Patent Publication Number: US-2018051843-A1

Title: Pipe Multifold Line Plug

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pipe multifold line (ML) plug. 
     Plumbing work under multifold line structure is challenging for many well-known reasons. 
     In most of the cases, conventional tools for the work turn out to be not that helpful, sometimes almost useless. 
     Especially, it is very difficult to handle situations that need testing of under-slab water leak, so called “slab leak”. 
     As discussed before, the maze of pipe lines and the tightness of space there in the multifold line make the problem much worse than in a situation with a regular single line in an open space. 
     It was quite difficult to block simply a pipe in the middle of the multifold line. 
     Accordingly, a need for a pipe ML plug has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a pipe ML plug. 
     An aspect of the invention provides a pipe ML plug, comprising a base rod portion, a rubber tube portion, a lower fixer, and an upper fixer. 
     The base rod portion of a first length has a lower end and an upper end. 
     The rubber tube portion is disposed around a length portion of the base rod portion and at the lower end of the base rod portion, has an inner diameter and an outer diameter and extending straight for a second length shorter than the first length of the base rod portion, having a lower end and an upper end, and is configured to increase a blocking diameter when compressed lengthwise. 
     The lower fixer is disposed at the lower end of the base rod portion so as to be fixed to the base rod portion and to limit moving of the lower end of the rubber tube portion in a downward direction. 
     The upper fixer disposed at a position of the base rod portion where the upper end of the rubber tube portion is located, so as to be fixed movably to the base rod portion and to limit moving of the upper end of the rubber tube portion in an upward direction. 
     The lower fixer and the upper fixer are configured for fixing a distance therebetween, so as to press the rubber tube portion lengthwise from both of the lower and upper ends to a specific length and thus to make the rubber tube portion bulge to a specific diameter, so that the bulged rubber tube portion blocks and seals an external pipe from inside. 
     The pipe ML plug may further comprise an adjuster provided around the base rod portion and configured for pressing on and holding the upper fixer so as to shorten the length of the rubber tube portion and to bulge the diameter of the rubber tube portion to a specific diameter, by engaging with the base rod portion. 
     The adjuster may comprise a plurality of male threads and a plurality of female threads. 
     The plurality of male threads are provided on a portion of an outer surface of the base rod portion between the L-shaped pipe portion and the lower end of the base rod portion. 
     The plurality of female threads are provided on a portion of an inner surface of the adjuster. 
     The adjuster engages the base rod portion through the male and female threads, so as to adjust the position of the upper fixer along the base rod portion. 
     The adjuster may be made integrally and monolithically with the upper fixer. 
     The adjuster may further comprise a first handle portion provided on an outer surface of the adjuster and configured to be held by a user hand for rotating the adjuster. 
     The adjuster may further comprise a second handle portion provided on an outer surface of the adjuster and configured to be held by a mechanical tool such as a wrench for rotating the adjuster. 
     Alternatively, the adjuster may comprise a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The first handle portion is provided on an outer surface of the adjuster and configured to be held by a user hand for rotating the adjuster, and a second handle portion is provided on an outer surface of the adjuster and configured to be held by a mechanical tool such as a wrench for rotating the adjuster. The second handle may be disposed on top of the first handle in the length direction of the adjuster. 
     The rubber tube portion may have an outer diameter substantially same as a diameter of the lower and upper fixers. 
     The rubber tube portion may be configured configured to be pressed lengthwise to bulge to a diameter larger than an original diameter. 
     The pipe ML plug may further comprise a hexagon nut disposed fixedly to the lower end portion of the main pipe portion for facilitating to hold or rotate the main pipe portion. 
     The base rod portion may comprise a plurality of male threads over an entire length. 
     The pipe ML plug may further comprise a lever handle perpendicularly provided at a top end of the base rod portion, so as to be configured that a user holds or rotate the lever with a single hand, even without a tool, up to 250 psi. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides that the base rod portion may further comprise a longitudinal hole through the entire length thereof. 
     The pipe ML plug may further comprise an L-shaped pipe portion and a cap portion. 
     The L-shaped pipe portion has a lower end vertically connected to the upper end of the base rod portion and an upper end opening horizontally. 
     The cap portion is disposed at the upper end of the L-shaped pipe portion so as to close or open the upper end of the L-shaped pipe portion. 
     The upper end is configured to be connected to an air-supplying pipe for leak testing in the external pipe to which the lower portion of the pipe ML plug is inserted and connected. 
     The L-shaped pipe portion may be connected to the base rod portion through male and female threads. 
     The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the pipe ML plug according to the invention provides a simple and effective structure; and (2) the pipe ML plug according to the present invention is easy to use in a multifold line situations. 
     Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view showing a pipe ML plug according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view showing the pipe ML plug of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram showing the pipe multifold line plug with fluid of  FIG. 1  with a main pipe portion in solid line and all other components in dashed lines and double short dashed lines; and 
         FIG. 4  is a partial front views showing a rubber tube portion and lower and upper fixers under different compressing force of the pipe multifold line plug with fluid of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the figures, the embodiments of the invention are described in detail. 
       FIGS. 1 through 4  show pipe ML plugs according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     An aspect of the invention provides a pipe ML plug  100 , comprising a base rod portion  10 , a rubber tube portion  20 , a lower fixer  30 , and an upper fixer  40  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The base rod portion  10  of a first length has a lower end and an upper end. 
     The rubber tube portion  20  is disposed around a length portion of the base rod portion  10  and at the lower end of the base rod portion  10 , has an inner diameter and an outer diameter and extending straight for a second length shorter than the first length of the base rod portion  10 , having a lower end and an upper end, and is configured to increase a blocking diameter when compressed lengthwise as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The lower fixer  30  is disposed at the lower end of the base rod portion  10  so as to be fixed to the base rod portion  10  and to limit moving of the lower end of the rubber tube portion  20  in a downward direction as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The upper fixer  40  disposed at a position of the base rod portion  10  where the upper end of the rubber tube portion  20  is located, so as to be fixed movably to the base rod portion  10  and to limit moving of the upper end of the rubber tube portion  20  in an upward direction as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     The lower fixer  30  and the upper fixer  40  are configured for fixing a distance therebetween, so as to press the rubber tube portion  20  lengthwise from both of the lower and upper ends to a specific length and thus to make the rubber tube portion  20  bulge to a specific diameter, so that the bulged rubber tube portion  20  blocks and seals an external pipe (not shown) from inside as shown in  FIG. 4 . That is, the lower portion of the pipe ML plug is inserted into the external pipe, and then the distance between the lower fixer  30  and the upper fixer  40  is decreased by compressing, so that the bulged rubber tube portion  20  blocks and seals an external pipe. 
     The pipe ML plug  100  may further comprise an adjuster  50  provided around the base rod portion  10  and configured for pressing on and holding the upper fixer  40  so as to shorten the length of the rubber tube portion  20  and to bulge the diameter of the rubber tube portion  20  to a specific diameter, by engaging with the base rod portion. 
     The adjuster  50  may comprise a plurality of male threads  51  and a plurality of female threads (shown). 
     The plurality of male threads  51  are provided on a portion of an outer surface of the base rod portion  10  between the upper end and the lower end of the base rod portion  10  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Actually, the plurality of male threads  51  are provided on a portion “A” of an outer surface of the base rod portion  10 , so that the adjuster  50  can drive along the base rod portion  10  and compress the rubber tube portion  20  long enough to bulge to a diameter large enough to block and seal the external pipe. 
     The plurality of female threads are provided on a portion of an inner surface of the adjuster  50 . 
     The adjuster  50  engages the base rod portion  10  through the male and female threads, so as to adjust the position of the upper fixer  40  along the base rod portion  10 . 
     The adjuster  50  may be made integrally and monolithically with the upper fixer  40 . 
     The adjuster  50  may further comprise a first handle portion  52  provided on an outer surface of the adjuster  50  and configured to be held by a user hand for rotating the adjuster  50 . For the purpose, the first handle portion  52  may have a rough outer surface for facilitating the finger grip. 
     The adjuster  50  may further comprise a second handle portion  54  provided on an outer surface of the adjuster  50  and configured to be held by a mechanical tool such as a wrench for rotating the adjuster  50 . 
     Alternatively, the adjuster  50  may comprise a first handle portion  52  and a second handle portion  54 . The first handle portion  52  is provided on an outer surface of the adjuster  50  and configured to be held by a user hand for rotating the adjuster  50 , and the second handle portion  54  is provided on an outer surface of the adjuster  50  and configured to be held by a mechanical tool such as a wrench for rotating the adjuster  50 . The second handle portion  54  may be disposed on top of the first handle portion  52  in the length direction of the adjuster  50 . 
     Actually, in most works, hand-tightening with a bare hand with the first handle portion  52  is enough to rotate the adjuster  50  tightly against the upper fixer  40  and the rubber tube portion  20 . 
     The rubber tube portion  20  may have an outer diameter substantially same as a diameter of the lower and upper fixers  30 ,  40 . 
     The rubber tube portion  20  may be configured configured to be pressed lengthwise to bulge to a diameter larger than an original diameter. 
     The pipe ML plug  100  may further comprise a hexagon nut  32  disposed fixedly to the lower end portion of the base rod portion  10  for facilitating to hold or rotate the base rod portion  10 . 
     The base rod portion  10  may comprise a plurality of male threads  51  over an entire length. In such a case, the rubber tube portion  20  has an inner diameter and thus is still free to slide along the base rod portion  10 . 
     The pipe ML plug  100  may further comprise a lever handle  60  perpendicularly provided at a top end of the base rod portion  10 , so as to be configured that a user holds or rotate the lever handle  60  with a single hand, exerting 250 psi even without a tool, which is much more than 75 psi, the regular pressure present in most works. Since the lever handle  60  is bent in such a way, the pipe ML plug  100  may be caught somewhere even if the user drops it by mistake. 
     In the prior arts, since there is so such feature, the user needed two hands to do something about the plugs. Comparing the prior art situation with the present invention, it would be clear how the pip ML plug is inventive. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides that the base rod portion  10  may further comprise a longitudinal hole (not shown) through the entire length thereof. 
     The pipe ML plug  100  may further comprise an L-shaped pipe portion (not shown) and a cap portion (not shown). 
     The L-shaped pipe portion has a lower end vertically connected to the upper end of the base rod portion and an upper end opening horizontally. 
     The cap portion is disposed at the upper end of the L-shaped pipe portion so as to close or open the upper end of the L-shaped pipe portion. 
     The upper end is configured to be connected to an air or water or any fluid supplying pipe for leak testing in the external pipe to which the lower portion of the pipe ML plug is inserted and connected. 
     The L-shaped pipe portion may be connected to the base rod portion  10  through male and female threads. 
     The pipe ML plug  100  may further comprise a spacer  45  disposed between the adjuster  50  and the upper fixer  40  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The spacer  45  is configured to slide freely on the base rod portion  10 . Its purpose is to provide extra extension to a compressing distance of the rubber tube portion  20  even when the adjuster  50  reaches the lowest portion with the male threads in the region “A”. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.