US4458510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking device for a winged gas stop
Assignee: Olson Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1982-07-21
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2002-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A locking device to prevent unauthorized opening of a winged gas stop used to control the flow of gas to a residence from the lines of a utility company is disclosed. The device comprises a shroud which is shaped to fit snugly over the two wings of the gas stop when the gas stop is in a closed position and a barrel lock which is adapted to be inserted into the shroud and through holes in the wings to lock the wings in place and the shroud on the wings so that the wings cannot be moved relative to each other. The shroud includes a metal shell open at the bottom and at the rear, a thin metal sleeve, a metal locking plate and a metal end cap. The locking plate and end cap are both welded onto the rear of the shell and the sleeve is press fit into a hole in the front of the shell. The sleeve includes two sets of apertures near the outer end, one for use in attaching a lead wire tamper indicating seal and the other for use in attaching a tamper indicating seal, and a step along a midlocation for limiting the inward movement of the sleeve when it is inserted in the shell. The shell includes integrally formed reinforcing bars to prevent bending the shell away from the gas stop from the bottom or sides with a claw hammer or other hand tool after it is mounted thereon to gain access to the wings.
Inventors
- 👤 Anker J. Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:48
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K35/00; F16K35/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/487; Y10T70/493; Y10T70/498; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5093; Y10T70/554; Y10T70/5562; Y10T70/5575; Y10T70/558; Y10T70/5584; Y10T70/5611; Y10T70/5615; Y10T70/5619; Y10T70/5624; Y10T70/5757; Y10T70/5765; Y10T70/577; Y10T70/5774; Y10T70/5779
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A locking device for use with a winged gas stop, the winged gas stop including a body having a wing, a plug turnable in said body, a knob fixedly attached to said plug and having a wing, each wing having a hole, the two wings and their respective holes being aligned when the plug is in a closed position the locking device comprising: a. a shroud, the shroud comprising: i. a metal shell sized and shaped to fit over the two wings on the gas stop when the two wings are aligned, said shell including reinforcing means for strengthening purposes and having a generally flat front wall having a hole located so as to be in axial alignment with the holes in the wings of the gas stop when the shell is mounted thereon and a generally curved side wall and an open rear, ii. a metal sleeve disposed in the hole in the front end of the shell, said metal sleeve having aperatures for use in mounting either a lead wire or a bayonet type tamper indicating seal, iii. covered lock engaging means on the rear of the shell for engaging a locking element on a barrel lock and preventing access to the locking element from the rear, and b. a barrel lock adapted to be inserted into the shroud through the sleeve, the holes in the wings on the gas stop wing and brought into locking engagement with the lock engaging means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A locking device for use with a winged gas stop, the winged gas stop including a body having a wing, a plug turnable in said body, a knob fixedly attached to said plug and having a wing, each wing having a hole, the two wings and their respective holes being aligned when the plug is in a closed position the locking device comprising: a. a shroud, the shroud comprising: i. a metal shell sized and shaped to fit over the two wings on the gas stop when the two wings are aligned, said shell including reinforcing means for strengthening purposes and having a generally flat front wall having a hole located so as to be in axial alignment with the holes in the wings of the gas stop when the shell is mounted thereon and a generally curved side wall and an open rear, ii. a metal sleeve disposed in the hole in the front end of the shell, said metal sleeve having aperatures for use in mounting either a lead wire or a bayonet type tamper indicating seal, iii. covered lock engaging means on the rear of the shell for engaging a locking element on a barrel lock and preventing access to the locking element from the rear, and b. a barrel lock adapted to be inserted into the shroud through the sleeve, the holes in the wings on the gas stop wing and brought into locking engagement with the lock engaging means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The locking device of claim 1 and wherein said sleeve is press fit in said hole in the front end of the shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The locking device of claim 1 and wherein said sleeve is slip fit in said hole in the front end of the shell and flared out at its inner end to prevent withdrawal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
257 words
A locking device for use with a winged gas stop, the winged gas stop including a body having a wing, a plug turnable in said body, a knob fixedly attached to said plug and having a wing, each wing having a hole, the two wings and their respective holes being aligned when the plug is in a closed position the locking device comprising: a. a shroud, the shroud comprising: i. a metal shell sized and shaped to fit over the two wings on the gas stop when the two wings are aligned, said shell including reinforcing means for strengthening purposes and having a front wall having a hole located so as to be in axial alignment with the holes in the wings of the gas stop when the shell is mounted thereon and side wall, the side wall of the shell including a lower portion having a back edge the reinforcing means comprising a flange on the back edge of the lower portion of the side wall, ii. a metal sleeve disposed in the hole in the front end of the shell, said metal sleeve having apertures for use in mounting either a lead wire or a bayonet type tamper indicating seal, iii. covered lock engaging means on the rear of the shell for engaging a locking element on a barrel lock, and b. a barrel locking adapted to be inserted into the shroud through the sleeve, the holes in the wings on the gas stop wing and brought into locking engagement with the lock engaging means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
257 words
A locking device for use with a winged gas stop, the winged gas stop including a body having a wing, a plug turnable in said body, a knob fixedly attached to said plug and having a wing, each wing having a hole, the two wings and their respective holes being aligned when the plug is in a closed position the locking device comprising: a. a shroud, the shroud comprising: i. a metal shell sized and shaped to fit over the two wings on the gas stop when the two wings are aligned, said shell including reinforcing means for strengthening purposes and having a front wall having a hole located so as to be in axial alignment with the holes in the wings of the gas stop when the shell is mounted thereon and side wall, the side wall of the shell including a lower portion having a back edge the reinforcing means comprising a flange on the back edge of the lower portion of the side wall, ii. a metal sleeve disposed in the hole in the front end of the shell, said metal sleeve having apertures for use in mounting either a lead wire or a bayonet type tamper indicating seal, iii. covered lock engaging means on the rear of the shell for engaging a locking element on a barrel lock, and b. a barrel locking adapted to be inserted into the shroud through the sleeve, the holes in the wings on the gas stop wing and brought into locking engagement with the lock engaging means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The locking device of claim 4 and wherein the front wall includes a lower portion having a rectangular slot sized and shaped so that the lower portion extends down on either side of the knob on the gas stop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The locking device of claim 5 and wherein the reinforcing means further includes a flange on the edge of the slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The locking device of claim 6 and wherein the covered lock engaging means comprises a metal locking plate and a metal protective cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The locking device of claim 7 and wherein the metal locking plate and the metal protective cap are both welded onto the side wall of the shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The locking device of claim 8 and wherein the sleeve includes integrally formed means along its length for limiting inward movement within the shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The locking device of claim 9 and wherein the apertures on the sleeve include a pair of holes for use with a lead wire type seal and a pair of slots for use with a bayonet type seal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The locking device of claim 8 and wherein the shell and the lock engaging means are case hardened and the sleeve is not case hardened.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The locking device of claim 11 and wherein the shell has a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches and the sleeve has a wall thickness of about 0.012 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The locking device of claim 12 and wherein the shell is made from a stamping.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The locking device of claim 1 and wherein the covered lock engaging means comprises a back wall on the shell having a hole and an end cap welded onto the back wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The locking device of claim 9 and wherein the sleeve includes an outer edge, the sleeve having a strengthening lip at its outer edge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
271 words
A locking device for use with a winged gas stop, the winged gas stop including a body having a wing, a plug turnable in said body, a knob fixedly attached to said plug and having a wing, each wing having a hole, the two wings and their respective holes being aligned when the plug is in a closed position, the locking device comprising: a. A shroud sized and shaped to fit over the wings on the gas stop when the wings are aligned with one another, the shroud including: (i) a case hardened metal shell having a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches and including a side wall and a front wall, the front wall having a top portion containing a hole and a bottom portion having a slot sized and shaped so that the bottom portion extends down on either side of the knob on the gas stop, the front wall further including integrally formed reinforcing bars for strengthening purposes, (ii) a case hardened metal covered lock engaging assembly welded onto the rear of the shell and including a locking plate having a hole and an end cap, (iii) a metal sleeve having a wall thickness of about 0.012 inches press fit into the hole in the top portion of the front wall of the shell, a step along its length to limit inward movement and a lip at the front end for strengthening purposes, and (iv) a barrel lock adapted to be inserted into the shroud through the sleeve, the holes in the wings on the gas stop wing and brought into locking engagement with the lock engaging means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
271 words
A locking device for use with a winged gas stop, the winged gas stop including a body having a wing, a plug turnable in said body, a knob fixedly attached to said plug and having a wing, each wing having a hole, the two wings and their respective holes being aligned when the plug is in a closed position, the locking device comprising: a. A shroud sized and shaped to fit over the wings on the gas stop when the wings are aligned with one another, the shroud including: (i) a case hardened metal shell having a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches and including a side wall and a front wall, the front wall having a top portion containing a hole and a bottom portion having a slot sized and shaped so that the bottom portion extends down on either side of the knob on the gas stop, the front wall further including integrally formed reinforcing bars for strengthening purposes, (ii) a case hardened metal covered lock engaging assembly welded onto the rear of the shell and including a locking plate having a hole and an end cap, (iii) a metal sleeve having a wall thickness of about 0.012 inches press fit into the hole in the top portion of the front wall of the shell, a step along its length to limit inward movement and a lip at the front end for strengthening purposes, and (iv) a barrel lock adapted to be inserted into the shroud through the sleeve, the holes in the wings on the gas stop wing and brought into locking engagement with the lock engaging means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The locking device of claim 16 and wherein the shoud is fabricated by a method comprising: a. welding the shell and lock engaging assembly together, then b. case hardening the assembled shell and lock engaging assembly, and then c. press fitting the sleeve into the shell.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |