US 7,571,936 B2
Screw connection element and protective sleeve therefor
Harald Schneider, Otto-Haesler-Strasse 10, D-34134 Kassel (Germany); Martin Schneider, Bergstrasse 12, D-34277 Fuldabrueck (Germany); and Uwe Balshuesemann, Am Deich 19, D-40547 Duesseldorf (Germany)
Appl. No. 10/563,394
PCT Filed Jul. 15, 2004, PCT No. PCT/DE2004/001556
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Apr. 05, 2006,
PCT Pub. No. WO2005/010420, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 03, 2005.
Claims priority of application No. 203 11 834 U (DE), filed on Jul. 17, 2003; and application No. 203 20 226 U (DE), filed on Dec. 30, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2006/0237966 A1, Oct. 26, 2006
Int. Cl. F16L 15/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 285—45  [285/333; 285/390; 138/96 R] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A screw connection element, comprising an outer threaded portion; sealing means disposed in threads of said outer threaded portion; a protective covering surrounding said outer threaded portion for retaining said sealing means in said threads and composed of a flexible material; a thread situated at a front end of said outer threaded portion and free of said sealing means, wherein said protective covering is connected in a form-fitting manner to said thread in an axial direction of said outer threaded portion, wherein said sealing means is enriched with a material selected from the group consisting of a material which restricts a growth of germs, a material which restricts a growth of bacteria, a material which destroys germs and bacteria, and a combination thereof.