Abstract:
Pipe plugs are difficult to remove due in part to the design of the pipe plug to be extremely tight fit with a pipe. Pipe plugs are described as being removed by a pipe plug removal tool. The pipe plug removal tool permits easy access to a trench and employs leverage to remove the pipe plug.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the removal of pipe plugs from pipes. A pipe plug is a protective device a portion of which is inserted into an opening in a pipe. A pipe cap is a protective device which is placed over the outer surface of a pipe to seal a pipe opening. 
   2. Description of the Art Practices 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,347 issued to Aguillen Jr. et al., on Jan. 10, 1989 discloses a plastic-pipe puller tool for installing subterranean utility pipes has a shaft portion, one tapered end on the shaft portion for snugly fitting within the inner wall of the plastic pipe to be installed and a second coupling end which may have a coupler which is rotatably supported from the shaft portion, to permit rapid and easy joining of the plastic pipe to the pipe-pulling means, whether a bore-pipe or a pneumatic hose. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,957 issued to Prost Jan. 6, 1987 discloses a soil plugging and ejecting apparatus for being inserted into soil to form and remove a soil plug and for ejecting the plug. The apparatus includes an elongate tubular body having a cutting edge on its lower end for piercing the soil to form a plug. A step attached to the body receives downward pressure to force the apparatus into the soil and a grip attached to the upper end of the body provides a means for holding and guiding the apparatus, and for pulling it out of the soil after the plug is formed. A valve mounted on the apparatus is in fluid-flow communication with a source of pressurized fluid and the body, and is operable to selectively admit pressurized fluid into the body to eject a plug from the lower end of the body. The valve can be actuated by a handle or a button. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,293 issued to Schulberg Feb. 10, 1981 contains a disclosure of a pulling tool of generally elongated shape operable by hydraulic pressure to pull force-fitted elements from an anchorage, such as cups from the arms of universal joints. At the forward end there is a gripping sleeve to be located around the element, a retaining sleeve to be located about the gripping sleeve and a reaction sleeve around the retaining sleeve. Interaction of the walls of the gripping sleeve and retaining sleeve cause transverse contraction of the gripping sleeve about the element as the hydraulic pressure pulls the gripping sleeve rearwardly. An ejector pin urges the element longitudinally from the tool after the arms constituting the gripping sleeve open, which occurs due to differing radial forces applied on the gripping sleeve as it moves rearwardly. The leading edge of the reaction sleeve reacts against the anchorage from which the element is pulled. 
   Schosek in U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,169, which issued Jun. 29, 1976, recites a rod and pipe pusher, puller device for operative attachment to a conventional type of tractor or truck mounted backhoe machine without removal of the backhoe bucket. The attachment of operation of the device is accomplished by the removal of a single pin from the drive linkage to the bucket from a hydraulic operated piston of the conventional mechanism of the backhoe machine. Means are provided to securely anchor the bucket to an upper central portion of the device and to connect said drive linkage to a power arm of the device to accomplish the rod and pipe pushing, pulling operation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,048 Owen issued Jul. 11, 2000 discloses a board puller for removing boards on a structure generally having a board cue which contacts the back side of boards to be removed, a fulcrum with a pivot that interacts with the frame structure and a handle for providing leverage. The board cue is pivotally attached towards one end of the fulcrum. The handle is rigidly attached to the other end of the fulcrum, but made so that the angle can be adjusted, in the preferred embodiment. In the center of the fulcrum is a pivot typically consisting of a curved or semi-circular member extending perpendicular for the fulcrum. Gauges are provided which are attached to the board cue. The gauges positions and holds the board cue on the boards being removed. This provides a means to remove the board in such a manner that splintering and board breakage is minimized. The board puller can be used with or without the gauges. In operation, the board cue is positioned behind the boards to be pulled or removed. The pivot on the fulcrum is positioned on the stud, joist or other frame structure on which the boards are nailed or screwed. The handle is then either pulled or pushed to remove the boards from the structure. The handle angle can be adjusted to provide the best angle for applying leverage. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,740 issued to Tye on Jul. 14, 1998 recites a bottle cap remover is activated by inserting a bottle into an orifice. A detector adjacent the orifice detects the presence of the bottle and causes a linear actuator to drive a gripping device away from the top of the bottle where the cap is located. As the gripping device is moving away from the bottle cap, cam members direct hooked members of the gripping device around the bottle cap so that it is pulled off of and away from the bottle as the linear actuator drives the gripping device away from the bottle top. Once the bottle cap is removed, the linear actuator recycles to ready the bottle cap remover for the next bottle cap. 
   Davis et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,430 Nov. 14, 1995 contains a disclosure of a cap glide puller comprising an elongated handle. A head is longitudinally offset at one end of the handle. A hook diagonally extends downwardly from the offset end of the handle towards the head. The head and the hook are capable of engaging a cap glide on a free end of a chair leg. When the handle is manually lifted up, the cap glide will be removed from the free end of the chair leg. 
   Strausbaugh, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,682 that issued Apr. 2, 1991 discloses a tool assembly for removing caps or plugs from sewer lines to be connected by contractors or plumbers. The tool includes three distinct pieces which may, in conjunction, be slid over a cap or plug to be removed. A screw element is then turned to pull the cap or plug from a sewer line without damage to the cap or line itself. The tool is designed for rapid attachment and use to reduce time consumed and danger to contractors and plumbers working on a sewer connection. 
   To the extent that the foregoing patents are relevant to the present invention they are herein incorporated by reference. Ratios and ranges may be combined. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention describes a generally U-shaped pipe plug puller comprising:
         a base region of the U-shaped pipe plug puller;   a first leg extending from said base region;   a second leg extending from said base region;   said first leg extending from said base region and said second leg extending from said base region such that said first leg and said second leg are substantially parallel to one another;   a first foot region extending from said first leg;   a second foot region extending from said second leg;   said first foot region of said first leg being in a plane different than the first leg;   said second foot region of said second leg being in a plane different than the second leg region;   said first foot region of said first leg and said second foot region of said second leg being substantially parallel to one another;   said first foot region of said first leg terminating in a first apex distally from said first leg;   said second foot region of said second leg terminating in a second apex  32  distally from said second leg;   a first raised section extending along said first leg and along said first foot region;   a second raised section extending along said second leg and along said second foot region;   said first raised section and said second raised section being substantially parallel to one another;   said first raised section and said second raised section terminating at a location distal from the first apex and the second apex respectively.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of an aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view according to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a pipe plug; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken a long lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; and, 
       FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of a pipe. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As best seen in  FIG. 1  is a generally U-shaped pipe plug puller  10 . The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  has a base region  12 . The base region  12  of the U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is generally semi circular. The base region  12  has a first leg  14 . The base region  12  has a second leg  16 . 
   The first leg  14  and the second leg  16  are generally symmetrical. The first leg  14  has extending therefrom a first foot region  20 . The second leg  16  has extending therefrom a second foot region  24 . The first foot region  20  and the second foot region  24  are generally symmetrical. 
   A first raised section  34  is connected with said first leg  14 . The first raised section  34  is also connected with said first foot region  20 . The first raised section  34  spans the first leg  14  and first foot region  20 . The first raised section  34  has a height, a width, and a thickness. The first raised section  34  is generally perpendicular to the first leg  14 . The first raised section  34  is also generally perpendicular to the first foot region  20 . 
   The length of the first raised section  34  spans the first leg  14  and first foot region  20 . The width of the first raised section  34  arises from the first leg  14  and first foot region  20 . The thickness of the first raised section  34  is attached to the first leg  14  by means of welding. The thickness of first raised section  34  is attached to the first foot region  20  by welding. The length of said first raised section  34  along said first foot region  20  is about 1¾ to 2¼ times the length of said first raised section  34  along the length of said first leg  14 . 
   A second raised section  36  is connected with said second leg  16 . The second raised section  36  is connected with said second foot region  24 . The second raised section  36  spans the second leg  16  and second foot region  24 . The second raised section  36  has a height, a width, and a thickness. The second raised section  36  is generally perpendicular to the second leg  16 . The second raised section  34  is also generally perpendicular to the second foot region  24 . The length of said second raised section  36  along said second foot region  30  is about 1¾ to 2¼ times the length of said second raised section  36  along the length of said second leg  20 . 
   The length of the second raised section  36  spans the second leg  16  and first foot region  20 . The width of the second raised section  36  arises from the second leg  16  and first foot region  20 . The thickness of the second raised section  36  is attached to the second leg  16  by means of welding. The thickness of second raised section  36  is attached to the second foot region  24  by welding. The overall length of the first raised section  34  and the overall length of the second raised section  36  are each about 1½ to 2½ times the length of said first raised section  34  and said second raised section along the length of said first leg  14  and the length of the second leg  16  respectively. The length of the first leg  14  and second leg  16  are approximately equal. 
   A first toe section  28  extends from the first foot region  24 . A narrowing segment  38  partially defines the first toe section  28 . The first toe section  28  generally comes to a point at the end the distal to the first foot region  24 . 
   A second toe section  32  extends from the second foot region  30 . A narrowing segment  40  partially defines the second toe section  32 . The second toe section  32  generally comes to a point at the end the distal to the second foot region  30 . The  28  and the  38  directly oppose one another. 
   The first toe section  28  is at least partially defined by a beveled section  42  extending along the first foot region  26  toward the first toe section  28  and formed by an angle  48  along the outside of the first second foot region  30 . The second toe section  32  is at least partially defined by a second beveled section  44  extending along the second foot region  30  toward the second toe section  40  and formed by an second angle  50  along the outside of the second foot region  30 . 
   A first oblique angle  54  is at the juncture of the first leg  14  and the first second foot region  30 . A triangle is at least partially defined by the first oblique angle  54 . The sides of the triangle as defined by the first oblique angle  54 , are the first leg  14  and the first foot region  20  and the first raised section  34 . 
   A second oblique angle  58  is at the juncture of the second leg  16  and the second foot region  30 . A triangle is at least partially defined by the second oblique angle  58 . The sides of the triangle as defined by the second oblique angle  58 , are the second leg  16  and the second foot region  30  and the second raised section  36 . The a first oblique angle  54  and the second oblique angle  58  are each preferably about 170° to 155°. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the base region  12  is joined to an attachment segment  60 . The attachment segment  60  comprises a generally cylindrical shaped pipe  68 . The generally cylindrically shaped pipe  68  has located at one end an opening  70  to permit a shovel handle (not shown) or a second piece of pipe of a suitable inside diameter to fit within the generally cylindrical shaped pipe  68  to provide suitable leverage to the base region  12  when desired. 
   The attachment segment  60  further comprises a slot  102  cut through a diameter of the attachment segment  60 . A tongue section  104  of the base region  12  extends into the slot  102  in the attachment segment  60 . The generally cylindrical shaped pipe  68  is attached to the base region  12  in a tongue in groove manner. The tongue in groove connection of the generally cylindrical shaped pipe  68  to the base region  12  may be suitably effected such as by welding, riveting, or nut and bolt connection. 
   As best seen in section  4  is a bottom view of a pipe plug  200 . The pipe plug  200  is comprised of a pipe plug wall segment  202 . The pipe plug wall segment  202  has an outer surface  204 . The pipe plug  200  has an inner wall surface  206 . The inner wall surface  206  of the pipe plug  200  is connected to pipe plug wall segment  202  such that there is a flange  210  extending away from the outer surface  204 . The flange  210  at least partially defines the outer surface  214  of the pipe plug  200 . 
   The base region  12  is generally circular with regard to the inner edge  80  of the base region  12 . The overall shape of the base region  12 , the first leg  14 , the second leg  16 , the first foot region  26 , and the second foot region  30  is that of a horseshoe. The first oblique angle  54  at the inner edge  80  of the base region  12  and the second oblique angle  58  at the inner edge  80  of the base region  12  form a diameter of a circle. The dimensions of the diameter of the circle are slightly greater than the outer surface of the diameter pipe plug puller  10  as measured across the inner edge  80  at the closest point of the first oblique angle  54  and the second oblique angle  58 . Conveniently, as the outer surface of pipe puller is slightly smaller than the inner surface of the pipe the diameter of the circle will be approximately equal to the diameter of the outer surface of the pipe from which the pipe plug  200  is to be removed. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 4 , is a partial sectional view of the pipe plug  200 . As seen in  FIG. 5  is a conventional plastic pipe  300 . The plastic pipe  300  has an outer pipe wall  302 . The plastic pipe  300  has inner pipe wall  304 . The plastic pipe  300  has an opening  310  to permit the flow of material through the plastic pipe  300 . An outer pipe surface  316  of the plastic pipe  300  at least partially defines the opening  310 . The plastic pipe  300  has an enlarged bell region  320  to permit and elastomeric seal to be fitted into the plastic pipe  300 . The plastic pipe  300  has in conjunction with the enlarged bell region  320  an expanded diametric portion  324  to permit insertion of the elastomeric seal or O-ring (not shown). 
   In practice, it is desirable to seal a pipe  300  whenever the pipe  300  will be left unattended for any period of time. By sealing the pipe  300  unwanted debris will not enter the chamber of the pipe and the pipe  300  will not require cleaning prior to beginning work again. The pipe  300  will typically be placed in an excavation site (trench) such that the pipe  300  tightly fits into the excavation site. In this manner, the excavator need only remove as much soil as is necessary for the pipe  300  to be placed in the excavation site. 
   A pipe plug  200  as shown in  FIG. 4  will be inserted into a pipe  300 . The outer surface  204  of the pipe plug wall  202  will engage the inner pipe wall  304  of the pipe  300 . The diameter of the type  200  at the pipe plug  204  will be approximately the same size as the diameter of the inner pipe wall  304  of the pipe  300 . The pipe plug  200  will typically be inserted into the pipe  300  until the flange  210  engages the surface outer pipe surface  316 . 
   The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  according to the present invention is utilized in the relatively confined excavation site to remove the pipe plug  200 . In practice, the present invention permits the relatively a limited access at an excavation site to remove a pipe plug  200  from the pipe  300  without undue difficulty. 
   The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is sized to permit the inner edge  80  of the base region  12  to fit snugly over the  204  of the pipe plug  200 . The narrowing segment  38  and the narrowing segment  40  being relatively sharpened surfaces engage in the area between the  210  of the pipe plug  200  and the  316  of the plastic pipe  300 . To provide the leverage a shovel handle (not shown) is fitted into the opening  70  of the attachment segment  60 . 
   The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is then forced with the open end into the excavation site over the  210  and the  316  until the side surface of the first raised section  34  and the side surface of the second raised section  36  begins to engage the outer surface  214  of the pipe plug  200 . 
   The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is then further urged past first oblique angle  54  and the second oblique angle  58  until the U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is substantially contacting the  80 . The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is then in a generally perpendicular position to the pipe plug  200  and the pipe  300  while the pipe plug  200  and pipe  300  are still firmly engaged. The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is then rotated in the relative direction of the pipe plug  200  by means of the lever action exerted in the attachment segment  60 . The U-shaped pipe plug puller  10  is continuously rotated in the direction of the pipe plug  200  until the pipe plug  200  is fully removed from the pipe  300 . Other methods of attempting to remove a pipe plug  200  from a pipe  300  may involve utilizing the blade of a shovel or the like. However, the pipe plug  200  or the pipe  300  may be cracked or broken. In the case of the pipe plug  200  breakage will eliminate the reuse of the pipe plug  200  and the existing pipe plug  200  will still have to be removed from the pipe  300 . The damage to the pipe  300  may mean that the pipe  300  will have to be removed back to the last junction with another section of the pipe  300 . Even moderate damage to the pipe  300  may cause improper seal of the enlarged bell region  320  which may not be detected until the excavation site is backfilled and the plastic pipe  300  is pressurized. 
   The pipe plug puller  10  of present invention provides a simple tool for the removal of a pipe plug  200  from a plastic pipe  300 . The pipe plug puller  10  may also be utilized as an aid in pulling pipe caps from a pipe.