Patent Application
20250019963
None
The present invention generally relates to a device for protecting pipes from freezing in cold weather conditions. More specifically, the present invention relates to an insulated blanket cover used to insulate and protect interior home pipes that lay just within the boundary between the interior of the home and the exterior of the structure by covering exterior water faucets to prevent them from freezing in cold weather conditions.
Freezing weather can cause the water within pipes and/or a faucet mounted inside the house wall to become frozen and burst, thus causing substantial damage. Water encroaching into structures from broken or damaged water lines or pipes can cause enormous amounts of damage. The damage may affect the entire structure or just be a minor annoyance depending on the type of plumbing system that is installed.
Insulation of homes and businesses with interior plumbing systems significantly reduces the possibility of freezing water pipes. However, the water pipes will eventually become cold soaked if left for a long enough period in freezing temperatures. Any type of insulation that can protect pipes should be as tight as possible to prevent cold air from seeping into the interior of the insulation where it contacts the pipe material. Eventually, the insulation will absorb the cold and reach the temperature of the outside air. After the insulation has been penetrated, the water pipes can only hold off the plunge in temperature for so long as well as the water contained within. Once the water begins to freeze, the tremendous force exerted by the conversion of water into its solid form of ice can break the pipe. Obviously when the inevitable rise in temperature begins to melt or thaw the ice, water damage will result unless the pipe has been repaired or the water pressure has been shut off or eliminated.
A common type of insulation for an outdoor plumbing faucet is a Styrofoam cup that is designed to fit over the faucet and be drawn snug against the exterior wall to prevent air leaks. The exterior faucet is a particularly vulnerable plumbing location due to its exposure to the outside. Due to its exposed position, the faucet is usually installed as a freeze-proof faucet where the valve to shut off the water is recessed into the wall where the temperature is warmer due to the proximity of the heated interior of the structure. Regardless of this feature or in instances where the freeze-proof faucet is not present, many people still employ the insulated faucet cover or cup over exterior faucets.
The insulated faucet cover or cup is of limited value since the cover will eventually reach the same temperature as the outside air in a brief period of time. The insulated faucet cover is often unheated, and without a heat source, it will become like any other object left out in the cold. Unlike the present invention, the insulated faucet cover or cup also has little surface area to prevent pipe freezing and it will reach the temperature of the air shortly after installation. Faucet foam covers or cup covers are inadequate to protect outdoor faucets and the pipes that lay just within the structure they serve. The present invention further protects faucets and pipes within the home from freezing in cold weather conditions by trapping the home's naturally escaping heat and reducing pipe exposure to inclement weather by covering a larger surface area of the exterior wall than a foam cup or cover would allow.
When the temperature drops below the freezing point, the pipes that lay outside or just interior to exterior faucets are prone to freezing solid and bursting. Floods of water in the home become significant and can cause thousands of dollars of damage. Further, and most often, the home must be completely shut off from water to fix these breaks until a plumber arrives. The present invention creates a thermal barrier trapping the building's natural heat escaping from the structure coupled with a wind resistant weatherproof material further fortifying the faucet and pipes that connect thereto from rupture.
The present invention discloses a thermal blanket cover for protecting a faucet and pipes within the home from freezing in cold weather conditions. Further, the present invention discloses a faucet thermal blanket cover used to insulate and protect exterior and interior water faucets from freezing cold and wind in inclement weather conditions. Referring to
In one embodiment, the thermal blanket is configured to provide heat to the faucet when the temperature lowered below a predetermined temperature, thereby preventing freezing in the cold weather condition. The thermal blanket can simply and removably mount over the external faucet and wall easily and with little effort. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a thermal insulating blanket made from temperature-resistant materials such as silica fabrics, high-temperature fiberglass, calcium silicate fiber, silicone and PTFE coated fiberglass fabric, aluminized fabrics, and SS mesh. The cover is a thermally insulating blanket with an adhesive layer surrounding the edges to ensure a tight fit against the structure housing the faucet. It is well known that thermal blankets are specially engineered blankets made of heat-reflective, thin plastic sheeting which are lightweight making them easy and convenient to use, maintain, and store.
The thermally insulating blanket is applied over the faucet itself and contains the faucet and pipes underneath behind it. If the faucet is recessed, the present invention covers the faucet entirely and may sit flush against the wall. If the faucet is not recessed, the present invention covers the faucet entirely and may protrude slightly into the blanket with no loss of thermal protection. The present invention is generally a multi-layer covering engineered to contain heat which consists of three layers: a protective outer cover, a thick layer of insulation, and an inner layer, which may include steel mesh with an outer layer consisting of one or more combinations of fiberglass, including silicone-impregnated and aluminized fiberglass. In one embodiment, the thermally insulating blanket contains an adhesive layer surrounding the edges to ensure a tight fit against the structure housing the faucet. In another embodiment, the thermally insulating blanket is secured to the wall or faucet using screws, anchors, bolts, and clips around the periphery of the thermal blanket. Referring to
A primary purpose of the present invention is to lower the ability of wind, water, or cold from protruding into the faucet and the pipes that lay beneath. The thermally insulating blanket traps the heat escaping from the interior of the home's structure while simultaneously preventing wind, water and cold from entering from outside the structure. This new and improved means for utilizing natural home heat leakage with winterized protection is superior to the traditional foam faucet covers or cup products.
In another embodiment, the present invention can contain a formed space in the thermal blanket for accommodating faucets or other pipes. This would aid the invention in the event a user decides to use the present invention with a non-recessed faucet or a faucet which already has a foam or cup insulative cover installed. The present invention could be used in addition to a foam or cup insulative cover.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein.
