Flush-mounted domed lockable compression sealing plug and removeable compression key

Abstract

A reusable, lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug is locked with a removable rotatable locking compression key. Rotation of the compression key causes vertical compression and radial extension of the plug's sealing compression gasket causing pressure of the gasket against the inner walls of the opening preventing movement of the plug. Once the plug is locked in place, the key is removed making the plug un-lockable only to those who have the key and know how to remove the domed cap that is fitted onto the plug after the key is removed. Once the cap is in place, its flush mount design allows unimpeded placement of a man-hole cover. The dome shape of the cap assures that no moisture, liquids or foreign objects will collect on the surface of the cap. The plug has a “quad sealing assembly” comprised of four individual seals to provide hermetically sealing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug assembly for sealing an opening, said plug assembly comprising:
 a plug including:
 a compression gasket capping plate having a bore therethrough; 
 a compression sealing gasket having an opening therethrough; 
 a compression gasket base plate having a threaded bore therethrough; and 
 a threaded bolt having a first end and a second end, and 
   a compression key,
 said key rotatably engageable with and removable from said first end of said threaded bolt, so that when 
 said second end of said threaded bolt is inserted through said bore of said capping plate and said opening of said compression sealing gasket and threaded through said threaded bore of said compression sealing gasket base plate, the thus-formed plug is installed into an opening to be sealed and said compression key is engaged with said first end of said threaded bolt and rotated urging said compression sealing gasket capping plate and said compression gasket base plate toward each other causing axial compression and radial extension of said compression sealing gasket, a locked, hermetic, compression seal is formed, and then when 
 said key is removed a locked, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug seals the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The plug, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a cap, said cap being a domed flush-mount capping plate. 
     
     
         3 . The plug, as recited in  claim 2 , further including that once said key is removed from said plug and said capping plate is positioned on said plug a locked, domed, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug is formed. 
     
     
         4 . The plug, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said compression sealing gasket is annular, resilient, and elastomeric. 
     
     
         5 . The plug, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said compression key further comprises a grasping handle attached to the top of a neck attached to a shoulder. 
     
     
         6 . The plug, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said grasping handle further comprises hand/finger indent friction holds. 
     
     
         7 . The plug, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said grasping handle further comprises through-apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The plug, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said shoulder further comprises an outer circumference sized to fit within said bore of said gasket capping plate. 
     
     
         9 . The plug, as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising slot and projection structures on an outer surface of said first end of said threaded bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The plug, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said shoulder of said compression key further comprises slot and projection structures on an inner circumference for mating with said slot and projection structures on said outer surface of said first end of said threaded bolt. 
     
     
         11 . The plug, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first end of said threaded bolt further comprises an outwardly projecting flange positioned adjacent to and below said slot and projection structures on said outer surface of said first end of said threaded bolt. 
     
     
         12 . The plug, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said compression sealing gasket capping plate further comprises an O-ring accepting recess on a flange of said capping plate forming a seal between said flange and said domed flush-mount cap when said cap is positioned on said flange. 
     
     
         13 . The plug, as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a sealing gasket that seats on an inner flange of said bore of said compression sealing gasket capping plate forming a seal between said capping plate and said outwardly projecting flange of said threaded bolt when said threaded bolt projects through said bore of said compression sealing gasket capping plate providing protection against entry of a contaminant into said opening of said compression sealing gasket. 
     
     
         14 . The plug, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said compression seal gasket further comprises a flange that provides a seal formed by said flange and the surface of an opening to be sealed while said plug is in use preventing contaminant entry into the interior of the plug through the boundary between said compression seal gasket flange and the surface of the opening to be sealed. 
     
     
         15 . The plug, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said flange of said compression sealing gasket further comprises having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the opening to be sealed by said plug providing for said compression sealing gasket to be supported on the rim of the opening to be sealed, providing support for said flange of compression gasket capping plate, and providing for a compressible, moldable seal between the underside of said flange of said compression sealing gasket and the rim of the opening to be sealed as said flange of compression gasket capping plate conforms to any irregularities present on the surface of the rim of the opening to be sealed, ensuring the formation of a water and air-tight seal. 
     
     
         16 . The plug, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said compression seal gasket  40  further comprises a seal formed when the elongate body of said compression sealing gasket is compressed by the rotation of said compression key while engaged on said first end of said threaded bolt resulting in vertical, axial compression and horizontal expansion of said compression sealing gasket providing both a seal between said compression sealing gasket and an inner wall of a pipe having an opening to be sealed. 
     
     
         17 . The plug, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said compressed and extended compression seal gasket further comprises a lock between said compression sealing gasket and an inner wall of a pipe having an opening to be sealed. 
     
     
         18 . A process for making a lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug assembly for sealing an opening, said process comprising:
 providing a plug that includes:
 a compression sealing gasket capping plate having a bore therethrough; 
 a compression sealing gasket having a bore therethrough; 
 a compression sealing gasket base plate having a threaded bore therethrough; and 
 a threaded bolt having a first end and a second end, and 
   providing a compression key,
 said key rotatably engageable with and removable from said first end of said threaded bolt, so that when 
   inserting said second end of said threaded bolt through said bore of said capping plate and said bore of said compression sealing gasket and   threading said second end of said threaded bolt through said threaded bore of said compression sealing gasket base plate forming said plug and   installing said plug into an opening to be sealed and   engaging said compression key with said first end of said threaded bolt and   rotating said locking urging said compression gasket capping plate and said compression gasket base plate toward each other causing axial compression and radial extension of said compression sealing gasket, forming a locked, hermetic, compression seal and, then   removing said key sealing said opening with a locked, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug.   
     
     
         19 . The process, as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a cap, said cap being a domed capping plate. 
     
     
         20 . The process, as recited in  claim 19 , further including that once said key is removed from said plug and said capping plate is positioned on said plug a locked, domed, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug is formed.