Patent Publication Number: US-2019195415-A1

Title: Protective Brace for Conduit

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/610,357 filed on Dec. 26, 2017. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to protective equipment. More specifically the present invention is a protective cast designed to prevent kinks in flexible pipes, hoses, or conduit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tubular piping is used in a plurality of fields most commonly construction. Infrastructure projects can be costly, and safety is one of the critical factors, therefore conducting these processes with accuracy is of high importance. In addition, due to budget constraints, construction equipment alternation may further jeopardize the safety of the personnel. The necessity to distribute water over areas where it was inaccessible led to development of complex networks of tubular structures. Transporting fluids over great distances is at the basis of modern lifestyle. A household is a prime example where plumbing and pipe network systems are frequently used. A plurality of piping structures is used depending on the task. Conduit of various sizes is used to house electrical systems as well. In addition, resources such as natural gas and oil are transported using piping of various sizes. 
     Construction methods have improved significantly over the years, resulting in more efficient structures, lower costs, and a safer working environment. Modern technology led to the development of better methods of transporting liquids and even gasses over lengthy distances. Transfer lines are used at worksites to transfer large quantities of liquids over various distances such as water or fuel. Supplying liquids from a single source at multiple points in a work area, requires angled attachments. Workers are required to cut existing conduit and install angled adapters, a process which may take long periods of time, increase equipment cost and jeopardize safety. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the first u-shaped brace used in the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the second u-shaped brace used in the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional profile view of the present invention showing the first u-shaped brace and the second u-shaped brace. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 , the present invention, a protective brace for conduit, is a device that enables a flexible hose or conduit to be redirected without becoming kinked or obstructed. The present invention makes use of a rigid brace that can be clamped around a section of the flexible conduit. This rigid brace retains the flexible conduit in a desired shape until removed. Specifically, the present invention comprises a first u-shaped brace  1 , a second u-shaped brace  2 , a first plurality of detachable fasteners  3 , a second plurality of detachable fasteners  4 , and a conduit channel  5 . The first u-shaped brace  1  is designed to be a mirrored version of the second u-shaped brace  2  such that the two components can be mated to form a brace that circumscribes the conduit. Specifically, the first plurality of detachable fasteners  3  is connected in between a first lateral edge  14  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and a first lateral edge  21  of the second u-shaped brace  2 . Additionally, the second plurality of detachable fasteners  4  is connected in between a second lateral edge  15  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and a second lateral edge  22  of the second u-shaped brace  2 . As a result, the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2  form an elongated member that can be placed around a section of conduit. Further, the conduit channel  5  is delineated by the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shape brace while the two components are coupled by the first plurality of detachable fasteners  3  and the second plurality of detachable fasteners  4 . Preferably, the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped are each semicircular in cross-sectional profile. Accordingly, the present invention can be deployed to redirect pieces of conduit that have been previously installed. To achieve this functionality, a user placed the conduit into in between the first lateral edge  14  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second lateral edge  15  of the first u-shaped brace  1 . The user then couples the second u-shaped brace  2  to the first u-shaped brace  1  by engaging the first plurality of detachable fasteners  3  and the second plurality of detachable fasteners  4 . The first u-shaped brace  1  is mated to the second u-shaped brace  2  with fasteners including, but not limited to, clasps, screws, clamps, magnetic couplers, and interlocking members. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , as described above, the present invention is designed to function as a tubular housing that is placed around the section of conduit. The conduit channel  5  longitudinally traverses through the tubular housing created by the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2  and acting as a protective enclosure for the section of conduit. The first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2  each comprise a first leg  11 , a second leg  12 , and an intermediary webbing  13 . The intermediary webbing  13  is a rigid section of each brace that is connected in between the first leg  11  and the second leg  12 . Consequently, the intermediary webbing  13  forms the interconnecting portion of the u-shaped brace that cradles the conduit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5 , the first lateral edge of the first u-shaped is being positioned adjacent to the first leg  11  of the first u-shaped brace  1 , opposite to the intermediary webbing  13  of the first u-shaped brace  1 . Additionally, the second lateral edge  15  of the first u-shaped brace  1  is positioned adjacent to the second leg  12  of the first u-shaped brace  1 , opposite to the intermediary webbing  13  of the first u-shaped brace  1 . Thus, the first u-shaped brace  1  forms a trough for the conduit that can be mated to the second u-shaped brace. Similarly, the first lateral edge  21  of the second u-shaped brace is positioned adjacent to the first leg  11  of the second u-shaped brace, opposite to the intermediary webbing  13  of the second u-shaped brace. Further, the second lateral edge  22  of the second u-shaped brace is positioned adjacent to the second leg  12  of the second u-shaped brace, opposite to the intermediary webbing  13  of the second u-shaped brace. Accordingly, the second u-shaped brace forms a mirror image of the first u-shaped brace  1 . The first plurality of detachable fasteners  3  is connected in between the first leg  11  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and the first leg  11  of the second u-shaped brace  2 . Likewise, the second plurality of detachable fasteners  4  is connected in between the second leg  12  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second leg  12  of the second u-shaped brace  2 . As a result, the first plurality of detachable fasteners  3  and the second plurality of detachable fasteners  4  to couple the first u-shaped brace  1  to the second u-shaped brace  2 , around the section of conduit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 , the present invention is designed as a brace that redirects the section of conduit while preventing kinks. To achieve this, the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2  each comprise a first directional-adjustment portion  16 , a second directional-adjustment portion  17 , and a central portion  18 . The first directional-adjustment portion  16 , the second, directional-adjustment portion, and the central portion  18  enable the present invention to form one or more bends in the section of conduit. Specifically, the first directional-adjustment portion  16  is terminally connected to the central portion  18 . Additionally, an orientation axis  161  of the first directional-adjustment portion  16  is angularly offset from an orientation axis  181  of the central portion  18 . As a result, the section of conduit is retained in a bent configuration that corresponds to the angular offset between the orientation axis  161  of the first directional-adjustment portion  16  and the orientation axis  181  of the central portion  18 . Similarly, the second directional-adjustment portion  17  is terminally connected to the central portion  18 , opposite to the first directional-adjustment portion  16 . Likewise, an orientation axis  171  of the second directional-adjustment portion  17  is angularly offset from the orientation axis  181  of the central portion  18 , Accordingly, the second directional-adjustment portion  17  retains the section of conduit in an orientation that is angularly offset from the central portion  18 . Preferably, the first directional-adjustment portion  16  and the second directional-adjustment portion  17  are configured to transition the section of conduit through a ninety-degree turn. Additionally, multiple sections of the present invention may be linked to form a serpentine route for the section of conduit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5 , the present invention is designed to function as a multifaceted system that can be used to retrofit the section of conduit. To that end, the present invention further comprises a protective coating  6 , at least one first locking mechanism  7 , and at least one second locking mechanism  8 . The protective coating  6  is superimposed onto the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2 . As a result, the protective coating  6  modifies the material properties of the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2 . For example, the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second u-shaped brace  2  will be coated in a thermally insulating protective coating  6  when the section of conduit must be shielded from high temperatures in the external environment. Embodiments of the resent invention are equipped with protective coating  6   s  that serve various functions including, but not limited to, electromagnetic insulation, lubrication, and corrosion resistance. The first locking mechanism  7  is connected in between the first lateral edge  14  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and the first lateral edge  21  of the second u-shaped brace  2 . Similarly, the second locking mechanism  8  is connected in between the second lateral edge  15  of the first u-shaped brace  1  and the second lateral edge  22  of the second u-shaped brace  2 . Consequently, the first u-shaped brace  1  cannot become decoupled from the second u-shaped brace  2  without first disengaging the first locking mechanism  7  and the second locking mechanism  8 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.