Multi-purpose collar attachment for fire hydrants

• US 9,027,503 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Sampson
• Original Assignee: Thomas Sampson
• Inventors: Sampson, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US13/441,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20120261002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 116/200, 116/202, 116/209, 116/280, 116/107, 116/DIG.1, 116/DIG.43, 116/264, 116/DIG.11, 116/DIG.41, 340331-332, 340/321, 340/69.1, 441/13, 441/16, 137/296, D10/109, D10/111
• US Class Current: 116/200
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/04 Column hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5468 Cap, cover or hood

Abstract

A multi-purpose reflective collar for attachment to a fire hydrant that increases the visibility of the hydrant to motorists and others, and that indicates the hydrant'"'"'s flow rate, water source and pressure rating to firefighters and other first responders through the use of color coded reflective tape webs that can be removably attached to the collar. The multi-purpose reflective collar of the present invention is adjustable to accommodate fire hydrants of different shapes and sizes, and is useful in increasing safety and the efficiency of firefighting procedures.

Claims

1. A collar comprising:

a collar structure which is adjustable in interior diameter and which further comprises a display area, wherein said collar structure is attached to a fire hydrant by a securing means;

a first tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said first tape web displays a flow rating for the fire hydrant;

a second tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said second tape web displays a water source for the fire hydrant; and

a third tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said third tape web displays a pressure rating for the fire hydrant.

2. The collar of claim 1 wherein said securing means is a worm gear clamp.

3. The collar of claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third tape webs is comprised of a reflective material.

4. The collar of claim 1 wherein said first tape web is color coded to indicate the flow rating of the fire hydrant in accordance with a flow rating color coding system.

5. The collar of claim 1 wherein said second tape web is color coded to indicate the water source for the fire hydrant in accordance with a water source color coding system.

6. The collar of claim 1 wherein said third tape web is color coded to indicate the pressure rating for the fire hydrant in accordance with a pressure rating color coding system.

7. A collar for attachment to a fire hydrant comprising:

an adjustable collar structure which further comprises a display area;

a first reflective tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said first reflective tape web displays a flow rating for the fire hydrant;

a second reflective tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said second reflective tape web displays a water source rating for the fire hydrant; and

a securing means for attaching said collar to the fire hydrant.

8. The collar of claim 7 wherein said securing means is a worm gear clamp.

9. The collar of claim 7 wherein said securing means is a band clamp.

10. The collar of claim 7 wherein said first reflective tape web is positioned in said display area above the second reflective tape web.

11. The collar of claim 7 wherein said collar further comprises a third reflective tape web removably positionable in said display area for indicating a pressure rating for the fire hydrant.

12. The collar of claim 11 wherein said second reflective tape web is positioned in said display area above the third reflective tape web.

13. The collar of claim 11 wherein said first reflective tape web is positioned in said display area above the third reflective tape web.

14. The collar of claim 11 wherein each of the first reflective tape web, the second reflective tape web and the third reflective tape web are color coded.

15. A collar comprising:

a collar structure which is adjustable in interior diameter and which further comprises a display area, wherein said collar structure is attached to a fire hydrant by a band clamp;

a first tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said first tape web displays a flow rate for the fire hydrant;

a second tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said second tape web displays a water source for the fire hydrant, and further wherein said second tape web is located beneath said first tape web; and

a third tape web removably positionable in said display area, wherein said third tape web displays a pressure rating for the fire hydrant, and further wherein said third tape web is located beneath said second tape reflective web.

16. The collar of claim 15 wherein said securing means is a worm gear clamp.

17. The collar of claim 15 wherein each of said first, second and third tape webs is comprised of a reflective material.

18. The collar of claim 15 wherein said first tape web is color coded to indicate the flow rating of the fire hydrant in accordance with a flow rating color coding system, said second tape web is color coded to indicate the water source for the fire hydrant in accordance with a water source color coding system, and said third tape web is color coded to indicate the pressure rating for the fire hydrant in accordance with a pressure rating color coding system.

19. The collar of claim 18 wherein each of the flow rating color coding system, the water source color coding system, and the pressure rating color coding system are maintained by the National Fire Protection Association.