Abstract:
A system and kit for forming an inexpensive protective plenum around pipes and related equipment subject to freezing on a mobile home is disclosed. The system uses thin, flexible material, such as plastic tubes, to form a first protective plenum around the pipes and to connect enclosures around a water box forming a second protective plenum. The first plenum around the pipes may be installed in sections with the sections joined with rings or collars at the joints. The rings and collars may also be formed of inexpensive materials, such as plastics. The second plenum may be connected to the first plenum or to a tube. The first plenum and the tube may be connected to a source of hot air, such as the duct work of the hot air heating system of the home.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/411,936, filed Apr. 11, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an antifreezing guard for protecting water boxes on a mobile home from freezing. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     Water pipes in the unheated space under a mobile home are subject to freezing. Other components of the water service system such as hose bibs and especially water boxes are also subject to freezing. Water boxes are particularly prone to freezing because they are more exposed than the other components of the water service system. 
     Water pipes in unheated spaces are typically wrapped with an electric heat tape in order to protect them from freezing. It is good practice to turn the heat tape off in the summer to extend the life of the heat tape. With a mobile home, however, the heat tape is usually concealed under a skirt of the trailer and no thought is given to the heat tape until a pipe freezes because the heat tape has burned out. With respect to mobile homes, other devices, such as rigid plenums tapped into a heating duct of a forced air furnace have been suggested for use in keeping water pipes from freezing but no provision was made for heating the water box. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 70,365, 165,550, 2,189,466, 2,595,408, 3,304,005, 3,819,209, 3,832,525, 4,124,179, 4,735,235, 5,094,273, 5,219,403, 6,019,123, and 6,206,030 are incorporated by reference herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an inexpensive antifreezing guard, which can be provided in kit form, for forming a protective plenum around water boxes subject to freezing. The present invention also provides a method of forming such a plenum. The kit and plenum of the invention is preferably formed of inexpensive materials. The plenum is formed from an enclosure surrounding the water box. The enclosure is connected by a tube to a source of warm air supplied by a heat duct in the mobile home. 
     The plenum may be formed from sheet stock which is seamed into tubes or boxes at the place of manufacture or molded as a casing. Alternatively, the boxes or tubes may be formed at the place of installation. Premade boxes or tubes are best installed on pipes subject to freezing when the home is first placed on a site but for retrofitting existing structures, boxes or tubes formed at the place of installation may be easier to install. 
     The tube may be seamed or seamless and formed from sheet stock. If seamed, it may be formed at the place of installation by joining opposite edges of the sheet stock to form the tube. The opposite edges may be joined with an adhesive tape or by applying an adhesive layer at an edge of a sheet which may be overlapped with an opposite edge. Hook and pile fasteners, such as VELCRO brand tape, may be used in place of adhesive. The tape or adhesive may be applied at the place of installation of the plenum of the invention or at a separate location and protected by a strip sheet until the time of installation. 
     The tubes may be installed in sections and the sections intermediated by collars or rings. The enclosure around the water box is attached to a hot air source at the place of installation by the tube. The hot air loosely inflates the tube and forms a warm air blanket around the water box in the enclosure and protects it from freezing. 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive protective plenum around a water box subject to freezing. It is another object to provide the plenum in kit form for installation on new or existing water boxes subject to freezing. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated, corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view, in schematic, of the floor layout of a typical mobile home; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the device of the invention installed on a water pipe in an unheated crawl space, such as under the mobile home of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the device of the invention taken along the plane  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, exploded, perspective view of the device of the invention installed on a water pipe in an unheated crawl space, such as under the mobile home of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the device of the invention, in schematic, taken along the plane  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a flexible sheet of the invention used to construct the flexible plenum of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the sheet of  FIG. 6  formed into a tubular plenum of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment of the flexible sheet of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a cylindrical water box enclosure of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of a blank for a water box enclosure according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a water box enclosure formed from the blank shown in FIG.  10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mobile home  10  is shown. Mobile home  10  has a floor  12  and an unheated crawl space  14  under floor  12 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Mobile home  12  has a forced hot air furnace  16  heating mobile home  10  through a duct work  18 , shown in phantom in FIG.  1 . 
     Water is supplied to mobile home  10  from an external water box  20  through a pipe  22 , shown in phantom in FIG.  1  and schematically in FIG.  5 . Pipe  22  connects to the internal hot and cold water system (not shown) in mobile home  10  at an external water inlet  23  which is usually located near water heater  24 , as shown. It will be appreciated that additional water service pipes, such as a service pipe  26  to a hose bibb  28  shown in  FIG. 5 , are typically included in mobile home  10  or in other dwellings in which the device of the invention may be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , crawl space  14  of mobile home  10  may have an insulating layer  29  under floor  12  over which a vapor barrier layer  30  is installed. Duct work  18  as shown in the drawings is a conventional duct system using rigid ducts, such as sheet metal ducts. It will be appreciated that other duct systems  18  may be used, including flexible and semi-flexible tubular duct systems known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , a protective plenum  32  for water pipe  22 , and other pipes  26  for mobile home  10 , is constructed of thin, flexible plastic tubes  34 . Tubes  34  may be seamless, but for some installations it is preferred that they be seamed. In a completed installation tubes  34  are installed around pipes  22  and  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 5 . Tubes  34  about pipe  22  are connected to hot air duct  18  by a tube  36  which extends upwardly from one of tubes  34 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , tube  34  around pipe  22  may be connected to heat duct  18  by more than one tube  36 . 
     Hot air duct  18  may be joined to tube  36  by cutting slits  38  in hot air duct  18 , as shown, and bending down tabs  40 . Tabs  40  are arranged in an approximately circular configuration, as shown, and mated with a collar or ring  42 . Flexible tube  36  is installed over collar  42  and tabs  40  and joined using suitable fasteners such as screws  44 . 
     Tube  36  is joined to tube  34  by cutting slits  46  in tube  34  and bending up tabs  48 . Tabs  48  are arranged in an approximately circular configuration, as shown, and mated with a collar or ring  50 . Flexible tube  36  is installed over collar or ring  50  and tabs  48 . Flexible tube  36 , tabs  48  and collar or ring  50  are joined, as shown, using suitable fasteners such as the screws  52 . Depending on the distance between collars or rings  42  and  50 , additional, spaced apart collars or rings may be provided for support of flexible tube  36 . 
     Flexible tube  34  is installed over the pipes, such as pipe  22 , typically in sections as shown. The sections of flexible tubing  34  are joined by a collar or ring  54  which is mated to the ends of adjacent sections of flexible tubing  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The joint of flexible tubing  34  and collar or ring  54  is fixed by suitable fasteners, such as screws  56 . Depending on the length of the section, intermediate, spaced apart collars or rings may be provided in flexible tubing  34  for support. 
     When installed on a system of pipes, such as pipes  22  and  26 , and connected to a hot air duct such as duct  18 , flexible tubes  34  and  36  form protective plenum  32  for the system of pipes. The pressure of the forced air from furnace  16  inflates flexible tubes  34  and  36  like a low pressure balloon and sections of flexible tubes  34  and  36  may not require additional internal or external collars or rings between the joints. A return duct to the hot air system is not needed. The air leakage from the joints of tubes  34  and  36  permits sufficient air flow through plenum  32  to maintain a hot air barrier around pipes  22  and  26 , and other pipes in plenum  32 . The heat loss from plenum  32  is negligible and most of the hot air that is lost is leaked into crawl space  14  where it may provide some warming effect to floor  12  of mobile home  10 . 
     As described above, the elements of plenum  32  are joined by screws  44 ,  52  and  56 . It will be appreciated, however, that other conventional fastening methods and devices may be used. For example, nails, rivets, staples, welds, adhesives and tapes may be used. 
     Plenum  32  may be constructed of tubes  34  and  36  which are seamless tubes formed preferably of a inexpensive, thin, flexible material. Seamless tubes  34  and  36  are easily installed when mobile home  10  is placed on a site. However, for retrofit installation, it may be more convenient to use seamed tubes  34  and  36 . 
     Seamed tubes  34  and  36  are also formed of inexpensive, thin, flexible material. The material for tubes  34  and  36  is cut to form sheets  58  which have a short side  60  sized to the circumference of the tubes  34  and  36 , for example from about six to fifteen inches, with about twelve inches being preferred. The long sides  62  of tubes  34  and  36  may be joined on site, or where manufactured, using a tape  64 , shown in FIG.  6 . Tape  64  may be adhesive and installed on sheets  58  at the place of manufacture or installed at the work site.  FIG. 7  shows sheet  58  formed into tube  34  with long sides  62  joined into a seam  66  by adhesive tape  64 , placed on the inside of tube  34 . It will be appreciated that tube  34  may be formed with tape  64  on the outside of tube  34 . Hook and pile fasteners such as VELCRO brand fasteners may be used in place of adhesive for tape  64 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of sheet  58 . In  FIG. 8 , sheet  58  has an adhesive layer  68  pre-applied at long side  62 , as shown. Short sides  70  of sheet  58  may be lengthened to permit an overlap of long sides  62  to form tube  34  or  36  of the desired circumference. Adhesive layer  68  may be protected until it is used by a strip sheet  72 , as may tape  64  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  if desired. Sheet  58  of  FIG. 8  may be formed into tube  34  or  36  by attaching long side  62  having adhesive layer  68  to its opposite long side  62  to form an overlapped seam. 
     It will be appreciated that plenum  32  of the invention may be provided to the user in a kit form. This form may be most convenient when plenum  32  is installed as a retrofit to an existing structure, such as mobile home  10 . Tubes  34  and  36  may be preformed, but in one preferred embodiment sheets  58  may be provided in standard lengths and cut to size on site. Sheets  58  may be formed into tubes  34  and  36  by wrapping sheets  58  around the existing pipes and joining long sides  62  as described above. This may avoid the need to break the connection in existing water pipes to make the installation. As shown in  FIG. 4 , rings  54  may be split at  74  and snapped over pipes  22  and  26  by opening split  74  and then releasing it. 
     It will be appreciated that the plenum of the invention provides a very inexpensive way of protecting pipes from freezing. The materials used are convenient and inexpensive. The sheets and tubes are preferably formed of inexpensive plastic sheet, such as polyethylene, PVC, polypropylene and the like, including fiber reinforced materials. Conventional 0.012 inch seamless plastic tubing is an effective material. Collars or rings  42 ,  50  and  54  may be formed of inexpensive metal, such as aluminum, or may be formed of plastic materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, or the like. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a strap  75  may be provided between collars or rings  42  and  50 , between collars or rings  54  and between any intermediate collars. The purpose of strap  75  is to space the collars or rings and to keep the tubes from collapsing. Strap  75  may be made of a flexible material like that used for the collars or rings and is attached to the collars or rings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a protective enclosure or plenum  80  is shown for water box  20 . Protective enclosure  80  may be formed of inexpensive sheet material and by the methods of construction and joining as disclosed above. In addition to the flexible plastic material disclosed enclosure  80  may be formed of semi-rigid or rigid materials, including plastic, metal or wood. As shown in  FIG. 5 , protective enclosure  80  may be heated by plenum  32  or by a tube  84  similar to plenum  32 . Tube  84  may be identical to plenum  32  or formed of convention plastic dryer vent tubing or drain tubing. Protective enclosure  80  may be used without any additional protective structure for piping  22  of dwelling  10  with a connection to heat duct  18  by connecting tube  84 , shown in phantom in FIG.  5 . This latter embodiment may be sufficient to protect the water service from freezing, in mild climates in particular, since water box  20  is often the part of the water service that is most vulnerable to freezing. 
       FIG. 9  shows enclosure  80  as cylindirical and formed of a sheet  86  joined by overlapping edges  88  and  90  and securing the joint by an adhesive strip  92 , as described previously herein. It will be appreciated that other joining methods, as described herein, including tapes or heat welding, may also be used. A top portion  94  of enclosure  80  may also be attached by the methods described. Cylindrical enclosure  80  may also include flaps or flanges  95  to attach enclosure  80  to a supporting surface. 
       FIG. 10  shows a blank  96 , formed from a sheet, which may be used to form enclosure  80  as a unitary structure for water box  20 . Blank  96  has four side panels  98  and a top panel  100 , as shown. A terminal side panel  98  may have a glue flap  102 , as shown and as previously described, for joining blank  96  into enclosure  80 . Top panel  100  may have glue flaps  104 , as shown, for joining to side panels  98 . Side panels  98  may also have flaps or flanges  106  for attaching the enclosure to a supporting surface. The panels, flaps and flanges of blank  96  may be separated by score lines  108 , as is known in the art. It will be appreciated that the elements of blank  96  may be joined by screws, tape or other methods, as described herein. 
       FIG. 11  shows enclosure  80  as formed from blank  96  and installed over water box  20 . As shown, the elements of blank  96  are joined by screws  110  and enclosure  80  is fastened to a surface  112  by screws  110 . If desired, one of side panels  98  of enclosure  80  may have a slit  114  to facilitate the installation of enclosure  80  on water box  20  and over water line  22 . Slit  114  may be closed by a covering  116  of similar material, for example, which may be installed over slit  114  and attached by screws  110 , tape, adhesives or other methods described herein. 
     Enclosure  80  may be attached to plenum  32  or a connecting tube  84  by the methods described herein and as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . An additional structure for joining elements of the invention is shown in FIG.  11 . Plenum  32  or connecting tube  84  may be connected in the system with a flanged coupling  118 , shown in cross-section in FIG.  11 . Flanged coupling  118  may be attached, to enclosure  80  for example, with the methods disclosed herein, including screws  110 . Flanged coupling  1 . 18  may receive plenum  32  or connecting tube  84 , as shown. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the specific descriptions given herein are illustrative and by way of example. The specific structures disclosed herein may be modified and changed without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention herein is not to be limited to the specifics of the disclosure, but only by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.