Abstract:
A pipe shield for providing a portable onsite protection system for weld coating material applied over and extending from a pipe joint weld line on a pipe. The pipe shield is a split sleeve that is positioned and held in annular spaced relation on the pipe protecting the weld coating from extraneous debris and contact during the required cure time.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/804,798, filed Mar. 25, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to pipe covering devices that are applied to pipe for a variety of applications including pipe insulation, joint connections and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a number of different pipe application requirements; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,818,949, 7,716,967, 7,131,671 and U.S. Publications 2004/0237632 and 2007/0240861. 
         [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,949 a removable insulation pipe jacket can be seen having two interlocking semi-circular sections, each having a rigid exterior and an inner layer of insulation. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,716,967 discloses a leak protector sleeve that is made of elastomeric material that allows achieving a gas tight seal when a leak detector sleeve encircles a flange joint. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,671 is directed towards a transparent coupling in which a transparent coupling for joining ends soft plastic conduit is disclosed. Visual inspection is possible through the coupling to confirm the conduits have been installed in the proper position within the coupling. 
         [0009]    U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0237632 discloses a pipe joint safety inspection device having two joint interface elements hinged together adapted to fit over a joint interface so as to form a seal bridging the joint interface therewithin. 
         [0010]    U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0240816 claims a protective girth weld cover with air release that shows a heat recoverable polymer material having adhesive coating is positioned over the girth weld wherein air trapped underneath can be released through a plurality of apertures within during the shrinking of the heat recovery polymer material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A portable weld coating protection cover that can be secured on a pipe allowing the applied weld coating to properly cure undisturbed in compliance with safety inspection standards. The pipe cover comprises a hinged split sleeve configuration with resilient end pipe engagement seals to space the pipe cover in relation around the pipe as applied. The pipe cover split sleeve overlaps and is held together by flexible attachment straps. Air circulation within the area defined by the pipe cover via vent opening along the hinged sleeve halves assuring proper curing of the weld coating material. Once the weld coating cure time has been reached, the pipe cover can be easily removed and reused at another location. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pipe shield of the invention fitted over a welded pipe joint. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged end elevational view of the pipe shield in closed non-applied orientation. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the pipe shield. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a welded pipe joint with the pipe shield shown in broken lines positioned thereon. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a partial top plan view of the pipe shield closed with restraint strap engaged. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a partial top plan view of the pipe shield in open position illustrating vent between hinges. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a pipe shield  10  of the invention can be seen having a pair of semi-circular elongated split sleeve portions  11  and  12  hinged together along their respective adjacent adjoining longitudinal edges  11 A′ and  12 A′. Multiple hinge assemblies  13  spaced therealong assure proper engagement and alignment to allow the respective sleeve portions  11  and  12  to be hinged together and joined along the corresponding respective overlapping longitudinal edges  11 A,  11 B,  12 A and  12 B as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3  of the drawings. 
         [0019]    Each of the respective elongated sleeve portions  11  and  12  have a resilient foam gasket insert  14  extending inwardly from the respective free ends  15 A,  15 B,  16 A and  16 B. The respective foam gasket inserts  14  will be engaged on the exterior surface S of a pipe  17  onto which the pipe shield  10  is deployed as seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings and in broken lines in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The so engaged foam gasket inserts  14  effectively seal and space the sleeve portions  11  and  12  in spaced relation to the surface S of the pipe  17  therebetween providing a safe undisturbed area  18  about the pipe  17  which includes a weld line  19  and the applied weld coating material  20  thereover as best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. 
         [0020]    The sleeve portions  11  and  12  are secured in overlapping relation by an extending sleeve portion  11 C along its corresponding respective longitudinal edge. 
         [0021]    A pair of interlocking strap fittings  21  and  22  are secured to and extend between the outer surfaces of the sleeve portions. Each of the strap fittings  21  and  22  have fixed end  23  pivotally engaged into respective upstanding aperture brackets  24  and  25  respectively on the sleeve surfaces as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  of the drawings. Each of the strap fittings has an end engagement pin  26  for selective registration within an upstanding catch latch  27  on the adjacent sleeve surface in aligned orientation, best seen in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. The primary requirement of the pipe shield  10  is to an effective continuous seal to maintain a form fitting relationship of the foam gaskets  14  on the surface of the pipe  17  and to prevent extraneous debris from coming in contact with and disrupting the field of the weld coating  20  applied over the weld line as hereinbefore described. 
         [0022]    The sleeve portions  11  and  12  are preferably made of metal, but may be of any suitable material capable of maintaining the pipe cover  10  applied engagement shaped about the pipe  17  such as synthetic resin molded sheet or so formed material. 
         [0023]    In the preferred embodiment a ventilation strip opening  28  is provided between the sleeve portions  11  and  12  along the adjoining hinge line H thereof. The opening  28  between the respecting hinges for ventilation and has a mesh cover M to assure the undisturbed integrity of the weld coating  20  while it cures within the protection of the pipe shield  10 . 
         [0024]    In use, the pipe shield  10  of the invention is selectively attached to the pipe  17  over the pre-applied weld coating material  20  on a weld joint  19  of the pipe and secured in place by the respective resilient strap fittings  21  and  22  as hereinbefore described. 
         [0025]    Once the effective cure time for the weld coating  20  has been reached, the overlapping adaptive edge fitting configuration  11 C can be released by releasing the strap fittings and the pipe cover then hinged open and removed for reuse. 
         [0026]    It will be evident that by providing different size pipe engagement sealing gaskets  14 , a variety of pipe dimensions can be accommodated within a single pipe shield in a given range. It will thus be seen that a new and novel pipe shield  10  has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.