portion of the deformable member from the lower face of the plug body to cause the engagement ends to move between a retracted release position and an extended engagement position. The actuator is actuated from the upper face of the plug body.

Claims

1. A plug, comprising:

a plug body having an upper face and a lower face;

a deformable member having opposed pipe engagement ends;

a support structure carried by the plug body and spaced from the lower face, the support structure supporting the opposed pipe engagement ends of the deformable member;

an actuator extending outward from the lower face of the plug body and being connected to the deformable member, the actuator adjusting the distance of a central portion of the deformable member from the lower face of the plug body to cause the engagement ends to move between a retracted release position and an extended engagement position, the actuator being actuated from the upper face of the plug body.

2. The plug of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a screw actuator having a threaded travelling member attached to the deformable member.

3. The plug of claim 2, wherein the travelling member is integrally formed with the deformable member.

4. The plug body of claim 1, wherein the actuator moves relative to the plug body, and the deformable member is carried by the actuator.

5. The plug of claim 1, wherein the deformable member is resilient.

6. The plug of claim 1, wherein the retracted release position is arrived at by moving the central portion of the deformable member toward or away from the plug body.

7. The plug of claim 1, wherein the support structure depends from the lower face, the deformable member extending through opposed slots in the support structure.

8. The plug of claim 7, wherein the support structure further supports a seal for sealing against an interior of a pipe.

9. The plug of claim 1, wherein the engagement ends comprise a friction member for engaging the pipe.

10. The plug of claim 1, wherein the engagement ends comprise a blade member for engaging the pipe.

11. The plug of claim 1, wherein the plug body comprises a pressure release valve.

12. A plug, comprising:

a plug body having an upper face and a lower face;

a deformable member having opposed pipe engagement ends;

a support structure carried by the plug body and spaced from the lower face, the support structure supporting the opposed pipe engagement ends of the deformable member;

an actuator extending outward from the lower face of the plug body and being connected to the deformable member, the actuator adjusting the distance of a central portion of the deformable member from the lower face of the plug body to cause the engagement ends to move between a retracted release position and an extended engagement position, the actuator being actuated from the upper face of the plug body; and

a plug cover removably attached to the plug body.

13. The plug of claim 12, wherein the plug body has a smaller diameter than a pipe to be sealed, and the plug cover has a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the pipe to be sealed.

14. The plug of claim 12, wherein the deformable member comprises two or more pipe engagement ends.

15. The plug of claim 12, wherein the deformable member is resilient.