Patent Publication Number: US-6668852-B1

Title: Frost proof sillcock service sleeve

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     Statement as to Rights to Inventions Made Under Federally Sponsored Research and Development 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to water valves known as sillcocks, and more particular, to a service sleeve coupled with a frost proof sillcock for preventing resulting water damage to a wall of a structure should the sillcock rupture or crack. 
     2. Brief Description of Prior Art 
     Water faucet assemblies are traditionally installed within building structures, such as to deliver water outside of the structure. A conventional sillcock includes a pipe structure that extends through the structure wall. The pipe structure includes a body portion having a water faucet or spout, which is positioned at an outside wall surface, and an inner portion that is positioned at an inner surface of the wall and is connected to the structure&#39;s water supply. The sillcock also includes a valve operated by a handle. When the valve is turned to an on position, the valve is unseated and water is allowed to flow through the water spout. Conversely, when the valve is seated in the off position, the flow of water is prevented. 
     Traditionally, in freezing temperatures, a sillcock having its valve disposed outside the structure has a tendency to rupture or crack as water retained by the valve expands in response to freezing conditions. As a result, frost proof sillcocks are available in which the valve is disposed inside the structure so it will stay warm, while maintaining the handle and spout outside the structure. The valve being disposed within the interior of the structure, is not exposed to freezing temperatures and therefor less likely to rupture or break. However, frost proof sillcocks will still rupture when for example, a hose is connected to the sillcock thereby preventing the sillcock from fully draining when the valve is turned to the off position. As a result, water held in the sillcock will freeze and expand in cold weather causing the sillcock to rupture and crack. Subsequent use of the sillcock after thawing will result in water flowing through said cracks causing water damage to the interior structure. 
     A variety of sillcocks having freeze resistant characteristics have been proposed heretofore. Protective devices have been developed with the objective of directing leaking water from the cracked sillcock to outside the structure, rather than causing damage to the interior of the structure. These protective devices that are made to retrofit an existing structure have proven to be difficult to install with conventional sillcocks, since installation generally requires the finished wall or ceiling to be cut or damaged in order to access the pipe structure connected to the sillcock. 
     Also, existing protective devices are developed for particular brands, size or length of sillcocks. Traditionally, frost proof sillcocks are manufactured in a variety of fixed lengths. However, these fixed lengths vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. The length of the sillcock assembly is determined by the width of the wall surface in which the sillcock is to be installed. As may be appreciated, an installer may be faced with installation in a number of different structures, each having different wall thickness. The prior art protective devices are not capable of adapting to various brands of sillcocks or varying lengths. 
     As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome shortcomings of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a service sleeve coupled with a frost proof sillcock for preventing damage to a wall of a structure caused by a ruptured sillcock. Specifically, the present invention is designed to direct leaking water from the ruptured sillcock to outside the structure. 
     The frost proof sillcock service sleeve of the present invention coupled with a conventional frost proof sillcock, which sillcock generally includes a body portion proximate the outside surface of the wall of a structure, an inner portion proximate the inside surface of the wall, a water spout and a valve handle. Said sillcock secured against the outside wall with a flange or collar. 
     The service sleeve of the present invention includes an elongated cylindrical housing having an outermost end, an inner end, and an outer surface defining an inner chamber, said inner chamber for receiving the inner portion of the sillcock, a stem portion of the present invention, and for receiving an area of a water pipe that extends radially from the stem. Attached to the outermost end of the housing is said flange or collar that extends radially from the outermost end. Said collar includes at least two screw holes to receive screws for securing to the outside of the wall of the structure. The collar further including a central opening for receiving the outer surface of the outermost end of the housing. 
     The stem portion defined by a male portion and a female portion. The male and female portions have bores therethrough. The female portion having an inlet end coupled to the water pipe, and an opening opposite the inlet end, said opening for access to the bore of the female portion. The male portion having an outlet end for connected to the inner portion of the sillcock, and an opening opposite the outlet end, said opening for access to the bore of the male portion. The male portion further including an extension portion, said extension portion having two circular grooves formed the width of the extension portion to receive sealing rings, such as O-rings. The extension portion of the male portion configured to slide in and out the bore through the opening of the female portion. 
     The frost proof sillcock service sleeve further includes a cap having an inner surface, a first end having a diameter to receive the outer surface of the housing, and a second end having a diameter sized to slidingly receive the water pipe. As such, the housing is snugly received in the first end of the cap, and the cap is slidingly positioned along the outer surface of the water pipe. 
     In the event water held in the stem of the sillcock freezes and expands in response to freezing temperatures, causing the sillcock to rupture and crack, subsequent use of the sillcock once the frozen water in the sillcock is allowed to thaw, will result in water flowing through said cracks in the sillcock causing water damage to the interior structure. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the frost proof sillcock service sleeve will prevent damage to the interior structure caused by a ruptured sillcock. Water leaking from the cracked sillcock will remain within the inner chamber of the housing and drain through the collar, and outside the structure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a frost proof sillcock service sleeve, wherein the sleeve coupled with a sillcock is attached to the outside wall of a structure. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded elevational perspective view of components of the frost proof sillcock service sleeve of FIG. 1, namely, a sleeve, a collar, and a cap. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational perspective view of the service sleeve of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded elevational perspective view of the components of a stem, namely, the male and female portions. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  made in accordance with the present invention. The frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  for preventing damage to a wall of a structure caused by a ruptured sillcock. Specifically, it will be noted in the drawings that the apparatus relates to a service sleeve coupled with a traditional sillcock for preventing resulting water damage to a wall of a structure should the sillcock rupture or crack, by directing the leaking water from the ruptured sillcock to outside the structure. In the broadest context, the device consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional frost proof sillcock  12  generally includes a body portion  40  proximate the outside surface of a wall  100  of a structure, an inner portion  41  proximate the inside surface of the wall  100 , a water spout  43 , and a valve handle  47 . The conventional sillcock  12  further including a threaded portion (not shown) formed with threads generally for coupling with the structure&#39;s water supply. 
     Accordingly, water flow through the sillcock  12  is controlled by the valve handle  47 . When water flow is desired, the handle  47  is rotated in a counter clockwise direction thereby turning a conventional valve (not shown) within the sillcock  12  to unseat and water is allowed to flow through the body portion  40  and out the water spout  43  of the sillcock  12 . Conversely, when it is desired to stop the flow of water, the valve handle  47  is rotated in a clockwise direction to seat the valve within the sillcock  12 . Once seated, the water flow will stop and any water remaining within the sillcock  12  is permitted to drain through the spout  43 . In the event the water does not drain once the valve is seated, for instance if a hose is connected to the spout  43 , or should the valve disposed within the sillcock  12  fail, the water may freeze and expand in response to freezing temperatures, causing the sillcock  12  to rupture and crack. Subsequent use of the sillcock  12  once the frozen water in the sillcock  12  is allowed to thaw, will result in water flowing through said cracks. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  of the present invention is designed to direct the leaking water from the ruptured sillcock  12  to outside the structure, in order to avoid water damage to the structure. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  includes an elongated cylindrical housing  15 , said housing  15  including an outermost end  15 A, an inner end  15 B, and an outer surface  16  defining an inner chamber  15 ′, said inner chamber  15 ′ for receiving the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12 , a stem portion  14 , and as will be further described, an area of a water pipe  17  of the structure&#39;s water supply. 
     As best shown in FIG. 4, the stem portion  14  having a male portion  44  and a female portion  54 . The male and female portions  44 ,  54  have bores  45  and  55  respectively, therethrough. The female portion  54  having an inlet end  14 A that is coupled to the water pipe  17  by conventional means, such as sweat soldering, brazing, welding, or gluing. The water pipe  17  extends radially from the inlet end  14 A of the female portion  54  of the stem  14 . The female portion  54  having an opening  54 A opposite the inlet end  14 A, said opening  54 A for access to the bore  55  of the female portion  54 . 
     The male portion  44  having an outlet end  14 B having a threaded portion  18  formed with threads  18 A and appropriately connected to the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12 . The male portion  44  further including an opening  44 A opposite the outlet end  14 B, said opening  44 A for access to the bore  45  of the male portion  44 . The diameter of the outlet end  14 B being greater than the diameter of the balance or remainder of the male portion  44  that defines a shoulder  49 . 
     As shown in the drawings, disposed between the outlet end  14 B and the opening  44 A of the male portion  44  is an extension portion  47 , said extension portion  47  extending from the opening  44 A of the male portion  44  and terminates at the shoulder  49 . Two circular grooves  43  are formed the width of the extension portion  47  to receive sealing rings  43 A, such as an O-rings. The extension portion  47  of the male portion  44  is configured to slide in and out the bore  55  through the opening  54 A of the larger diameter female portion  54 , and therefore, the male portion  44  and female portion  54  will generally be telescopically engaged. Each of the sealing rings  43 A that encircle the extension portion  47  form a water-tight seal between the male portion  44  and the female portion  54 . As such, the inlet end  14 A of the female portion  54  of the stem  14  is in fluid communication with the outlet end  14 B of the male portion  44  of the stem  14  coupled to the inner end  41  of the sillcock  12 , as water flows through the bores  55 ,  45  respectively. 
     Freeze proof sillcocks are traditionally manufactured in varying lengths. The length of the sillcock is determined by the width of the wall surface in which the sillcock is to be installed. As may be appreciated, an installer may be faced with installation in a number of different structures, each having different wall thickness. The service sleeve  10  of the present invention is capable of adapting to sillcocks of various lengths. Depending upon the length dimensions of the sillcock  12 , the male and female portions  44 ,  54  may be adjusted in length, specifically the extension portion  47  of the male portion  44  is adjustably received within the bore  55  of the female portion  54  to adapt to the variety of different sillcock lengths. The stem portion  14  is telescopically adjusted as described above so that the combined length of the components situated in the inner chamber  15 ′ of the housing  15 , namely, the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12 , the stem  14  and that area of the water pipe  17  extending from the stem  14 , generally matches the length of the housing  15 . When the length of the sillcock varies, the stem portion  14  is also telescopically adjusted in length to maintain the said components within the housing  15 . In application, the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12 , the stem portion  14 , and the water pipe  17  extending from the inlet end  14 A of the stem portion  14  are axially aligned with the housing  15 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, attached to the outermost end  15 A of the housing  15  is a flange or collar  25  that extends radially from the outermost end  15 A of the housing  15 . Said collar  25  includes at least two screw holes  27  to receive screws  28  for securing the service sleeve  10  to the outside of the wall  100  of the structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the collar  25  further includes a central opening  29  having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the outer surface  16  of the housing  15  so that the outer surface  16  of the outermost end  15 A of the housing  15  is fixedly received within the cental opening  29  of the collar  25  by conventional means, such as sweat soldering, brazing, welding, or gluing. 
     Said outermost end  15 A of the housing  15  is connected to the collar  25  so that water in the inner chamber  15 ′ of the housing  15  may drain through the collar  25  and outside the structure. The run of the water pipe  17 , the stem  14 , and the housing  15  of the present invention, slopes slightly downward to the sillcock  12  in order to facilitate draining of any water in the inner chamber  15 ′ towards the collar  25  and outside the structure. 
     The frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  further includes a cap  35 , said cap  35  having an inner surface  37 , and further including a first end  35 A having an opening  35 A′, said first end  35 A having a diameter to receive the outer surface  16  of the housing  15 , and a second end  35 B having an opening  35 B′, said second end  35 B having a smaller diameter than the first end  35 A, said second end  35 B having a diameter sized to slidingly receive the water pipe  17 . As shown in the drawings, the first end  35 A of the cap  35  receives the outer surface  16  of the inner end  15 B of the housing  15 . As said first end  35 A having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the housing  15 , the outer surface  16  of the housing  15  is snugly received within the first end  35 A forming a tight connection between the outer surface  16  of the housing  15  and the inner surface  37  of the first end  35 A of the cap  35 . 
     Likewise, as shown in FIG. 1, the second end  35 B having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the water pipe  17  so that the cap  35  may be slidingly positioned along the outer surface of the water pipe  17 . In use, the cap  35  maintains its selected position along the water pipe  17  because the inner surface  37  of the first end  35 A is in frictional contact with the outer surface  16  of the housing  15  and, because the inner surface  37  of the second end  37 B is in frictional contact with the outer surface of the water pipe  17 . As will be further described, the water pipe  17  extends through the opening  35 B′ of the second end  35 B of the cap  35 , through the cap  35  and is attached to the inlet end  14 A of the stem  14  within the housing  15 . 
     The service sleeve  10  is simple to install and requires no physical modification to the sillcock  12  or water pipe  17 . First, with the collar  25  and the body portion  40  of the sillcock  12  against the outer surface the wall  100 , the length of the stem  14  is telescopically adjusted until the combined length of the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12 , the stem  14 , and that area of the water pipe  17  extending from the stem  14  approximately matches the length of the housing  15 . The cap  35  is positioned on the water pipe  17  by directing the end of the water pipe  17  through the opening  35 B′ of the second end  35 B of the cap  35  so that the first end  35 A of the cap  35  confronts the wall  100  of the structure. The stem  14  is disposed within the housing  15  and the water pipe  17  is attached to the inlet end  14 A of the stem  14  within the housing  15  as described above. The housing  15  is then positioned first by inserting the outer surface  16  of the housing  15  within the first end  35 A of the cap  35  forming a tight connection between the outer surface  16  of the housing  15  and the inner surface  37  of the first end  35 A of the cap  35 , and then, with the collar  25  against the outside wall  100  of the structure, slidingly positioning the cap  35  (with the housing  15  received in the first end  15 A of the cap  35 ) along the water pipe  17  to the desired location so that the outer surface  16  of the outermost end  15 A of the housing  15  is received within the central opening  29  of the collar  25  as previously described, thereby enclosing the housing  15 . Thereafter, the outlet end  14 B of the stem  14  is appropriately connected to the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12  for a water-tight seal. 
     To repair a ruptured sillcock installed within the support sleeve  10 , the user disconnects the sillcock  12  from the collar  25 , and pulls the sillcock  12  from the wall  100 . Pulling the sillcock  12  away from the wall  100  likewise pulls and exposes the stem  14  from the interior of the wall  100 . The user then has access to the contents of the housing  15  namely, the sillcock  12  including the inner end  41  of the sillcock  12 , and the stem  14 . The user then threadably separates the inner portion  41  of the sillcock  12  from the outlet end  14 B of the stem  14 . The user is able therefore to separate the sillcock  12  from the stem  14  and repair or replace the ruptured sillcock and re-install as described above. 
     The frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  prevents damage to a wall of a structure caused by a ruptured sillcock. It being understood that should the sillcock  12  rupture or crack, water leaking from the cracked sillcock  12  will remain within the inner chamber  15 ′ of the housing  15  and drain through the collar  15 , and outside the structure. 
     The frost proof sillcock service sleeve  10  of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to install since it does not require any physical modification to the sillcock  12  or water pipe  17  when being installed. Furthermore, the service sleeve  10  may be adapted to varying lengths of sillcocks without jeopardizing the desired objectives of the present invention. 
     The preferred material for the housing  15 , the collar  25 , and the cap  35  is copper tubing and brass, however, said components may be formed of a variety of alternative materials. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, while the collar  25  and the housing  15  are preferably attached by conventional means, such as sweat soldering, brazing, welding, or gluing, said components may be an initially integral part of a one piece body. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.