Abstract: A sealing cap or plug is provided, comprising a base element having top and bottom portions, and a circumferential side wall extending therebetween, the base element having a frusto-conical or tapered shape, with the diameter of the base element at the top portion being greater than the diameter of the base element at the bottom portion; the top portion being open-ended, and the bottom portion being closed ended; the base element having a hollow interior that extends from the open end toward the closed end; a flexible flange extending outwardly from a periphery of the base element, the flexible flange spaced from the bottom portion; the side wall having a thickness in the range of from about 0.020 to 0.040 inch; and the cap or plug being comprised of compression-molded silicone rubber.

Abstract: An open ended cap for a pipe is provided comprising a flexible tubular body wherein one end has an inwardly-extending radial rim extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body of the end cap. The tubular body may include a finger grip member extending inwardly from an inner periphery of the rim and connected to a tear strip extending across the rim and downwardly along at least a portion of the tubular body. In another embodiment, the tubular body has an interior wall surface having multiple compressible longitudinal fit beads extending from the interior wall surface and spaced about the circumference of the interior wall surface and which are configured to provide contact with the external surface of a pipe upon being inserted into the end cap. Both a tear strip and longitudinal fit beads may also be provided in combination.

Abstract: A gas cylinder collar is provided comprising a planar collar having a through-hole generally centrally positioned in the collar, the collar having opposing surfaces, one of the surfaces being comprised of at least one pre-selected indicia color, and the opposing surface being comprised of a different pre-selected indicia color, the respective indicia colors on one of the opposing surfaces being indicative of one or more of the type of gas in the gas cylinder and/or the source of the gas, and/or the customer, while the indicia color of the opposing surface being indicative of the gas cylinder being empty.

Abstract: A two-piece end cap for an industrial pipe is provided. The end cap comprises a planar end wall and a flexible side wall extending about the periphery of the end wall, the side wall having a lip extending inwardly from the bottom thereof, the lip having a groove therein within which the periphery of the planar end wall is seated, an oblique surface being present along the top of the lip extending downwardly from the side wall toward the end wall and terminating adjacent a lateral edge of the lip, and the side wall having at least one annular ridge extending about the inner periphery of the side wall for engagement with an exterior surface of a pipe upon insertion of the pipe into the end cap, the annular ridge being in a plane which is parallel to the planar end wall.

Abstract: A flexible end cap is provided for the end of an industrial pipe, the end cap comprising a closed end and an open end, the open end defined by a wall extending about the periphery of the closed end, the wall having an interior surface having multiple longitudinal fit beads extending from the interior surface and spaced about the circumference of the interior surface, the longitudinal fit beads extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the interior surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the end cap, the longitudinal fit beads configured to provide contact along their longitudinal extent with the external surface of a pipe upon the end of the pipe being inserted into the end cap, and the longitudinal fit beads having a tapered end at the uppermost extent thereof.

Abstract: A method for providing a cured coating on a tube, comprising masking and sealing an end of the tube with a self-venting cap and plug, the cap and plug comprising a tubular member comprising a resilient material having an open end and a closed end, and having an outermost sidewall; the outermost sidewall having an interior surface having an annular ridge; the closed end having a hollow dome portion defined by an annular recess, the annular recess defining an inner sidewall with an upwardly-extending annular recess, the inner sidewall containing at least one gas venting groove terminating along the longitudinal extent of the inner sidewall, and the inner sidewall being spaced from the interior surface of the outermost sidewall of the tubular member a distance greater than the height of the inwardly-directed ridge; coating the tube with a curable coating; and curing the curable coating at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for gas bottle valve stems is provided comprised of an elongated tubular body configured to fit on a valve stem. A projection extends from an interior surface of the protective sleeve and is adapted to lockingly engage with an orifice in an opposing surface of the valve stem whereby the sleeve is prevented from being easily removed from the valve stem upon being placed thereover due to engagement of the projection with the orifice. A tear strip is provided within a side surface of the protective sleeve, whereby a portion of the protective sleeve may be removed to permit disengagement of the protective sleeve. A housing may be provided in the protective sleeve for storage of a washer which may be used to provide a seal between a regulator and the valve stem of the gas bottle.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for use in connection with valve stems for gas bottles is provided, the protective sleeve being comprised of an elongated body of such length as to extend along at least a portion of the length of the valve stem. A projection extends from an interior surface of the protective sleeve and is adapted to physically engage with an orifice in an opposing surface of the valve stem in locking engagement whereby the protective sleeve is prevented from being easily removed from the valve stem upon being placed thereover due to engagement of the projection with the orifice. At least one tear strip is provided within at least a portion of at least one side surface of the protective sleeve, whereby at least a portion of the side surface of the protective sleeve may be removed by tearing the tear strip so as to permit disengagement and removal of the protective sleeve from the valve stem.

Abstract: A tubular assembly comprising a tubular housing, having at least one open end, at least the open end of the housing being provided with a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing; a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over the end of the tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to the tubular housing; hinge means connecting the cap to the flexible ring; the flexible tether means extending from the flexible ring, the flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support the tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.

Abstract: A method for providing a cured coating on a tube, comprising masking and sealing an end of the tube with a self-venting cap and plug, the cap and plug comprising a tubular member comprising a resilient material having an open end and a closed end, and having an outermost sidewall; the outermost sidewall having an interior surface having an annular ridge; the closed end having a hollow dome portion defined by an annular recess, the annular recess defining an inner sidewall with an upwardly-extending annular recess, the inner sidewall containing at least one gas venting groove terminating along the longitudinal extent of the inner sidewall, and the inner sidewall being spaced from the interior surface of the outermost sidewall of the tubular member a distance greater than the height of the inwardly-directed ridge; coating the tube with a curable coating; and curing the curable coating at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method is provided for the formation of a molded article comprising the steps of: providing at least one liquid plastisol composition, providing an injection molding apparatus including an injection barrel, feeding the at least one liquid plastisol composition to the injection barrel, heating the at least one plastisol composition within the injection barrel to the fusion temperature of the plastisol, and injecting the at least one plastisol composition to the mold.

Abstract: A cap and plug for use in sealing the end of a pipe or tube is provided which comprises a tubular member comprised of a resilient material having an open end and a closed end, and having a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an interior surface having an inwardly-directed ridge extending circumferentially along a centrally-disposed portion of said interior surface of said sidewall, the closed end comprising a centrally-positioned hollow dome portion defined by an inwardly-extending open-ended annular recess, said annular recess defining a sidewall spaced from said interior surface of said sidewall of the tubular member whereby said annular recess is formed therebetween, said sidewall defined by said annular recess containing at least one groove extending along the longitudinal extent of said sidewall from an upper portion of said sidewall toward a lowermost portion of said sidewall, and said sidewall defined by said annular recess being spaced from said interior surface of said sidewall of sa