U.S. patent application number 12/215316 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for quick drain plug.
Invention is credited to Juan Constantino Martinez, Shane Stamm.
Application Number | 20090283525 12/215316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41315170 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090283525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martinez; Juan Constantino ;
et al. |
November 19, 2009 |
Quick drain plug
Abstract
The invention relates to a hand-actuated drain plug that
comprises a tubular member having a proximal head and a distal body
adapted to engage a tubular port. The head of the plug has an
annular end with at least two surface areas corresponding to an
open and closed position. The tubular member defines an axially
aligned bore. The plug includes a cap top that comprises a proximal
flange coupled to a stem. The flange has a distally oriented
surface that is adapted to be placed in orientation with the two
surface areas of the annular end corresponding to open and closed
positions. The other end of the stem is coupled to a bushing that
is sized to fit and slide within the bore of the tubular member. A
biasing member positioned between the stem and the tubular member
is compressed to bias the plug to a closed position.
Inventors: |
Martinez; Juan Constantino;
(Miami, FL) ; Stamm; Shane; (Boulder, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ESPINOSA I TRUEBA, PL
3001 SW 3RD Avenue
Miami
FL
33129
US
|
Family ID: |
41315170 |
Appl. No.: |
12/215316 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60937507 |
Jun 27, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/235 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01M 11/0408
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/235 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/00 20060101
B65D053/00 |
Claims
1. A hand-actuated drain plug for a vessel having a tubular port,
the drain plug comprising: a tubular member having a proximal head
and a distal body adapted to fittingly engage the tubular port,
said head having an annular end with at least two surface areas,
said tubular member defining an axially aligned bore having an
interior, distally oriented annular shoulder located at a proximal
end of said tubular member; a cap top comprising a proximal flange
coupled to a distal stem oriented substantially perpendicular to
said flange, said flange having a distal surface adapted to be
placed in orientation with said at least two surface areas of said
annular, said distal stem sized to fit within said bore of said
tubular member; a bushing coupled to a distal end of said stem,
said bushing sized to fit within said bore of said tubular member;
a biasing member sized to fit between said stem and said tubular
member, said biasing member compressed between said annular
shoulder and said bushing; wherein said hand-actuated drain plug is
adapted to be placed in an open position such that said flange is
adjacent one of said at least two surface areas and in a closed
position such that said flange is adjacent the second of said
surface areas.
2. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
distal body of said tubular member includes at least one vent
adapted to allow fluid to flow through said axially aligned bore of
the drain plug.
3. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
bushing defines at least one opening adapted to allow fluid to flow
through said axially aligned bore of the drain plug.
4. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising an O-ring coupled to said annular end of said head such
that said flange forms a seal between said head and said cap member
when said drain plug is in said closed position.
5. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at
least two surface areas of said annular end of said head are
defined by a ramped area along said annular end.
6. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising a circuit adapted to be attached to a signaling device,
said circuit including a conductive portion of said flange and a
conductive portion of said head of said tubular member such said
conductive portion of said flange and said conductive portion of
said head forming a closed circuit when the drain plug is in said
closed position and an open circuit when the drain plug is in said
open position.
7. A hand-actuated drain plug for a vessel having a tubular
threaded port, the drain plug comprising: a bolt-like tubular
member having a proximal polygonal-shaped head and a distal
externally threaded body adapted to threadingly engage the tubular
threaded port, said head having at least two distally distinct
surface areas along an annular end, said tubular member defining an
axially aligned bore having an interior, distally oriented annular
shoulder; a cap member comprising a proximal flange coupled to a
distal stem oriented substantially perpendicular to said flange,
said flange having a surface adapted to be placed in orientation
with said at least two distally distinct surface areas along said
annular end of said head, said distal stem sized to fit within said
bore of said tubular member; a bushing coupled to a distal end of
said stem, said bushing sized to fit within said bore of said
tubular member; a biasing member sized to fit between said stem and
said tubular member, said biasing member compressed between said
annular shoulder and said bushing; wherein said hand-actuated drain
plug is adapted to be placed in an open position such that said
flange is adjacent the more proximal of said at least two distally
distinct surface areas of said head and in a closed position such
that said flange is adjacent the more distal of said surface areas
of said head.
8. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 wherein said
distal externally threaded body of said bolt-like tubular member
includes at least one vent adapted to allow fluid to flow through
said axially aligned bore of the drain plug.
9. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 wherein said
bushing defines at least one opening adapted to allow fluid to flow
through said axially aligned bore of the drain plug.
10. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 further
comprising an O-ring coupled to said annular end of said head such
that said flange forms a seal between said head and said cap member
when said drain plug is in said closed position.
11. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 wherein said
at least two distally distinct surface areas of said head are
defined by a ramped area along said annular end.
12. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 further
comprising a circuit adapted to be attached to a signaling device,
said circuit including a conductive portion of said flange and a
conductive portion of said head of said tubular member such said
conductive portion of said flange and said conductive portion of
said head forming a closed circuit when the drain plug is in said
closed position and an open circuit when the drain plug is in said
open position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional
patent application No. 60/937,507 filed Jun. 27, 2007. The entire
disclosure of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/937,507 is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a drain plug
designed to be hand-actuated. More specifically, in the preferred
embodiment, the present invention relates to hand-actuated drain
plug adapted to replace a traditional drain plug.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Numerous devices have been designed to act as a plug for a
drain port or hole. With conventional drain plugs, a threaded bolt
is placed into a matching threaded port to stop fluid from flowing
through the port. In order to allow fluid to flow through the port,
the threaded plug is unthreaded. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,881 to
Eshelman, disclosing a lawn mower engine oil drain extension having
a traditional threaded plug. In some prior art designs, the plug
must be completely removed in order to allow the fluid to flow
through the port or hole. In other designs, such as that disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,526 to Alvarez, the cylindrical plug is
externally threaded with a transverse opening such that partial
removal or unthreading of the plug permits liquid to drain through
the bore and out the transverse opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,086 to
Conklin discloses a drain plug to replace traditional threaded
plugs that utilized a hinged latch that can be opened and closed.
This system requires a larger surface area than the threaded plug
it replaced because of the additional components. Other systems
employ a dual cylinder design wherein an inner cylindrical tube
that is closed on one end slides within an outer tube. In one
position, the inner tube shaped member seals against the outer tube
member, not permitting the transmission of fluid through its bore.
In a second position, the inner tube member protrudes above the
outer tube, exposing a transverse hole in the inner tube member,
allowing the flow of fluid through the hole. See for example, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,749,561 to Worthington, U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,683 to Pliml
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,249 to Cruse. However, these systems are
deficient because they fail to provide a mechanism to bias the
device in a closed position to avoid an inadvertent opening. Other
systems use plugs capable of expanding and contracting within the
confines of the port in order to secure the plug and remove the
plug, respectively. Plugging the port or opening the port using
these prior devices is time consuming, usually requires additional
tools, can be messy depending on the type of liquid, and in some
applications can be dangerous. U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,434 to Scott
discloses a twist cam valve for fuel tanks that requires the use of
a tool to open and close. The device disclosed in the '434 patent
to Scott uses a cam surface and follower pin at the internal
terminal end of the device to open and close the device. In
addition, the opening in the cylindrical body of the device that
allows the flow of fluid is adjacent its outer flange that it
mounted to the exterior of the fuel tank, thus requiring a large
area for installation. The design disclosed in the '434 patent does
not solve the problem of replacing a drain plug with a device that
is substantially similar in size to the preexisting plug. U.S. Pat.
No. 2,591,514 to Courtot discloses a drain valve that uses a dual
cylinder design with a biasing spring to keep the inner sliding
tube in an outward, protruding position such that the device is
biased to a closed position. However, it is deficient in that if
something inadvertently bumps up against the device, it may be
placed into an open position, allowing the fluid it is designed to
retain to flow out. There is a need for a simple biased drain plug
that cannot be inadvertently placed into an open position that
would allow the fluid to flow through the device, causing the
vessel it plugs to drain.
[0004] In the case of threaded plugs, the threading and unthreading
of a bolt can cause fatigue on the bolt threads and on the internal
threads of the bolt recipient, leading to damage to either the bolt
or its recipient. In many cases, the recipient is impossible or
expensive to fix or replace. There is also a need for a replacement
threaded plug that does not require installation and removal each
time draining is required.
[0005] There is a need for a plug or bolt that can be installed and
utilized to easily drain a fluid without the need to remove the
plug or bolt and that can be operated without the use of additional
devices, keys or tools.
[0006] Others have created devices that attempt to solve the above
mentioned problems. However, those devices are typically larger,
making it unusable in some applications, and more complicated, some
requiring the use of additional tools to operate. There is a need
for a plug or fluid drain bolt that occupies approximately the same
envelope or volume such as the drain plug of the present invention
that can be hand-actuated to drain liquid from the reservoir to
which it is applied.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The following section of the written description describes
some of the objects of the present invention, but the section is
not exhaustive of all of invention's objects.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid
drain plug that is easy to operate and avoids common problems with
traditional plugs.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide
solutions to the aforementioned problems, including the loss of
plugs required to be removed for proper drainage of the reservoir
to which the plug or bolt is applied.
[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
hand-actuated fluid bolt that can quickly be opened or closed
without any additional tools.
[0011] It is yet a further object of the present invention,
depending on the application, to provide a drain plug that reduces
the risk of bums by making it easy to actuate.
[0012] It a further object of the present invention to provide a
drain plug that does not need to be threaded or unthreaded to
operate.
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a drain
plug whose operation does not cause fatigue and damage to the
recipient threads or receptacle parts.
[0014] It is yet a further object of the present invention, to
provide a hand-actuated fluid plug that occupies approximately the
same volume as the traditional plug it is designed to replace,
making it useable in many applications not possible for some of the
larger devices created in the past.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a
hand-actuated drain plug for a vessel having a tubular port or
drain hole. The drain plug comprises a tubular member having a
proximal head and a distal body adapted to fittingly engage the
tubular port or hole. The head of the plug has an annular end with
at least two surface areas corresponding to an open and closed
position. The tubular member defines an axially aligned bore having
an interior, distally oriented annular shoulder located at a
proximal end of the tubular member. The drain plug also includes a
cap top that comprises a proximal flange coupled to a distal stem
oriented substantially perpendicular to the flange. The flange has
a distally oriented surface that is adapted to be placed in
orientation with the two surface areas of the annular end
corresponding to open and closed positions. The stem of the cap top
is sized to fit within the bore of the tubular member. The other
end of the stem is coupled to a bushing that is sized to fit and
slide within the bore of the tubular member. A biasing member sized
to fit between the stem and the tubular member is compressed
between the annular shoulder and the bushing. The hand-actuated
drain plug is adapted to be placed in an open position such that
the flange is adjacent one of the two surface areas of the annular
end and in a closed position such that the flange is adjacent the
second of the two surface areas. The distal end of the tubular
member may include one or more vents adapted to allow fluid to flow
through them into the axially aligned bore of the drain plug. The
bushing may also include one or more openings adapted to allow
fluid to flow through the axially aligned bore of the drain plug.
In addition, an O-ring may be included between the distally
oriented surface of the flange and the annular end of the head such
that a seal is formed between them when the drain plug is in the
closed position. In an alternative embodiment, the surface areas of
the annular end of the head may include a ramped area to guide the
cap top from either of its two positions. The present invention may
also be used with a circuit adapted to be attached to a signaling
device. The circuit includes a conductive portion of the flange and
a conductive portion of the head of the tubular member such the
conductive portion of the flange and the conductive portion of the
head form a closed circuit when the drain plug is in the closed
position and an open circuit when the drain plug is in the open
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing, and other
objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are
shown and described in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments which should be viewed in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention in a perspective view;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical prior art threaded plug or
bolt;
[0019] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of the
hand-actuated fluid plug used in connection with a reservoir;
[0020] FIGS. 4 and 5 provide side cutaway views of one embodiment
of the present invention as utilized in a reservoir;
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0022] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a side and cutaway view of an
embodiment of the present invention in an open position;
[0023] FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the
hand-actuated fluid bolt of the present invention;
[0024] FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrates another embodiment of the
present invention in an open position; and
[0025] FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrates the embodiment of FIGS. 10,
11 and 12 in a closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The present invention relates to a hand actuated fluid bolt
10 that can be utilized to allow fluid to pass through a valved
passageway through the bolt 10. The bolt 10 of the present
invention can be manufactured for different size openings and with
different exterior structures to match its intended port or
opening. It is important to note that the embodiments of the
invention, described below are only examples of some of the uses of
the teachings described herein. In general, statements made in the
specification do not limit any of the various claimed inventions.
Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but
not to others. Unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be
in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. Similar
reference numerals and letters represent similar components and
system features throughout the drawings and the written
description.
[0027] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the
present fluid bolt or plug 10 invention in a perspective view. FIG.
3 illustrates the fluid plug 10 inserted at the bottom of reservoir
12. Reservoir 12 can be any vessel that contains a liquid. For
example, the reservoir 12 may be an oil crankcase, a holding tank,
the hull of a vessel, a P-trap drain, cooler drains, a transmission
case, or any other vessel requiring drainage of the liquid
contained within it through a port or hole. Because of its
versatility, the hand-actuated fluid bolt or plug 10 can be used
for many applications. The hand-actuated fluid bolt 10 consists of
parts that may be machined or cast.
[0028] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a cutaway view of the drain plug 10
and vessel 12 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 5, the drain plug 10 is
illustrated in the open position with arrows 14 indicating the
direction of flow through the plug 10. The term bolt as used herein
is not meant to limit the present invention to a threaded
embodiment but is used generically to indicate the general shape of
the device. Similarly, the term plug is used generically to
indicate that the invention is generally used as a plug that is
inserted into a hole, opening or port.
[0029] The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B
includes a tubular member 20 having a head 40 and a shaft-like body
60. The plug or bolt 10 may be of any size or form that allows
fluid to pass through its interior 22 when opened and that engages
the similarly shaped port or hole in the particular vessel (see fit
between the plug and vessel in FIG. 5). When the bolt 10 is in the
closed position (see FIG. 1A) it prevents fluids from passing
through the center bore 22. The design of the present invention
does not require an envelope or volume greater than the bolt it may
be replacing (such as the threaded prior art bolt shown in FIG. 2).
For spatial reference, the head 40 shall be referred to as being
proximal and the shaft-like body 60 as distal. The proximal head 40
of the drain plug 10 includes a hexagonal, ring shaped end 42
having at least two surface areas 44, 46. Because the core 22 of
the tubular member 20 is substantially hollow, the end of head 40
is annular or ring-shaped. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
1A and 1B, the periphery of annular end 42 is hexagonal to allow
for its installation and removal through the use of a traditional
wrench or socket. Of course, other shapes may be utilized. The
tubular member 20 defines an axially aligned bore 22 having an
interior, distally oriented annular shoulder 62 located near the
proximal end of the tubular member 20 (see FIG. 8). The purpose of
the annular shoulder 62 is to secure a biasing member 66
illustrated as a spring in FIG. 8.
[0030] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 6 through
9, the plug 10 also comprises a cap top 70 having a proximal 72
flange coupled to a distally oriented stem 74. Stem 74 is oriented
substantially perpendicular to the flange 72 and is sized to fit
within the bore 22 of tubular member 20. The flange 72 has a
distally oriented surface 76. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B, the shape and size of flange 72 correspond to the
surface area 44 on either side of the circular space 22 (inclusive
of the circular space area 22). In addition, the edge of flange 72
includes a distally oriented tab 32, the purpose of which will
become clear in the explanation of the operation of plug 10. Head
40 includes an indentation 34 matching the shape and size of tab
32, allowing flange 72 to seat within area 44 when the plug 10 is
in a closed position. Surface 44 includes an O-ring 48 that forms a
seal between the distally oriented inner surface 76 of flange 72
and surface 44 when the plug 10 is in the closed position. Flange
72 of cap 70 is used to open the device such that the liquid is
allowed to flow through the core 22 of plug 10 or used to close the
device such that the liquid is unable to flow through it. At the
distal end of stem 74 is a bushing 80. The bushing 80 is sized to
fit within the bore 22 of the tubular member 20 such that it can
glide longitudinally along the inside of member 20 and acts as a
guide for biasing member 66. In FIG. 9, showing an exploded view of
one embodiment of the present invention, the bushing 80 comprises a
hub 82 connected to an outer wheel 84 by radially projecting struts
86, 88, thus defining gaps 90, 92. The bushing 80 may also be
constructed solid, but a perforated bushing permits more area
through which liquid may flow during use of the plug 10 to drain
liquid. In one embodiment the terminal end 78 (FIG. 9) of stem 74
is coupled to the hub 82 of bushing 82 through a threaded union.
Other means to couple the two may be used such as placing cotter
pin through a hole located at the terminal end 78 of stem 74 once
stem 74 is fitted through the center of hub 82 (not shown), or the
terminal end 78 may include a groove over which an open spring
washer is placed to prevent the stem from exiting from the center
of hub 82.
[0031] The biasing member 66 in the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 6 through 9 is sized to fit between the stem 74 of
cap top 70 and the inner walls of tubular member 20. The biasing
member 66 in FIGS. 8 and 9 is a spring. The biasing member 66 is
compressed, with the proximal end 64 resting against the distally
oriented shoulder 62 of tubular member 20 and the distal end 68
against bushing 80. The compression spring or biasing member 66 can
be sized to accommodate different pressure requirements associated
with various applications.
[0032] The shaft-like body 60 of the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7 and 9 include longitudinally aligned vents 94, 96,
98 along its periphery. The vents 94, 96, 98 enable a greater
volume of liquid to drain through the plug 10 when in an open
position.
[0033] Operation of the hand-actuated drain plug 10 of the present
invention is simple. The force created by the compressed biasing
member 66 causes the cap top 70 and flange 72 to move distally
against the surface areas 44, 46 of head 40. If the plug 10 is in a
closed position, the user grabs the peripheral edge of flange 72
and pulls in a proximal direction, causing the flange 72, stem 74
and bushing 80 to move longitudinally relative to the tubular
member 20 once the biasing force of the biasing member 66 is
overcome. After the flange 72 clears the edge of the surface area
46, the user turns flange 72 such that at least a portion of the
area of the flange 72 that sat above the surface area 44 is now
located over the proximal area 46. This creates a gap between
flange 72 and the surface area 44, allowing fluid to flow through
the bore 22 and out of head 40. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 9, the distally oriented tab 32 can be placed to rest on
proximal area 46. The height of tab 32 provides additional
clearance of space between distally oriented surface 76 of flange
72 and the open bore 22 of the plug 10, thus providing less
resistance to the liquid draining out through the plug. Once, the
liquid has drained through the plug, the flange 72 is twisted or
turned again, until the flange 72 is aligned with the distal area
44 such that the flange may rest upon such area, closing the plug.
In the embodiment that includes the O-ring 48 (see FIGS. 1B and 9),
the flexible 0-ring forms a seal, not permitting leakage of liquid
through the bolt or plug 10. O-ring 48 may be made of various
flexible materials as is known in the art. In some applications,
such as with use in combustion engines, a material capable of
withstanding high temperature is preferred. The tab 32 of flange 72
together with the indentation 34 also provides a locking feature to
prevent the plug 10 from being slightly opened through an
inadvertent bump of the flange 72. This locking feature serves as a
redundant method of insuring the cap top 70 remains closed and does
not open inadvertently.
[0034] The present invention may also include a notification system
to provide an electrical signal that can be used together with a
visual display, audio response or tactile notification to provide
information about the state of the plug 10, i.e., whether it is in
an open or closed state. One embodiment of the notification system
incorporates a circuit that is created through the head 40 of plug
10. The circuit runs through the head 40 the device such that when
the cap top 70 is open, the circuit is broken, and when the cap top
70 is closed, the circuit is closed through the head 40. FIGS. 1A
and 1B diagrammatically illustrate leads 102, 104 attached to
flange 72 and the side of head 40, respectively. In this
embodiment, the device 10 is constructed with materials that only
allow conductivity for certain areas. For example, the underside
surface 76 of cap top 70 may be hardened metal such that an
electrical signal sent via one of the leads 102, 104 is unable to
conduct through the surface 76 to one of the respective
corresponding surfaces 44, 46. Cap top 70 may be constructed such
that only a portion of it, such as the sides 106 of flange 72, is
capable of it conducting an electrical signal. As such, when the
plug 10 is in a closed position with the flange atop surface 44,
the sides 106 of flange 72 make contact with the conductive
corresponding portion of surface 44, thus closing the circuit.
However, when flange 72 is an open position, the conductive sides
106 are not touching any other portion of the head 40, thus
creating an open circuit. Another embodiment, not illustrated in
the drawings, has electrical leads coupled to either side of
surface area 44. When electrically conductive flange 72 is placed
in the closed position, the underside 76 of flange 72 electrically
couples the two leads, thus closing the circuit. When the flange 72
is in the open position, the two leads remain separated, thus
creating an open circuit. There are several embodiments that can be
employed to open and close the circuit such that the relative state
of the plug 10 may be relayed through means other than a visual
inspection of the device.
[0035] FIGS. 10 through 15 illustrate another embodiment of the
fluid plug 110 of the present invention. FIGS. 10 through 12 show
the embodiment in the open position, and FIGS. 13 through 15 show
the plug 110 in the closed position. The alternative embodiment of
the present invention is similar to the previously described
embodiment with two main differences. First, the embodiments
illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 15 include a biasing member 166
that provides tension rather compression. Second, the interaction
between the surfaces 144, 146 of the terminal end of the head 140
and the distally-oriented surfaces of the cap top 170 is slightly
modified in that it includes a ramped surface area along a portion
of the annular end of the head 140.
[0036] The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 15 includes a
tubular member 120 having a head 140 and a shaft-like body 160. The
shaft-like body 160 is illustrated with external threads 162. When
the bolt 110 is in the closed position (see FIGS. 13, 14 and 15) it
prevents fluids from passing through the center bore 122 and out
through the head 140. As with the prior embodiment (FIGS. 1A), the
design of this embodiment does not require an envelope or volume
greater than the bolt it may be replacing (such as the threaded
prior art bolt shown in FIG. 2). The head 140 of the drain plug 110
is illustrated with a hexagonal, ring shaped end 142 having at
least two surface areas 144, 146 (see FIG. 10). A portion the
surface area at the terminal end of the head 140 is ramped 144.
Core 122 of the tubular member 120 is substantially hollow. The
tubular member 120 defines an axially aligned bore 122 having an
interior, distally oriented bar 164 that is illustrated as
traversing a diameter of the interior bore 122 of tubular member
120. The purpose of the bar 164 is to secure biasing member 166
illustrated as a wire or cable 166 in FIGS. 11, 12 14 and 15.
[0037] The cap top 170 illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 15 have a
proximal hexagonally-shaped flange 172. Within the cap top 170, and
traversing the interior of flange 172, is a biasing support member
174. The biasing member 166 is thus stretched between bar 164 and
support member 174. The flange 172 has distally oriented surfaces
176, 186 that correspond to the surfaces 146, 144 on the terminal
end of the head 140. As with the other illustrated embodiment,
flange 172 of cap 170 is used to open the device 110 such that the
liquid is allowed to flow through the core 122 of plug 110 or used
to close the device such that the liquid is unable to flow through
it.
[0038] The biasing member 166 in the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 10 through 15 is sized to fit between the support member 174
of cap top 170 and bar 164. The biasing member 166 is a wire having
an elastic quality. The biasing member 166 is stretched, with the
proximal end coupled to support member 174 and the distal end
coupled to bar 164. The biasing member 166 can be sized to
accommodate different pressure requirements associated with various
applications.
[0039] The shaft-like body 160 of the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 10 through 15 may also include longitudinally aligned vents
(not illustrated) to enable a greater volume of liquid to drain
through the plug 110 when in an open position.
[0040] The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications
and changes within scope and spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *