Abstract:
Provided is an enclosure with an integrated hydrant. The enclosure includes a fluid flow conduit that transfers fluid from a fluid supply tube to a fluid outlet, which may be associated with the backflow preventer. The enclosure has a conduit that carries water from the fluid supply tube to the backflow preventer. Thus, a lower profile, lighter, and more aesthetically pleasing enclosure is provided.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/841,597, filed Jul. 1, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/560,721, filed Sep. 16, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to an enclosure for concealing and protecting a hydrant. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wall hydrants generally comprise a support plate with interconnected faucet, a means to control fluid flow through the faucet, a fluid supply tube, a valve, and a tube that contains a mechanism operates the valve. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the fluid supply tube can also include the means to control the fluid flow. 
     Protective enclosures that conceal and protect hydrants are common and often incorporated into interior or exterior building walls. Enclosures are generally comprised of a box with an interconnected door. The enclosure prevents operation of the faucet, prevents theft of hydrant components (e.g., brass), protects the hydrant from environmental elements, and provides a means to incorporate the hydrant into a wall. 
     The enclosure door may be selectively locked. Enclosures are made in various sizes and shapes and may accommodate a single or dual hydrant. Existing enclosures are rigidly mounted to a wall and are difficult to replace. That is, if an enclosure is in need of repair, the hydrant must be disconnected, the hydrant removed, and the box must be removed from the wall. One of skill the art will appreciate that this method of repair is inefficient as, often, only the door is damaged. For example, keys that are used to open door locks are often lost, and maintenance personnel often pry the door open, which damages the door. Thereafter, the door must be replaced to ensure that the door can be locked or closed properly. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6  a wall hydrant  2  and associated enclosure  66  of the prior art is shown. The hydrant  2  comprises a plate  10  that accommodates a fluid outlet and has a plurality of tube bosses extending therefrom. A control tube boss  18  receives a control tube  22 , and a fluid tube boss  26  receives a fluid supply tube  30 . The fluid supply tube and the control tube are connected to their respective bosses and to a valve  34 . An outside surface of the plate  10  includes an aperture  42  that received a key  46  that is selectively interconnected to a stem screw  50 . The key controls the flow of water by way of a control rod  54 . Again, the outside surface of the plate  10  includes a fluid outlet that may be interconnected to backflow preventer  58 . A backflow preventer used by some embodiments is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,042,565, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     In operation, the user interconnects the key  46  to the stem screw  50 . The stem screw  50  is operatively interconnected to the control rod  54 . Turning the key  46  moves the control rod  54  and moves the plunger  62  away from a valve  34  to allow fluid flow through the fluid supply tube  30  as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the key  46  is turned in the opposite direction, the control rod will move the plunger  62  into engagement with the valve  34  as shown in  FIG. 3 , which prevents fluid flow through the fluid supply tube  30 . 
     The enclosure  66  that receives the wall hydrant is shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . The enclosure  66  comprises a box  70  and a door  74 . The box  70  has sufficient depth to receive a plate  10  and interconnected backflow preventer  58 . The key  46  may also be left interconnected to the stem screw  50  in some instances. The depth of the box  70  allows for the door  74  to be closed to conceal the entire wall hydrant  2  and included backflow preventer  58 . The plate is bolted or otherwise interconnected to a rear surface of the box. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate enclosures are difficult to install, are heavy, and sometimes, difficult to use. More specifically, as the plate  10  and associated backflow preventer  58  are inset relative to a front edge  78  of the box  70 , it is often difficult for users to engage the key  46 , or turn a knob, to initiate fluid flow. Further, if the door  74  is damaged, the entire enclosure  66  must be removed. 
     It is thus a long felt need to provide a hydrant enclosure that is easy to install, easy to use, that accepts various types of fluid connections, and has a replaceable door. These and other features, alone or in combination, are provided by the embodiments the present invention, which will be described below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide an enclosure with an integrated hydrant. More specifically, one embodiment is a hydrant enclosure defined by a plate with an outwardly-extending lip. The plate also includes at least one cavity recessed relative to a plate inner surface toward a plate outer surface. The recess allows for larger components, such as backflow preventers and control knobs, to be accommodated when the enclosure door is closed. The enclosure of this embodiment is smaller and more compact than those of the prior art. 
     It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide an enclosure that saves material. More specifically, the fluid control tube and fluid delivery tube are directly interconnected to the box and a support plate is omitted. Further, the recess is in fluidic communication with a fluid supply boss. Unlike the prior art systems, the fluid supply boss is interconnected to a conduit integrated into the box that provides fluid to the recess that receives a backflow preventer. Materials, such as brass, steel, iron, etc. commonly associated with prior hydrant plates are integrated directly into the enclosure plate, thus significant material savings are realized. 
     It is yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide an enclosure with a selectively removable door. The door may be interconnected to the lip extending from the plate. The door may also be fastened to the plate outer surface and selectively interconnected thereto which allows door replacement. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the door will wear or be damaged. Instead of removing the enclosure from the wall, embodiments of the present invention allow the door to be removed from the enclosure and replaced. 
     It is still yet another aspect of embodiments the present invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing door. More specifically, the size of the hydrant enclosure and associated door may be modified to accommodate larger fluid supply mechanisms. The door may be made to correspond to the dimensions and character of building materials, such as stone or brick. In one embodiment, an outer surface of the door is textured or painted to match brick such that the hydrant is substantially hidden when not in use. 
     These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention(s) contained herein. The above-described embodiments, objectives, and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible using, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described below. Further, 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 
       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. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art hydrant; 
         FIG. 2  is a top elevation view of  FIG. 1 , wherein fluid is shown exiting the hydrant; 
         FIG. 3  is a top elevation view of  FIG. 1 , wherein fluid is not flowing from the hydrant; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing a hydrant and an enclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a hydrant positioned within a enclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a top elevation view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an enclosure of one embodiment of the present invention wherein a door is open; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 7  wherein the door is closed; 
         FIG. 9  is a top elevation view of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of an enclosure with an integrated hydrant of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 12  with a door open; 
         FIG. 15  is another front perspective view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 12  with a door open; 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a front elevation view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a back elevation view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 Component 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 2 
                 Hydrant 
               
               
                 6 
                 Enclosure 
               
               
                 10 
                 Plate 
               
               
                 14 
                 Faucet 
               
               
                 18 
                 Controlled tube boss 
               
               
                 22 
                 Control tube 
               
               
                 26 
                 Fluid tube boss 
               
               
                 30 
                 Fluid supply tube 
               
               
                 34 
                 Valve 
               
               
                 28 
                 Outside surface 
               
               
                 42 
                 Aperture 
               
               
                 46 
                 Key 
               
               
                 50 
                 Stem screw 
               
               
                 54 
                 Control Rod 
               
               
                 58 
                 Backflow preventer 
               
               
                 62 
                 Plunger 
               
               
                 66 
                 Enclosure 
               
               
                 70 
                 Box 
               
               
                 74 
                 Door 
               
               
                 76 
                 Lock 
               
               
                 78 
                 Front edge 
               
               
                 100 
                 Enclosure 
               
               
                 104 
                 Plate 
               
               
                 106 
                 Recess 
               
               
                 108 
                 Lip 
               
               
                 112 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                 116 
                 Outer surface 
               
               
                 120 
                 Backflow preventer 
               
               
                 124 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 128 
                 Stem screw 
               
               
                 132 
                 Protrusion 
               
               
                 136 
                 Conduit 
               
               
                 140 
                 Fluid supply tube 
               
               
                 144 
                 Valve 
               
               
                 148 
                 Boss 
               
               
                 152 
                 Control tube 
               
               
                 162 
                 Door 
               
               
                 166 
                 Hinge plate 
               
               
                 170 
                 Protrusions 
               
               
                 174 
                 Fasteners 
               
               
                 178 
                 Lock 
               
               
                 182 
                 Protrusion 
               
               
                 188 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                 192 
                 Lip 
               
               
                 200 
                 Enclosure 
               
               
                 206 
                 Recess 
               
               
                 212 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                 216 
                 Outer surface 
               
               
                 220 
                 Backflow preventer 
               
               
                 224 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 228 
                 Stem screw 
               
               
                 232 
                 Protrusion 
               
               
                 236 
                 Conduit 
               
               
                 240 
                 Fluid supply tube 
               
               
                 244 
                 Valve 
               
               
                 248 
                 Boss 
               
               
                 252 
                 Control tube 
               
               
                 262 
                 Door 
               
               
                 278 
                 Lock 
               
               
                 292 
                 Lip 
               
               
                 294 
                 Pin 
               
               
                 298 
                 Fluid flow path 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     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 
       FIGS. 7-11  show an enclosure  100  having integrated hydrant of one embodiment of the present invention. The enclosure  100  is defined by a plate  104  with an outwardly-extending lip  108 . The plate  104  has an inner surface  112  and an outer surface  116 . The plate  104  has a recess  106  that extends from the inner surface  112  toward the outer surface  116 . The plate  104  also includes an opening  124  that receives a control rod and stem screw has shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 11  show the inner surface  112  adapted to receive a backflow preventer  120 . The backflow preventer  120  is positioned within the recess  106  such that an outer edge of the backflow preventer  120  does not extend from the inner surface  112  to an extent that adversely affects door closure. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show a rear portion of the enclosure  100 . The recess in the plate forms outwardly-extending protrusion  132 , which in one embodiment is frusto-conical. The protrusion  132  has an outer surface that includes an opening (not shown) that communicates with a conduit  136  that connects fluid supply tube  140  to the backflow preventer. Those of skill the art will appreciate that the fluid supply tube  140  may be directly interconnected to the protrusion  132 , but such configuration may not be ideal as the size of the valve  144 , or length of the fluid supply tube  140  would have to be increased or lengthened, which will increase material costs. The outer surface  116  of the plate also includes a boss  148  that supports the control tube  152 . 
     In operation, the user interconnects the key to the stem screw  128  and turns the same, which removes the plunger from the valve  144 , which allows fluid to escape through the fluid supply tube  140 . Fluid exits the backflow preventer  120 . Turning the key in the opposite direction places the plunger back into engagement with the valve  144  to cease fluid flow through the fluid supply tube  140 . After shut off, fluid may be in the fluid supply tube  140  and the control tube  152 . Thus, in one embodiment, the fluid supply tube  140  and the control tube  152  are angled relative to the outer surface  116  of the hydrant so fluid will leak from the hydrant after the plunger is seated in the valve. 
     One embodiment of the present invention includes a door  162  as shown in  FIGS. 7-11 . The door  162  is hingedly interconnected to a hinge plate  166  that is interconnected to at least one of the lip  108  or the plate inner surface  112 . Here, the hinge plate  166  includes a plurality of protrusions  170  that receive fasteners  174  that engage the inner surface  112 . The door  162  may also include a lock  178  that selectively engages a protrusion  182  extending from the inner surface  112 . If the door becomes damaged or the user decides to change the look of the door  162 , the door  162  is opened to expose the fasteners  174 , which are removed, and a new door is interconnected to the plate  104 . 
     Indeed, the internal volume of the enclosure  100  may be increased to accommodate one or two fluid flow supply tubes and associated backflow preventers. More specifically, some hydrants include hot and cold water delivery means and it is within the skill of those of skill in the art to expand the size of the enclosure to accommodate the same. 
       FIGS. 12-19  show an enclosure  200  having integrated hydrant of another embodiment of the present invention. The enclosure  200  is defined by a plate  204  with an inner surface  212  and an outer surface  216 . The plate  204  has a recess  206  that extends from the inner surface  212  toward the outer surface  216 . The plate  204  also includes an opening  224  that receives a control rod and stem screw  228  has shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The inner surface  212  is adapted to receive a backflow preventer  220 . The backflow preventer  220  is positioned within the recess  206  such that an outer edge of the backflow preventer  220  does not extend from the inner surface  212  to an extent that adversely affects door closure. 
       FIGS. 13, 15, and 19  show a rear portion of the enclosure  200 . The recess in the plate forms outwardly-extending protrusion  232 , which in one embodiment is frusto-conical. The protrusion  232  has an outer surface that includes an opening (not shown) that communicates with a conduit  236  (see  FIG. 17 ) that connects fluid supply tube  240  to the backflow preventer. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the fluid supply line  240  may be directly interconnected to the protrusion  232 , but such configuration may not be ideal as the size of the valve  244 , or length of the fluid supply tube  240  would have to be increased or lengthened, which will increase material costs. The outer surface  216  of the plate also includes a boss  248  that supports the control tube  252 . 
     In operation, the user interconnects the key to the stem screw  228  and turns the same, which removes the plunger from the valve  244 , which allows fluid to escape through the fluid supply tube  240 . Fluid travels through the conduit  236  along fluid flow path  298  and exits the backflow preventer  220 . Turning the key in the opposite direction places the plunger back into engagement with the valve  244  to cease fluid flow through the fluid supply tube  240 . After shut off, fluid may be in the fluid supply tube  240  and the control tube  252 . Thus, in one embodiment, the fluid supply tube  240  and the control tube  252  are angled relative to the outer surface  216  of the hydrant so fluid will leak from the hydrant after the plunger is seated in the valve. 
     The door  262  of this embodiment includes a lip  292  and is hingedly interconnected to the plate  204 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the door  262  may be interconnected to the plate  204  by removable pins  294 . The door  262  may also include a lock  278  that selectively engages a protrusion extending from the inner surface  212 . 
     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. 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.