Caulking tube plug

Abstract

A plug for sealing the Open top end of the nozzle of a tube of caulking includes a cylindrical shaft, a head on the top end of the shaft, and a plurality of inverted cone-shaped segments on the shaft. The segments have top ends with diameters of which increase step-wise from the bottom of the shaft to the top thereof.

1 . A plug for sealing an open top end of a nozzle of a tube of caulking comprising an elongated cylindrical shaft, a head on one end of the shaft for facilitating manual manipulation of the plug; and a plurality of inverted truncated cone-shaped segments on the shaft, including a first, lower segment having a top end with a first diameter; a plurality of intermediate segments having bottom ends with diameters smaller than the first diameter and top ends with diameters similar to each other and the same as or larger than the first diameter; and at least one third, upper segment having a bottom end with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the top ends of the intermediate segments, and a top end larger than the diameters of the top ends of the intermediate segments. 
     
     
         2 . The plug of  claim 1  including a conical segment extending downwardly from the bottom end of said lower segment, said conical segment, having a plurality of alternating annular ridges and grooves, and a top end with a diameter the same as the diameter of the top end of said lower segment. 
     
     
         3 . The plug of  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the top end of each of the lower and conical segments is 0.25 inch. 
     
     
         4 . The plug of  claim 3 , wherein the diameters of the top end of each said intermediate segment is 0.297 inch and the diameters of each said upper segment is 0.344 inch. 
     
     
         5 . The plug of  claim 1 , wherein said lower segment includes a hemispherical bottom, free end for facilitating insertion of the plug into the caulking tube nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The plug of  claim 5 , including first and second sets of said intermediate segments between said lower and upper segments, the first set of intermediate segments having top ends with diameters greater than the diameter of the top end of the lower segment, and bottom ends with diameters less than the diameter of the top end of said lower segment, and the second set of intermediate segment having top ends with diameters great than the top ends of the first set of intermediate segments and smaller than the diameter of the top end of the upper segment, and bottom ends smaller than the diameters of the top ends of said first set of intermediate segments.