Patent Publication Number: US-10760248-B2

Title: Hydrant tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/600,672, filed Feb. 28, 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firefighting tools, and more particularly to firefighting tools for operating a fire hydrant. 
     A major problem that is often experienced by fire hydrant operators/firefighters is caused by the location of the hydrant with regard to other structures in its close proximity. When hydrants are located near a buildings, fences, walls, parked vehicles, ballads, power poles or sign posts, it is not possible to fully rotate most hydrant tools/devices 360 degrees, thus impeding or slowing down the speed in which the hydrant can be opened or closed to combat a fire. 
     Likewise, many hydrant tools/devices are long in length and do not allow for a operator/firefighter to stand safely in one place while opening or closing a hydrant. Those type of hydrant tools; devices cause the operator/firefighter to over reach or extend their bodies when trying to stand safely in one place during hydrant operations, thus causing many back and shoulder injuries. 
     Using these elongated tools, the operator/firefighter must also walk around the hydrant and in front of the hydrant&#39;s discharge caps in order to open or close the hydrant. If these discharge caps are loosely or improperly applied, they can become very dangerous when the hydrant is under pressure. These loose discharge caps can violently fly off and injure the operator/firefighter that is walking around in front of them. Also, walking around a hydrant can be hazardous in times of inclement weather. 
     In winter conditions, when ice is concealed under the snow, a slip and fall injury can occur. When opening or closing a hydrant, standing in the safe zone is very important. This one act will dramatically reduce the number of injuries to operators/firefighters. These are only some of the most common threats to the safety of personnel while opening and closing a common fire hydrant. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an tool and method for operating a fire hydrant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a hydrant operating tool includes a base wheel that is formed as a generally round plate having a plurality of finger grip protrusions around a peripheral edge of the base wheel. A Storz wrench opening is defined in a side edge of the base wheel. A leverage bar is extensible from a lateral edge of the base wheel. A socketed opening defined in a center of the base wheel, and is configured for engagement with an operating valve of the hydrant. 
     In some embodiments, an elongate slot is defined in a front face of the base wheel and extending through the peripheral edge of the base wheel. The leverage bar is received in and is extensible from the elongate slot. A 20 is dimensioned to cover a majority of the elongate slot and retain the leverage bar within the elongate slot. 
     In yet other embodiments, a detent is defined in a lateral side edge of the leverage bar and a biased pawl protrudes into the elongate slot and is configured to engage with the detent. The detent is defined at a first end of the leverage bar to retain the leverage bar in an extended position. In addition, the detent may be defined at a second end of the leverage bar to retain the leverage bar in a retracted position. 
     In preferred embodiments, the socketed opening comprises a plurality of geometrically shaped apertures. The socketed opening may be carried in a replaceable insert that is adapted to be received in an bore defined in the base plate. 
     In yet other embodiments, a plurality of hand holds are defined through a face of the base plate and disposed in a spaced apart relation about a circumference of the base plate. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a hydrant tool shown in an extended position. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the hydrant tool shown in a stowed position. 
         FIG. 3  is an end elevation view of the hydrant tool. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a base wheel of the hydrant tool. 
         FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the base wheel taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an end elevation view of the base wheel. 
         FIG. 7  is a detail view of the detent taken from circle  7  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a 3D rendering of the base wheel. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a leverage bar. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the leverage bar. 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of the leverage bar. 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of a cover plate. 
         FIG. 13  is an end elevation view of the cover plate. 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a socket plate. 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along the longitudinal centerline of the socket plate shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view of the socket plate taken along line  16 - 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved hydrant operating tool and method of operating the same. The present invention provides a solution to existing problems with hydrant tools by providing a hydrant tool that is compact and allows the operator to stand firmly and safely in one place while opening and closing a fire hydrant. This hydrant tools/device design allows for quicker and a more safe hydrant operation. 
     As seen in reference to the drawings of  FIGS. 1-16 , the hydrant tool  10  includes a base wheel  12  and a leverage bar  20  that is selectively extendable from a lateral side edge of the base wheel  12 . The base wheel  12  may be formed to a comfortable 15 inch circumference wheel with a plurality of finger grip protrusions  14  defined around a peripheral edge of the base wheel  12 . The tool components may be made from a lightweight and durable material. A center of hydrant tool is made to hold an interchangeable socket  32  that can be customized to fit any hydrant operating valve. 
     A wrench opening  16  is defined in a side edge of the base wheel  12 . Preferably, the wrench opening is a Storz wrench opening  16  that is configured for engagement with and removal of a Storz type cap from a fire hydrant. A plurality of hand holds  19  are preferably defined through a face of the base plate and disposed in a spaced apart relation about a circumference of the base plate  12 . The hand holds  19  provide for a better gripping action by the fire fighter and contribute to reducing the weight of the hydrant tool  12 . 
     The leverage bar  20  is selectively extensible from a lateral edge of the base wheel  12 . The base wheel  12  may be configured with an elongate slot  22  that is defined in a front face of the base wheel  12  and extends through the peripheral edge of the base wheel  12 . The leverage bar  20  is captively received in and extensible from the elongate slot  22 . A cover plate  24  may be provided and is dimensioned to cover a majority of the elongate slot  22  and retain the leverage bar  20  within the elongate slot  22 . The cover plate  24  may be secured to the base wheel  12  by a plurality of fasteners. 
     The leverage bar  20  may also include one or more detents  25  defined in a lateral side edge of the leverage bar. A biased pawl  18  may be received within a bias aperture in the elongate slot  22 . The biased pawl  18  protrudes into the elongate slot  22  and is configured for cooperative engage with the detent  25 . The one or more detents  25  may be defined at a first end of the leverage bar  20  to retain the leverage bar  20  in an extended position. The detent  25  may also be defined at a second end of the leverage bar  20  to retain the leverage bar  20  in a retracted position. Alternatively, the detents  25  and pawl  18  may be reversed such that the detents  25  are defined in the elongate slot  22  and the pawl  18  is defined in the leverage bar  20 . 
     The leverage bar  20  can easily be extended by pulling on a raised protrusion grip  28  at the second end of the leverage bar  20 . This raised extension grip allows the leverage bar  20  to be extended with gloved hands, as would typically be the case for a firefighter wearing personal protective gear. 
     The socketed opening  32  is preferably defined near a center of the base wheel  12  and is configured for cooperative engagement with an operating valve of the hydrant. The socketed opening  32  may comprises a plurality of geometrically shaped apertures  32 , such as a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, and the like that is compatible with the operating valve of the hydrant. The plurality of socketed openings  32  may be the same geometric shape, with a first shape dimensioned to fit the operating valve nut. The second of the plurality of socketed openings  32  may be dimensioned larger than the operating valve nut to accommodate for the presence of additional layers of paint, corrosion, and other contaminants, that may have been applied to or developed on the hydrant after being placed in service. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the socketed opening  32  includes a replaceable insert  30 , adapted to be received in a slotted bore  34  defined in the base plate  12 . The replaceable insert  30  is made from a hardened material that can withstand wear and tear during normal use. The replaceable insert  30  may be secured to the base wheel  12  via a plurality of fasteners. 
     As will be appreciated, the hydrant tool  10  of the present invention is configured to facilitate safe and efficient hydrant operations. The hydrant tool  10  permits the operator/firefighter the ability to remove all common hydrant caps, including the Storz style coupling. The replaceable socketed insert  30  provides the ability to select a socketed opening  32  that may be used on any hydrant manufactured world wide. This customizable socketed insert  30  can be removed and replaced at any time by the consumer or from the manufacturer at time of purchase. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.