Locking cap system
AssigneeKnox Company
InventorDohn J. Trempala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking cap is selectively locked into place within a tubular opening, such as the open end of a standpipe used to charge a building sprinkler system. The locking cap has an expandable sleeve and a spreader member. As a key is turned, the spreader member is drawn into the expandable sleeve which is urged outward. The outward movement of the expandable sleeve increases a frictional component such that the expandable sleeve becomes frictionally locked within the tubular opening. The key has an end design that is complemented by an end of an actuator shaft such that the likelihood of unauthorized removal of the locking cap is reduced.
Claims30
A locking cap for a pipe end, the locking cap comprising a face plate and a plug portion, the face plate having a front surface and a rear surface, the plug portion having a front surface, a rear surface and a side surface, a slot extending longitudinally between the front surface and the rear surface and radially between the side surface and a relief opening defined within the plug portion, a channel defined through the plug portion along the slot, the plug portion connected to the face plate with the rear surface of the face plate arranged to substantially face the front surface of the plug portion, the plug portion sized and configured to be received by the pipe end with the side surface of the plug portion having a surface area generally coextensive with an inner contacted surface of the pipe end, the channel receiving a longitudinally translatable spreader member wherein at least one surface of the spreader member or the channel is tapered such that the spreader member and the channel cooperate to expand and retract the plug portion.
A locking cap for an opening, the locking cap comprising a cap body, the cap body having an elastic expansion member and a spreader member, the elastic expansion member and the spreader member having a sloping interface such that relative axial movement of the expansion member and the spreader member result in radial displacement of at least a portion of the expansion member when under a biasing force from the spreader member such that the expansion member is urged into frictional interlock with an inner surface of the opening.
A locking cap for a pipe end comprising a face plate, the face plate having a front surface and at least two pins projecting from the front surface, the face plate having a back surface and being connected to a plug portion such that the back surface of the face plate is proximate a surface of the plug portion, at least a portion of the plug portion being capable of selective expansion and contraction to create a frictional interlock between the locking cap and the pipe end.
A lockable closure for an open end of a tubular element, the closure comprising a radially expanding member and an actuator shaft, the actuator shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the actuator shaft having a keyed configuration, the second end of the shaft extending through the closure into the tubular element, the actuator shaft being rotatable relative to the closure and being connected to the radially expanding member such that rotation of the actuator shaft in one direction effects generally outward movement of the radially expanding member and rotation of the actuator shaft in the other direction effects generally inward movement of the radially expanding member.
A locking cap for closing an open end of a pipe that has a threaded inner surface, the locking cap comprising a generally cylindrical body having a threaded outer surface which is configured to engage the threaded inner surface of the pipe, the body being elastically deformable between a first diameter in which the body may be inserted into or removed from the open end, and a second diameter in which the body is frictionally locked within the pipe end, and a spreader assembly, including a bolt, coupled to the body such that rotation of the bolt causes the body to elastically deform between the first and second diameters.
A locking cap key for locking and unlocking a locking cap, the key comprising a head and a handle, the head selectively engageable with a related structure on the locking cap and the handle being configured to plastically deform when a level of torque exceeds a predetermined level of torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.