Patent Publication Number: US-2013247344-A1

Title: Tubular thread seal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     this application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/615,651, entitled “TUBULAR THREAD SEAL” and filed on Mar. 26, 2012 for Brody Aycock which is Incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to thread seal and more particularly relates to tubular thread seal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Thread seal tape is useful for sealing threaded connections but is difficult to apply. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the embodiments of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the embodiments briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only some embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of scope, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a tubular thread seal; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of an application tool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations. It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flowchart and/or block diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding embodiments. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only an exemplary logical flow of the depicted embodiment. 
     The description of elements in each figure may refer to elements of proceeding figures. Like numbers refer to like elements in all figures, including alternate embodiments of like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a tubular thread seal  100 . The tubular thread seal  100  includes a proximal edge  105 , a distal edge  115 , and a tube  110 . The proximal edge  105  has a specified proximal diameter. The distal edge  115  has a specified distal diameter. The tube  110  is disposed between the proximal edge  105  and the distal edge  115 . 
     The tube  110  is shown as a cylinder. One of skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments may also be practiced with a tube  110  that has a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, and the like. The interior of the tube  110  may be a flat surface, a ridged surface, and a textured surface. The tube  110  may be thicker towards the distal edge  115 . Alternatively, the tube  110  may be thicker towards the proximal edge  105 . 
     The tubular thread seal  100  may be inserted over a threaded connection  120 . In one embodiment, the distal edge  115  is inserted over the threaded connection  120  until the tube  110  covers the thread connection  120 . The tube  100  may seal the threaded connection  120 . The threaded connection  120  includes a threaded connection proximal end  122 . 
     In one embodiment, the specified proximal diameter is in the range of 10-105% of a diameter of the threaded connection  120 . In addition, the specified distal diameter may be in the range of 15-110% of the diameter of the threaded connection  120 . The tube  110  may have a diameter in the range of 0.3 to 15 centimeters (cm). Alternatively tube  110  may have a diameter in the range of ⅛ to 6 inches. In addition, the tube  110  may have a length in the range of 0.3 to 16 cm. Alternatively, the tube  110  may have a length in the range of ⅛ to 6 inches. In one embodiment, the tube  110 , the proximal edge  105 , and/or the distal edge  115  may be stretched to larger diameters. 
     The tube  110  may be labeled. The label may be stamped, silkscreened, printed, laser etched, or the like. In one embodiment, the label comprises a removable tag upon which the size of the tube  110  is marked. In one embodiment, the marking may be raised. Alternatively, the marking may be depressed into the material of the label and/or the tube  110   
     In a certain embodiment, the tube  110  and/or the label may be color-coded. In one embodiment the color coding indicates the diameter of the tube  110 . Alternatively, the color coding may indicate a type of pipe for which the tube  110  is to be used. For example, the tube  110  and/or the label may be color-coded for a gas pipe, a water pipe, and air pipe, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, the tube  110  is formed of a polymer. In addition, the tube  110  may be an elastomer. The tube  110  may have a roughness Ra in the range of 100,000 to 20,000. In a certain embodiment, the tube  110  is polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     In one embodiment, plumbers paste is disposed on the interior of the tube  110 . Alternatively, plumbers paste may be disposed on the exterior tube  110 . In a certain embodiment, the plumbers paste may be packaged separately from the tube  110  and may be applied to the tube  110  by the user. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal  100   a.  The tube  110  is depicted rolled from the distal edge  115  with the roll  125  curvature outside the tube  110 . In one embodiment, the roll  125  is placed over the thread of connection  120 . The roll  125  and tube  110  may be unrolled from the threaded connection proximal end  122  over the threaded connection  120 . 
     In one embodiment, a role tab  130  is rolled into the roll  125  of the tube  110 . Pulling the roll tab  130  unrolls the tube  110  to extend over the threaded connection  120 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal  100   b.  The tube  110  is folded with an accordion fold  185 . The distal edge  115  may be placed over the threaded connection proximal end  122  and the accordion fold  185  extended over the threaded connection  120 . 
     In one embodiment, a pull tab  135  is disposed on the distal edge  115 . Pulling the pull tab  135  may extend the accordion fold  185  over the threaded connection  120 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal  100   c.  An end cap  140  at least partially connects the edges of the proximal edge  105 . In one embodiment, a perforation  145  separates the end cap  140  from the proximal edge  105 . The end cap  140  may be removed from the tube  110  by tearing along the perforation  145 . In one embodiment, the end cap  140  includes a cap tab  150 . Pulling on the cap tab  150  may remove the end cap  140  from the tube  110 . In an alternate embodiment, an end removal tool may cut the end cap  140  from the tube  110 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of a tubular thread seal  100   d.  The distal edge  115  is folded over the tube  110  toward the proximal edge  105 . The distal edge  115  may be unfolded from the proximal end  122  of the threaded connection  120  over the threaded connection  120 . A pull tab  135  may be disposed on the distal edge  115 . The pull tab  135  may be used to pull the distal edge  115  over the threaded connection  120 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of an application tool  300 . In one embodiment, the tubular thread seal  100  is inserted over an application tool  300 . The application tool  120  is inserted over the threaded connection  120 , and the tubular thread seal  100  is slid from the application tool  300  over the threaded connection  120 . 
     The embodiments may be practiced in other specific forms. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.