Abstract:
A valve cover having a valve cover body, preferably of two sections. These sections are placed on either side of a valve. When joined, the sections enclose the valve, but form line apertures around the lines leading to and from the valve. Once the sections are in place, a cap is placed over the sections. The cap is sized to fit the sections tightly and will prevent the sections from separating. The cap and the valve cover body are preferably provided with locking apertures. When these locking apertures are aligned, the cap may be secured to the valve cover body with a lock. With the valve cover locked in place around a valve, access to the valve is denied. The valve cover may glow in the dark to facilitate location of the valve in dark conditions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/958,445, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to valve covers in general and utility shut off valves covers in particular.  
         [0004]     2. Prior Art  
         [0005]     Many valve covers exist in the prior art to prevent the unintentional or unauthorized opening or adjustment of valves. Examples include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,098 which discloses a valve cover which engages the external locking or bonnet nut of a valve assembly. While this valve cover works quite well in most applications, it falls short in valves that lack a locking nut. One common environment where external locking nuts are frequently absent are shut-off valves in utility lines.  
         [0006]     Most gas and water lines have a shut off valve located at the curb. These shut off valves allow the utility owners and/or building owners to turn off the gas and water in the building. Utility companies may turn off gas and water when bills go unpaid or the building become unoccupied. A problem commonly faced by the utility companies are building occupants who turn the gas or water service back on. These may be persons living in the building who are simply unwilling or unable to pay their bills. However, of perhaps greater concern are persons squatting in vacant buildings. Squatters will often seek to restore gas and/or water service to a building where they have taken up residence. However, they are often unaware of problems that may exist with the gas or water lines in portions of a building they are not occupying, and even if aware, squatters have little ability or incentive to report such problems.  
         [0007]     Thus, if there is a leak in a water line, the illicit restoration of water to an unoccupied building can result in very substantial damage to the building. Similarly, a leak in a gas line is a fire and explosion hazard in any building. Thus, an illicit restoration of gas service to a vacant building can lead to a particularly dangerous condition  
         [0008]     Of course, anytime a utility line is opened surreptitiously, there is little chance of the utility company receiving payment for the water or gas used. Thus, unauthorized opening of service lines also represent a substantial loss of revenue to utility companies.  
         [0009]     For all of the foregoing reasons, utility companies generally do more than simply close the shut off valves on their service lines. However, placing a lock on the shut off valve seems to invite occupants and squatters to attack the locking mechanism in an effort to overpower it. These efforts lead, not infrequently, to damage to the valve and/or utility line, such that a leak may then exist at the street level. Thus, most shut off valves are wholly contained units with no external locking nut that could serve as a point of leverage for someone attempting to overpower the locking mechanism.  
         [0010]     The configuration of many shut off valves leads to a dearth of valve covers that can be used to secure the shut off valve. The lack of effective shut off valve covers and the risks associated with unauthorized utility restoration leads some utilities to sever and plug utility lines when they are turned off. Such measures are undesirable because they cost more to implement and more to reverse if utility service is restored in the future. Therefore, a valve cover meeting the following objectives is desired  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It is an object of the invention to provide a valve cover suitable for securing valves that lack an external bonnet nut.  
         [0012]     It is another object of the invention to provide a valve cover for shut off valves in water lines.  
         [0013]     It is still another object of the invention to provide a valve cover for shut off valves in gas lines.  
         [0014]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a valve cover that precludes access to any portion of the valve while the cover is in place.  
         [0015]     It is still another object of the invention to provide a valve cover that may be locked securely over the valve.  
         [0016]     It is yet another object of the invention to prevent the unauthorized operation of valves.  
         [0017]     It is still another object of the invention prevent the unintentional operation of valves.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The invention comprises a valve cover having a valve cover body, preferably made of two sections. The sections are configured to join together to form a body having line apertures in the sides. These sections will be placed on either side of a valve and brought together. When joined, the sections will enclose the valve, but form line apertures around the inflow and outflow lines leading to and from the valve. The sections may be provided with male and female members to facilitate their engagement. Once the sections are in place around the valve, a cap is placed over the sections to complete the valve cover. The cap is sized to fit the sections tightly and will prevent the sections from separating when the cap is in place. The cap may be provided with a tongue in groove mechanism to prevent the cap from being accidentally removed and to help secure the cap to the valve cover body. The cap and the valve cover body are also preferably provided with locking apertures. When these locking apertures are aligned, the cap may be secured to the valve cover body with a lock. With the valve cover locked in place around a valve, access to the valve is denied such that unauthorized and/or unintentional adjustment of the valve may be prevented. The valve cover, or at least a portion of it, may be configured to glow in the dark to facilitate location of the valve in dark conditions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a valve cover shown around an exemplary valve.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an interior side view of a preferred embodiment of a first section of a valve cover body member.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an interior side view of a preferred embodiment of a second section of a valve cover body member.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body partial engaged.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body partially engaged.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body fully engaged.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body fully engaged.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap.  
         [0029]      FIG. 11A  is bottom perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body engaged about an exemplary valve and with a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap about to engage the valve cover body.  
         [0030]      FIG. 11B  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body engaged about an exemplary valve and with a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap engaged with the valve cover body prior to rotation.  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body engaged about an exemplary valve and with a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap engaged with the valve cover body after rotation.  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a first and second section of a valve cover body engaged about an exemplary valve and with a preferred embodiment of a valve cover cap fully engaged with the valve cover body with a lock in place securing the valve cover. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]     A valve cover  1  is provided for securing valves. Valve cover  1  may be used with multiple types of valves; however, it is expected to be particularly useful for use with valves  100  comprising a body  101  and having an inflow line  102  and an outflow line  103  extending from body  101 . Valve  100  will also have a control  104  of some sort on or extending from body  101 . Control  104  may be a wheel, a shaft, a lever, a slotted or phillips style screw head, and allen screw head, or any number of conventional devices for opening and closing the gate mechanism in valve  100 .  
         [0034]     The preferred embodiment of valve cover  1  comprises a valve cover body  2  preferably made of a first section  3  and a second section  4 . Valve cover body  2  has an upper end  5  and a base  6  opposite upper end  5 . Sidewalls  7  extend from upper end  5  to base  6 . Sidewalls  7  have a base end  8  proximate base  6  and a cap end  9  opposite base end  8 . Valve cover body  2  and particularly cap end  9  of sidewalls  7  are preferably circular in cross section.  
         [0035]     Each section  3 ,  4  of valve cover body  2  preferably contain an indentation  10  at each edge. When sections  3 ,  4  come together, indentations  10  join to form line apertures  11  in valve cover body  2 . Line apertures  11  are preferably positioned on opposite sides of valve cover body  2  from each other. Line apertures  11  are also preferably aligned with each other. However, line apertures  11  are principally designed to allow inflow line  102  and outflow line  103  passage through valve cover body  2 . Thus, the relative position of line apertures  11  will be determined by the actual position of inflow line  102  and outflow line  103 . If outflow line  102  and inflow line  103  are at an angle to each other, valve cover body  2  may be constructed so that line apertures  11  will be at an angle to each other as well. Similarly, if outflow line  102  and inflow line  103  are offset vertically, line apertures  11  may be offset. In the preferred embodiment, there are only two line apertures  11 . However, nothing requires that this be the case. Where multiple inflow lines  102  and/or outflow lines  103  extend from valve  100 , additional line apertures  11  may be provided as needed. Similarly, where only an inflow line  102  extends from valve  100 , such as when valve  100  is a faucet, only one aperture  11  may be provided. Likewise, where only an outflow line  103  extends from valve  100 , such as when valve  100  is positioned at the mouth of a line, only one aperture  11  may be needed.  
         [0036]     Each section  3 ,  4  of valve cover body  2  preferably comprises a base section  12 A,  12 B. In the preferred embodiment, base section  12 A contains a female opening  13  and base section  12 B contains a male appendage  14 . When sections  3 ,  4  engage, appendage  14  will engage opening  13 , thereby better securing sections  3 ,  4  to each other and forming base section  12 . Base sections  12 A,  12 B will preferably cover substantially all of the space at the bottom of valve cover body  2  between sidewalls  7 .  
         [0037]     A cap  15  is preferably provided to fit over upper end  5  of valve cover body  2 . Cap  15  preferably has an upper surface  16  and locking walls  17  depending from upper surface  16 . Locking walls  17  are preferably circular in cross section, but should be sized to engage cap end  9  of sidewalls  7  whatever the cross section of cap end  9 . Cap  15  should be sized to enclose cap end  9  but to engage cap end  9  closely. When cap  15  is in place sections  3 ,  4  will not be able to move apart. Thus, cap  15  will lock valve cover body  2  together. This locking effect will be augmented by male appendage  14  and female opening  13 .  
         [0038]     In many applications, it is desirable that cap  15  not be unintentionally removed. Valve cover  1  may be used in industrial or commercial settings where it is not necessary to secure valve cover  1  with a lock. However, it may be important that cap  15  not be removed in such settings so that valve  100  will not be adjusted inadvertently. Particularly in such situations, it may be desirable to provide cap  15  and valve cover body  2  with a tongue in groove engagement mechanism.  
         [0039]     In the preferred embodiment, the exterior of the cap end  9  of sidewalls  7  is provided with at least one and preferably two tongues  18 . Tongue  18  will extend radially from the surface of sidewalls  7 . The interior of the locking walls  17  is preferably provided with at least one groove  19 , comprising a lower section  1   9 A and an upper section  19 B. One such groove  19  will preferably be provided for each tongue  18 .  
         [0040]     Lower section  19 A will be positioned at the outside edge  20  of locking walls  17 . Upper section  19 B will be positioned between lower section  19 A and upper surface  16 . Lower section  19 A is preferably about the same width as tongue  18 , so that tongue  18  may pass through lower section  19 A, but that while tongue  18  is positioned within lower section  19 A, cap  15  cannot be substantially rotated about cap end  9  of sidewalls  7 .  
         [0041]     Lower section  19 A will preferably provide passage into upper section  19 B. Upper section  19 B is preferably substantially wider than lower section  19 A, such that once tongue  18  passes out of lower section  19 A into upper section  19 B, it will be possible to rotate cap  15 , at least a distance equal to the width of upper section  19 B. The amount of rotation allowed in cap  15  may vary as desired; however, cap  15  preferably should be allowed to rotate enough to move tongue  18  out of alignment with lower section  19 A. In the preferred embodiment, the tolerances between cap  15  and cap end  9  of sidewalls  7  are such that when tongue  18  is contained within upper section  19 B of groove  19  without access to lower section  19 A, cap  15  may not be removed from cap end  9  of sidewalls  7 . Thus, when cap  15  is in place, an operator will not be able to remove cap  15  from valve cover body  2  without rotating cap  15  until tongue  18  is aligned with lower section  19 A. This will prevent valve covet  1  from being opened or valve  100  from being operated unintentionally.  
         [0042]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing that the length of tongue  18 , lower section  19 A, upper section  19 B and the lengths of locking walls  17  and cap section  9  should all be sized to allow tongue  18  to pass completely through lower section  19 A so that the entire length of tongue  18  will be contained in upper section  19 B of groove  19  when cap  15  is in place.  
         [0043]     In many circumstances, it will be desirable to be able to lock cap  15  in place over valve cover body  2 . To this end, cap  15  further comprises at least one and preferably a pair of locking ears  21  in the preferred embodiment. Each locking ear  21  comprises a tab extending radially from locking walls  17 . A corresponding locking arm  22  preferably extends radially from sidewalls  7 . Locking ear  21  is preferably provided with a first locking aperture  23 . Similarly, locking arm  22  is provided with a second locking aperture  24 . By positioning cap  15  on cap end  9  of sidewalls  7  so that first and second locking apertures  23 ,  24  are aligned, a lock  26  may be passed through first and second locking apertures  23 ,  24  so that cap  15  may be locked in place on valve cover body  2 . When valve cover body  2  and cap  15  are provided with a tongue in groove engagement mechanism as described above, locking arm  22  and locking ear  21  will preferably be positioned relative to each other so that when cap  15  has been rotated the full distance allowed by the length of upper section  19 B and tongue  18 , first and second locking apertures  23 ,  24  will be aligned.  
         [0044]     Although any type of lock  26  capable of engaging locking apertures  23 ,  24  may be used, a lock  26  whose locking bar is sized so that it is completely enclosed within locking arm  22  and locking ear  21  will be preferred in many context.  
         [0045]     The various components of valve cover  1  are preferably made out of heavy gauge metal such as steel or aluminum. Aluminum or galvanized or stainless steel may be particularly desirable if valve cover  1  will be exposed to the elements. Valve cover  1  may be provided with rubber or plastic seals and/or coating if weatherproofing is desired. Similarly, valve cover  1  may be made of other metals such as titanium or copper if circumstances warrant. Similarly, valve cover  1  may be made from plastic or rubber if desired. The components of valve cover  1  may be cast, molded, machined or otherwise constructed using any conventional technique appropriate to the materials selected for valve cover  1 .  
         [0046]     In operation, the preferred embodiment of valve cover  1  is preferably assembled by positioning first section  3  and second section  4  on either side of valve  100 . First and second sections  3 ,  4  are joined together to form valve cover body  2  around valve  100 , preferably by positioning sections  3 ,  4  in edge-to-edge contact and then sliding sections  3 ,  4  until they are in alignment with each other. Where male appendage  14  and female opening  13  are used, this will motion will cause male appendage  14  and female opening  13  to interlock. Line apertures  11  in valve cover body  2  will be formed around inflow and outflow lines  102 ,  103  as valve cover body  2  is assembled from sections  3 ,  4 . Once valve cover body  2  has been assembled, cap  15  will be positioned over cap end  9  of sidewalls  7 , locking sections  3 ,  4  of valve cover body  2  together. If cap  15  is provided with one or more grooves  19  and sidewalls  7  are provided with at least one tongue  18 , cap  15  will be positioned so that lower portion  19 A of grooves  19  are aligned with tongue  18  as cap  15  is inserted over cap end  9  of sidewalls  7 . Once cap  15  is fully inserted over cap end  9 , cap  15  will be rotated as far as upper section  19 B of groove  19  and tongue  18  will allow. This rotation will preferably bring locking apertures  23 ,  24  of locking ear  21  and locking arm  22  into alignment. Cap  15  may then be secured to valve cover body  2  by securing lock  26  through locking apertures  23 ,  24 . Lock  26  will prevent cap  15  from rotating. If cap  15  cannot rotate, tongue  18  cannot be brought back into alignment with lower section  19 A of groove  19  which will prevent the removal of cap  15  from valve cover body  2 . With cap  15  in place, valve cover body  2  cannot be disassembled. Thus, with valve cover body  2  in place around valve  100  and cap  15  in locked in place, valve cover  1  will completely surround and will preclude any access to valve  100 .  
         [0047]     In one preferred embodiment, cap  15  and/or body  2  is configured to glow in the dark. This can be accomplished by constructing cap  15  or body  2  from phosphorescent material. Alternatively, granules or strips of phosphorescent material could be affixed to the exterior of cap  15  and/or body  2 . One way to accomplish this would be with phosphorescent paint or phosphorescent tape  201 . Suitable phosphorescent material includes zinc sulfide and strontium aluminate. In a most preferred embodiment, a radioactive material such as radium, tritium, or promethium is mixed with the phosphorescent material so that the phosphorescent material will not require light charging for phosphorescence to occur.  
         [0048]     Providing cap  15 , body  2 , or at least a portion thereof with phosphorescent material could be quite useful in many contexts. Valve cover  1  will be used in environments where it may be dark when access to valve cover  1  is needed. For example, valve cover  1  could be used in a plant setting in which power is lost. It may be important for workers to be able to locate valve  100  contained withing valve cover  1 . If valve cover  1  glows in the dark, valve  100  will be easier to locate in a suddenly dark environment. Similarly, valve cover  1  could be used to regulate access to a valve  100  that controls gas flow to a building. Firefighters may need to access such a valve  100  in order to shut off the gas. Locating valve  100  in the dark will be easier if valve cover  1  glows.  
         [0049]     Other uses, embodiments, and applications of the invention, equivalent to those disclosed herein, will occur to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the following claims.