Hydrant lock

• US 8,353,309 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joel Embry, King Embry
• Original Assignee: Joel Embry, King Embry
• Inventors: Embry, Joel, Embry, King
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRY, DAPHNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/761,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 137/382, 137/383, 137/384, 137/385, 70174-178, 701/80, 701/58, 70163-166, 702/29, 702/30, 702/32, 340/540
• US Class Current: 137/385
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/20 Hydrants, e.g. wall-hoses, wall units, plug-in cabinets hydrants in streets E03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/006 of hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/10 with locking caps or locking bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7062 Valve guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7069 With lock or seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5562 Removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5571 Freely movable when locked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5611 For control and machine elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5615 Valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5619 Locked stationary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5624 Externally mounted locking device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5628 Valve encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5637 With padlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5854 Bolt, nut, stud, stud-cap

Abstract

A hydrant locking device inhibiting unauthorized operation of a fire hydrant and includes a flip-top lid positioning between an open configuration and a closed configuration relative to a base. The flip-top lid is hingedly connected to the base of the locking device. The base may be releasably secured to an operating nut of the fire hydrant or more specifically an operating nut extension that engages the operating nut of the fire hydrant. The flip-top lid may also include a sealed cavity that may include electronics. These electronics may be in electrical communication with a wireless mesh network.

Claims

1. A fire hydrant locking device for use on a hydrant operating nut comprising:

an extension operably engaging a hydrant operating nut of a fire hydrant;

a housing having a lid hingedly connected to a base, said lid having a top wall and a depending skirt;

said base having a top wall and a depending skirt, said top wall having a first opening and a second opening, said top wall first opening receives said extension, said base skirt having a third opening;

a locking pin positionable within said base skirt third opening and in an interference relationship with said extension;

at least one pin positionable within said base top wall second opening retaining said locking pin in said interference relationship with said extension; and

said lid positionable about a hinge between an open configuration and a closed configuration relative to said base, said lid is closed upon said base when said lid is in said closed configuration, and said extension is accessible when said lid is in said open configuration.

2. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 1 wherein said base is at least vertically restricted relative to a fire hydrant.

3. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 1 further including a pair of said at least one pins retaining said locking pin.

4. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 1 wherein said at least one pin is secured into said base top wall second opening of said housing when said lid is in said open position.

5. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 1 wherein said housing includes electronics.

6. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 5 wherein said electronics are positioned in a cavity within said lid of said housing.

7. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 6 further including a cover plate sealingly engaging said cavity of said housing lid.

8. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 5 wherein said electronics of said housing are part of a mesh network.

9. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 1 further including a cover engaging an exterior surface of said lid and creating a compartment between said cover and said lid.

10. A fire hydrant locking device comprising:

an extension operably engaging a hydrant operating nut of a fire hydrant;

a housing having a lid hingedly connected to a body, said body having an outer skirt and a body top wall, said body top wall having a first axial opening and a second axial opening, said first axial opening receiving said extension therethrough, said body skirt having an opening perpendicular to and intersecting said first axial opening of said body top wall;

at least one locking pin receivable within said body skirt opening, said at least one locking pin in an interference relationship with said extension;

at least one retaining pin is received within said second axial opening of said body top wall and laterally retains said at least one locking pin in said interference relationship with said extension; and

said lid pivotally connected to said body, said lid having an annular wall depending from a top wall, wherein said extension and said at least one retaining pin are each accessible when said lid is in an open position relative to said body and inaccessible to operate when said lid is in a closed position relative to said body.

11. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 10 wherein said at least one retaining pin abuts against a distal end of said at least one locking pin when inserted within said second axial opening of said body top wall.

12. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 10 wherein said lid includes a sealed cavity.

13. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 10 further including one or more electronic devices within said housing.

14. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 13 wherein said lid includes one or more internal cavities, wherein said one or more electronic devices are positioned within said one or more internal cavities of said lid.

15. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 14 further including a cover plate sealingly engaging said one or more internal cavities creating at least one sealed compartment.

16. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 10 further including a cover encompassing an external compartment of said lid.

17. A fire hydrant locking device comprising:

an extension operably engaging a hydrant operating nut of a fire hydrant;

a housing having a lid hingedly connected to a base;

said base having a top wall with a depending wall, said base is releasably secured to said extension by at least one locking pin;

said top wall of said base includes at least one axial opening receiving at least one retaining member, said at least one retaining member restricts lateral movement of said at least one locking pin;

said lid having a top wall with a depending skirt defining an internal cavity, said internal cavity has a sealed compartment;

one or more electronic devices positioned within said sealed compartment within said lid; and

said lid positionable about a hinge between an open configuration and a closed configuration, said lid is closed upon said base when said lid is in said closed configuration, and said extension is accessible when said lid is in said open configuration.

18. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 17 wherein said one or more electronic devices are accessible when said lid is in said open position relative to said base.

19. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 17 wherein said one or more electronic devices includes a transmitter, accelerometer, transceiver, sensor, or combinations thereof.

20. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 17 further including an aerial wire in electrical connection with said one or more electronic devices, wherein said aerial wire extends through said lid.

21. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 20 further including a cover engaging an exterior surface of said lid and creating a compartment for positioning said aerial wire outside said lid.

22. The fire hydrant locking device as in claim 17 wherein said one or more electronic devices within said sealed compartment are part of a wireless mesh network.