Patent US3704729A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3704729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plumbing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-21
•
Granted: 1972-12-05
•
Expires: 1991-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A plumbing device for plugging a pipe includes a radially expansible rubber sleeve disposed about one end of an axial shaft or tube. An annular flange is provided on the end of the shaft while an elongated metal cylinder is disposed coaxially about the shaft on the opposite side of the sleeve to transmit axial compressive movement to the rubber sleeve from a screw jack mechanism releasably secured on the shaft in proximity to its other end.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Alfred Tomlinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:36
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03F; E03F7/00; E03F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A plumbing device which comprises: an elongated axial shaft having first and second ends; a radially outwardly extending flange on said shaft in proximity to said first end thereof; a radially outwardly resiliently expansible and axially resiliently compressible sealing sleeve disposed about said shaft; a first jack member slidably disposed on said shaft toward said second end thereof and including an internally threaded skirt defining with said shaft an annular socket; a second jack member slidably disposed on said shaft toward said second end thereof and including an externally threaded shank received within said annular socket of said first jack member for co-action therewith whereby, on relative rotation of said first and second jack members, those members are caused to undergo relative axial movement; a releasable stop means for releasably preventing axial movement toward said second end of said shaft of that one of said first and second jack members which is nearer said second end of said shaft; and an elongated cylinder disposed about said shaft to be axially slidable therealong and extending between said sleeve and a nearer one of said first and second jack members; whereby, when said stop means is operative to prevent axial movement of one of said first and second jack members on said shaft and when said first and second jack members are relatively rotated to cause axial separation thereof, said elongated cylinder is moved axially to cause compression of said sleeve against said flange and consequently radially outward expansion of said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A plumbing device which comprises: an elongated axial shaft having first and second ends; a radially outwardly extending flange on said shaft in proximity to said first end thereof; a radially outwardly resiliently expansible and axially resiliently compressible sealing sleeve disposed about said shaft; a first jack member slidably disposed on said shaft toward said second end thereof and including an internally threaded skirt defining with said shaft an annular socket; a second jack member slidably disposed on said shaft toward said second end thereof and including an externally threaded shank received within said annular socket of said first jack member for co-action therewith whereby, on relative rotation of said first and second jack members, those members are caused to undergo relative axial movement; a releasable stop means for releasably preventing axial movement toward said second end of said shaft of that one of said first and second jack members which is nearer said second end of said shaft; and an elongated cylinder disposed about said shaft to be axially slidable therealong and extending between said sleeve and a nearer one of said first and second jack members; whereby, when said stop means is operative to prevent axial movement of one of said first and second jack members on said shaft and when said first and second jack members are relatively rotated to cause axial separation thereof, said elongated cylinder is moved axially to cause compression of said sleeve against said flange and consequently radially outward expansion of said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said releasable stop means comprises a stop collar axially slidable along said shaft and securable thereon at a desired position thereon for axial abutment by that one of said first and second jack members which is nearer said second end of said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 2 in which a set screw is threaded in a radial bore in said stop collar for engagement of said screw with said shaft so to prevent axial movement relative to said shaft of that one of said jack members which is nearer said second end of said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said releasable stop means comprises a locking member radially movably mounted on that one of said first and second jack members which is nearer said second end of said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 4 in which said locking member comprises a set screw threaded into a radial bore in that one of said first and second jack members which is nearer said second end of said shaft for engagement of said screw with said shaft so to prevent axial movement relative to said shaft of that one of said jack members which is nearer said seconD end of said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said shaft is in the form of a hollow tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises a centering means disposed between said sealing sleeve and an adjacent end of said elongated cylinder for maintaining said cylinder and said shaft essentially coaxial with each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 7 in which said centering means comprises a centering collar slidably disposed about said shaft between said sleeve and said elongated cylinder and including a recess receiving the adjacent end of said elongated cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 7 in which said centering means comprises a centering collar slidably disposed about said shaft between said sleeve and said cylinder and dimensioned so as to extend partially into said cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 9 in which said centering collar includes a frusto-conical external surface for abutment by the adjacent end of said elongated cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises first and second discoid washers slidably disposed on said shaft on opposite sides of said sealing sleeve, said discoid washers having approximately the same diameter as said sealing sleeve when said sleeve is in a relaxed configuration thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A plumbing device as claimed in claim 1 in which that one of said first and second jack members which is nearer said elongated cylinder is formed with a socket defining with said shaft an annular pocket in which the adjacent end of said elongated cylinder is received.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |