Patent Abstract:
A valve lock assembly includes a cover for selective placement over a valve. The cover has opposing sidewalls, each sidewall including at least one cover aperture. The assembly further includes a strap to secure the cover to the valve, the strap having opposing end portions each of which include at least one strap aperture. A locking pin is to be placed through both the strap apertures and the cover apertures when they are aligned. The assembly also includes a lock body, which features a first bore to receive the locking pin, and a second bore which receives a locking mechanism that prevents removal of the locking pin from the lock body. The lock body is freely rotatable about the locking pin so that the valve lock assembly may be installed or removed from a wide range of angles.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a valve lock assembly and more particularly to a valve lock assembly that is highly tamper resistant and easy to install. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Utilities, such as water, are provided to customers through lines that include valves. These valves, which are commonly referred to as “stops” or “cocks,” are used to control the flow of water through the line. Such valves are well known and generally include a body portion having an inlet and outlet that are separated by a rotatable plug. The plug has a handle or knob that may be rotated to control fluid flow. 
     As will be appreciated, it is generally desirable to secure such utility valves so that they cannot be opened to provide gas or water to an unauthorized customer. Typically, securing such valves involves partially enclosing the valve with a shroud so that the handle or knob cannot be accessed. The shroud is secured in place over the valve with, for example, a pad lock. 
     In a known locking assembly, a shroud is locked about a water valve through the use of a pad lock that includes an exposed, accessible shackle which, in some circumstances, may be cut with bolt cutters or the like. While such assemblies are generally quite effective at securing utility valves, a valve lock having a shackle portion that cannot be accessed to be cut is desirable. 
     Moreover, known valve locks are relatively difficult to remove or install, as they are located in subterranean water meter boxes that are relatively small and cramped. Known valve locks also have a somewhat limited range of motion when installed making insertion of a key challenging, particularly in the cramped confines of a meter box. 
     Known valve locks also include shrouds that are relatively expensive to manufacture, as they must be stamped, folded and then welded to form a box. As will be appreciated, a valve lock assembly that includes a shroud or cover that provides an ease of manufacture is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve lock assembly. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a valve lock assembly that is highly tamper resistant. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a valve lock assembly that is easy to install and remove. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a valve lock assembly that may be easily manufactured. 
     An embodiment of the inventive valve lock assembly includes a cover for selective placement over a valve. The cover has opposing sidewalls, each sidewall including at least one cover aperture. The assembly further includes a strap to secure the cover to the valve, the strap having opposing end portions each of which include at least one strap aperture. A locking pin is placed through both the strap apertures and the cover apertures when they are aligned. The assembly also includes a lock body, which features a first bore to receive the locking pin, and a second bore which receives a locking mechanism that prevents removal of the locking pin from the lock body. The lock body is freely rotatable about the locking pin so that the valve lock assembly may be installed or removed from a wide range of angles. 
     An addition embodiment of the inventive valve lock assembly includes a cover for selective placement over a valve, the cover having opposing sidewalls each of which includes at least one cover aperture. The assembly further includes a strap having opposing end portions each of which include at least one strap aperture. A locking pin which may be placed through both the strap apertures and the cover apertures, when the strap and cover apertures are aligned, is also included. The assembly further includes a lock body having both a through bore to receive the locking pin and a blind bore. A locking mechanism is also included which is received by the blind bore to prevent removal of the locking pin from the lock body. The lock body is freely rotatable about the locking pin so that the valve lock assembly may be installed or removed from a range of angles and the cover at least partially covers the locking pin thereby protecting it from tampering. 
     Yet another embodiment of the inventive valve assembly includes a cover for selective placement over a valve. The cover having opposing sidewalls, each sidewall including a plurality of cover apertures. The cover having an upper surface having two slots and two radiused edge portions. A substantially U-shaped strap having opposing end portions each of which include a plurality of strap apertures is also included. The end portions pass through the slots of the cover to attach the cover to a valve. The assembly also includes a locking pin, which may be placed through both the strap apertures and the cover apertures, when the strap and cover apertures are in alignment, to removably secure the cover to the valve. The locking pin having an end flange to limit its travel through the apertures. A circular lock body in further included which has a through bore to receive the locking pin. The lock body further included a blind bore. A barrel lock is included which is removably received by the blind bore to prevent removal of the locking pin from the lock body. The lock body is freely rotatable about the locking pin so that the valve lock assembly may be installed or removed from a range of angles and the cover at least partially covers the locking pin thereby protecting it from tampering. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art valve lock assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the prior art assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an additional top view of the prior art assembly of  FIG. 1  depicting the assembly within a subterranean water meter box. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the prior art assembly and subterranean water meter box of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  perspective view of an assembled valve lock in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a reverse side of the assembled valve lock of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a lock cover of the valve lock of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a strap portion of the valve lock of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the strap portion of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a locking pin of the valve lock of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a lock body of the valve lock of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 12  is a sectioned view of the lock body of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  depict a known valve lock assembly  10  that is used to secure water meter valves  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , such valves  50  are housed within water meter boxes  80  that are located underground. In use, the valve assembly  10  is installed over the valve  50  within the subterranean water meter box  80 , which is then further secured with a removable cover  90 . 
     In particular, the valve lock assembly  10  includes a shroud  40  that is secured over a valve  50  through the use of a strap portion  60 , which extends through slots  70  in an upper surface of the shroud  40  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The strap  60  and shroud  40  are secured together, and over the valve  50 , through a pad lock  20  which features a relatively long shackle  30  that is inserted through aligned apertures in the shroud  40  and strap  60  and locked. 
     A potential drawback of this known valve lock assembly  10  is that when the water meter box cover  90  is removed, the shackle  30  of the pad lock  20  is exposed. As will be appreciated, the exposed shackle  30  may be cut with bolt cutters or the like and the assembly  10  may be removed from the valve  50 . The valve  50  can then be manipulated to initiate the flow of water. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the valve  50  is located in close proximity to a bottom surface of the meter box  80 . As such, a service person must get down on their knees and lean into the meter box  80  to access valve  50 . The depicted valve lock assembly  10  does not mitigate the already challenging installation environment presented by the meter box  80 . Indeed, the relatively large size of the pad lock  20  and shackle  30 , as well as the limited range of motion of the pad lock  20  make installation and removal difficult. 
     In particular, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the degree of rotation of the pad lock  20  is limited by the shackle  30  contacting upper terminal ends of the strap  60 . As shown, the pad lock  20  cannot be rotated such that the key opening  100  faces upward. Accordingly, an installer must insert a key into the pad lock  20  from an angle that, given the confines of the meter box  80 , can be awkward and difficult. 
     As discussed in greater detail below, the inventive valve lock assembly addresses these potential issues and more. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5  a valve lock assembly  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The assembly  200  generally includes a cover  220 , which is placed over a valve  240 , a substantially U-shaped strap  260 , a lock body  280 , and a locking pin  300 . The assembly  200  further includes a locking mechanism, such as a barrel lock  320 , which, for example, may be the lock disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,631, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Referring now to both  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the cover  220  includes several apertures  330  that are formed in the sidewalls  380 . The apertures facilitate passage of the locking pin  300  so secure the cover  220  and strap  260  to a valve  240 . The cover  220  further includes two slots  340  which allow the ends of the strap  260  to extend through the cover  220  so that the cover  220  may be in relatively tight registration with the valve  240 . 
     As will be appreciated, the cover  220  has five walls, a top wall  350 , which contains the slots  340 , a front wall  360 , a rear wall  370 , and two sidewalls  380 . The cover  220  is open on the bottom so that it may be placed over a valve  240 . The front and rear walls  360 ,  370 , both include concave, radiused edges  390 , that are configured to receive curved surfaces of the valve  240  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     In one embodiment, the cover  220  is preferably manufactured from a one-piece stamping. As stated previously, known valve locks include shrouds, such as shroud  40  ( FIGS. 1-4 ), which are manufactured through a relatively complex multi-step process. This process involves stamping, folding and welding the shroud  40  into a box. The cover  220 , however, is preferably manufactured by one-piece stamping thereby avoiding the subsequent folding and welding and providing an ease of manufacture, and an associated cost savings, not presently available with known valve locks. 
     As will be appreciated, the cover  220  should be manufactured from a suitably hard material, such as, for example, hardened steel. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the inventive assembly includes a substantially U-shaped strap  260 . As shown, the strap  260  preferably includes a series of apertures  400  that are spaced apart from each other and extend longitudinally along the parallel portions  410  of the strap  260 . The strap apertures  400  on each of the parallel portions are aligned with one another so that the locking pin  300  may pass through them. The straps feature multiple apertures  400  that are spaced apart to allow the assembly to be placed over valves of varying sizes. 
     In use, the strap  260  allows the cover  220  to be removably secured to the valve  240  by inserting the end portions of the strap  260  through the slots  340  of the cover. The strap apertures  400  are then aligned with the cover apertures  330  and a locking pin  300  ( FIG. 10 ) is then placed through the aligned cover and strap apertures  330 ,  400  and secured via the lock body  280  and barrel lock  320 . 
     The locking pin  300  is shown in detail in  FIG. 10 . As depicted, the locking pin  300  has a head portion  420 , a neck portion  430  having a reduced diameter, a body portion  440 , and an end flange  450 . The locking pin  300  is sized such that the head, neck and body portions  420 ,  430 ,  440 , will pass through both the cover apertures  330  and the strap apertures  400 . The end flange  450 , however, has a circumference greater than that of the apertures  330 ,  400  so that it may not pass through. As such, the end flange  450  limits the travel of the locking pin  300  through the apertures. 
     As stated above, in use, the locking pin  300  is inserted into a through bore  460  in the substantially circular lock body  280 . Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the lock body  280  includes both through bore  460 , that accommodates a portion of the locking pin, and a blind bore  470  that is configured to receive a locking mechanism such as a barrel lock  320  ( FIG. 5 ). The blind bore  470  and through bore  460  intersect in the center of the lock body  280  which is depicted in  FIG. 12 . The blind bore  470  also includes a channel  500  that is configured to receive locking balls of a barrel lock (not shown). 
     When the locking pin is inserted into the lock body, the flange end of the pin limits its travel such that the neck portion  430  of the pin is located at the point of intersection of the bores  460 ,  470  in the lock body  280 . The reduced size of the neck portion allows a barrel lock  320 , for example, to be inserted into the lock body and locked in place thereby preventing the pin from being removed from the lock body  280 . As will be appreciated, the larger head portion  420  cannot pass by the barrel lock  320  when it is in bore  470 , and the locking pin  300  cannot be removed. 
     The neck portion  430  of the pin need not extend annularly around a circumference of the locking pin  300 . Alternatively, in another embodiment, the neck portion  430  may be a notch or cutaway in the pin that is sized or shaped to accommodate a barrel lock while preventing pin removal when assembled as described above. 
     An important aspect of the present invention is that the lock body  280  may freely rotate about the locking pin. This is significant, in that it is often difficult to install a lock on a valve that is located in a subterranean box having a restricted area. Known designs, such as the valve lock  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , include a pad lock  20  that has a limited range of motion making it more difficult to install a locking mechanism such as a barrel lock. In particular, known designs do not permit a locking mechanism to be installed in a vertical position, i.e., the position most conducive to installation. 
     To this end, it will be appreciated that the lock body  280  need not be round as shown. Other shapes may be used as long as the body  280  allows for free rotation about a locking pin when assembled as described herein. 
     Moreover, known valve locks include relatively long pad locks that are difficult to install in the limited space of a box. The inventive assembly  200  includes a relatively compact and short locking pin  300  with an equally compact lock body  280  that are spaced apart from the walls of the box to an extent greater than with known valve locks. 
     Another important feature of the present invention is that it is tamper resistant. That is, known valve locks include a pad lock  20  with a large shackle  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shackle  30  is exposed and, in certain circumstance, may be cut by a bolt cutter or pried with a pry bar. In contrast, the inventive valve lock assembly  200  includes a lock body  280  that is close fitting to the cover  220  making it difficult to pry and impossible to cut with bolt cutters as the locking pin  300  is not exposed. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the invention, they are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “upper,” “lower,” “bottom,” “top,” “up,” “down,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical or positional requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose several embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments of invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
     As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. 
     Since certain changes may be made in the above-described valve lock assembly, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8