A PLUG ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A plug assembly having an insert having an aperture extending from a first end of the insert to a second end, the aperture defining a tapered female thread tapering from a larger diameter towards the first end to a smaller diameter towards the second end, and a plug having a head portion and a base portion, and a tapered male thread located between the head portion and the base portion, wherein the plug is adapted to screw into the insert to secure the plug in the insert.

Claims

1. A plug assembly having an insert having an aperture extending from a first end of the insert to a second end, the aperture defining a tapered female thread tapering from a larger diameter towards the first end to a smaller diameter towards the second end; and a plug having a head portion and a base portion, and a tapered male thread located between the head portion and the base portion; wherein the plug is adapted to screw into the insert to secure the plug in the insert.

2. A plug assembly having an insert having an aperture extending from a first end of the insert to a second end, the aperture defining a female thread located between the first end and the second end; and a plug having a head portion and a base portion, and a male thread located between the head portion and the base portion, the head portion having an arcuate portion and a projection; wherein a central portion of the projection is substantially flush with the arcuate portion of the head portion, and wherein the plug is adapted to screw into the insert to secure the plug in the insert.

3. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thread of the female thread is a rounded thread, and the thread of the male thread is a rounded thread.

4. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the head portion of the plug has an arcuate portion and a projection, and wherein a central portion of the projection is substantially flush with the arcuate portion of the head portion.

5. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert includes a flange portion towards the first end.

6. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flange portion is partially arcuate.

7. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flange portion is flush with a part of the head portion of the plug when the plug is securely screwed into the insert.

8. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert includes one or more retaining ribs located on an external surface of the insert between the first end and the second end, the one or more retaining ribs adapted to retain the insert in an aperture in a surface.

9. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug includes an aperture extending from the base portion towards the head portion.

10. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plug includes at least one opening extending between an external surface of the plug to the aperture of the plug.

11. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein insect bait can be attached to the plug.

12. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein in use, the insect bait is inserted into the insert prior to the plug being inserted into the insert.

13. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arcuate portion of the head portion and the arcuate portion of the flange portion define a dome shape when the plug is secured to the insert.

14. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1 further including a tool having a shaped socket to accommodate the head portion of the plug.

15. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert and the plug is made from a plastic material.

16. A plug assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug assembly is a termite plug assembly used for inspecting for termites, administering insecticide and/or applying termite bait.

17. A plug for a plug assembly, the plug having a head portion having an arcuate portion and a projection; a base portion; and a thread located between the head portion and the base portion, wherein a central portion of the projection is substantially flush with the arcuate portion of the head portion, and the thread is a tapered male thread and is a rounded thread.

18. A plug as claimed in claim 17, wherein the male thread is a tapered male thread located between the head portion and the base portion, the tapered male thread of the plug tapering from a larger diameter towards the head portion to a smaller diameter towards the base portion.

19. A plug assembly kit having a plurality of inserts, each insert having an aperture extending from a first end of the insert to a second end, the aperture defining a female thread located between the first end and the second end; a plurality of plugs, each plug having a head portion and a base portion, and a male thread located between the head portion and the base portion, the head portion having an arcuate portion and a projection; and a tool having a shaped socket to accommodate the head portion of the plug; wherein a central portion of the projection is substantially flush with the arcuate portion of the head portion, and wherein the tool is adapted to screw each plug into a corresponding one of the plurality of inserts to secure the plug in the insert.

20. An insert for a plug assembly, the insert having an aperture extending from a first end of the insert to a second end, the aperture defining a tapered female thread tapering from a larger diameter towards the first end to a smaller diameter towards the second end; and a flange portion towards the first end, the flange portion being partially arcuate; wherein the thread of the female thread is a rounded thread.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a side view of a plug assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a front view of the plug assembly of FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the plug assembly of FIG. 1

[0050] FIG. 4 is a sectioned view of the plug assembly if FIG. 1 along line A-A;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a view of detail A of FIG. 4;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the plug assembly of FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 7 is a side view of the insert of the plug assembly of FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 8 is a top view of the insert of FIG. 7:

[0055] FIG. 9 is a sectioned view of the insert of FIG. 7;

[0056] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 7;

[0057] FIG. 11 is a side view of the plug of the plug assembly of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 12 is a sectioned view of the plug of FIG. 11;

[0059] FIG. 13 is a top view of the plug of FIG. 11;

[0060] FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the plug of FIG. 11;

[0061] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the plug of FIG. 11; and

[0062] FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of the plug of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0063] With reference to FIGS. 1-6 there is shown a plug assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The plug assembly has an insert 12, a plug 14 and a tool 16. FIGS. 7-10 shown the insert 12 in more detail. FIGS. 11-16 shown the plug 14 in more detail.

[0064] The insert 12 is substantially round in shape. The insert 12 has an aperture 18 that extends from a first end 20 of the insert 12 to a second end 22 of the insert 12. The aperture 18 is substantially circular in cross section. The aperture 18 defines a female thread 24. The female thread 24 is tapered, tapering from a larger diameter towards the first end 20 to a smaller diameter towards the second end 22. The female thread 24 has a rounded shape. Having a rounded shaped and tapered female thread 24 assists in the removal of the insert 12 from an injection mould (not shown) without requiring the insert 12 to be rotated, as the insert 12 can deform slightly when made of plastic.

[0065] The insert 12 has a flange portion 26 towards the first end 20. The flange portion 26 is at least partially arcuate on a top surface thereof.

[0066] The insert has one or more retaining ribs in the form of retaining ribs 28,30 located on an external surface of the insert 12 between the first end 20 and the second end 22. The retaining ribs 28,30 assist in retaining the insert in a hole in a surface (not shown).

[0067] The insert 12 has a shoulder portion 32 defined by the aperture 18, the shoulder portion will be explained in more detail below with respect to the plug 14.

[0068] The plug 14 has a head portion 34 and a base portion 36. A male thread 38 is located between the head portion 34 and the base portion 36. The male thread 38 is tapered, tapering from a larger diameter towards the head portion 34 to a smaller diameter towards the base portion 34. The male thread 38 has a rounded shape. The rounded male thread 38 is adapted to engage with the rounded female thread 24 of the insert 12.

[0069] The head portion 34 has an arcuate portion 40 and a projection 42. A central portion of the projection 42 is substantially flush with the arcuate portion 40 of the head portion 34. Having the central portion of the projection 42 substantially flush with the arcuate portion 40 makes it difficult to use a non specialised tool (not shown, for example an adjustable wrench) or fingers to unscrew the plug 14 from the insert 12.

[0070] The plug 14 has an aperture 44 that extends from the base portion 36 towards the head portion 34. At least one opening in the form of openings 46,48 extend from an external surface of the plug 14 to the aperture 44.

[0071] The head portion 34 of the plug 14 is adapted to fit partially into the aperture 18 of the insert 12 such that a lower portion of the head portion 34 abuts the shoulder portion 32 of the insert 12. When the plug 14 is secured to the insert 12, the arcuate part of the flange portion 26 is flush with the arcuate portion 40 of the head portion 34.

[0072] In use, the insert 12 is inserted into a hole drilled into a surface (not shown) such as a window sill, a wall, a floor or a surface inside a cupboard. The retaining ribs 28,30 retain the insert 12 in the surface. The insert 12 provides access to behind the surface so that an inspection camera (not shown) can be inserted into the aperture 18 to check the space behind the surface, so that the space behind the surface can be sprayed with insecticide, and so that insect baits can be placed in the space behind the surface. Insect bait (not shown) can be secured to the plug 14 via openings 46,48 and the aperture 44. Securing the plug 14 to the insert 12 with the tool 16 prevents access to the space and potentially poisonous insecticide and baits by children. The arcuate portion 40 of the head portion 34 and the projection 42 also prevent children from being able to unscrew the plug 14 from the insert 12 without the use of the tool 16.

ADVANTAGES

[0073] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the plug assembly includes the tapered and rounded threads, which aid in the removal of the parts from an injection mould. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the plug assembly includes the arcuate head portion with the projection, this prevents easy removal of the plug from the insert without a specialised tool. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the plug assembly includes the tool fitting over the flange portion of the insert, this aids in locating the tool over the head portion. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the plug assembly is that spaces can be periodically checked for insect activity, insecticide can be re-applied and insect baits can be checked and replaced.

VARIATIONS

[0074] While the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0075] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.