Method and apparatus for protecting pipe threads

Claim 2

A deformable pipe thread protector comprising: a. a hollow body member in a form of a sleeve having a central longitudinal axis and opposed ends formed by spaced planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; b. a circumferentially outwardly extending shoulder at the marginal large diameter end, radially spaced outer ribs which are a continuation of said shoulder and which terminate in spaced relationship respective to the small diameter marginal end; c. said ribs lie along an imaginary line which intersect at a common point located on the longitudinal axis at a location spaced from said protector apparatus.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a bulkhead formed at said small diameter end which is parallel to each of the planes which form said opposed ends.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of inwardly directed spaced inner ribs which commence at said small diameter end and terminate in spaced relationship respective to said large diameter end, thereby leaving a circumferentially extending marginal wall area opposed to said shoulder.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said inner and outer ribs extend in opposition to one another and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another in staggered relationship about said body member.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein d. a bulkhead is formed at said small diameter end which is parallel to each of the recited planes which form said opposed ends; e. a plurality of inwardly directed, spaced apart, inner ribs which commence at said bulkhead and terminate in spaced relationship respective to said large diameter end; f. said inner and outer ribs extend in opposition to one another, are circumferentially spaced from one another about said body member, and form an integral part of said body member; g. said outer ribs diminish in thickness in a direction toward said small diameter end whereby the marginal small diameter end is uninterrupted by said outer ribs so that said outer ribs extend only in the medial portion of said body.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said ribs are formed by spaced rectangular voids, with the voids being formed into the outer surface of said body member such that the voids have an upper, lower, and opposed sides, respectively, formed by an edge portion of said shoulder and the edge portion of two adjacent ribs, respectively.

Claim 8

A deformable frustoconical pipe thread protector comprising: a. exterior and opposed large and small diameter ends, which form a frustum of a cone; b. the marginal large diameter end of the protector having a circumferentially extending continuous shoulder; and c. a plurality of outwardly directed, radially spaced ribs which are a continuation of said shoulder, which extend towards said small diameter end, and towards a common point located along the longitudinal central axis of the protector such that said ribs diminish in thickness from said shoulder towards said small diameter end.

Claim 9

A deformable frustoconical pipe thread protector comprising: a. exterior and opposed large and small diameter ends, which form a frustum of a cone; b. the marginal large diameter end of the protector having a circumferentially extending continuous shoulder; and c. a plurality of outwardly directed, radially spaced ribs which are a continuation of said shoulder, which extend towards said small diameter end, and towards a common point located along the longitudinal central axis of the protector such that said ribs diminish in thickness from said shoulder towards said small diameter end.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 7 further comprising: a bulkhead at said small diameter end which is disposed parallel to each of the planes which form said opposed ends.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 8 further comprising: a plurality of inwardly directed, spaced apart, inner ribs which commence at said bulkhead and terminate in spaced relationship respective to said large diameter end.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said ribs result from spaced rectangular voids which are formed into the outer surface of said body member such that the voids have upper, lower and opposed sides, respectively, formed by an edge portion of said shoulder and two adjacent ribs, respectively.

Claim 13

In a pipe protector for a pipe having a. external threads at one end, b. the threads having a thread taper, and c. the threads having a thread length; the improvement comprising: d. a sleeve having (i) a shoulder end, and (ii) an open end, and (iii) no greater taper from the open end to the shoulder end than the thread taper, and e. longitudinal internal ribs extending for a portion of the length of the sleeve, f. the sleeve being unribbed next to the open end, g. the ribs near the shoulder end having no greater taper than the thread taper.

Claim 14

In a pipe protector for a pipe having a. external threads at one end, b. the threads having a thread taper, and c. the threads having a thread length; the improvement comprising: d. a sleeve having (i) a shoulder end, and (ii) an open end, and (iii) no greater taper from the open end to the shoulder end than the thread taper, and e. longitudinal internal ribs extending for a portion of the length of the sleeve, f. the sleeve being unribbed next to the open end, g. the ribs near the shoulder end having no greater taper than the thread taper.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 11 further comprising: h. said sleeve having a length at least equal to said thread length.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein h. said protector is telescoped over the threads.

Claim 17

The invention as defined in claim 11 further comprising: h. said ribs having a diametrical distance between them of less than the diameter of the threads at a point between the ends of the sleeve when the sleeve is fully telescoped over the pipe threads so that the sleeve is deformed from a circular to an oblate configuration.

Claim 18

The invention as defined in claim 14 further comprising: j. the thread diameter exceeding the distance between the ribs by a greater amount between the ends of the sleeve than at either end of the sleeve.

Claim 19

The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein said protector is telescoped over the threads.

Claim 20

The invention as defined in claim 16 further comprising: k. said sleeve having a length at least equal to said thread length.