Abstract:
A valve wrench stabilizer which opens and closes around the valve wrench rod and then lowers into the access pipe to stabilize the valve wrench when opening or closing an underground valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a device for stabilizing a valve key or wrench which is utilized for servicing subterranean valves employed in underground utility pipelines. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Valves are used for many purposes in a water or sewer distribution system. They can shut off, turn on, and otherwise regulate the flow of water, reduce pressure, provide air and vacuum relief, blow off or drain water from parts of the system, and prevent backflow. Valves also have to be exercised once or twice a year to prevent erosion and to keep the valves in good operating condition. Valves are one of the most important devices available in operating the water distribution system. 
   The valves are located beneath the frost line, which is 4-8 feet deep. To turn the water on or off, the operators use a valve key or wrench which includes a handle, a rod, and at its distal end, a socket. The socket is adapted to matingly and releasably engage the valve. Examples of valve keys are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,897 to Chick; U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,068 to Reuschel, et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,285 to Stinnett. 
   To open the valve, an individual must insert the rod and socket into a vertical access pipe which extends from ground level to the underground valve. The circumference of the access pipe is significantly greater that the circumference of the valve wrench rod. Once the valve wrench socket has engaged the valve, the handle of the valve wrench can be turned in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction to open or close the valve. 
   Manually turning of the valve wrench can be an exhausting and slow task, especially on older valves that require high torque and many rotations due to corrosion. It can also increase the risk of injury to the operators. Moreover, due to the substantial difference between the circumferences of the access pipe and the valve wrench, the valve wrench will become unstable resulting in delay, damage to the valve, and possible injury. 
   Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a durable, inexpensive and multi-use valve wrench stabilizer which can maintain the valve wrench rod in proper vertical alignment with the valve so as to prevent the valve wrench socket from inadvertently disengaging from the valve. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A valve wrench stabilizer apparatus according to the present invention includes a pair of half circle plates which plates are rotatably joined by a spring and a pin assembly. Attached to the front side of each plate is a handle for easily rotating the joined plates to an open or closed position. At the midpoint of the inside or straight edge of each plate is a corresponding half circle opening. When the joined plates are in a closed position, the midpoint openings form a circular opening. When in use, the joined plates are rotated open and the rod of the valve wrench is inserted into the midpoint openings. The valve wrench rod is inserted into the access pipe with the valve wrench stabilizer placed within the coupling at the top end of the access pipe. Once the valve wrench socket is engaged with the valve, the user can begin rotating the valve wrench and avoid the problem of the socket being unintentionally disengaged from the valve. 
   Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a valve wrench stabilizer which can be quickly and easily used with a valve wrench. 
   A further objective of this invention is to provide a valve wrench stabilizer which can be used with a variety of valve wrenches. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a valve wrench stabilizer which is constructed of durable materials. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a valve wrench stabilizer which avoids the unintended disengagement of the valve wrench socket from the valve. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a valve wrench stabilizer which provides the operator with a smoother rotation of the valve wrench. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve wrench stabilizer which reduces valve wrench operator fatigue and injury. 
   These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a closed valve wrench stabilizer in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an open valve wrench stabilizer in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the front side of the plates of the valve wrench stabilizer in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the back side of the plates of the valve wrench stabilizer in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the valve wrench stabilizer with a valve wrench and access pipe. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in the following description. 
     FIGS. 1 through 5  show a device of the present invention which can be used to stabilize a valve wrench when the valve wrench is being utilized to service a subterranean valve employed in an underground utility pipeline. The valve wrench includes a handle  10 , a rod  12 , and at its distal end, a socket  14 . The socket  14  is adapted to matingly and releasably engage the valve. 
   The underground valve is accessed through a vertical access pipe  16  which extends from ground level to the underground valve. Fixedly attached to the top end of the access pipe  16  is a coupling  18 . The coupling  18  has a greater circumference than the access pipe  16 . 
   The circumference of the access pipe  16  and coupling  18  is significantly greater that the circumference of the valve wrench rod  12 . Due to the substantial difference between the circumferences of the access pipe  16  and the valve wrench rod  12 , the valve wrench will often times become unstable resulting in delay, damage to the valve, and possible injury to the operator. 
   The present invention resolves this problem by providing an apparatus which stabilizes the valve wrench when being used to open or close an underground valve. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , the valve wrench stabilizer  19  is comprised of a first half-circle plate  20  and a second half-circle plate  22 . Each plate  20 ,  22 , has a front side  24 , a back side  26 , a plane side  28 , a bowed side  30 , a first end  32  and a second end  34 . The circumference of the plates,  20 ,  22 , when joined, fit within the coupling  18  of the access pipe  16 . 
   Fixedly attached to the front side  24  of the second plate  22 , adjacent to its second end  34 , is a pivot pin bracket  38 . The pivot pin bracket  38  is rectangular shaped with one-half of the pivot pin bracket  38  fixedly attached to the front side  24  of the second plate  22  and one-half extending beyond the plane side  28  of the second plate  22 . A circular opening  40  is contained on that portion of the pivot pin bracket  38  which extends beyond the plane side  28  of the second plate  22 . 
   The first end of a vertical pin  42 , having a first end and a second end, is fixedly attached to the front side  24  of the first plate  20  adjacent to the first plate&#39;s  20  second end  34 . The second end of the pin  42  is inserted into the circular opening  40  of the pivot bin bracket  38 . A cap is attached to the second end of the pin  42  so as to maintain the rotatable connection between the pivot pin bracket  38  and the pin  42 . In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a screw (not shown) can be used in place of the vertical pin  42 . The screw would be rotatably maintained within the circular opening  40  of the pivot bin bracket  38  and removably attached to the front side  24  of the first plate  20 . 
   Adjacent to the vertical pin  42  on the first plate  20  is a first annular opening  44  and adjacent to the pivot pin bracket  38  on the second plate  22  is a second annular opening  46 . The first end of a spring  48  is removably attached to the first annular opening  44  and the second end of the spring  48  is removably attached to the second annular opening  46 . The spring  48  causes the first and second plates  20 ,  22  to rotate about the pin  42  to a closed position wherein the plane sides  28  of the first and second plates  20 ,  22  are temporarily joined. 
   When in use, the joined plates  20 ,  22  are rotated about the pin  42  to an open position and the valve wrench rod  12  is inserted into the semi-circular openings  36 . The valve wrench rod  12  is then inserted into the access pipe  16  with the valve wrench stabilizer  19  placed within the coupling  18 . Once the valve wrench socket  14  is engaged with the valve, the user can rotate the valve wrench handle  10  and avoid the problem of the socket  14  being unintentionally disengaged from the valve. 
   The components mentioned herein need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any suitable configuration. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Index of Elements for Valve Wrench Stabilizer 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               10 
               Valve Wrench Handle 
             
             
               12 
               Valve Wrench Rod 
             
             
               14 
               Valve Wrench Socket 
             
             
               16 
               Access Pipe 
             
             
               18 
               Access Pipe Coupling 
             
             
               19. 
               Valve Wrench Stabilizer 
             
             
               20 
               First Half Circle Plate 
             
             
               22 
               Second Half Circle Plate 
             
             
               24 
               Plate Front Side 
             
             
               26 
               Plate Back Side 
             
             
               28 
               Plate Plane Side 
             
             
               30 
               Plate Bowed Side 
             
             
               32 
               Plate First End 
             
             
               34 
               Plate Second End 
             
             
               36 
               Semi-Circular Opening 
             
             
               38 
               Pivot Pin Bracket 
             
             
               40 
               Bracket Circular Opening 
             
             
               42 
               Pin 
             
             
               44 
               First Annular Opening 
             
             
               46 
               Second Annular Opening 
             
             
               48 
               Spring 
             
             
               50 
               Handle