Fire hydrant locking device

• US 5,469,724 A
• Filed: 01/12/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry K. Pollard
• Original Assignee: Jerry K. Pollard
• Inventors: Pollard, Jerry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US08/180,680
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 70/178, 70/180, 70/232, 70/54-56, 70/158, 70/14, 70/163-164, 70/166-169, 70/177, 70/175, 70/176, 70/179, 70/DIG. 57, 137/296, 137/382, 137/800, 248/552
• US Class Current: 70/178
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/10 with locking caps or locking bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/57 Screw guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5468 Cap, cover or hood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5628 Valve encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5637 With padlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5867 Encased

Abstract

The fire hydrant locking device has a cap (20) enclosing the operating nut (12) of the fire hydrant (6). The cap is secured in place on the top surface of the fire hydrant bonnet (10) by at least one arm (22) extending downwardly over and about the bonnet and extending beyond the fire hydrant barrel mounting flange (9). The lower end of the arm (22) is attached to the flanges (9 and 10'"'"') of the barrel (8) and bonnet (10) by bracket (26) and its pad lock (25) so that the cap, arm, and bonnet of the fire hydrant cannot be removed without first removing the fire hydrant locking device. Another locking bracket (80) is received on the outlet cap (17), of the fire hydrant hose outlets (16). Chain (86) is passed through each locking bracket encircling the fire hydrant, whereupon the ends of the chain are pad locked together.

Claims

1. A locking device for a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant including an upright generally cylindrical barrel having a mounting flange at its upper end, a domed bonnet having a mounting flange fastened to the mounting flange of the barrel, and an operating nut protruding through the bonnet for operating a valve in the fire hydrant to permit water to charge the hydrant, comprising:

a cap for placement over the protruding portion of the operating nut and enclosing the operating nut;

at least one arm connected at one of its ends to said cap, said arm being sized and shaped to extend from said cap, when placed over the operating nut, downwardly and about the dome of the hydrant toward the barrel and passing downwardly beyond the mounting flange of the barrel;

bracket means sized and shaped to removably receive said arm, said bracket means being adapted to be fastened to the mounting flange of the barrel, wherein a longitudinal passage is defined within said bracket means and passes therethrough, said passage being adapted to receive said arm therein;

a generally horizontal tamper shield disposed on said arm, said tamper shield being sized and shaped to be received on said bracket means; and

means for locking said arm to said bracket means so that said cap, said bracket means, and the bonnet of the fire hydrant cannot be removed from the fire hydrant when said locking means is locked.

2. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said bracket means further comprises a locking bracket bolted to the mounting flange of the bonnet and the mounting flange of the barrel, and wherein said arm is passed into said locking bracket.

3. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said arm extends downwardly beyond and through said bracket means, said locking means comprising a locking hole defined in the free end of said arm and passing therethrough, and a padlock received through said locking hole so that said arm cannot be removed from said bracket means while said padlock is upon said arm.

4. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said locking means further comprises a key operated lock assembly removably enclosed within said bracket means and selectively engaged on said arm so that said arm cannot be removed from said bracket means when said key operated lock assembly have been placed within said bracket means.

5. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said locking means further comprises a locking bolt threadedly received within said bracket means and engaged with said arm, wherein said locking bolt has a recessed and shaped opening defined in the head of said bolt so that said arm cannot be removed from said bracket means when said locking bolt has been installed therein.

6. The locking device of claim 5, further comprising a tool sized and shaped to be received with said recessed opening in said locking bolt for installing or removing said locking bolt.

7. The locking device of claim 1, further comprising:

pair of arms connected to said cap and;

spaced apart from each other, where each arm also has a socket connected to its end for receiving said bracket means, and where said sockets upon said arms are parallel to one another;

a rigid U-shaped bracket having two parallel legs, said legs being spaced apart a distance greater than the breadth of the barrel, and a distance less than the breadth of the mounting flange of the barrel, and where the free end of at least one leg has a lock hole defined therein and passing therethrough; and

a lock for locking said bracket to said arms;

whereby said bracket is placed over the barrel, below the mounting flange of the barrel, extending through said sockets on said arms, and said lock is placed in said lock hole to secure the locking device to the fire hydrant.

8. The locking device of claim 1, further comprising:

first pair of arms and a second pair of arms each connected at one of their ends to said cap and spaced apart from each other, each of said arms having a socket connected at its end for receiving said bracket means, wherein said sockets of each pair of arms lie along a common longitudinal axis and said sockets of said first pair of arms are parallel to said sockets of said second pair of arms;

a rigid U-shaped bracket having two parallel legs, said legs being spaced apart a distance greater than the breadth of the barrel, and a distance less than the breadth of the mounting flange of the barrel, and where the free end of at least one leg has a lock hole defined therein and passing therethrough; and

a lock for locking said bracket to said arms;

whereby said bracket is placed over the barrel, below the mounting flange of the barrel, and extending through said sockets on said first and second pair of arms, and said lock is placed in said lock hole to secure the locking device to the fire hydrant.

9. The locking device of claim 1, further comprising an annular access opening defined within said cap above the operating nut,

whereby the operating nut may be moved to charge the fire hydrant with water while said locking device secures said cap, said bracket means, and the bonnet to the fire hydrant.

10. The locking device of claim 9, further comprising an operating nut socket sized and shaped to pass through said access opening and adapted to be received on the operating nut.

11. A locking device for a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant having an upright generally cylindrical barrel, a mounting flange at the upper end of the barrel, a domed bonnet having a mounting flange fastened to the mounting flange of the barrel, and an operating nut protruding through the bonnet for operating a valve in the fire hydrant to permit water to charge the hydrant, comprising:

a cap for placement over a protruding portion of the operating nut and enclosing the operating nut;

an integral arm and bracket assembly, wherein an arm portion of said assembly is connected at one of its ends to a bracket portion of said assembly, the free end of said arm having a lock hole defined therein and passing therethrough adapted for receiving a lock, wherein said bracket portion of said assembly comprises a rigid U-shaped bracket having two parallel legs spaced apart from each other a distance greater than the breadth of the fire hydrant barrel, and a distance less than the breadth of the barrel mounting flange;

a pair of openings defined within said cap sized and shaped to receive the free end of said arm, said openings being disposed along a common horizontal axis and being adapted for receiving said arm therethrough;

a lock for locking said integral arm portion and bracket assembly to said cap;

whereby the free end of said arm is extended through both of said openings within said cap, and said bracket portion is passed over the barrel, below the mounting flange of the barrel, and said lock is placed through said lock hole within the free end of said arm to lock said integral arm and bracket assembly to said cap upon the fire hydrant.

12. A locking device for a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant having an upright generally cylindrical barrel, a mounting flange at the upper end of the barrel, a domed bonnet having a mounting flange connected to the mounting flange of the barrel, and an operating nut protruding through the bonnet for operating a valve in the fire hydrant to permit water to charge the hydrant, comprising:

a cap for placement over a protruding portion of the operating nut and enclosing the operating nut;

an arm connected at one of its ends to said cap, said arm being sized and shaped to extend from said cap, when said cap is placed over the operating nut, downwardly and about the domed bonnet of the hydrant toward the barrel and passing downwardly beyond the barrel mounting flange;

a locking bracket sized and shaped to be fastened to the mounting flange of the bonnet and the mounting flange of the barrel, said locking bracket having a longitudinal passage defined therein for receiving the free end of said arm;

a generally horizontal tamper shield disposed upon said arm, said tamper shield being sized and shaped to be received upon said locking bracket;

means for locking said arm to said locking bracket;

wherein the free end of said arm extends through and beyond said locking bracket;

so that when said arm is passed into said locking bracket, said cap, said locking bracket, and the bonnet of the fire hydrant cannot be removed from the fire hydrant when said locking means is locked.

13. The locking device of claim 12, wherein said means for locking said arm comprises:

a locking hole defined within the free end of said arm and passing therethrough; and

a padlock received through said locking hole so that said arm cannot be removed from said locking bracket while said padlock is upon said arm.

14. The locking device of claim 12, wherein said means for locking said arm comprises a key operated lock assembly removably enclosed within said locking bracket and selectively engaged upon said arm so that said arm cannot be removed from said bracket when said key operated locking assembly has been placed within said locking bracket.

15. The locking device of claim 12, wherein said means for locking said arm comprises:

a locking bolt threadedly received within said locking bracket engaged with said arm, wherein said locking bolt has a recessed and shaped opening defined in the head of said bolt;

a tool sized and shaped to be received within said recessed opening in said locking bolt for installing or moving said locking bolt;

wherein said arm cannot be removed from said locking bracket when said locking bolt has been installed therein.

16. A locking device for a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant having an upright generally cylindrical barrel, a mounting flange at the upper end of the barrel, a domed bonnet having a mounting flange for connection to the mounting flange of said barrel, and an operating nut protruding through the bonnet for operating a valve in the fire hydrant to permit water to charge the hydrant, comprising:

a cap for placement over a protruding portion of the operating nut and enclosing the operating nut;

at least two arms connected to said cap, said arms being spaced apart from each other and being sized and shaped to extend from said cap, when placed over the operating nut, downwardly and about the dome of the hydrant toward the barrel and passing downwardly beyond the mounting flange of the barrel;

bracket means sized and shaped to removably receive said arms, wherein said bracket means is sized and shaped to be removably supported by the mounting flange of the barrel;

a socket connected to the end of each arm for receiving said bracket means, where said sockets upon said arms are parallel to one another;

a padlock for locking said bracket to said arms;

whereby said bracket is placed over the barrel, below the mounting flange of the barrel, extending through said sockets on said arms, and said bracket is locked to said arms to secure the locking device to the fire hydrant.

17. The locking device of claim 16, wherein said bracket means comprises:

a rigid U-shaped bracket having two parallel legs, said legs being spaced apart a distance greater than the breadth of the barrel, and a distance less than the breadth of the mounting flange of the barrel, and where the free end of at least one leg has a lock hole defined therein and passing therethrough for receiving said lock.

18. The locking device of claim 17 further comprising a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms connected to said cap and spaced apart from each other, where said sockets of each pair of arms lie along a common longitudinal axis and where said sockets of said first pair of arms are parallel to said sockets of said second pair of arms.

19. The fire hydrant locking device of claim 17, further comprising an annular access opening defined within said cap above the operating nut, and passing therethrough;

an operating nut socket sized and shaped to pass through said access opening to be received by the operating nut;

whereby the operating nut may be turned to charge the fire hydrant with water while said locking device secures said cap, said bracket means, and the fire hydrant bonnet to the fire hydrant.