Patent US3768849A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3768849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flag plug for vessel openings
Assignee: GEN AM TRANSPORT
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Filing: 1972-03-31
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A flag plug for use with a cover for an opening in a vessel such as the hatch cover or manway opening of a railroad car. The flag plug includes a shank portion having a barbed end and a head with a reduced diameter portion connecting the shank and head. The plug is adapted to fit into aligned openings in the cover and the vessel when the cover is closed. When the cover is closed, the plug is substantially flush with the top of the cover. When the cover is opened, the head of the plug will break off. The plug is used to provide an easily recognizable signal as to whether the cover has been opened.
Inventors
- 👤 T Sytko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:32
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/02; G09F3/03; G09F3/0305; G09F3/0323; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
For use with a cover for an opening in a vessel wherein said vessel includes a passage spaced from the opening in said vessel and said cover has a passage therethrough positioned to be aligned with said passage in said vessel, a flag plug for indicating whether the cover has been opened cOmprising a shank portion dimensioned to extend through the passage in said cover and into the passage in said vessel, a head adapted to be exposed on the surface of said cover, and a frangible portion connecting said head and said shank portion whereby when said cover is opened said head will be broken off said shank portion, said frangible portion having a smaller cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flag plug than said shank portion and said head; said shank portion having a barbed end including at least one slot therein to provide a plurality of barbs for preventing said flag plug from being removed through the passage in said cover after the flag plug is positioned in the passage in the vessel; said barbs having a cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flag plug larger than the cross-sectional area of said frangible portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
For use with a cover for an opening in a vessel wherein said vessel includes a passage spaced from the opening in said vessel and said cover has a passage therethrough positioned to be aligned with said passage in said vessel, a flag plug for indicating whether the cover has been opened cOmprising a shank portion dimensioned to extend through the passage in said cover and into the passage in said vessel, a head adapted to be exposed on the surface of said cover, and a frangible portion connecting said head and said shank portion whereby when said cover is opened said head will be broken off said shank portion, said frangible portion having a smaller cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flag plug than said shank portion and said head; said shank portion having a barbed end including at least one slot therein to provide a plurality of barbs for preventing said flag plug from being removed through the passage in said cover after the flag plug is positioned in the passage in the vessel; said barbs having a cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flag plug larger than the cross-sectional area of said frangible portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
200 words
A hatch cover assembly for a vessel which includes a hatch hole, said hatch cover assembly comprising: a tubular member surrounding the hatch hole; a flange extending outwardly from the top of the tubular member; a hatch cover pivotally secured to said vessel and adapted to be pivoted between a position which permits access to said vessel through the hatch hole and a position in which the hatch hole is closed; means for releasably securing said hatch cover to said vessel when said hatch cover is in a position in which the hatch hole is closed; said hatch cover defining an opening near one edge; said flange having an opening therein which is aligned with the opening in the hatch cover when said hatch cover is in a position in which the hatch hole is closed; and plug means positioned in the opening in the hatch cover and the opening in the flange when the hatch hole is closed; said plug means including a head and a shank portion interconnected by a reduced diameter portion whereby when said plug means is in said openings and said hatch cover is opened, said head will be broken off from the shank portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
200 words
A hatch cover assembly for a vessel which includes a hatch hole, said hatch cover assembly comprising: a tubular member surrounding the hatch hole; a flange extending outwardly from the top of the tubular member; a hatch cover pivotally secured to said vessel and adapted to be pivoted between a position which permits access to said vessel through the hatch hole and a position in which the hatch hole is closed; means for releasably securing said hatch cover to said vessel when said hatch cover is in a position in which the hatch hole is closed; said hatch cover defining an opening near one edge; said flange having an opening therein which is aligned with the opening in the hatch cover when said hatch cover is in a position in which the hatch hole is closed; and plug means positioned in the opening in the hatch cover and the opening in the flange when the hatch hole is closed; said plug means including a head and a shank portion interconnected by a reduced diameter portion whereby when said plug means is in said openings and said hatch cover is opened, said head will be broken off from the shank portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The hatch cover assembly according to claim 2 wherein said plug means includes a barbed end on said shank portion which is adapted to fit in the opening in the flange.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hatch cover assembly according to claim 3 wherein said barbed end is provided with at least one slot to permit the barbed end to be deformed for insertion into the opening in said flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
An article of manufacture comprising a head, a shank portion, a reduced diameter portion made of frangible material connecting said head to one end of said shank portion and a barbed end at the other end of said shank portion, said barbed end having at least one slot therein to define a plurality of barbs, said reduced diameter portion having a cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion smaller than the cross-sectional area of said shank portion and said barbs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
An article of manufacture comprising a head, a shank portion, a reduced diameter portion made of frangible material connecting said head to one end of said shank portion and a barbed end at the other end of said shank portion, said barbed end having at least one slot therein to define a plurality of barbs, said reduced diameter portion having a cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion smaller than the cross-sectional area of said shank portion and said barbs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |