Abstract:
A wire security device is provided or the protection of conduit body of a conduit for a wire. Also provided is a method of enclosing a conduit body with a wire security device such that only authorized persons can unlock the wire security device and access the conduit body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/731,729 entitled: WIRE SECURITY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A WIRE IN A CONDUIT, filed on Nov. 30, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Thievery of wire from conduits is costly. For example, ring ground protects buildings and equipment electrical surges, for example as can be caused by lightning strikes. Ring grounds are very commonly used around communications equipment such as cell phone towers, police radio towers, and other types of radio towers and equipment buildings. They are also often used to protect computer data centers. The ring ground will usually encircle a building that it is trying to protect. The ring ground comprises a conduit which includes grounding wire, such as copper wire, encircles the building. Positioned at points along the conduit are conduit bodies or “pull boxes.” Conduit bodies are used, inter alia, to connect threaded conduits when the electrical raceway changes directions. Conduit bodies typically include covers that create a water tight seal and allow easy access for additional wire pulling, inspection and general maintenance. Conduit Bodies can accommodate pipe sizes from ½″ to 4″ in diameter and can be made from malleable iron or die cast aluminum. However, these conduit bodies and conduits are often targets for theft of the copper wire, costing companies and insurance companies millions of dollars each year. If the conduit body or conduit can be broken into, the copper wire can be pilled out and stolen in a matter of moments. 
         [0003]    Prior solutions to prevent thievery include using foam which is blown into the conduits and which hardens about the wire therein making it difficult to remove. However, this solution has complicates service by authorized technicians when they need to remove the wire for legitimate purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to embodiments, disclosed is a method comprising: providing wire security device to enclose a conduit body of an conduit for a wire, the wire security device being configured to be secured about the conduit body such that access is prevented to the wire; and providing a locking mechanism on the wire security device such that authorized personnel can access the conduit body. 
         [0005]    In connection with embodiments, disclosed is a wire security device comprising an enclosure configured to enclose a conduit body of a conduit for a wire; a locking mechanism; and at least one door or cover for access to the conduit body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding things. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative embodiment of a wiring system  10 . 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A-2E  show an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3A-3C  show an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4A-4C  show an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5A-5C  show an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A-6B  show an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8A-8B  shows an exemplary illustration of a wire security device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative embodiment of a wiring system  10 , shown as a ring ground. A ring ground protects buildings and equipment electrical surges, for example as can be caused by lightning strikes. Ring grounds are very commonly used around communications equipment such as cell phone towers, police radio towers, and other types of radio towers and equipment buildings. They are also often used to protect computer data centers. The ring ground will usually encircle a building that it is trying to protect, as for example a cell tower. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a conduit  103  which includes grounding wire (not shown), such as copper wire, encircles the building  20 . Positioned at points along the conduit are access points including at least one conduit body  101   a,    101   b,    101   c,    101   d  for gaining access to the grounding wire (e.g. for service or status checks on the wire). The conduit and wire runs from the roof of the building  20  down the side of the building, and then runs parallel along the building and enters the inside at the location conduit body  101   a,  where it runs to ground inside. Access to the wire can be gained at conduit bodies  101   a ,  101   b,  and  101   c  on the side of the building and a conduit body  101   d  on the roof. As shown in  FIG. 1 , each conduit body is protected with a wire security device  100   a ,  100   b,    100   c,    100   d.    
         [0017]      FIGS. 2A-2E  show views of an illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100 . The device  100  is configured to allow an authorized individual to readily access and service the wiring system while protecting and deterring unauthorized access. As shown therein, three conduits  103   a,    103   b,    103   c  containing wire (not shown) are shown running at an oblique angle into three pull-boxes  101   x,    101   y,    101   z , as shown in  FIG. 2B . In  FIG. 2A  the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z  are protected by the wire security device. The device comprises an encasement made of a substantially impregnable material, such as ⅛″ steel. As used herein, substantially impregnable means that the material comprises security grade materials that cannot broken or compromised except by the use of powerful tools or means or require a substantial amount of time to compromise, as it will be understood that no material is indestructible. It will also be understood that less impregnable materials may be used, as for example in highly trafficked areas where a sufficient deterrent is provided by the mere presence of the encasement, or where much less time is needed for the encasement to have a deterrent effect (e.g. in highly trafficked areas or in conjunction with other security devices), and thus less durable materials can be used. 
         [0018]    The encasement is operatively attached to the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y ,  101   z  such that the wire security device  100  protect the covers of the conduit bodies and hence protects the access point to the wire. The wire security device comprises a locking mechanism  105  to secure the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z.  As shown, the lock is a hockey puck type lock  102  and lock hasp  104 . As shown, an exemplary hasp is a Master™ lock hasp  104  comprising two hasp components  104   a,    104   b  forming an upper hasp component  104   a  and lower hasp component  104   b  for the lock  102 , however as will be understood, any locking mechanisms known in the art can be employed for each of the embodiments as described herein. 
         [0019]    The encasement of the wiring security device comprises an access door or cover  106   a,    106   b  which can be opened to access the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z . As shown in the illustrative embodiment, the access door or cover comprises two doors  106   a,    106   b  with the locking mechanism  105  securely connected in the center. The doors  106   a,    106   b  are made of ⅛″ steel strips. The upper and lower hasp components  104   a,    104   b  are each welded to a door  106   a,    106   b.  As shown, the upper hasp component  104   a  is welded to the left-facing door component  106   a  and the lower hasp component is welded to the right-facing door component  106   b.  As such, when a bolt or lock  107  of the locking mechanism is disengaged, the doors  106   a,    106   b  can be opened. 
         [0020]    At the outside edges of each door  106 ,  106   b  are a plurality of hinges  108   a ,  108   b,    108   c,    108   d,  shown as four hinges  108   a,    108   b,    108   c,    108   d,  two hinges  108   a ,  108   c  for the left side door  106   a,  and two hinges  108   b,    108   d  for the right side door  106   b.  As will be appreciated, the number and configuration of the hinges can change depending on the configuration of the encasement. 
         [0021]    The wire security device  100  configured and positioned to prevent access to a conduit body  101  to anyone who cannot disengage the lock. In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E , the wire security device  100  is not fastened directly to the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z,  but instead is bolted into the face of the building  20  such that the encasement and doors block access. Accordingly, an upper connector  112   a  and base connector  112   b  are positioned above and below the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z,  here shown as a pair of ¾″ kindorfs. As shown in the  FIGS. 2A-2F , the connectors are connected to the building  20  such that they allow the conduits  103   x,    103   y,    103   z  access to the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z  but otherwise restrict access to the conduit bodies. 
         [0022]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the upper connector  112   a  is positioned to lay on the top surface of conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z  and against the conduits  103   x,    103   y,    103   z.  The doors  106   a,    106   b  are connected side plates  109   a,    109   b , connected at each side of the connectors  112   a,    112   b,  so as to form the left and right sides of the wire security device and thereby encase and block lateral access to the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z.  The left side door  106   a  is connected to the side plate  109   a  by left side hinges  108   a  and  108   c,  and the right side door  106   b  is connected to the right side plate  109   b  by right side hinges  108   b,    108   d.  As shown in the  FIGS. 2A-2E , the connections are made by welding, however other secure forms of connection or fabrication as known in the art can be employed. The enclosure of the wire security device  100  is such that when the doors  106   a,    106   b  are closed, the inside panels of the doors  106   a , 106   b  touch or nearly touch the surface covers of the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y,    101   z.  As such, when locked the conduit bodies  101   x ,  101   y,    101   z  cannot be accessed except by unlocking the doors. 
         [0023]    In the illustrative embodiment, a mounting device  110  is provided to securely mount the wire security device  100  to the face of the building  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2C-2E , the mounting device includes a left side L shaped bracket  110   a  and right side L shaped bracket  110   b.  The right and left side plates  109   a,    109   b  are each welded along longitudinal surfaces of the respective right and left side brackets  110   a ,  110   b.  The 90 degree bases of the brackets  110   a,    110   b  are then bolted to the building  20 , and the bolts welded thereafter for added security. Internal brackets  111  can also be provided, which are welded to either the interior face of the side plates  109 , the connectors  112  or both. As shown in  FIG. 2C , a left internal bracket  111   a  is be welded to the interior face of the left side plate  109   a,  and inside of the upper connector  112   a.  The internal bracket is bolted to the face of the building  20 , thereby adding a more secure mounting as well as further preventing access to the mounting to the face of the building when the doors  106   a,    106   b  are locked. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3A-3C  show views of another illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100 . As shown therein, two conduits  103   a,    103   b  containing wire  116  are shown running laterally along the face of a building. Two conduit bodies  101   x ,  101   y  are shown in  FIG. 3B . In  FIG. 3A  the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  are protected by the wire security device  100 . The device  100  comprises an encasement made of a substantially impregnable material, such as ⅛″ steel. 
         [0025]    The encasement is operatively attached to the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  such that the wire security device  100  protects the conduit bodies&#39;  101   x,    101   y  covers and hence covers the access point to the wire. The wire security device  100  comprises a locking mechanism  105  to secure the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y.  As shown, the lock is a hockey puck type lock  102  and lock hasp  104 . As shown, an exemplary hasp is a Master™ lock hasp  104  comprising two hasp components  104   a ,  104   b  positioned laterally in the direction of the conduits  103   a,    103   b,  shown as a left side hasp component  104   a  and a right side hasp component  104   b  for the lock  102 , however as will be understood other such hasps and/or locking configurations can be employed. 
         [0026]    The encasement of the wiring security device comprises an access door or cover  106   a,    106   b  which can be opened to access the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y.  As shown in the illustrative embodiment, the access door or cover comprises two doors  106   a,    106   b  with the locking mechanism  105  securely connected in the center. The doors  106   a,    106   b  are made of ⅛″ steel strips. The upper and lower hasp components  104   a,    104   b  are each welded to a door  106   a,    106   b.  As shown, the left-side hasp component  104   a  is welded to a bottom door component  106   a  and the lower hasp component is welded to an upper door component. As such, when a bolt (not shown) of the locking mechanism disengaged, the doors  106   a,    106   b  can be opened. 
         [0027]    At the outside edges of each door  106   a,    106   b  are a plurality of hinges  108   a ,  108   b  shown as two hinges  108   a,    108   b  one hinge  108   a  for the upper door  106   a,  and one hinge  108   b  for the bottom door  106   b.  As will be appreciated, the number and configuration of the hinges can change depending on the configuration of the encasement. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the doors  106   a,    106   b  are connected upper and lower plates  109   a,    109   b,  so as to form the bottom and top sides of the wire security device  100  and thereby encase and block vertical access to the conduit bodies  101   x ,  101   y.  The upper side door  106   a  is connected to the upper plate  109   a  by upper hinges  108   a,  and the lower door  106   b  is connected to the bottom side plate  109   b  by the lower hinge  108   b.  The upper and lower plates  109   a,    109   b  are respectively welded to the top and bottom of the back side plate  114 , which in turn is fastened to one or more conduit bodies  101   a,    101   b  as described below, thereby completing the enclosure around the conduits  103   a,    103   b.  As shown in the  FIGS. 3A-3C , the connections are made by welding, however other secure forms of connection or fabrication as known in the art can be employed. The enclosure of the wire security device  100  is such that when the doors  106   a , 106   b  are closed, the inside panels of the doors  106   a , 106   b  touch or nearly touch the surface covers of the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y.  As such, when locked the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  cannot be accessed except by unlocking the doors. 
         [0029]    The wire security device  100  is connected to the conduit body  101 . For example, in an illustrative embodiment, the wire security device  100  is connected directly to at least one of the conduit bodies  101   a,    101   b  by drilling a hole in the interior back-side of the conduit body  101   x  and a back plate  114  of wire security device  100 . The holes through each are then threaded and attached with fasteners  113   a,    113   c,  such as for example 5/16″ to 24×½″ button heads screw holo-krome. As shown in  FIG. 3B , four holes are drilled through the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  and the back plate  114 , two for the upper conduit body  101   a  and two for the lower conduit body  101   b,  allowing for 4 fasteners  113   a,    113   b,    113   c,    113   d.  The conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  positioned along a perpendicular axis at an access point for the two conduits  103   a,    103   b  running in parallel. As will be appreciated the wire security device  100  could be connected to one of two conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  as the encasement provided by the wire security device  100  would still prevent access to both conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  as the wire security device still encloses both conduit bodies and  101   x,    101   y  would be securely fastened about them and the conduits  103   a , 103   b.    
         [0030]    The wire security device can also comprise wire holders  115   a,    115   b,    115   c ,  115   d  configured to hold and secure the wire inside the conduit body  101 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , each conduit body  101   x , 101   y  is provided with two of the internal wire holders  115   a,    115   b,    115   c,    115   d  which are bolted to the conduit body  101   x,    101   y  where the bolts secure the conduit body to the back plate  114 . The wire  116  can be fastened to the wire holder, for example by using a plastic zip tie. This prevents theft of the wire by someone attempting to circumvent the wire security device  100  by attempting to gain access by through the conduit (e.g. cutting open the conduit) as opposed to via the protected conduit body  101 . If the conduit  103  is compromised, the wire  116  would still be secured in place inside the conduit body, and thus it could not be pulled free from the conduit  103 . As will be appreciated, this provides even greater security if done at every conduit body along the conduit. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A-4C  show views of another illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3C , two conduits  103  containing wire (not shown) are shown running laterally along the face of a building. However, only one conduit body  101  is shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . The conduit body  101  is protected by the wire security device  100 , which is configured similarly to that of  FIGS. 3A-3F , except that the wire security device only encloses and is secured to one conduit body  101  and conduit  103   a  and the dimensions of the doors  106   a,    106   b  and back plate  114  shortened along the direction perpendicular to the conduit  103   a  accordingly. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 5A-5C  show views of another illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  a single conduit body  101  is protected by the wire security device  100 , and the wire security device only encloses and is secured to one conduit body  101  and conduit  103  and the dimensions of the doors  106   a,    106   b  and back plate  114  are configured accordingly. The wire security device  100  is further configured as an “angle-box,” and is configured to protect a conduit body  101  that provides and access point located at an elbow joint configuration for the conduit  103 . Such conduit configurations can be found, for example, on the roofs of buildings having a ring ground. As such, the back plate  114  is formed such that there is an opening  117  for a conduit  103   x  to enter the back side of the wire security device  100  at an orientation substantially perpendicular to the wire security device  100 , and a conduit  103   y  to laterally enter the wire security device at an opposite end, shown as a vertical entry  118  as shown in the  FIGS. 5A-5C . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 6A-6B  show views of another illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100 . Similar to the  FIGS. 5A-5C  a single conduit body  101  is protected by the wire security device  100 , and the wire security device only encloses and is secured to one conduit body  101  and conduit  103  and the dimensions of the doors  106   a,    106   b  and back plate  114  are configured accordingly. The wire security device  100  is again further configured as an “angle-box,” and is configured to protect a conduit body  101  that provides and access point located at an elbow joint configuration for the conduit  103 . However illustrative embodiment the hinges are connected at the back of the wire security device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , at each side of the back plate  114 , are two hinges  108   x,    108   y  one hinge at each side of the back plate  114 . The side plates  109   a,    109   b  are connected to the hinges  108   x ,  108   y  of the wire security device  100  and thereby encase and access to a conduit body  101 . The side plates  109   a,    109   b  respectively welded to doors  106   a , 106   b,  which are provided with a locking mechanism  105  comprising a lock  102  and hasp as described herein. As such, the enclosure forms a sleeve about the elbow which opens and closes from the hinges  108   x,    108   y  at the back of the wire security device such that the sides  109   a,    109   b  and front doors  106   a , 106   b  rotate outward when opening. As will be noted, the conduit body  101  can be fastened to the back plate  114  and plate of the hinges  108   x,    108   y  welded thereto by drilling a hole through the conduit body, back plate  114  and hinge  108   x,    108   y  plates. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows views of another illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100  similar to that of  FIGS. 3A-3C . As shown therein, two conduits  103  containing wire  116  are shown running laterally along the face of a building. The encasement is operatively attached to the conduit bodies  101   x,    101   y  such that the wire security device  100  protects the conduit bodies&#39;  101   x,    101   y  covers and hence covers the access point to the wire. However the hinges  108   a  (not shown),  108   b  rather than being connected to the door or covers  106   a,    106   b,  are connected to a back plate  114  of the wire security device  100 . Also, as will be noted, the doors  106   a,    106   b  do not entirely cover the conduit bodies  101   x , 101   y,  as a portion of the conduit bodies  101   x , 101   y  protrude from each side of the encasement of the wire security device  100 . However the doors  106   a,    106   b  provide sufficient coverage such that when locked, they will prevent access to the wire (not shown). 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows a view of another illustrative embodiment of a wire security device  100  similar to the configuration of  FIGS. 3A to 3C . As shown therein, three conduits  103  containing wire are shown running laterally along an irregular portion of a building  20 . Three pull-boxes (not shown) are protected by the wire security device  100 , similar to the manner in which two conduit bodies are protected in  FIGS. 3A-3C , shown in  FIG. 8  at a vertical orientation. 
         [0036]    The illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 8A-8B  also differs from the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3C  in that four hinges  108   a,    108   b,    108   x,    108   y  are provided on both doors  106   a,    106   b  and the back plate  114 . At the outside edges of each door  106   a,    106   b  are a plurality of hinges  108   a,    108   b;  one hinge  108   a  for the left-side door  106   a,  and one hinge  108   b  for the opposite door  106   b.  At each side of the back plate  114 , are another two hinges  108   x,    108   y  one hinge connected at each side of the back plate  114 . The door hinge  108   b  is connected to a the proximate (right) side plate  109   b  at the front and the back plate  114  is connected to the proximate (right) side of the plate  114  by the back side hinge  108   y;  the same configuration is provided on the distal (left) side of the wire security device. The doors  106   a,    106   b  are provided with a locking mechanism  105  comprising a lock  102  and hasp  104  as described herein, although as described above, any locking mechanism as know in the art can be used. As shown in  FIG. 8B , this configuration allows the wire security device  100  to be unfolded into a substantially flat configuration as there are hinges  108  for each of the plates  106   a,    106   b,    109   a,    109   b ,  114  forming the encasement. Such a configuration can be used when, for example, to aid an installation of the wire security device in a location where an obstruction requires flattening of the encasement to install the wire security device around one or more conduits.