Plug

Abstract

A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture defined by an edge in a panel. The plug is substantially elastic, and has a central portion and a peripheral portion attached to the central portion by one or more bridge portions. The central portion and the peripheral portion are separated from each other along two or more cuts. Also, the central portion includes a middle part and two or more flap parts extending from the middle part, the flap parts being defined by the cuts. The flap parts are positioned to grip the edge after the flap parts have been deformed and released in the aperture.

1 . A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture in a panel, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the plug having: 
 a central portion comprising a substantially elastic material;    a peripheral portion attached to the central portion by at least one bridge portion comprising a substantially elastic material, the central portion and the peripheral portion being separated from each other along at least two cuts;    the central portion including a middle part and at least two flap parts extending from said middle part, said at least two cuts defining said at least two flap parts; and    said at least two flap parts being positioned to grip said at least one edge after said at least two flap parts have been deformed and released in the    whereby the middle part is located in the aperture by said at least two flap parts.    
   
   
       2 . A plug according to  claim 1  in which each of said at least two flap parts includes an outer segment distal to the middle part, the outer segments being spaced apart from the peripheral portion by a preselected distance respectively, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.  
   
   
       3 . A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture in a panel, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the plug having: 
 a central portion comprising a substantially elastic material;    a peripheral portion attached to the central portion by at least one bridge portion, the bridge portion comprising a substantially elastic material, the central portion and the peripheral portion being separated from each other along at least two cuts;    the central portion including a middle part and at least two flap parts extending from said middle part, said at least two cuts defining said at least two flap parts; and    said at least two flap parts being disposed substantially opposite to each other such that, upon said at least two flap parts having been deformed and released in the aperture to engage said at least one edge respectively, said at least two flap parts hold the middle part substantially over the aperture,    whereby the middle part impedes transmission through the aperture.    
   
   
       4 . A plug according to  claim 3  in which each of said at least two flap parts includes an outer segment distal to the middle pat, the outer segments being spaced apart from the peripheral portion by a preselected distance respectively, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.  
   
   
       5 . A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture in a panel, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the panel having a first side and an opposed second side, the plug having; 
 at least two substantially elastic flap parts;    a central portion including said at least two flap parts, said at least two flap parts being connected to each other by a middle part of the central portion;    a peripheral portion substantially surrounding the central portion and connected to the central portion by a bridge portion;    the peripheral portion being adapted to engage the first side of the panel; and    said at least two flap parts being positioned for engaging the second side of the panel at said at least one edge respectively, said at least two flap parts being deformable such that the panel is received between the peripheral portion and said at least two flap parts upon releasing said at least two deformed flap parts in the aperture, thereby causing the panel to be gripped between the peripheral portion and said at least two flap parts,    whereby the middle part is positioned over the aperture by said at least two flap parts.    
   
   
       6 . A plug according to  claim 5  in which each of said at least two flap parts includes an outer segment distal to the middle pay the outer segments being spaced apart from the peripheral portion by a preselected distance respectively, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.  
   
   
       7 . A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture in a panel, the aperture being defined by at least two substantially opposed edges, the panel having a first side and a second side, the plug having: 
 at least two substantially elastic flap parts;    a central portion including a middle part and said at least tvo flap parts, said at least two flap parts attached to the middle part;    a peripheral portion substantially surrounding the central portion, and connected to the central portion;    each of said at least two flap parts being biased to a rest position in which said at least two flap parts are substantially coplanar with the middle part and the peripheral portion; and    said at least two flap parts being positioned for engagement with said at least two edges such that, upon deformation of said at least two flap parts and release of aid at least two flap parts in the, said at least two flap parts urge the peripheral portion against the first side of the panel,    whereby the middle part is held substantially over the aperture to impede transmission through the aperture.    
   
   
       8 . A plug according to  claim 7  in which each of said at least two flap parts includes an outer segment distal to the middle part, the outer segments being spaced apart from the peripheral portion by a preselected distance respectively, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.  
   
   
       9 . A panel assembly including: 
 a panel with an aperture defined by at least one edge, the panel having a first side and an opposed second side;    a plug having: 
 a central portion including at least two flap parts, the central portion having a middle part connecting said at least two flap parts, said at least two flap parts comprising a substantially elastic material;  
 a peripheral portion substantially surrounding the central portion, the peripheral portion and the central portion being connected to each other;  
 said at least two flap parts being spaced apart a predetermined distance for engaging said at least two edges;  
   the plug being mountable on the panel upon deformation of said at least two flap parts, insertion of said at least two flap parts through the aperture, and release of said at least two deformed flap parts; and    each of said at least two flap parts being sufficiently elastic that, acting through the middle part, said at least two flap parts urge the peripheral portion against the first side of the panel, thereby maintaining the middle part over the aperture,    whereby the middle part substantially impedes the transmission through the aperture.    
   
   
       10 . A panel assembly according to  claim 9  in which each of said at least two flap parts includes an outer segment distal to the middle part, the outer segments being spaced apart from the peripheral portion by a preselected distance respectively, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.  
   
   
       11 . A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the plug having: 
 a substantially elastic central portion with a middle part and at least two flap parts extending from the middle part;    a peripheral portion connected to the middle part and substantially surrounding the central portion;    said at least two flap parts being positioned for engagement with said at least one edge at substantially opposed sides of the aperture, such that the panel is receivable between said at least two flap parts and the peripheral portion; and    said at least two flap parts being deformable and, upon deformation thereof and release of said at least two flap parts in the aperture, said at least two flap parts engage the panel and cause the peripheral portion to engage the panel,    whereby the middle part impedes transmission through the aperture.    
   
   
       12 . A plug according to  claim 11  in which each of said at least two flap parts includes an outer segment distal to the middle par; the outer segments being spaced apart from the peripheral portion by a preselected distance respectively, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.  
   
   
       13 . A method of forming a plug for impeding transmission through an aperture in a panel, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a substantially planar blank of a substantially elastic material, the blank having predetermined dimensions such that the blank is sufficiently large to cover the aperture; and    (b) forming at least two cuts in the blank according to a predetermined pattern to define at least two flap parts, said at least two flap pans and a middle part therebetween forming a central portion of the plug, and a peripheral portion substantially surrounding the central portion and connected to the central portion at the middle part.    
   
   
       14 . A method of forming a plug for impeding transmission through an aperture in a panel, the method comprising the steps of. 
 (a) selecting a substantially planar blank of a substantially elastic material, the blank being sufficiently large to cover the aperture and a predetermined area of the panel substantially surrounding the aperture;    (b) forming at least two cuts in the blank to define: 
 at least two flap pars, said at least two flap parts being included in a central portion and extending from a middle part of the central portion;  
 a removal portion extending from an outer segment of each flap part, each outer segment being positioned distal to the middle part, and the peripheral portion; and  
   (c) removing the removal portion such that each outer segment of said at least two flap parts is spaced apart from the peripheral portion, to facilitate deformation of said at least two flap parts.    
   
   
       15 . A method of mounting a substantially elastic plug on a panel, the plug being adapted to impede transmission through an aperture in the panel, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) squeezing at least two flap pans of the plug to deform said at least two flap parts, said at least two flap parts extending from a middle part of a central portion of the plug:    (b) inserting said at least two flap parts into the aperture; and    (c) releasing said at least two flap parts in the aperture, said at least two flap parts engaging said at least one edge to hold the middle part over the aperture.    
   
   
       16 . A method of mounting a substantially elastic plug on a panel, the plug being adapted to impede transmission through an aperture in the panel, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing the plug, the plug having: 
 a central portion comprising a substantially elastic material;  
 a peripheral portion comprising a substantially elastic material attached to the central portion by at least one bridge portion, the central portion and the peripheral portion being separated from each other along at least two cuts;  
 the central portion including a middle part and at least two flap parts extending from said middle part, said at least two cuts defining said at least two flap parts in accordance with a predetermined pattern; and  
 said at least two flap parts being positioned to grip said at least one edge after said at least two flap parts have been deformed and released in the aperture;  
   (b) providing a tool having: 
 a handle;  
 at least two prongs mounted on a distal end of the handle, said at least two prongs being adapted to deform said at least two flaps;  
   (c) engaging said at least two prongs wit said at least two flap parts to deform said at least two flap parts;    (d) inserting the distal end of the tool into the aperture, with said at least two flap parts deformed by said at least two prongs;    (e) releasing said at least two flap parts from said at least two prongs, to permit said at least two flap parts to engage said at least one edge to hold the middle part over the aperture; and    (f) removing the distal end of the tool from the aperture.    
   
   
       17 . A tool for mounting a substantially elastic plug having at least two flap parts spaced apart from each other, the tool having: 
 a handle;    at least two prongs mounted on a distal end of the handle, said at least two prongs being adapted to move between a closed position, in which said at least two flap parts are engaged by said at least two prongs respectively to deform said at least two flap parts, and an open position, in which said at least two prongs are disengaged from said at least two flap parts; and    means for controlling movement of said at least two prongs.    
   
   
       18 . A plug for impeding transmission through an aperture; in a panel, the aperture being defined by at least one edge, the plug having: 
 a central portion comprising a substantially elastic material;    a peripheral portion attached to the central portion by at least one bridge portion comprising a substantially elastic material, the central portion and the peripheral portion being separated from each other along at least one cut;    the central portion including a middle part and at least one flap part extending from said middle part, said at least one cut defining said at least one flap part; and    said at least one flap part being positioned to gyp said at least one edge after said at least one flap part has been deformed and released in the aperture,    whereby the middle part is located in the aperture by said at least one flap part.