Hot-stick capable cutout cover

A cutout cover includes an arcuate top portion covering an insulator having a closed top and an open bottom with a slit extending therebetween. A midsection can connect the top portion to an open end adapted to access the cutout. The top portion is bell-shaped with an upper and lower dome, two opposing sides, and a slit between the sides. A fastener mechanism is attached to the two opposing sides with an aperture disposed on each of the sides for receiving a fastener.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cutout cover for polymer and porcelain cutouts covering an electrical utility mechanism to protect wildlife from execution. More particularly, the invention relates to a flexible, yet sturdy cover, preferably having multiple hot-stick grab points and an integrated fastener mechanism installable with a hot-stick tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When cutouts are installed in the field without a cover, they present a risk of electrical shock to wildlife and installers (linemen). Installations of most covers on the market require the removal of the stinger wire prior to installation. Some conventional covers can fit over a cutout without removing the stinger wire from the assembly, but those covers are multiple piece designs that must be installed while a lineman is wearing rubber gloves to protect against electrocution, thus requiring the lineman to be near the cutout via a ladder or bucket truck.

There are at least two examples of very rigid plastic covers (from Raychem and Eco Electric) that claim hot stick capabilities such that the stinger wire does not have to be removed and the device does not have to be rubber gloved.

Each of these designs has independent fasteners that the lineman must individually install by bringing the hot-stick to his level, capturing with the hot-stick, and then again reaching to the cutout to install. If multiple fasteners are needed, this process must occur more than one time. This presents two problems: (1) installation time is increased each time the installer must bring the end of the hot-stick back to his level, and (2) the level of difficulty of installing an independent (or loose) fastener with a hot-stick is much greater than installing an integral fastener.

Accordingly, a need exists for an improved cutout cover with minimal material that protects wildlife and guards against animal induced power outages. This improved cutout cover will have a simple, inexpensive yet elegant, design with a short installation time, and a low level of installation and manufacturing difficulty with preferably, hot-stick grab points that a lineman can control without risking physical damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a cutout cover having a living hinge for securing the sides of the cover together.

Another object is to provide a cutout cover having at least one grab point for connecting to a hot-stick tool so a lineman can remove the cover without risking electrical contact.

Still another object is to provide a flexible cutout cover that can withstand inclement weather without becoming dislodged atop the cutout.

Yet another object is to provide a cover having a fastener mechanism securing first and second sides of the cover that are separated by a slit adjacent a living hinge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener mechanism between the two sides of the cover where (1) one of the sides includes a keyhole shaped aperture with more than one radii for providing a secure locking relationship between the two sides of the cover and (2) the other includes a fastener receiving aperture with a radius larger than the smaller radius of the first side.

Still another object is to provide a fastener mechanism between the two sides of the cover where the fastener is a push pin inserted into one side of the cover.

Another object is to provide a cover of reduced size for covering mainly the upper section of the insulator without compromising the effectiveness of the insulator.

Yet another object is to provide a cover having an open end that is either curved or substantially square.

The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing a cutout cover comprising a hollow top portion covering an insulator having a closed top and an open bottom with a slit extending through the top portion. A midsection connects the top portion to an open end adapted to access the cutout. The top portion is bell-shaped with an upper and lower dome, two opposing sides, and a slit extending through the domes. In a preferred embodiment, a hot-stick capable fastener is attached to the two opposing sides with an aperture disposed on each of the sides for receiving a fastener with a cone-shaped head to secure the sides of the cover together. Hot-stick features are included on the cover for a lineman to grab and install onto the cutout with a hot-stick tool. In another preferred embodiment, a fastener is pre-installed on one side of the cover for inserting into the second side of the cover.

By forming the cutout cover in this manner, a user can install the cover with rubber gloves if the cover does not have a hot-stick capable fastener and secure the cover to the cutout with the fastener mechanism engaging both sides adjacent to the slit extending through the domes.

As used in this application, the terms “top”, “bottom”, and “side” are intended to facilitate the description of the invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to any particular orientation.

Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning toFIG. 1, a cutout cover10is disposed on a conventional cutout12to protect wildlife and linemen from electrical shock and can be applied with a hot-stick capable tool (including the grip-all or clamp style) or rubber gloves (when hot-stick features are featured) to polymer and porcelain cutouts, depending on the structural design of the cover. The cover10is made of a flexible and resilient material designed to fit snugly around the cutout12. The cover10includes a hollow top portion14with an upper dome16and a lower dome18for covering a cutout insulator20and a slit38extending through the domes16,18. The cover10also includes a substantially open end21adapted to receive a cutout top bracket and a middle section19connecting the lower dome18to the open end21.

The conventional cutout12includes an insulator20, a fuse link22, a spring-loaded mechanism24, a top bracket, a bottom bracket26, and a connection point on its top and bottom linking the stinger wire from either a tap connector or a surge arrestor. The spring-loaded mechanism24holds the cutout12together and supports the stinger wire, an exposed portion of the configuration from which wildlife must be protected. The insulator20can be porcelain, polymer, or any similar material. Such cutouts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,392,526, 6,462,639, 6,583,708, and 6,593,842, the subject matters of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

As seen inFIGS. 2-6, the cover10is generally boot-shaped having a rounded substantially bell-shaped portion14, a neck19, an open end21, and an open bottom32. The bell-shaped top portion14fits snugly around the top of the insulator20and an upper section34of the cutout12. The top portion14includes an upper dome16with a diameter less than the diameter of a lower dome18. The top portion14is further defined by a longitudinal slit38extending along the midline of the top portion14starting at the top of the upper dome16, continuing along the exterior of the top portion14to the lower dome18, and terminating at the open bottom32.

The cover10is preferably made of a soft, flexible material such as rubber, soft plastic, hard plastic with a living hinge36or flexible region, or a hard plastic with a spring loaded hinge joint. The living hinge36is located at the apex of the slit38on the upper dome16between the first side40aand the opposing second side40badjacent the slit38. The living hinge36and the flexibility of the cover material allows the sides40a,40bof the top portion14to flex towards and away from the center of the slit38, but the cover10is made with enough resiliency to retain a closed position. This expansion and contraction controlled by the living hinge36allows a lineman to position the cover10on the cutout12with some degree of security.

The middle section or neck portion19of the cover10is a lengthwise column extending between the lower dome18and the open end21, covering the end of the cutout12above the fuse link22. The neck19is narrower than both the top portion14and the open end21such that it includes a first diameter25and a relatively larger second diameter28as it extends from the lower dome18towards the grab point13of the cutout12at the open end21.

The open end21is a substantially open wall adapted to access the cutout12. The open end21, located adjacent grab point13, is broadly shaped such that a linemen could easily access the cutout grab point13and fuse link22without obstruction by the cover10. There is enough clearance provided by having an open end21that the lineman can change the fuse without disrupting or having to remove the cover10. Interchangeably, the end21could preferably be substantially arcuate such as the cover10shown inFIG. 2or the end210can be substantially square including two corners210a,210bformed at substantially 90 degree angles as seen in cover10ashown inFIG. 3. Also, the ends21,210could provide an ice shed for cold climate applications.

The bottom32of the cover10is considerably open-faced and extends along the edge of the entire cover10, including the substantially bell-shaped top portion14, the neck19, and the open end21. Since the cover10protects the top of the cutout12from weather damage and reduces the risk of electrical shock to wildlife, it is not necessary for the cover10to protect the bottom bracket26because wildlife does not typically access the bottom bracket area of the cutout12.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cover10is applied with rubber gloves and includes a fastener mechanism16for securing the sides40a,40bof the cover10together when the cover10is installed atop the cutout12. The fastener mechanism16includes at least one aperture30towards the upper dome16and/or the bottom dome18and fasteners31. Each aperture30is substantially circular and disposed on both sides40a,40bof the slit38. Each fastener31is a push pin holding the sides40a,40btogether upon inserting the push pin31into the aperture30creating a secure friction fit between the push pins31and apertures30.

In addition to the fastener mechanism16, the cover10includes catch points that clasp the cover10onto the cutout12to remain tightly installed, as illustrated inFIG. 4. These catch points or gripping ridges48, located on the interior33of the cover10and adjacent the outer rim56, follow the outline of the same arcuate shape as the bottom32of the cover10. The gripping ridges48contact the cutout12at a closer position than the outer rim56touches the cutout12. This contact relationship further secures the cover10to the cutout12because the gripping ridges48extend closer towards the cutout12than the outer rim56.

In a second embodiment of the invention, seen inFIGS. 7-13, a cover100includes a variety of hot-stick grab points compatible with hot-stick tools for this type of installation. The hot-stick grab points are attachment points for the hot-stick tool so the lineman does not have to touch the cover100with his bare hands or rubber gloves. With the cover10of the previous embodiment lacking hot-stick grab points, the installer must wear rubber gloves to install the cover10.

The overall design of this cover100is similar to the previous cover10with the exception of the hot-stick grab points and the fastener mechanism. Cover100includes a handle150extending from the neck119. The grab point140is located on the end of the handle150. The grab point140is substantially knob-shaped and projects from the columnar handle150towards the upper dome116of the cover100.

The type of fastener mechanism in this embodiment includes a first aperture141, a second aperture or receiver142, and a cone-shaped fastener144. Similar to the first embodiment, the fastener mechanism retains the sides140a,140bin a closed position to withstand the opening and closing motion of the living hinge136. Moreover, this connection further secures the cover100onto the cutout around the top of the insulator and prevents it from sliding off due to weather damage, etc.

First aperture141is disposed on side140aof the top portion114and includes a substantially circular shape for accepting the cone-shaped fastener144and being received in an annular groove in the fastener. The head145of the fastener144is substantially cone-shaped to glide through the aperture141and the slit138towards the receiver142in the opposing side140b.

The receiver142is substantially key-shaped for enabling easy installation of the fastener144with a hot-stick tool. The receiver142includes a first or wide diameter147for the point of contact towards the top of side140bto accept the fastener head145upon initial insertion. Once the head145is inserted into the receiver142, the head145is guided towards the bottom132of the cover100, into the second or narrow diameter annular groove149of the receiver142and locked into position.

An outer portion of the fastener144contains a recess or neck143for accepting one side of the hot-stick tool. The neck143is the narrowest portion of the fastener144and the only section that fits through the channel148into the narrow diameter149so that the narrow diameter149has a tighter grip around the neck143than that of the wide diameter147.

Another grab point146is located on the fastener mechanism at the widest portion of the fastener144because it is the easiest section of the fastener144to grasp with the hot-stick tool. Preferably, the cover100remains in place once it is installed. The clearance at the front of the cover100allows access for a lineman to change the fuse. After the fuse link22has been reconnected, the lineman situates the cover100back together. This way, the head145of the fastener144is more easily pushed through the side portions140a,140bof the cover100.

The fastener144is shaped as illustrated so there is a substantial amount of material for lineman to grasp with the hot-stick at grab point146and enough to manipulate the fastener144and cover100into a proper position without breaking the fastener144. If desired, the fastener144can be installed in a rubber glove application. Alternatively, the fastener144can be pre-installed on side140ato ease installation of the cover100.

As seen in a third embodiment of the invention,FIGS. 14-17, a load break type cutout can be protected by a cover200that is substantially half the size of the cover10in the first embodiment. The half-cutout cover200is similar to the full cover10without the neck19connecting to an open section221. The open section221faces the top bracket of the cutout12. The cover200includes an arcuate dome shaped body262that can be fitted over the porcelain insulator20with the open section221positioned over the top bracket.

Further, the top261of the cover200includes a cross-shaped slit238disposed atop the dome shaped portion262. The bottom232of the cover200is open faced towards the insulator20and opposite the cross-shaped slit238.

Like the second embodiment, the half-cutout cover200is preferably installed and removed with a hot-stick tool. For this to occur, the cover200includes a hot-stick grab point264located at the top261of the cover200. The grab point264is a substantially circular-shaped aperture accessible adjacent to the slit238and extending across both sides240a,240bof the cover200. A hot-stick tool engages the grab point264, entering through the aperture, and removes the cover200from the cutout12.

The slit238is substantially cross-shaped across the top261of the cover200and includes a longitudinal section along the entire side of the cover200extending towards the bottom232. The shape of the slit238allows a greater range of motion than the slit38,138of cover10,100respectively because of the transverse relationship of the cross-shaped section.

The cover200further includes the living hinge236along the apex238′ of the slit238adjacent to the top261lengthwise along the midline of the round body262between the slit238and the door265adjacent the top bracket. The hinge236operates like the hinge36of the first embodiment, by allowing the sides240a,240badjacent the slit238to flex towards and away from the center of the slit238so that the cover200can remain in the closed position when a fastener mechanism is properly installed.

The fastener mechanism of the half cover200embodiment is similar to the fastener mechanism of the first and second embodiments. Each side240a,240bincludes at least one aperture230towards the top261and/or another aperture230towards the bottom232. The aperture30is substantially circular and disposed on both sides240a,240bof the slit238. The aperture230is engaged by a push pin fastener231adapted to hold the sides of the aperture230together by inserting the push pin231into the aperture230creating a friction fit between the pin and aperture to lock together the two sides240a,240b.

Alternatively, the fastener mechanism could include a hot-stick capable cone-shaped fastener as disclosed in the second embodiment rather than the push pin type fastener of the first embodiment. If using the push pin fastener231, it would be installed with a rubber glove. If using the cone-shaped fastener, the fastener would be installed with a hot-stick tool.

In addition to the fastener mechanism, the cover200also includes catch points that clasp the cover200onto the cutout12to remain tightly installed, as illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 16. These catch points or gripping ridges248, located on the interior233of the cover10and adjacent the outer rim256, follow the outline of the same arcuate shape as the bottom232of the cover200. The gripping ridges248contact the cutout12at a closer position than the outer rim256touches the cutout12. This contact relationship further secures the cover200to the cutout12because the gripping ridges248extend closer towards the cutout12than the outer rim256.

Operation

Regarding the first embodiment, a lineman wearing rubber gloves grabs the cover10and secures it over the cutout12as shown inFIG. 1. The cover10is slid over a stinger wire and into position about the top of the cutout12. Then, the lineman pulls the cover10over the cutout into position, yielding a cover10gripping the cutout12in multiple locations. The slit38transitions from a substantially open position to a substantially closed position because of the resiliency of the cover material. The lineman installs fastener(s)31into the aperture(s)30towards the top14and/or bottom32of the cover10. Each fastener31is installed into the aperture30creating a secure friction fit between the fastener31and the cover10. This relationship is enough to withstand the opening and closing motion of the sides40a,40bprompted by the living hinge38. Also, the gripping ridges48contact the cutout12at a closer position than the outer rim56and provide additional support to the cover10on the cutout12.

With respect to the second and third embodiments, the lineman does not need to wear rubber gloves because the covers100,200are equipped with hot-stick grab points. The cover100is grabbed by connecting a hot-stick tool to the knob140of handle150and manipulating the cover. The fastener144is pre-installed before mounting on the cutout12. When locking the cover100, the lineman grabs the fastener144with the hot-stick tool at the grab point146(the widest part of the fastener144) and inserts it into the first aperture141of side140a. The fastener144is pushed through aperture141and inserted into aperture142. The fastener144moves through the wide diameter147of aperture142, guided by its cone-shaped head145, and pushed through the diameter147until the neck143is parallel with the aperture142. When the neck143is parallel to the aperture142, the fastener144is slid towards the narrow aperture149and the neck143glides through the channel148. This locks the fastener144into the aperture142and thus, secures the sides140a,140btogether to resist the opening and closing motion of the living hinge138.

In the final embodiment, the cover200is installed over the insulator with the open end221facing the grab point13of the cutout12when the hot-stick tool couples to the grab point264and positioned. The slit238transitions from a substantially open position to a substantially closed position because of the resiliency of the cover material. The lineman installs fastener(s)231into the apertures230towards the top261and/or bottom232of the cover10. Each fastener231is installed into the aperture230creating a friction fit between the fastener231and the cover200. This relationship is enough to withstand the opening and closing motion of the sides240a,240bprompted by the living hinge238. Also, the gripping ridges248contact the cutout12at a closer position than the outer rim256and provide additional support to the cover200on the cutout12.