Patent ID: 7073535

Claim:
A pipe plug having a mold-formed plug body comprising: a cylindrical radially expandable plug body having end portions and a central portion with an outer surface having a series of alternating circumferential raised ribs and circumferential textured bands; first and second rigid end caps wherein the end caps have a portion inserted into the end portions of the plug body; and, first and second swaging rings installed over the end portions of the plug body and the portions of the end caps inserted into the end portions of the plug body, the swaging rings being swaged into the end portions to compress the end portions of the plug body onto the end caps, wherein at least one end cap has an air fitting for inflating the pipe plug and expanding the plug body and wherein the series of alternating circumferential raised ribs and textured bands form a gripping surface that improves the resistance to slippage when the pipe plug is installed in a pipe and inflated wherein the textured bands are formed with diagonal cross grooves to produce a knurled gripping surface.