Lockout device

• US 20060283215A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brojanac, Michael, Czarnecki, Scott, Scott, Frank, Manthe, Rebecca
• Granted Patent: US 7,581,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/383 Staples or the like for padlocks; Lock slings; Arrangements on locks to cooperate with padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/06 using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/10 with locking caps or locking bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/409 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5628 Valve encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5637 With padlock

Abstract

A lockout device is provided for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument. The lockout device includes a bottom member, a cover member, and a flexible member. The bottom member is adapted to be positioned over the body and includes a first holding portion and an aperture for receiving the actuating member. The cover member is connectable to the bottom member for movement between a closed position and an open position, and includes a covering portion for covering the actuating member in the closed position, and a second holding portion adapted to abut the first holding portion in the closed position. The flexible member has a first end connected to one of the bottom member and the cover member. The bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between the first and second holding portions. When the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding portions and the cover member is in the closed position, the first and second holding portions prevent movement of the cinching portion of the flexible member.

Claims

1. A lockout device for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument, the lockout device comprising:

a bottom member, adapted to be positioned over the body, the bottom member including a first holding portion and an aperture for receiving the actuating member;

a cover member connectable to the bottom member for movement between a closed position and an open position, the cover member including a covering portion for covering the actuating member in the closed position, and a second holding portion adapted to abut the first holding portion in the closed position; and

a flexible member having a first end connected to one of the bottom member and the cover member, wherein the bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between the first and second holding portions;

wherein when the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding portions and the cover member is in the closed position, the first and second holding portions prevent movement of the cinching portion of the flexible member.

2. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the bottom member further comprises a lock bar including at least one locking aperture, and further wherein when the cover member is in the closed position, the insertion of a locking member through the at least one locking aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position.

3. The lockout device of claim 2, wherein the cover member further comprises an opening for receiving the lock bar therethrough in the closed position.

4. The lockout device of claim 3, further comprising a second lock bar connected to the bottom member, the second lock bar being movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and including at least one alignment aperture, wherein the at least one alignment aperture aligns with the at least one locking aperture of the first stated lock bar in the locking position to permit insertion of a locking member therethrough, and further wherein the locking member impedes movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position when the locking member is in the locking position.

5. The lockout device of claim 4, wherein the second lock bar is adapted to extend through the cover member opening in the closed position and is slideable between the locking position and the unlocking position, wherein the lock bar slide includes at least one protrusion, and the at least one protrusion aligns with at least one corresponding notch in the cover member in the unlocking position to permit movement of the cover member from the closed position to the open position.

6. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the cover member is pivotally connected to the bottom member at a hinge portion.

7. The lockout device of claim 6, wherein the hinge portion comprises a hinge pin on one of the cover member and the bottom member, and a hinge leaf on the other of the cover member and the bottom member, further wherein at least one of the hinge pin and the hinge leaf has an elliptical cross section for biasing the cover member to remain in the open position when the cover member is moved from the closed position to the open position.

8. The lockout device of claim 1, further comprising at least one detent on one of the cover member and the bottom member, and at least one corresponding detent socket on the other of the cover member and the bottom member, wherein the at least one detent engages the at least one detent socket when the cover member is in the closed position.

9. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the first and second holding portions comprise first and second cinch pads having interlocking patterns.

10. The lockout device of claim 1, further comprising first and second slots adjacent to the first and second holding portions and adapted to receive the flexible member and position the cinching portion between the first and second holding portions.

11. The lockout device of claim 1, further comprising a mounting member removably attached to a lower surface of the bottom member, the mounting member comprising an aperture for receiving the actuating member and a mounting surface for mounting the mounting member to the body.

12. The lockout device of claim 11, wherein the mounting surface comprises a cushion pad.

13. The lockout device of claim 11, further comprising a lockout enclosure for covering the instrument, wherein a portion of the lockout enclosure is captured between the bottom member and the mounting member.

14. The lockout device of claim 13, wherein the lockout enclosure includes a compartment.

15. The lockout device of claim 14, further comprising a lanyard including a fixed end secured to one of the mounting member, the bottom member, and the cover member, and a detachable end receivable between the cover member and the bottom member, wherein the lanyard is adapted to engage a closing portion of the compartment to prevent opening of the compartment.

16. The lockout device of claim 15, wherein the closing portion of the compartment comprises a zipper having a zipper tab for receiving the lanyard therethrough.

17. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein when the flexible member is tightened around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding portions and the cover member is in the closed position, the flexible member prohibits removal of the lockout device from the instrument.

18. A method for locking out a valve having a valve body, a valve stem extending from the valve body for operating the valve, and a valve handle assembled with the valve stem for moving the valve stem to operate the valve, the method comprising:

removing the valve handle from the valve stem;

assembling a bottom member with the valve body;

connecting a first end of a flexible member with the bottom member;

wrapping a second end of the flexible member around a portion of the valve body;

holding a cinching portion of the flexible member against the bottom member; and

assembling a cover member with the bottom member such that the cover member covers the valve stem and the cover member holds the cinching portion of the flexible member fixed against the bottom member.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising locking the cover member to the bottom member.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a lock bar connected to the bottom member and inserting the lock bar through an opening in the cover member, wherein locking the cover member to the bottom member comprises inserting a shackle through an opening in the lock bar.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a compartment attached to the bottom member, and depositing the removed valve handle in the compartment.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising attaching a first end of a lanyard to the bottom member, inserting a second end of the lanyard through a closing portion of the compartment, and securing the second end of the lanyard between the bottom member and the cover member.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning a portion of the flexible member between opposed holding portions on the bottom member and the cover member.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing interlocking patterns on the opposed holding portions.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising pivotally attaching the cover member to the bottom member.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein assembling a cover member with the bottom member comprises engaging at least one detent on one of the cover member and the bottom member with at least one detent socket on the other of the cover member and the bottom member.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting a mounting member to the valve body, wherein assembling a bottom member with the valve body comprises attaching the bottom member to the mounting member.

28. A valve lockout device for a valve having a valve body, a valve stem extending from the valve body for operating the valve, and a valve handle attachable to the valve stem for actuation of the valve stem, the lockout device comprising:

a latch base bottom, adapted to be positioned over the valve body, the latch base bottom including a lock bar having at least one hole, a first cinch pad and an opening for receiving the valve stem;

a slide bar connected to the latch base bottom and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, the slide bar comprising at least one hole and at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one slide bar hole aligns with the at least one lock bar hole when the slide bar is in the locking position;

a latch base cover connected to the latch base bottom at a hinge portion for movement between a closed position and an open position, the latch base cover including a covering portion for covering the valve stem in the closed position, an opening for receiving the lock bar and the slide bar therethrough in the closed position, at least one notch adapted to align with the at least one slide bar protrusion when the slide bar is in the unlocking position, and a second cinch pad adapted to interlock with the first cinch pad in the closed position;

a back plate removably attached to a lower surface of the latch base bottom, the back plate comprising an aperture for receiving the valve stem and a cushion pad for conforming the back plate with the valve body;

a bag portion for covering the valve, the bag portion comprising a compartment having a zipper for closing the compartment, wherein at least part of the bag portion is captured between the latch base bottom and the back plate;

a cinch strap having a first end attached to the bag portion, wherein the latch base bottom and the latch base cover are adapted to receive the cinch strap through first and second strap slots to retain a cinching portion of the cinch strap between the first and second cinch pads; and

a lanyard including a lanyard anchor retained in an anchor pocket of the latch base member and a free end receivable in a receiver pocket of the latch base member, the free end being retained in the receiver pocket when the latch base cover is in the closed position, wherein the lanyard is adapted to fit through a zipper pull on the zipper to secure the zipper in a closed position.