Configurable plug to stop or slow the flow of a fluid or gas or flowable material either inward or outward through an opening

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention are directed to a tapered plug. The plug has a bottom base having a geometrical shape. In some embodiments the base has a well-defined geometrical shape, such as a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, and the like. In other embodiments, the shape of the base is not a regular, well-defined shape. In some embodiments, the plug comes to a point at the top, with a shape analogous to a cone, while in other embodiments, the top of the plug is flat. In some embodiments, the plug has a smooth or nearly smooth surface, made of an easily compressible or semi-compressible material. It is for use in stopping or slowing the flow of a fluid or gas or other flowable material through an opening that the plug is inserted into.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A compressible plug to stop or slow the flow of a fluid or gas or flowable material either inward or outward through an opening comprising:
 a) a body made from a made of an easily compressible or semi-compressible material capable of being reduced in cross-sectional size by squeezing or twisting by hand and that tends to return toward its original size;   b) said body having a flat planar base of a well-defined geometrical shape, such as a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, and the like;   c) said body having sides extending upwardly from said base forming a tapered body with an outer surface;   d) said surface of the plug being rough or irregular geometry, such as a pebbled, sharkskin or sandpaper-like surface.   
     
     
         2 . A compressible plug as in  claim 1 , wherein said body is segmented longitudinally (parallel to the central axis) into two to eight sections or more (in some ways similar to an orange or a banana.)
 a) said segmentation is achieved by sectioning elements including grooves or channels (molded into the plug as it is created), slices (either continuous or in a broken series, cut in after molding), or a series of perforations (molded in or cut in)   b) said sectioning elements create intentional weak points in the plug material that facilitate separation and tearing by hand along selected dimensions   
     
     
         3 . A compressible plug as in  claim 1 , wherein said surface geometry is comprised of multiple concentric ridges that are barbed due to the degree of undercut. 
     
     
         4 . A compressible plug as in  claim 1 , wherein said surface geometry is broken, alternated ridges that are narrowed laterally to become more like individual teeth. 
     
     
         5 . A compressible plug as in  claim 1 , wherein said surface geometry comprises a design of many bumps or spikes in a pattern on the plug surface to allow each to contact the edge or interior of an opening. 
     
     
         6 . A compressible plug as in  claim 1 , wherein said body is made of a permeable material that allows for better, faster, and more reliable infiltration of the fluid or gas into the interior of the plug.