Patent Grant
7900490
This invention relates generally to systems integrated into structures for injection of materials into cavities of the structures, and more particularly to a method for engaging with a projection of a first component to removably secure a second component to the first component.
A structure such as a home or building may include a system integrated into the structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure. For example, the material may include pesticide and the cavities may include stud bays, crawl spaces, or any other suitable cavities according to particular needs. In this example, a number of externally accessible ports may each be coupled to a tube that passes through one or more cavities and includes perforations through which the injected pesticide is released into the one or more cavities to provide pest control. The externally accessible ports may be accessible to any suitable service provider, such as an exterminator, who may connect a device to the externally accessible ports to inject the material, such as pesticide, into the one or more cavities. This may be undesirable if a particular service provider, such as may be associated with the construction of the structure, desires to be the exclusive provider of such services. Merely covering the one or more externally accessible ports inadequately prevents unauthorized access to the ports.
According to the present invention, disadvantages and problems associated with previous techniques for preventing unauthorized access to ports of a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into cavities in the structure may be reduced or eliminated.
In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a method for engaging with a projection of a first component to removably secure a second component to the first component. The method includes positioning a rotatable member of the second component in a first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to receive, via a gap in a perimeter of the rotatable member, the projection of the first component. The method also includes positioning the rotatable member in a second rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is prevented from disengaging with the projection of the first component to secure the second component to the first component. The method also includes returning the rotatable member to the first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to release, via the gap in the perimeter, the projection of the first component to remove the second component from the first component.
Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more technical advantages. For example, it may be desirable to substantially prevent unauthorized access to ports for injection of material into cavities in a structure. Additionally, it may be desirable to provide evidence that a port cover for preventing such access to the ports has been forcibly breached. These objectives may be desirable if a particular service provider for injection of the material into the cavities desires to control access to the ports. In certain embodiments, the overall shape and design of the port cover may help prevent the port cover from being forcibly breached. In certain embodiments, when the locking mechanism is engaged with the projection of the base and the one or more tabs of the cover are engaged with the one or more corresponding slots of the base, the cover may not be removed from the base without breaking the one or more tabs of the cover. Breakage of one or more of the tabs may make it difficult or impossible to replace the cover on the base, which may deter attempts to forcibly breach the port cover and may also provide evidence that the port cover has been forcibly breached.
Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide some, all, or none of the above technical advantages. Certain embodiments may provide one or more other technical advantages, one or more of which may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Port cover 10 includes a base 12 for permanently coupling to the structure and a cover 14 for removably coupling to base 12. For example, base 12 may be permanently coupled to the structure using one or more screws 16 inserted in corresponding openings 18 of base 12. Although a particular number of screws 16 and corresponding openings 18 are illustrated, the present invention contemplates base 12 including any suitable number of openings 18 for engaging screws 16. Furthermore, although screws 16 are described, the present invention contemplates using nails are other suitable fasteners for permanently coupling base 12 to the structure. In certain embodiments, base 12 may be coupled to the structure using a bracket 20. Although bracket 20 is illustrated as having a particular construction and shape, the present invention contemplates bracket 20 comprising any suitable construction and shape. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates mounting base 12 directly to the structure without the use of bracket 20. Bracket 20 may also be referred to as a “mud flap.”
Base 12 may include one or more port holes 22 associated with a tub insert 24 for injection of the material through corresponding tubes into cavities in the structure. For example, a service representative, such as an exterminator, may connect a device to port holes 22 to inject the material, such as pesticide, into the one or more cavities. Although a particular number of port holes 22 are illustrated, the present invention contemplates base 12 including any suitable number of port holes 22 each having any suitable size according to particular needs. Port holes 22 may be associated one or more ports of base 12 underlying tube insert 24, as described in more detail with reference to
Base 12 includes a projection 28. In certain embodiments, projection 28 is associated with one of the openings 18 (e.g., opening 18a) for engaging a screw 16. In such embodiments, it may be desirable for projection 28 to be hollow so that a screw 16 may be inserted through projection 28 into opening 18a. In certain embodiments, projection 28 is formed of the same material as and is integral to base 12. In embodiments in which projection 28 is associated with an opening for insertion of a screw 16, opening 18a extends through projection 28. In certain other embodiments, projection 28 is not associated with opening 18a for insertion of a screw 16, and projection may be solid. In yet other embodiments, projection 28 is an insert for inserting into opening 18a. For example, projection 28 of base 12 may be an insert made of metal or another suitable material, which can be slid into opening 18a of base 12. In certain embodiments in which projection 28 of base 12 is an insert, it may be desirable for the insert to be hollow so as not to impede access to opening 18a, for insertion of a screw 16 for example.
Base 12 may include one or more slots 30. Although a particular number of slots 30 are illustrated, the present invention contemplates base 12 including any suitable number of slots 30, according to particular needs. Base 12 may also include one or more channels 32 each associated with a corresponding slot 30. As can be seen in the embodiment of base 12 illustrated in
Base 12 includes one or more ports 38, which may each be coupled to a tube that passes through one or more cavities and includes perforations through which the injected material (e.g., pesticide) is released into the one or more cavities to provide a service (e.g., pest control), as described above with reference to
In certain embodiments, a retainer plate 40 may be inserted over ports 38 of base 12, between tube insert 24 and ports 38 for example. Retainer plate 40 may include one or more slits 42 so that the material injected into the structure using port cover 10 (e.g., via tube insert 24) may pass through retainer plate 40 and be injected into the structure through ports 38. Slits 42 may have any suitable size and shape, according to particular needs.
Tube insert 24 may be mounted over retainer plate 40 and ports 38. Tube insert 24 may include one or more tabs 44, which may be inserted into and are adapted to engage with corresponding slots 46 of base 12, helping to secure tube insert 24 to base 12. Tube insert 24 preferably includes a number of port holes 22 equal to the number of ports 38, although this is not required. Although tube insert 24 and retainer plate 40 are described, the present invention contemplates port cover 10 with or without either tube insert 24 or retainer plate 40. For example, in embodiments in which neither tube insert 24 nor retainer plate 40 are included in port cover 10, a device for injection of the material into one or more cavities of the structure may be directly attached to ports 38 of base 12. As another example, in embodiments in which retainer plate 40 is not included in port cover 10, tube insert 24 may be mounted directly over ports 38.
Returning to FIGS. lA and 1B, cover 14 may include one or more tabs 48 adapted to engage with one or more corresponding slots 30 of base 12. Although a particular number of tabs 48 are illustrated, the present invention contemplates cover 14 including any suitable number of tabs 48 according to particular needs. In one embodiment, the number of tabs 48 of cover 14 is equivalent to the number of slots 30 of base 12. In certain embodiments, one or more of slots 30 (e.g., slots 30e and 30f) are each associated with a tab 34 of base 12, which may help prevent the cover from being forcibly pulled perpendicular to a surface 50 of base 12 when cover 14 is secured to base 12 to help prevent port cover 10 from being forcibly breached. A perimeter 52 of cover 14 may be substantially oval-shaped, although the present invention contemplates perimeter 52 of cover 14 having any suitable shape, according to particular needs. In certain embodiments, perimeter 36 of base 12 and perimeter 52 of cover 14 have matching substantially oval-shapes, and perimeters 36 and 52 substantially align when cover 14 is secured to base 12 to help prevent port cover 10 from being forcibly breached. Although the present invention contemplates cover 14 having any suitable shape, it may be preferable for cover 14 to be dome-shaped or otherwise lack sharp edges to further hinder or deter forcible breach of port cover 10. Cover 14 may be constructed using any suitable material, preferably a hard material such as plastic or metal.
In certain embodiments, cover 14 may include an interior frame 54 that includes tabs 48, a void 56 existing between an exterior wall 58 and interior frame 54 of cover 14. Cover 14 may include one or more buttresses 60 in void 56, each buttress 60 connecting a corresponding portion of interior frame 54 to a corresponding portion of exterior wall 58, buttresses 60 helping to prevent port cover 10 from being forcibly breached when cover 14 is secured to base 12.
Port cover 10 includes a locking mechanism 62 in an aperture 63 of cover 14 for removably securing cover 14 to base 12 to prevent unauthorized access to ports 38. As described in more detail below with reference to
In certain embodiments, locking mechanism 62 includes a rotatable member 64 having a perimeter 66 and a gap 68 in perimeter 66. Although rotatable member 64 is illustrated as being substantially horseshoe-shaped, the present invention contemplates rotatable member 64 having any suitable shape, according to particular needs, such that rotatable member 64 has a perimeter 66 and a gap 68 in perimeter 66. Rotatable member 64 is adapted to be rotated to engage with and disengage from projection 28 of base 12. For example, as described in more detail below with reference to
In certain embodiments, when rotatable member 64 is in a first rotational orientation, rotatable member 64 is adapted to receive, via gap 68 in perimeter 66, projection 28 of base 12 and to allow tabs 48 of cover 14 to slide upward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to engage with corresponding slots 30 of base 12 to secure cover 14 to base 12. In alternative embodiments, slots 30 of base 12 may be oriented such that tabs 48 of cover 14 slide downward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to engage with corresponding slots 30 of base 12. Tabs 48 may be adapted to move inward substantially perpendicular to front surface 50 of base 12 through corresponding channels 32 of base 12 before sliding upward (or downward) to engage corresponding slots 30 of base 12.
When rotatable member 64 is in a second rotational orientation, rotatable member 64 is prevented from disengaging with projection 28 of base 12, to substantially prevent tabs 48 of cover 14 from sliding downward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage from corresponding slots 30 of base 12 to secure cover 14 to base 12.
When rotatable member 64 is returned to the first rotational orientation, rotatable member 64 is adapted to release, via gap 68 in perimeter 66, projection 28 of base 12 and to allow tabs 48 of cover 14 to slide downward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage from corresponding slots 30 of base 12 to remove cover 14 from base 12. In alternative embodiments, slots 30 of base 12 may be oriented such that tabs 48 of cover 14 slide upward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage from corresponding slots 30 of base 12. Tabs 48 may be adapted to, after sliding downward (or upward) to disengage from corresponding slots 30 of base 12, move outward substantially perpendicular to front surface 50 of base 12 through corresponding channels 32 of base 12.
In certain embodiments, the first rotational orientation comprises at least one of a first range of rotational orientations, and the second rotational orientation comprises at least one of a second range of rotational orientations. For example, the first range of rotational orientations may include the rotational orientations at which rotatable member 64 is allowed to engage with by receiving and releasing projection 28 via gap 68 in perimeter 66 and the second range of rotational orientations may include the rotational orientations at which rotatable member 64 is prevented from disengaging with projection 28 via gap 68 in perimeter 66.
Locking mechanism 62 includes a tumbler 86 adapted to engage castellated member 80. Tumbler 86 includes a plurality of legs 88 arranged in a substantially circular fashion. In certain embodiments, legs 88 are angled away from a center of the circle at joints 90 of legs 88. One or more of the legs 88 each include a projection 92 adapted to extend into a corresponding slot 84 of castellated member 80 that separates adjacent castellations 82. In certain embodiments, one or more of legs 88 lack a projection 92 (e.g., leg 88a) for reasons described in more detail below with reference to
Locking mechanism 62 includes a lock plug 94 adapted to receive tumbler 86. For example, lock plug 94 may include a plurality of channels 96 each adapted to receive a corresponding leg 88 of tumbler 86, joints 90 of legs 88 being exposed in lock plug 94 at end portions 98 of channels 96. In certain embodiments, the width of channels 96 of lock plug 94 is only slightly greater than the width of corresponding legs 88 of tumbler 86. A perimeter 100 of lock plug 94 may have a substantially tubular shape. Lock plug 94 is further adapted to engage projections 102 of key 74 at end portions 98 of channels 96, as described in greater detail below with reference to
Locking mechanism 62 includes rotatable member 64, which is adapted to engage projection 28 of base 12 as described briefly above with reference to
In certain embodiments, locking mechanism 62 includes a housing 112 adapted to seat over rotatable member 64 to maintain rotatable member 64 in continuous contact with lock plug 94, legs 88 of tumbler 86 in continuous contact with lock plug 94 and rotatable member 64, and lock plug 94 in continuous contact with cover 14. For example, housing 112 may help hold the components of locking mechanism 62 together. In certain embodiments, housing 112 includes one or more apertures 114, which may permanently or removably engage with one or more corresponding projections 116 of cover 14.
Channels of lock plug 94 and legs 88 of tumbler 86 are adapted to engage with key 70 inserted into locking mechanism 62. For example, channels 96 of lock plug 94 are adapted to receive projections 102 of key 70, one or more of the projections 102 of key 70 being adapted to, when the key is appropriately oriented, disengage projections 92 of the one or more legs 88 of tumbler 86 from the corresponding slots 84 of adjacent castellations 82 to allow lock plug 94 to be rotated using key 70. In certain embodiments, projections 102 of key 70 are adapted to compress legs 88 of tumbler 86 inward to recess projections 92 of tumbler 86 from slots 84 of castellated member 80 such that projections 92 clear castellations 82. Projections 92 of tumbler 86 being recessed from slots 84 of castellated member 80 allows lock plug 94 to be rotated using key 70, rotating rotatable member 64.
As shown in
At step 204, key 70 may be oriented for insertion into aperture 63 of cover 14 and into locking mechanism 62. For example, as shown in
For example, as shown in
At step 206, key 70 is inserted into aperture 63 of cover 14 and locking mechanism 62 according to the orientation described at step 204, and sufficient pressure is applied to compress legs 88 of tumbler 86 inward and recess projections 92 of legs 88 from corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80. Recessing projections 92 of legs 88 from corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80 may allow lock plug 94 to be rotated using key 70, thereby rotating rotatable member 64. For example, as shown in
At step 208, key 70, inserted in locking mechanism 62 and recessing projections 92 of legs 88 from corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80, may be turned to rotate rotatable member 64 of locking mechanism 62 to the second rotational orientation for engaging with projection 28 of base 12. In certain embodiments, as illustrated in
At step 210, as shown in
At step 302, key 70 is inserted into aperture 63 of cover 14 according to the orientation described at step 200, and sufficient pressure is applied to compress legs 88 of tumbler 86 inward and to recess projections 92 of legs 88 from corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80. Recessing projections 92 of legs 88 from corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80 may allow lock plug 94 to be rotated using key 70, thereby rotating rotatable member 64. For example, as shown in
At step 304, key 70, inserted in locking mechanism 62 and recessing projections 92 of legs 88 from corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80, may be turned to rotate rotatable member 64 of locking mechanism 62 to the first rotational orientation for disengaging from projection 28 of base 12. In certain embodiments, rotatable member 64 should be rotated approximately one hundred eighty degrees to disengage with projection 28 of base 12. In embodiments in which shaft 72 of key 70 includes channel 78 for allowing tab 76 of aperture 63 of base 12 to pass through when inserting key 70 into locking mechanism 62, channel 78 of shaft 72 may extend around shaft 72 such that tab 76 prevents key 70 from being turned beyond certain points in certain directions. For example, channel 78 of key 70 may prevent key 70 from being turned beyond approximately one hundred eighty degrees in a counterclockwise direction when turning key 70 to disengage rotatable member 64 with projection 28, which may result in tab 76 being aligned with channel 78 of key 70.
At step 306, key 70 is removed from locking mechanism 62, releasing inward pressure on legs 88, allowing projections 92 of legs 88 to engage with corresponding slots 84 of castellated member 80, and locking rotatable member 64 in the first rotational orientation. At step 308, with rotatable member 64 in the second rotational orientation, tabs 48 of cover 14 slide downward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage from corresponding slots 30 of base 12. For example, cover 14 may be pulled by an authorized service technician downward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage tabs 48 of cover 14 from corresponding slots 30 of base 12. As another example, the force of gravity may be sufficient to pull cover 14 downward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage tabs 48 of cover 14 from corresponding slots 30 of base 12. In an alternative embodiment, slots 30 of base 12 may be oriented such that tabs 48 of cover 14 slide upward substantially parallel to front surface 50 of base 12 to disengage from corresponding slots 30 of base 12. At step 310, tabs 48 of cover 14 are moved outward substantially perpendicular to front surface 50 of base 12 through corresponding channels 32 of base 12. At step 312, cover 14 is removed from base 12 to allow access to ports 38. In practice, step 306 may be performed after removing cover 14 from base 12.
Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more technical advantages. For example, it may be desirable to substantially prevent unauthorized access to ports 38 for injection of material into cavities in a structure. Additionally, it may be desirable to provide evidence that port cover 10 for preventing such access to ports 38 has been forcibly breached. These objectives may be desirable if a particular service provider for injection of the material into the cavities desires to control access to ports 38. In certain embodiments, the overall shape and design of port cover 10 may help prevent port cover 10 from being forcibly breached. In certain embodiments, when locking mechanism 62 is engaged with projection 28 of base 12 and tabs 48 of cover 14 are engaged with corresponding slots 30 of base 12, cover 14 may not be removed from base 12 without breaking one or more of tabs 48 of cover 14. Breakage of one or more of tabs 48 may make it difficult or impossible to replace cover 14 on base 12, which may deter attempts to forcibly breach port cover 10 and may also provide evidence that port cover 10 has been forcibly breached.
Although locking mechanism 62 has been described in the context of a port cover (e.g., port cover 10) for use in a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure, the present invention contemplates using locking mechanism 62 for engaging with a projection of any suitable first component to removably secure any suitable second component to the first component for any suitable purpose. As just one example, locking mechanism 62 may be used to removably secure a door to a doorframe.
Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, diverse changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/970,071 filed Oct. 20, 2004, entitled Port Cover for a System Integrated Into a Structure for Injection of a Material Into One or More Cavities in the Structure, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 60/572,288 filed May 18, 2004.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 10970071 | Oct 2004 | US |
| Child | 11840783 | US |
