	US 12,104,450 B2
	Safety plug
Leigh Maurice Sutton, Logan (AU)
Assigned to Rattlejack Innovations Pty Ltd, Logan (AU)
Appl. No. 18/016,270
Filed by Rattlejack Innovations Pty Ltd, Logan (AU)
PCT Filed Jul. 14, 2021, PCT No. PCT/AU2021/050755 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 13, 2023, PCT Pub. No. WO2022/011421, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 20, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020902419 (AU), filed on Jul. 14, 2020; and application No. 2020902512 (AU), filed on Jul. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0265738 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 33/128 (2006.01); E21B 23/02 (2006.01); E21B 33/129 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); E21D 21/00 (2006.01)

CPC E21B 33/128 (2013.01) [E21B 23/02 (2013.01); E21B 33/1293 (2013.01); E21B 41/0021 (2013.01); E21D 21/0026 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A safety plug for use in a bore hole comprising a bore wall, the safety plug comprising:

an elongate body having a leading end and a trailing end, the body comprising at least one flared portion, the at least one flared portion flaring outwardly in a direction from the trailing end to the leading end of the body, the body defining a longitudinal axis extending centrally therethrough between the leading end and the trailing end;

an anchoring element extending at least partially around the least one flared portion of the body, the anchoring element being axially displaceable relative to the flared portion for transitioning the anchoring element, as a result of the anchoring element bearing against the at least one flared portion, between a first condition in which the anchoring element is closer to the longitudinal axis and a second condition in which the anchoring element is expanded relative to the first condition and thereby is further from the longitudinal axis; and

a nose extending longitudinally from the leading end of the body, the nose being longitudinally compressible,

wherein the at least one flared portion comprises a plurality thereof, the plurality of flared portions being aligned on the longitudinal axis,

wherein each of the plurality of flared portions has an associated said anchoring element extending at least partially therearound,

wherein the safety plug further comprises a retaining formation proximate the trailing end of the body, the retaining formation abutting the anchoring element associated with the flared portion closest the trailing end to retain that anchoring element in a position forwardly of the retaining formation,

wherein, in the absence of an external force acting on the safety plug:

the anchoring elements are in their first condition; and

a radial distance from the longitudinal axis to a radially outermost extremity of the anchoring elements is greater than a radial distance from the longitudinal axis to a radially outermost extremity of any other portion of the safety plug.