Abstract:
An enclosure for protecting and concealing a hydrant is provided. More specifically, the enclosure includes a box for integration into the wall and a replaceable fascia interconnected thereto. The fascia receives a door that is selectively opened and closed to expose the hydrant stored therein. In operation, the fascia and associated door may be removed and/or replaced without having to remove the entire box and hydrant.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to an enclosure for concealing and protecting a hydrant. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Protective enclosures that conceal and protect hydrants are common and are usually incorporated into interior and exterior walls of a building. To provide access to an enclosed hydrant, a hingedly interconnected door, which may be selectively locked, is usually included. Enclosures are made in various sizes and shapes and are adapted to accommodate single or dual handled hydrants. Enclosures conceal hydrants that are often located in rooms that require continuous maintenance, such as a public bathroom. One drawback of prior art enclosures is that they must usually be replaced after painting operations. Enclosures of the prior art are very difficult to replace since the enclosures are often rigidly mounted to the wall and the hydrants requiring removal and reconnection. Further, keys that are used to open locks associated with the doors are often lost. Thus, maintenance individuals often pry and damage the door to gain access to the hydrant, thereby requiring replacement of the door and/or lock to ensure that the door can be later locked and/or closed properly. Unfortunately, replacement of the door entails removal of the entire enclosure and often the hydrant, which increases labor and costs. 
         [0003]    Thus it is a long felt need to provide an enclosure for concealing and protecting a hydrant that includes a door that is easily replaced if it is to become covered with paint, damaged, or otherwise unusable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a protective enclosure for concealing and protecting a hydrant. The enclosure of one embodiment of the present invention includes a box having a top panel, bottom panel, side panels and a rear panel. The box (or “enclosure” or “receptacle”), and associated closure member, i.e., “door”, may be any shape, i.e., circular, square, rectangular, etc. The top panel, bottom panel, and side panels, define an edge with a lip extending therefrom that is adapted to receive a removable fascia. The facia may be repeatably removed and replaced easily at will. The box may include at least one drain hole that allows fluid to drain therefrom. In addition, a door is hingedly, or otherwise, associated with the fascia. For example, the door may be associated to the facia by way of sliding engagement, hook/loop connective structures, threaded engagements, snapping members, etc. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an improved enclosure that includes a removable fascia that provides a location for interconnection of a hinged door, wherein the fascia and associated door may be easily removed as opposed to requiring the removal of the entire enclosure structure. One of skill in the art will appreciate that more than one door may be employed. 
         [0005]    In operation, to replace a door, the fascia is removed and replaced. Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage of not requiring the removal of the entire enclosure from the wall to which it is interconnected. Although a box having an extending lip is provided, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other ways of replaceably interconnecting the fascia to the box are also contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the fascia can be interconnected to the top panel, bottom panel and side panels via screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets, chips, latches, tongue and groove interconnections, or other similar interconnection mechanisms. 
         [0006]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to facilitate replacement of the enclosure wherein maintenance personnel are only required to replace the fascia, not the entire enclosure. The fascia as contemplated may be made of any material commonly used in constructing enclosures and may receive any appearance with respect to color, for example, to sufficiently blend in with paint or other surface texture of the surrounding walls. Further, the fascia may possess its own individual color and/or surface texture to more succinctly blend in to surfaces to which the enclosure is associated, such as an outdoor building surface, i.e., brick. By providing a system having a replaceable fascia, sufficient cost savings are appreciated. Further, embodiments of the present invention are less wasteful since the existing box that is positioned in the wall can be reused. 
         [0007]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an enclosure that can be scaled in size. More specifically, it is contemplated that embodiments of the present invention be scalable to receive hydrants of many shapes, sizes, shut offs, and styles, such as those with a plurality of knobs for selective delivery of hot and cold water. 
         [0008]    It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a door that is adapted to receive lettering and or symbols. More specifically, often the nature of the item stored within the enclosure is written on the door, often for safety reasons. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the door be able to receive embossed, painted, or otherwise associated letters and/or symbols. The door of some embodiments of the present invention includes features that maintain the door in an open position. The door of some embodiments of the present invention are spring loaded that helps maintain the door in a closed position. 
         [0009]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a fascia and door that are made of any common rigid material, such as metal, plastic or any similar type of material. Further, the box may be designed to be modifiable to accommodate penetrations related to the concealed hydrant. For example, the rear panel may include portions that may be punched out, cut or drilled through to accommodate another hydrant. It is envisioned that the fascia and door may be painted or made in any color that is suitable to match the surrounding wall or other building surface to which the enclosure is associated. 
         [0010]    It is another aspect of some embodiments of the present invention to provide an enclosure having a door that is hingedly interconnected to the fascia. The doors contemplated are adapted to remain open if required and/or be easily removable for replacement or for access to the hydrant stored therein within the enclosure. Further, the door may be employed that is completely removable from the fascia. The door may be slidingly interconnected to the frame, e.g., similar to a garage door. 
         [0011]    The top panel, the bottom panel and/or the at least one of the side panels may include a depth indicator. More specifically, when associating an enclosure with a building surface having a non-continuous surface, i.e., stone, it is desirable to offset the enclosure to accommodate the exterior building surface. The depth indicator will help locate the enclosure during construction by identifying the offset required. 
         [0012]    Thus it is one aspect of the invention to provide a substantially rectangular housing for protecting a hydrant or other fluid delivery device that has four sides and a rearward portion that has an aperture sized to accept a pipe adapted for connection with the hydrant. The four sides each have a length and width and an exterior surface and an interior surface and at least one supporting structure associated on each of the four sides, wherein the supporting structures extends from the rearward portion along the width of each side. This embodiment also includes a substantially rectangular faceplate adapted to reversibly connect to the housing and includes a central aperture sized to permit an adult human hand to pass therethrough. Further, a movable cover is associated with the faceplate and is movable from a first closed position to a second open position, whereby when in the second open position, a human hand can access the hydrant. Depth indicia may also be provided on the exterior of the four sides that is spaced from the exterior surface of at least one of the four sides. 
         [0013]    The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fascia of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a left elevation view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a door of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an unexploded perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a left elevation view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 6  shown with the door in an open position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 11 , wherein the door is shown in an open position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a left elevation view of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a top elevation view of  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a fascia of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a left elevation view of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a door of another embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  is an unexploded perspective view of  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 23  is a left elevation view of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 24  is a top plan view of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of  FIG. 21  shown with the door in an open position; 
           [0041]      FIG. 27  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 26 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 28  is a left elevation view of  FIG. 26 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 29  is a top plan view of  FIG. 26 ; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 27 . 
       
    
    
       [0045]    To assist in the understanding of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 Component 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 2 
                 Enclosure 
               
               
                 6 
                 Hydrant 
               
               
                 10 
                 Box 
               
               
                 14 
                 Fascia 
               
               
                 18 
                 Door 
               
               
                 22 
                 Top panel 
               
               
                 26 
                 Bottom panel 
               
               
                 30 
                 Side panel 
               
               
                 34 
                 Rear panel 
               
               
                 38 
                 Lip 
               
               
                 40 
                 Ribs 
               
               
                 42 
                 Boss 
               
               
                 46 
                 Plate 
               
               
                 50 
                 Screw 
               
               
                 54 
                 Pin 
               
               
                 58 
                 Lock 
               
               
                 62 
                 Valve 
               
               
                 66 
                 Hole 
               
               
                 70 
                 Hinge plate 
               
               
                 74 
                 Aperture 
               
               
                 78 
                 Tab 
               
               
                 84 
                 Slot 
               
               
                 88 
                 Depth gauge 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0046]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-30 , an enclosure  2  for the receipt of a hydrant  6  is shown. The enclosure  2  of embodiments of the present invention generally includes a box  10  that is adapted to recess into a wall or other building surface. The box  10  receives a fascia  14  and associated door  18 . In operation, the fascia  14  can be removed from the box  10  to be replaced, thereby maintaining the box  10  within the wall or other building surface which saves costs, time and reduces waste. Embodiments of the present invention include no gaps as commonly found on prior art stainless steel boxes. 
         [0048]    Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 1-15 , a vertically oriented enclosure  2  is shown wherein the door  18  opens in the horizontal plane. The enclosure  2  is comprised of a box  10  having a top panel  22 , bottom panel  26 , and side panel  30  and rear panel  34 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that other shapes may be employed without departing from the present invention. The top panel  22 , bottom panel  26 , and side panels  30  define an edge with an outwardly extending lip  38  interconnected thereto. The lip  38  may include a series of ribs  40  that facilitate the drainage of fluid from within the box  10  if the hydrant  6  leaks. The box  10  also includes a plurality of bosses  42  integrated into at least one of the top panel  22  and bottom panel  26 . The fascia  14  includes plates  46  extending therefrom that engage the bosses  42  of the box  10 . Preferably, a plurality of screws  50  is used to interconnect the fascia  14  to the box  10 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other ways of interconnecting the fascia  14  to the box  10  are contemplated, such as snap fit, an adhesive, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention. The door  18  is rotatably interconnected to the fascia  14  via a pin  54  that engages the top panel  22  and the bottom panel  26 . The door  18  may also possess a lock  58  that cooperates with the fascia  14  to maintain the door  18  in a closed position. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11-15 , the enclosure  2  is shown in an open position wherein the door  18  is located away from the box  10 . Here, the box is of a depth of sufficiently accommodate a hydrant  6  with an interconnected valve  62 . The fascia  14 , as described above, is interconnected to the box  10  via a screw  50  that sandwiches a plate  46  between its head and the boss  42 . The box  10  is interconnected to a building structure via a plurality of fasteners that are received in holes associated with the rear panel of the box  10 . Further, the door  18  is hingedly interconnected by way of the pin  54 , screw, bolt, rivet, or other mechanism, wherein a hinge plate  70  of the door  18  cooperates with the pin  54  to allow rotation of the door  18  relative to the box  10 . The door  18  also includes a lock  58  that is associated with the fascia  14 . 
         [0050]    In operation, in order to replace the fascia  14 , one would simply actuate the lock  58  (if applicable) and open the door  18  or otherwise pry the door  18  from the fascia  14  (if it is damaged, for example), remove the screws  50  and remove the fascia  14  from the box  10 . Next, a new fascia may be interconnected to the box  10  via the screws  50 . The box  10  remains in place and does not need to be replaced, thereby saving time, cost and reducing waste. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIGS. 16-30 , yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown that includes a door  18  that opens in the vertical plane. The hydrant  6  shown herein is situated such that the handle thereof is positioned to the side of the valve, for example. The construction of this embodiment of the present invention is very similar to that described above in  FIGS. 1-15 , with the exception that the door  18  may include a mechanism for keeping it in an open position. For example, the door may include a hinge plate  70  that receives a fastener or pin  54  that allows rotation of the door relative to the fascia. 
         [0052]    In one embodiment the hinge plate  70  includes a slot  84  that receives a pin  54 . In one position of use the pin  54  is positioned in the slot  84  such that the door  18  is capable of free rotation. In a second position of use the pin  54  is positioned in the slot  84  such that the door  18  is placed adjacent to the top panel  22  of the box  10  to prevent closure of the door  18 . Alternatively, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the door  18  may be interconnected to a bottom portion of a fascia  14  such that it opens downwardly. 
         [0053]    Referring now again to  FIGS. 1-30 , the box  10  of embodiments of the present invention is preferably made of steel, brass, aluminum, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or similar materials. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other rigid materials may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. The advantages of using these materials is that they are easily moldable to fit standard box cutouts used in construction. The fascia  14  and/or door  18  may also be made of the same or different materials that were described above, such as metal, plastic, etc. For example the fascia shown in  FIGS. 2-4  is made of metal and the fascia of  FIGS. 17 and 18  is made of molded plastic. The door may be made of a material that is adapted to receive indicia embossed or painted thereon. The top panel  22 , the bottom panel  26  and/or the side panels  30  may also include structures, i.e. protrusions, that help orient the box  10  flush to the building structure. The box  10  of one embodiment is molded wherein the structures are integrally molded into the panel or panels. The box  10  may be tapered to facilitate molding thereof. 
         [0054]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Furthermore, aspects of inventions disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D470,915 and D482,431 and Published Patent Application No. 20040194295 are incorporated by reference herein. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.