Abstract:
A system for testing plumbing includes a flexible plug for sealing or unsealing the plumbing, an outer container for connecting to an access line to the plumbing system; a flexible air line connected to the flexible plug. The testing system is sealed when the flexible plug seals the plumbing and when the flexible plug is not sealing the plumbing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The field of the invention relates to plumbing and more particularly to new plumbing which needs to be tested for leaks. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Whether the plumber is installing new plumbing or installing additional plumbing, the plumber should test the new plumbing or additional plumbing for leaks. In order to test the plumbing for leaks, the drain line of the plumbing should be isolated or plugged so that the plumbing can be filled with fluid such as water and examined for leaks. However, the plug in the drain line will have to be removed so that the new plumbing can be used with uninhibited access to the drain line. In order to remove the plug  106  as shown in  FIG. 1  from the drain line, an access hole is formed in the drain line, and the access line  104  is usually provided in the wall of the drain line  102  to allow removal of the plug  106  from the drain line  102 . The plug  106  is transferred from the drain line  102  to the access line  104  as shown in  FIG. 2  and the fluid is drained from the newly installed plumbing. However, a problem can develop if the plug  106  become stuck as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and does not enter the access line  104  properly. Without the plug  106  properly positioned within the access line  104 , fluid can enter the access line  104  and flow out into the room. This fluid can cause damage to items within the room and damage to items on other floors below the room. 
       SUMMARY THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention prevents fluid from uncontrollably leaving the access line which is connected to a drain line. 
         [0004]    The present invention employs a plug which seals the drain line. 
         [0005]    The plug of the present invention can be deflated to allow fluid to exit by the drain line and the access line remains sealed so that the fluid does not cause damage. 
         [0006]    The access line of the present invention can be sealed so that it will not leak fluid during a pressure test. 
         [0007]    The present invention allows residue fluid to be controllable discharged. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a drain line and access line with a plug; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the drain line and the access line with the plug in a second position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates the testing system for plumbing leaks in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates the drain line and the access line with the plug in a third position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates the testing system with the flexible plug being expanded to block the drain line. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates the testing system with the flexible plug being withdrawn from the drain line. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates the testing system  300  for plumbing leaks in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a drain line  320  which is connected to plumbing to be tested. The teachings of the present invention are applicable to any plumbing including old plumbing to be tested. The testing system  300  includes an inner container  304  which includes an open end  324  for communication with the fluid to be drained and which provides a housing for the flexible air line  310  which extends along the traversed direction of the inner container  304 . The inner container  304  extends into the flow path of the drain line  302  so that the open end  324  is in the flow path of the drain line  302 . If the flexible plug  312  prematurely deflates, the flexible plug  312  will not become lodged into the discharge side of the drain line  302 . The inner container  304  is shown as a cylinder however, other shapes are within the scope of the invention. The inner container  304  includes a closed opposing end  328  which may include a fitting  330  to allow a water tight seal around the flexible air line  310  as the flexible air line  310  extends through the closed opposing end  328 . The inner container  304  includes a discharge line  306  which includes a valve  314  to discharge residue fluid from the internal container  304 . The valve  314  is closed when the system  300  is testing for leaks. After the fluid has been drained from the plumbing, the valve  314  is opened to drain the residue fluid from the inner container  304  and from the outer container  302 . The flexible air line  310  is connected to an air pump  308  which may be a hand pump or a mechanical pump to pump air through the flexible air line  310  and to expand the flexible plug  312 . The expanded flexible plug  312  is shown in  FIG. 5  so that the flexible plug  312  forms a seal so that the plumbing can be tested. The plug  312  may be constructed from flexible material which expands when pressurized in order to form a seal with the interior walls of the drain line  320 . 
         [0016]    A system  300  includes an outer container  302  which is shown as a cylinder but may be any suitable shape. The outer container  302  includes a closed end  332  which is formed around the inner container so that the fluid does not leak during the test of the system  300  and includes an opposing open end  334 . The outer container  302  includes a sealing device  336  through which is shown as an external threads on a surface of the outer container  302  which mate with internal threads on a interior surface of the access line  316 . 
         [0017]    In operation, the plug  312  is positioned within the drain line  320  on the side of the plumbing to be tested. The outer container  302  is threaded onto the access line  316 , and the air pump  308  inflates the flexible plug  312  to form a seal around the interior surface of the drain line  320 . The drain line  320  and the plumbing to be tested are filled with fluid in order to determine if there are any leaks. After the test, the pressure within the flexible plug  312  is released, the flexible plug contracts, and the fluid flows down the drain line  320 . The fluid may fill the outer container  302  and the inner container  304  but does not leak out of the inner container  304  and the outer container  302 . After fluid has drained from the drain line  302 , the valve  314  can be opened to drain any residue fluid from the outer container  302  and the inner container  304 . The outer container  302  is removed from the access line  316  and an access cover (not shown) may be placed on the access line  306  so that the drain line  302  does not leak. 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates that the air pump  308  has expanded the flexible plug  302  so that it blocks the drain line  320 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates that the flexible plug  302  has been withdrawn from the drain line  302  by deflating the flexible plug  302 . 
         [0020]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.