Masking Plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015190836-A1
Application number	US-201414146797-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 3, 2014
Priority date	Jan 3, 2014
Publication date	Jul 9, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A masking plug may including a retainer having a longitudinal axis, the retainer including a central portion and an axially aligned anchor portion, the anchor portion being outwardly biased relative to the longitudinal axis, and a plug body disposed around the central portion, wherein the anchor portion is configured to exert an axial force upon the plug body when inserted within an opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A masking plug comprising:
a retainer having a longitudinal axis, said retainer comprising a central portion and an axially aligned anchor portion, said anchor portion being outwardly biased relative to said longitudinal axis; and a plug body disposed around said central portion, wherein said anchor portion exerts an axial force upon said plug body when inserted within an opening.

2 . The masking plug of claim 1 wherein said retainer further comprises a stem.

3 . The masking plug of claim 2 wherein said stem extends along said longitudinal axis and terminates at a head.

4 . The masking plug of claim 2 wherein said stem is longitudinally opposed from said anchor portion.

5 . The masking plug of claim 1 wherein said retainer is formed from a rigid material.

6 . The masking plug of claim 1 wherein said anchor portion comprises at least one split defining at least two legs, said legs being disposed in an outwardly directed non-zero angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

7 . The masking plug of claim 1 wherein said plug body is formed from a pliable material.

8 . The masking plug of claim 1 wherein said plug body comprises a frustoconical shape.

9 . The masking plug of claim 1 wherein said axial force has a magnitude sufficient to maintain a sealing engagement between said plug body and said opening when said plug body is inserted into said opening.

10 . A masking plug comprising:
a retainer having a longitudinal axis and comprising a base and aligned tail extending from said base, said tail comprising a plurality of legs, each leg of said plurality of legs being disposed at a first non-zero angle relative to said longitudinal axis; and a plug body extending circumferentially about said base, said plug body comprising a radial sidewall, said radial sidewall being disposed at a second non-zero angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

11 . The masking plug of claim 11 wherein said second non-zero angle is between about 32 degrees and about 65 degrees.

12 . The masking plug of claim 11 wherein said second non-zero angle is about 52 degrees.

13 . The masking plug of claim 11 wherein said first non-zero angle is between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.

14 . The masking plug of claim 11 wherein said plug body comprises a frustoconical shape.

15 . The masking plug of claim 11 wherein said tail is configured to fit within a cylindrical opening when said legs are deflected inwardly, wherein said plug body is configured to form an interference fit within a countersink axially aligned with said cylindrical opening, and wherein said tail exerts an axial force upon said plug body when said legs at least partially return to a biased position relative to said longitudinal axis of said retainer.

16 . The masking plug of claim 11 wherein said plug body is formed from a pliable material and said retainer is formed from a rigid material.

17 . The masking plug of claim 11 further comprising an axially aligned stem extending from said base opposite said tail.

18 . A method for masking an opening comprising a cylindrical opening and a countersink aligned with said cylindrical opening, said method comprising:
providing a masking plug comprising a retainer and a plug body; inserting said retainer through said cylindrical opening such that said plug body extends into said countersink; and drawing said plug body into said countersink in response to an axial force applied to said plug body by expansion of said retainer.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein said plug body is formed from a pliable material.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein said retainer comprises a stem, and wherein said method further comprises pulling on said stem to remove said masking plug from said cylindrical opening.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Deck Eric E
• Dekker Carl

Classifications

• B05B15/0462 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B05D3/12

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B05B12/26 Primary

  for masking cavities · CPC title

• F16L55/136

  the closure device being a plug fixed by radially expanding or deforming a split ring, hooks or the like · CPC title

• B29C65/565

  involving interference fits, e.g. force-fits or press-fits (B29C65/66 takes precedence) · CPC title