Patent Application
20240293927
This invention relates generally to storage sleeve guards and, more particularly, to a pair of hot stick protection assembly that includes a pair of storage guards for protecting opposed ends of an electrician's hot stick during storage or transport. Further, the present invention includes a storage guard defining a recess configured to engage a hot stick head of a type that folds downwardly from an upper end of the hot stick.
In the electric power distribution sector, a hot stick is an insulated pole commonly used by electric utility workers, i.e., linemen, when working on energized high-voltage electric power lines. Various heads of work tools may be coupled to an upper end of a hot stick such that an electrical worker may test it for voltage, tighten nuts and bolts, apply high wires (twisted lengths of ductile wire which fasten the running cable to its supporting insulators), open and close switches, replace fuses, place insulating sleeves on wires, and perform various other tasks-all while protecting workers from a large risk of electrical shock. Further, a hot stick may be an adjustable or telescopic rod that enables the aforementioned tasks to be conducted from a distance, whether from 3 to 30 feet away in some instances. Hot stick poles are often made of fiberglass because it is a very weak conductor of electricity and, therefore, provides electrical insulation to protect workers. The distance of workers is also important to protect them against possible electrical arcs emanating from actual electric equipment or machinery that is being worked on.
There are many different types of heads or tools that may be coupled to an upper end of the hot stick, i.e., to the insulated rod. For instance, a common tool includes a hook member having a configuration that enables a live wire to be disengaged or a switch to be opened or closed—in either case, a hook tool or the like is used to modify or disengage an electrical circuit and to deactivate or deenergize a previously “live” electrical line so that it becomes safe for workers to touch. Although various hot stick tools have very unique configurations that are associated with or complementary to particular electrical equipment, a common tool extends downwardly and parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the hot stick itself or relative to the sleeve in which a hot stick may be stored. It should be appreciated that the bent or folded tool may not work with a traditional storage guard or cap.
As discussed above, hot sticks are often constructed from fiberglass for safety purposes as fiberglass is not a good conductor of electricity. Unfortunately, fiberglass is a fragile or brittle material that is easily and commonly chipped, damaged, or otherwise fragmented. More particularly, electric industry linemen often store their hot sticks, respectively, in the bed of a bucket truck, pickup truck, or other relatively hard surface that may cause damage to the fiberglass construction of a hot stick and, especially, to the upper end to which a tool may be attached. In some instances, each hot stick may be stored in a protective sleeve. Although a protective sleeve is advantageous to prevent damage to opposite ends or to the head/tool operatively coupled to the upper end of a hot stick, it is still common for a hot stick to be damaged, namely, because the ends of the sleeve are open. In fact, the protective sleeve often allows the hot stick to inadvertently slide out or roll around in the sleeve and become damaged.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a protection assembly that includes a pair of hot stick storage guards that may be coupled to opposed ends of a hot stick, respectively, that protect opposed ends of the hot stick from damage during storage. Further, it would be desirable to have a protection assembly that includes a pair of hot stick storage guards having a configuration operative to receive and even engage a portion of a disconnect head of a hot stick.
A hot stick protection assembly according to the present invention includes a first storage guard having a body member that has a ring-shaped configuration defining a central bore for receiving an an upper end of an electrician's hot stick in a friction fit engagement. An outer wall of the body member defines a recessed channel that defines a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the central bore, said recessed channel being configured to receive a portion of a tool coupled to the upper end of the hot stick. The protection assembly includes a second storage guard having a cap-shaped body member defining an open end and interior space configured to receive and mate with a lower end of the electrician's hot stick. Both body members have a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the hot stick.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a hot stick protection assembly having a pair of storage guards attached to opposed ends of an electrician hot stick, respectively, and that are configured to protect the hot stick against damage as a result of contact between a respective hot stick and protective sleeve.
Another object of this invention is to provide a hot stick protection assembly hot stick, as aforesaid, in which at least one storage guard includes an outer wall defining a depression or channel capable of receiving a portion of a hot stick tool.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a hot stick protection assembly as aforesaid, in which each safety guard defines a diameter that is larger than an inner diameter defined by a storage sleeve.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
A hot stick protection assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
The hot stick 15 that is protected by the hot stick protection assembly 10 is an elongate rod that is routinely used by an electrical lineman (also referred to as an electrician's hot stick) to do electrical work on electrical lines or electrical machinery from a distance so as to minimize any opportunity that the electrical lineman come into contact with live sources of electricity which may, unfortunately, be fatal. For context, the hot stick 15 includes a body portion 16 having an elongate and linear configuration extending between a lower end 16b and an upper end 16a. In some embodiments, the body portion 16 may have a fixed and predetermined length whereas in other embodiments, the body portion 16 may have a length adjustable configuration that enables a lineman to access electrical components from a substantial distance while still enabling the hot stick 15 to be stored or transported, such as in an electrical truck, standard pickup truck, safety sleeve, or the like. In other words, the body portion 16 may have a telescopic construction, such as using slidable segments that may be fixed with pins, spring-loaded tabs, or the like. For the sake of clarification, the body portion 16 of a hot stick 15 defines an imaginary linear axis. In some embodiments, the hot stick 15 may include a tool 18 attached to the upper end 16a and that is configured to engage an electric wire, gate, switch, bolt, or other electrical components. Some tools extend upwardly, laterally, or both laterally and downwardly alongside the hot stick 15. In a critical aspect, the first protection guard 30 is configured to receive a portion of the tool 18 so as to prevent rotational movement of the hot stick 15 during storage or transport as will be described in detail later.
It is understood that a traditional hot stick 15 is constructed of fiberglass or similar material that is delicate, fragile, and that is easily chipped, broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged, especially when stored or transported. Accordingly, the hot stick protection assembly 10 may include a pair of protection guards particularly configured for attachment to the opposed ends of a hot stick 15 so as to protect the opposed ends from damage that may be caused by rolling around inside the bed of a truck or even within the interior space of a protective sleeve 20.
More particularly, the hot stick protection assembly 10 may include a first protection guard 30 that is configured for selective and removable attachment to the upper end 16a of the hot stick 15. Even more specifically, the first protection guard 30 includes a generally annular configuration, i.e., the first protection guard 30 has a ring-shaped configuration having an inner surface 31 and an outer surface 32, the inner surface 31 defining a void that will be referred to as a central bore 33. As shown, the central bore 33 is configured to receive the upper end 16a of the hot stick 15 in a friction fit and nested configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the first protection guard 30 may simply be press-fit onto the upper end 16a without the use of any fasteners. However, in an embodiment (not shown), the first protection guard 30 may include a pin, screw, or other fastener for tightening the inner surface 31 around the hot stick 15.
Further and as introduced previously, the first protection guard 30 may include a toolholder portion 35 extending outwardly from one side of the outer surface 32. The toolholder portion 35 may have the appearance of a supplementary thickness to the outer surface 32 or referred to as an offset to the outer surface 32 (
The hot stick protection assembly includes a second protection guard 40. More particularly, the second protection guard 40 may include what appears as a tube cap having a bottom wall 43 with a continuous sidewall 44 extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall 43, the continuous sidewall 44 having a free edge 45 defining an open top. The bottom wall 43 and sidewall 44, together, define an interior area complementary to and capable of receiving the lower end 16b of the hot stick 15 (
Preferably, the first protection guard 30 and second protection guard 40 include critical diameters that are complementary to those of the hot stick 15 so as to be frictionally coupled to the hot stick 15. More particularly, the inner surface 31 of the first protection guard 30 defines a first predetermined diameter. Similarly, the continuous and upstanding sidewall 44 of the second protection guard 40 may define a second predetermined diameter. Preferably, the first and second predetermined diameters associated with the first and second protection guards, respectively, are complementary to the outer diameters defined by the upper and lower ends of a hot stick 15, respectively. Namely, the first and second protection guards 30, 40 may be quickly and slidably pressed onto opposed ends of a hot stick 15 without tools. Similarly, the inset channel 36 is configured to quickly receive a portion of a tool 18 in a press-fit/friction-fit/snap-fit configuration.
In an embodiment, the hot stick protection assembly 10 further includes a storage sleeve 20. More particularly, the storage sleeve 20 includes a continuous sidewall 23 having a tubular and elongate configuration that defines an interior space. The storage sleeve 20 includes a proximal end 21 and a distal end 22 that is oppositely disposed from the proximal end 21. Both ends of the protective sleeve 20 are open and, therefore, in communication with the interior space. Preferably, the continuous sidewall 23 defines a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the hot stick 15 and includes a length that is longer than a length of the hot stick 15 such that the hot stick 15 may be slidably inserted into the sleeve via its open proximal end 21. In addition, the storage sleeve 20 may include a pair of fasteners that, when deployed, will close or block each open end. Specifically, the storage sleeve 20 may include a first cap 24 and a second cap 25 removably coupled to the proximal and 21 and distal ends 22, respectively. It is understood that, in an embodiment, the second cap 18 refers simply to a closed bottom end (
In use, it is intended that the hot stick protection assembly 10 is utilized immediately prior to positioning an electrician's hot stick 15 onto the electrician's truck or into a storage sleeve 20 for storage or transport. Specifically, it is intended that the first protection guard 30 be releasably coupled, such as in a nesting or press-fit arrangement, to the upper end 16a of the hot stick 15 and the second protection guard 40 be releasably coupled to the lower end 16b of the hot stick 15 as described above. It is understood that each protection guard (30, 40) has a diameter greater than a diameter of the body portion of the hot stick 15 such that the protection guards alone will make contact with an inner surface of the sleeve 20. Accordingly, the upper end 16a and lower end 16b of the hot stick 15 will never make independent contact with the inner surface of the protective sleeve 20 (when inserted therein) and cannot be damaged thereby.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
