Stabilization bracket device

A stabilization bracket device for facilitating servicing of in-line piping regulators includes a bracket, which is removably positionable around a regulator, such as a valve, a pump, a sensor, and the like, which is positioned in-line with a pipe, so that a lower end of the bracket abuts a bottom of the regulator. A support element is engaged to and extends bidirectionally from an upper face of the bracket. Each opposing end of the support element abuts an upper surface of the pipe proximate to a respective opposed end of the bracket. A load imparted by the regulator to the bracket is transferred by the support element onto the pipe, positioning a user to service the regulator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to bracket devices and more particularly pertains to a new bracket device for facilitating servicing of in-line piping regulators. The present invention discloses a bracket device comprising a bracket to which a support element is attached. The bracket engages a regulator installed in a pipe and the support element maintains a load of the regulator on the pipe upon separation of the regulator from the pipe.

The prior art relates to bracket devices. Prior art bracket devices for pipes comprise a variety of brackets designed to engage a structural element, such as a wall or the ground, and a pipe, so that the pipe is supported. What is lacking in the prior art is a bracket device for stabilizing a regulator installed in a pipe by maintaining a load of the regulator on the pipe upon separation of the regulator from the pipe.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bracket, which is configured to be removably positionable around a regulator, such as a valve, a pump, a sensor, and the like, which is positioned in-line with a pipe so that a lower end of the bracket abuts a bottom of the regulator. A support element is engaged to and extends bidirectionally from an upper face of the bracket. Each opposing end of the support element abuts an upper surface of the pipe proximate to a respective opposed end of the bracket. The support element is configured to transfer a load imparted by the regulator to the bracket onto the pipe, positioning a user to service the regulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through7, the stabilization bracket device10generally comprises a bracket12, which is configured to be removably positionable around a regulator14that is positioned in-line with a pipe16so that a lower end18of the bracket12abuts a bottom20of the regulator14. Regulator14in the context of the present invention should be broadly interpreted broadly to include valves, pumps, sensors, joints in the pipe16, sections of the pipe16requiring repair or replacement, and the like.

The bracket12comprises an upper section22and a lower section24. The upper section22is configured to be removably positionable around an upper portion of the regulator14. The lower section24is selectively engageable to the upper section22so that the lower section24is removably engaged to the upper section22and so that the lower section24is positioned around and abuts a lower portion of the regulator14.

The upper section22may comprise a pair of L-shaped plates26. The lower section24may comprise a pair of upper segments28and a lower segment30. The upper segments28are substantially parallel so that each upper segment28is selectively alignable with a respective L-shaped plate26. The lower segment30is engaged to and extends between the upper segments28. The lower segment30may be substantially V-shaped when viewed from a respective opposed end32of the bracket12.

Each of a plurality of hinge knuckles34is engaged to a respective one of a lower endpoint36of the upper section22and an upper endpoint38of the lower section24. The hinge knuckles34are substantially evenly distributed on opposed sides68of the bracket12. Respective hinge knuckles34positioned on the upper section22are selectively alignable with respective hinge knuckles34positioned on the lower section24so that a respective hinge pin40of a pair of hinge pins40is insertable through the respective hinge knuckles34to removably engage the lower section24to the upper section22. As shown inFIG.6, each upper segment28of the lower section24is hingedly engaged to a respective L-plate. The present invention anticipates the lower section24being selectively engageable to the upper section22by other engagement means, such as, but not limited to, latches, threaded fasteners, and the like.

Each of a pair of rings42is engaged to a terminus44of a respective hinge pin40. The ring42is configured to engage a hooking tool (not shown), positioning the user to selectively extract the respective hinge pin40to disengage the lower section24from the upper section22. With only one of the hinge pins40removed, the lower section24will hinge relative to the upper section22. This allows the bracket12to be initially positioned around the regulator14, and, if the regulator14is to be replaced, subsequent removal of the regulator14from the bracket12and insertion of a replacement into the bracket12. In some situations, removal of both hinge pins40may be required to position the bracket12on the regulator14and to remove the regulator14from the bracket12.

A support element46is engaged to and extends bidirectionally from an upper face48of the bracket12. Each opposing end50of the support element46abuts an upper surface52of the pipe16proximate to a respective opposed end32of the bracket12. The support element46is configured to transfer a load imparted by the regulator14to the bracket12onto the pipe16, positioning a user to service the regulator14.

The support element46may comprise a pair of arms54and a pair of arcuate plates56. Each arm54is engaged to and extends from the upper face48of the bracket12past a respective opposed end32of the bracket12. Each arcuate plate56has convex face58, which is engaged to a respective arm54distal from the bracket12. A concave face60of the arcuate plate56is configured for insertion of the pipe16so that the arcuate plate56abuts the upper surface52of the pipe16.

Each arm54may comprise a first section62and a second section64. The first section62extends in parallel with the upper face48of the bracket12. The second section64is engaged to and extends transversely from the first section62distal from the bracket12so that the second section64extends toward the lower end18of the bracket12. The arms54may be alternatively shaped, so long as the shape allows positioning of the arcuate plate56on the pipe16.

An extender66is engaged to the support element46and is operationally engaged to the bracket12. The extender66is positioned to adjust a position of the opposing ends50of the support element46relative to the upper surface52of the pipe16. The extender66may comprise a bolt70, a threaded tube72and a nut74. The bolt70is positioned through a hole76centered in the upper face48of the bracket12. The threaded tube72is positioned around and is threadedly engaged to the bolt70. The threaded tube72is positioned between a head78of the bolt70and the upper face48of the bracket12. The support element46is engaged to and extends bidirectionally from the threaded tube72. A washer80may be positioned on the bolt70between the threaded tube72and the bracket12. The nut74is threadedly engaged to the bolt70so that rotation of the nut74relative to the bolt70selectively raises and lowers the support element46.

In use, the upper section22of the bracket12is positioned over the upper portion of the regulator14. The lower section24of the bracket12then is attached to the upper section22using the hinge pins40. The nut74and bolt70are used to adjust the arms54relative to the bracket12to bring the arcuate plates56into contact with the upper surface52of the pipe16and the lower section24into abutment with the lower portion of the regulator14. The load imparted by the regulator14to the bracket12is transferred by the arms54onto the pipe16, positioning the user to service the regulator14.