AU2017100757B4 - A bracket for holding pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a bracket for holding pipes and configured for joining to a housing. The bracket comprises a base and pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the base. Each pipe receiving member is configured to receive a respective pipe, whereby aligned pipes are joinable via an intermediate component (e.g. a water meter).

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a bracket for holding pipes. In a particular form, the present invention relates to a bracket that holds pipes for joining by (or which are joined by) water or gas meters.

Background Art [0002] During the installation of plumbing infrastructure, it is often necessary to include ancillary items in the system in order to provide a specific function. For example, ancillary items such as water meters are often used for measuring the consumption of water. Water meters for isolated buildings on a property are typically installed close to the boundary of the property, where they can be easily accessed for reading, and are usually buried underground in order to minimise the risk of accidental damage, to improve their aesthetics, etc. Water meters for larger buildings (e.g. apartment complexes) are usually installed at a central location, with each apartment’s water supply being drawn from a manifold containing the main water supply to the building.

[0003] In in-ground water meter installations, despite being underground the water meter and adjacent piping must be held securely in place but not be covered by dirt, and a housing that surrounds the meter and prevents the ingress of earth is therefore often used. However, current housings generally either require the pipes to pass through the walls of the housing, or include cut away portions in their side walls for accommodating the pipes leading into and out of the water meter. Whilst installation of housings where the pipes pass through the walls of the housing is usually relatively straightforward (especially as the area is likely to have been excavated to allow ease of movement), subsequent maintenance or replacement of components would often require that the housing be destroyed in order to access the pipes. Further, should the housing be damaged, the active pipework passing through the walls of the housing must be frozen or the mains water turned off in order to remove the plumbing attached to it in order to replace the housing. Housings having cut away portions in their side walls cannot provide a complete barrier to the ingress of earth, and additional components are therefore required to seal the installation, where such is to be buried.

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 [0004] In order to simplify the installation of water meters in apartment complexes and the like, metallic brackets for holding pipes in a position where the water meter can subsequently be installed therebetween may be mounted to a wall in a location proximal to the manifold that contains the water supply to the building. The brackets are elongate, with upstanding arms having U-shaped saddles for receiving pipes therein being located at the bracket’s opposing sides. Typically, a number of such brackets are arranged in a row adjacent to the manifold, where they effectively provide a template for the necessary plumbing. A first pipe leads from the manifold to each bracket, with an end of the pipe being received in the arm’s U-shaped saddle and attached to the arm using attachment fittings such as pinch nuts. A second pipe, attached to the bracket’s opposite arm in a similar manner, leads from the bracket to the respective apartment. In this manner, the pipes are held in alignment for subsequent installation of the water meter therebetween. The use of pinch nuts can, however, be problematic because they necessitate the use of relatively complicated water meters, valves and fittings that are compatible with the pinch nuts. Pinch nuts can also be difficult to adjust, not only during installation, but also in the event that the water meter or its associated valves or fittings subsequently needs to be replaced or maintained. For this reason, telescopic couplings (also known as slip couplings) are often used, but this increases the overall costs and such couplings are prone to leakage.

[0005] Whilst brackets and housings such as those described above can facilitate installation of water meters and the associated plumbing, subsequent maintenance and replacement can be problematic. It would be advantageous to provide alternative brackets and assemblies that can provide a similar ease of installation, but which enable more straightforward maintenance or replacement of components.

Summary of Invention [0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bracket for holding pipes. The bracket comprises an elongate base and pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the upper side of the base. The base comprises an upper side, an underside which is adapted for mounting on a surface, fasteners located at opposing longitudinal edges of the base and configured for a housing to be releasably fastenable thereto, and apertures configured to receive surface engaging fasteners therethrough. Each pipe receiving member is configured to receive a respective pipe, whereby pipes are alignable above a longitudinal axis of the base

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 and joinable via an intermediate component (e.g. a meter or a valve, as described below) locatable substantially centrally over the base. A footprint of the bracket has a width similar to that of the pipes and intermediate component but whereby the pipes and intermediate component do not overlap the opposing longitudinal edges of the base.

[0007] Advantageously, the brackets of the present invention have a dual functionality, being capable of use in both wall mounted and in-ground installations of the type described above. The same bracket can thus be affixed to walls of an apartment complex (for example) and, in combination with an appropriate housing, used for in-ground applications. Such adaptability necessitates the stocking of only one type of bracket, which may help to simplify the job of a plumber or builder. As the housing is releasably fastenable to the bracket, post-installation maintenance may be simplified, should such ever be required.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fasteners may comprise snap fit tabs configured for releasably fastening the housing to the bracket.

[0009] In some embodiments, the housing may comprise side walls that are configured to define an enclosure around the bracket when the housing is fastened to the bracket. A lower edge of the side walls may be complementary to the longitudinal edges of the bracket, wherein a substantially continuous barrier around the bracket is provided when the housing is fastened to the bracket.

[0010] The base is configured for mounting on a surface and comprises apertures adapted to receive surface engaging fasteners (e.g. screws, in the case of the wall-mounted installations described above or pegs, in the case of the in-ground installations described above) therethrough.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pipe receiving members may be provided in the form of gripping members, which hold and actively grip the pipes. Advantageously, in such embodiments, the pipe receiving members grip the pipes themselves, with additional components such as pinch nuts, and the like not being required in order for the bracket to securely hold the pipes, both in alignment for joining by the intermediate component and thereafter. In effect, the bracket of such embodiments of the present invention works in the opposite way to the prior ail brackets described above. However, such brackets enable the most basic of intermediate components to be used instead of the more expensive and complicated versions of such components, which include or are adapted for use with pinch nuts or telescopic couplings. Furthermore, a plumber would easily be able to adjust the

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 positions of the pipes and/or intermediate component if required (e.g. during maintenance of the system or replacement of a component) on such brackets.

[0012] In some embodiments, the gripping members may be clamping members, each clamping member being configured to clamp the pipe. Each clamping member may, for example, comprise clamping jaws configured to receive and clamp the pipe therebetween. In such embodiments, the pipe may be securely held by the bracket in a vice-like grip.

[0013] In some embodiments, each gripping member may comprise a manually operable tightening mechanism for gripping the pipe. Such a mechanism may be operated, for example, by a plumber in order to tighten or loosen the gripping member’s grip on a pipe, both during installation and subsequent maintenance.

[0014] In some embodiments, especially when the bracket is intended for use in an in- or onground installation, the base may be configured to receive an earthing rod that contacts one or more of the (metallic) pipes gripped by the gripping members and thereby earth any electrical current present in the pipes. Such an earthing rod would safely earth any live electricity that could be passing through the metal pipework, which would add an important safety aspect to the bracket.

[0015] Also disclosed herein is an assembly for housing an in-ground water meter. The assembly comprises a bracket for holding the water meter and pipes and a housing that is fastenable to the bracket. The bracket comprises a base, pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the base, each pipe receiving member being configured to receive a respective pipe, whereby aligned pipes are joinable via the water meter, and fasteners for receiving corresponding fasteners thereat. The housing comprises fasteners corresponding to the fasteners on the bracket, for releasably fastening the housing to the bracket, and side walls that define an interior of the housing therebetween and which have a lower edge that is complementary to an upper edge of the base and pipe receiving members. When the housing is fastened to the bracket, a substantially continuous barrier for preventing the ingress of earth into the interior is provided.

[0016] Advantageously, the assembly disclosed herein provides a bracket and a housing which can be installed separately, thereby simplifying the installation process because the plumber can receive benefits such as the ease of use and adaptability of the bracket (as described herein), but without the encumbrance of the housing. Once the plumbing has been completed and the water meter in place, the housing can be mounted onto the bracket and the

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 hole around the housing backfilled. Due to the complementary nature of the bracket and housing, substantially no earth can enter the area inside the housing. Furthermore, should it ever be necessary to perform maintenance on the meter or adjacent pipes, the housing can simply be removed from the bracket (after clearing the earth from around the housing) to access all of the components, without needing to damage the housing in any way. Alternatively, if the housing is damaged, it can easily be removed and replaced without having to disturb the plumbing within.

[0017] In some embodiments, the base may be configured for attachment to the ground.

[0018] In some embodiments, the assembly may further comprise an earthing rod configured to contact one or more of the (metallic) pipes held by the holding members and thereby earth any electrical current present in the pipes. Such an earthing rod would safely earth any live conductivity that could be passing through the metal pipework, which would add an important safety aspect to the assembly. As far as the inventor is aware, no such assembly is available at present.

[0019] In some embodiments, the assembly may further comprise a lid for the housing.

[0020] Other features and embodiments of the bracket and housing in the assembly disclosed herein may be as described herein with reference to the bracket of the first aspect of the present invention.

Brief Description of Drawings [0021] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bracket holding pipes with a water meter therebetween in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 shows an end view of the bracket, pipes and water meter of Figure 1;

[0024] Figure 3 shows a side view of the bracket, pipes and water meter of Figure 1;

[0025] Figure 4 shows a top view of the bracket, pipes and water meter of Figure 1;

[0026] Figure 5 shows a side view of the bracket of Figure 1, holding pipes joined by a single isolation valve;

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 [0027] Figure 6 shows a side view of the bracket of Figure 1, but which is not holding any pipes therein;

[0028] Figure 7 shows a top view of the bracket of Figure 6;

[0029] Figure 8 shows a plurality of the brackets of Figure 6 arranged in parallel in a water meter cupboard of an apartment complex; and [0030] Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the bracket, pipes and water meter of Figure 1 in a housing adapted to be buried underground.

Description of Embodiments [0031] The present invention provides a bracket for holding pipes in alignment and which is configured for a housing to be releasably fastenable thereto. The bracket comprises an elongate base and pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the upper side of the base. The base comprises an upper side, an underside which is adapted for mounting on a surface, fasteners that are located at opposing longitudinal edges of the base and configured for the housing to be releasably fastenable thereto, and apertures configured to receive surface engaging fasteners therethrough. Each pipe receiving member is configured to receive a respective pipe, whereby pipes are alignable above a longitudinal axis of the base and joinable via an intermediate component locatable substantially centrally over the base. A footprint of the bracket has a width similar to that of the pipes and intermediate component but whereby the pipes and intermediate component do not overlap the opposing longitudinal edges of the base. The bracket of the present invention will be described in more detail below.

[0032] The bracket may be used to hold any kind of pipes, bearing in mind the nature of the application and function of the intermediate component. The pipes may have a range of diameters, be made of a range of materials and have threaded or smooth exteriors. The same bracket may be used to hold pipes having different diameters (and/or made of different materials), with the intermediate component being suitably configured to join the different pipes, hi some embodiments, the pipes to be held by the bracket of the present invention may be provided in the form of valves (e.g. isolation valves) or other plumbing components, provided that the interior of such valves/components is in fluid communication with pipes leading into and out of the intermediate component.

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 [0033] The bracket may be used to hold any number of pipes although, as will be described below, the bracket would typically be used to hold two pipes for joining via the intermediate component.

[0034] During installation, the bracket would initially retain the pipes in an appropriate alignment for joining via the intermediate component, and then subsequently hold the pipes in position with respect to the bracket (which would usually itself be attached to a surface such as a wall or the ground) such that they cannot easily be caused to move relative to each other, which might cause leaks. In such a manner, the bracket provides a template upon which the plumbing system can readily be built.

[0035] In embodiments of the present invention where the pipe receiving members do not grip the pipes (as will be described in further detail below), it would generally be necessary to use fasteners such as pinch nuts, and the like, to fasten the pipe to the bracket via its pipe receiving members in a conventional manner. The inventor believes that the adaptability of the bracket of the present invention for its multiplicity of uses would outweigh any inconvenience of having to use such fixtures, and their attendant disadvantages, to secure the pipes to the bracket.

[0036] The pipes retained by the bracket are joinable or joined via an intermediate component. The intermediate component may be any ancillary item that can be used to join pipes, although use of the bracket would typically only be commercially justifiable when the intermediate component is of the type likely to need to be replaced or maintained periodically. Examples of intermediate components for use with the bracket of the present invention include water or gas meters, water or gas control valves (e.g. pressure reducing valves, tempering valves, ball valves, thermal mixing valves and check valves), compression unions, barrel unions, meter couplings, irrigation services and controls, and stop cocks.

[0037] The bracket of the present invention has a base which comprises an upper side, an underside which is adapted for mounting on a surface, fasteners that are located at opposing longitudinal edges of the base and configured for a housing to be releasable fastenable thereto, and apertures configured to receive surface engaging fasteners therethrough. The base may take any suitable form, depending on the intended use of the bracket. Typically, the underside of the base is adapted to conform to surfaces such as a wall or the ground in the applications described above. Such an underside may simply be a substantially planar surface, but may contain features if such were to provide any practical advantage.

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 [0038] The base may have any thickness, provided that it can impart a strength to the bracket capable of withstanding the forces it would be likely to experience in use (torsional, tension and compression forces in particular). The base may be provided as a solid block of material, or include a number of apertures in order to reduce its weight.

[0039] The base may have any suitable elongate shape, which has been found to provide the smallest possible footprint (especially important when a number of brackets need to be installed in a relatively confined space) whilst providing sufficient room to accommodate the pipes and intermediate component.

[0040] The base is configured for mounting on a surface (e.g. to the ground or a wall, as described above) and includes apertures adapted to receive surface engaging fasteners (e.g. pegs or screws, respectively) therethrough. More complicated embodiments may also include integral ground engaging pegs, or the like.

[0041] The bracket is configured for a housing to be releasably fastenable thereto via the fasteners on its base. The base may also be configured for joining to other structures, such as an adjacent base, where a number of bases are to be provided in alignment in a specific installation. The fasteners may, for example, be a groove adapted to receive a corresponding tongue of the housing (or vice versa), a lip or flange adapted to receive a corresponding formation (e.g. a recess or groove) of the housing, recesses adapted to receive resilient tabs of the housing (or vice versa) in a snap or interference type fit, etc.

[0042] The bracket of the present invention also has a plurality of pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the base. The pipe receiving members may take any suitable form, depending on the intended use of the bracket. The pipe receiving members may, in some embodiments, be integrally formed with the base (e.g. when the bracket is formed by an injection moulding process, as described below). Alternatively, the pipe receiving members may be attachable to the base in any suitable manner.

[0043] The bracket has at least two pipe receiving members. Each pipe receiving member would typically be provided separate to the other pipe receiving member(s) (i.e. as a discrete component of the bracket). In some embodiments, however, two (or more) pipe receiving members may be provided together (i.e. the same component of the bracket can receive two pipes in the manner required by the present invention).

[0044] Each pipe receiving member is configured to receive a respective pipe such that pipes received by the pipe receiving members are in an alignment over the base in which the pipes

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 can be joined via the intermediate component. Any member capable of receiving a pipe having a given diameter and formed from a given material may be used.

[0045] As noted above, in in-ground water meter installations, it is necessary for the water meter and associated piping to be contained within a housing to prevent the water meter from being covered by earth. If the water meter was to be covered by earth, it would be difficult to read, its rate of corrosion might be significantly increased, and its maintenance much more time consuming. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the housing which is joinable to the bracket comprises side walls that are configured to define an enclosure around the bracket (i.e. when the housing is joined to the bracket). The bracket of the present invention can therefore be used in both wall mounted applications (i.e. on its own) and in-ground applications (i.e. in combination with the housing).

[0046] In some embodiments, the bracket and housing are configured to provide a substantially earth-tight join therebetween. For example, in some embodiments, an upper edge of a periphery of the bracket is complementary to a lower edge of the side walls, whereby a substantially continuous barrier around the bracket is provided when the housing is joined to the bracket. In other embodiments, an edge of the bracket is complementary in shape to a lower edge of the side walls, to a similar effect.

[0047] The housing would typically be configured such that it can accommodate the pipe receiving members (and hence any pipes received thereat) without the pipes needing to pass through its side walls. It is therefore not necessary to provide apertures for the pipes in the housing’s side walls. Such a housing would therefore not need to be damaged in the event of it ever needing to be removed in order to subsequently maintain or replace the piping.

Further, as described below, pipes can be installed before such a housing is placed around the water meter, which can help to simplify the installation process.

[0048] The housing is releasably fastenable to the bracket. As such, the housing can be clipped (for example) onto or off the bracket as required. For example, during the early stages of installation (e.g. when mounting the pipes onto the bracket and joining them via a water meter), the housing would impede the plumber’s access to the bracket and associated piping. Once the pipes have been fastened to the bracket (and the bracket fastened to the ground) and joined by the meter, the housing can be fastened to the bracket and the trench that was dug for the installation backfilled. Subsequently, if maintenance were required, the

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 earth surrounding the housing could be dug out and the housing removed to give the plumber unrestricted (or at least less restricted) access to the piping.

[0049] Although not necessary in all installations, the housing would usually further comprise a lid. Such a lid would cover the cavity that contains the water meter and associated piping and prevent material from around the housing (and people) from falling into the cavity. Typically, the lid would include an aperture or other means to enable its removal when it is necessary to inspect the cavity (e.g. when reading the water meter). The lid may be provided in a form that has a strength sufficient to hold the weight of a vehicle (or the like) which might be driven over it.

[0050] Other structures may be provided for joining to the bracket (i.e. in addition to, or in place of, the housing). For example, as noted above, it may, in some installations, be advantageous to fasten a plurality of brackets together in order to simplify the installation process. In other embodiments, it may be advantageous to provide a divider which can be fastened onto the bracket to physically separate it from its surroundings (e.g. an adjacent bracket or brackets).

[0051] In some embodiments, it may be advantageous for the pipe receiving members to grip the pipes, and the pipe receiving members are thus provided in the form of gripping members. Such embodiments advantageously would not necessitate the use of pinch nuts, and the like, to secure the pipes to the bracket, if simply retaining the pipes thereat is not sufficient to hold them on the bracket. As used herein, the term “grip a pipe”, and similar, is to be understood to mean that the gripping member of the bracket grasps or seizes the pipe firmly and holds it fast. This gripping action is performed by the gripping member itself, without need for conventional fasteners such as pinch nuts or the like (which, in effect, cause the piping to grip the bracket).

[0052] Any suitable gripping action may be used in the bracket of these embodiments of the present invention. For example, the pipe may be gripped by being squeezed, cinched, pinched, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the gripping members may be clamping members, each clamping member being configured to clamp the pipe (e.g. when the clamping members move together). Each clamping member may, for example have clamping jaws that can receive the pipe therebetween and, when clamped, securely grip the pipe. Such clamping jaws may be moveable (e.g. via a rack and pinion-type mechanism, as described

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 below) or pivotable (e.g. where the jaws have a degree of resilience that enables a distal end to be moved).

[0053] Typically, each of the gripping members on a bracket will operate via the same gripping mechanism but, in some embodiments, advantages may be gained by using different gripping mechanisms on the same bracket (e.g. where one gripping mechanism allows for the grip to be released but another gripping mechanism does not, or when pipes having different diameters or formed from different materials are being joined).

[0054] The gripping members may manually or automatically apply their grip to the pipe. In some embodiments, for example, each gripping member may comprise a manually operable tightening mechanism for gripping the pipe. In such embodiments, any suitable tightening mechanism may be used, such as tightening a bolt onto a nut or a rack and pinion. In other embodiments, for example, each gripping member may comprise an automatic tightening mechanism for gripping the pipe. In such embodiments, the mechanism may, for example, comprise a biasing means that biases arms into a gripping configuration where they grip a pipe therebetween. During installation, a plumber would force the gripping arms apart in order to insert the pipe therebetween, and then release the arms whereupon they would be biased towards their gripping configuration and hence grip the pipe.

[0055] The gripping members may be configured to either releasably or permanently grip the pipe. Given that ease of maintenance is one of the primary aims of the bracket of the present invention, however, the gripping members would typically be configured to releasably grip the pipe (e.g. by tightening/loosening the nut and bolt or rack and pinion mechanism described above). However, in some circumstances, it may not be necessary to maintain an installation (or part of an installation), and providing a bracket having a non-releasable gripping member may be advantageous. For example, the upstream side of a water meter may be the property of a regulatory authority who does not authorise maintenance, but the downstream side of the water meter is of no concern to them and can be maintained as necessary. As would be appreciated, there would be little benefit to providing a bracket in which all of the gripping members were non-releasable because permanently fixed pipes/intermediate components could be mounted to a surface with much simpler (and cheaper) brackets such as conventional U-shaped brackets.

[0056] The gripping members may also have a physical shape that can increase their grip on the pipes. For example, the portion of the gripping members that physically contacts the

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 pipes may have a shape which substantially conforms to that of the pipe. In such embodiments, the members’ grip on the pipes is increased due to the larger surface area physically making contact with the pipe. Alternatively, or in addition, the gripping members may be formed of, or their pipe-contacting portion may include, a material (e.g. a rubber lining) which further increases the degree of friction between the member and pipe, thereby even further tightening its grip.

[0057] Given that intended uses of the bracket include inside a housing in an in-ground installation and as a template in installations where space may be restricted, the pipe receiving/gripping members are typically configured such that the ends of the pipes are aligned over the base. In this manner, the intermediate component would also be positioned over the base which, once installed, would result in a neat and well-ordered installation, with a minimum of space taken by each bracket/water meter etc., making it much easier to subsequently maintain the installation.

[0058] The pipe receiving/gripping members may be located anywhere on opposing sides of the base, provided that they are capable of aligning the pipes in the necessary manner. Typically, the pipe receiving/gripping members are located in-line on opposing sides of the base, such that pipes are in alignment over a substantially central portion of the interior of the base in order to reduce the footprint of the overall installation, as described above.

[0059] Two or more pipe receiving/gripping members may be provided on the base, depending on the nature of the intermediate component and the requirements of the installation. In embodiments such as those where the bracket is intended to hold intermediate components such as a water meter, the bracket may comprise two gripping members (i.e. for gripping the ingoing and outgoing pipes). Typically, these two gripping members are located at opposing longitudinal sides of the (elongate) base, with the pipes being held substantially in alignment along the central longitudinal axis of the base, with the water meter installable in line.

[0060] In a specific embodiment, the incoming and outgoing pipes are aligned above the longitudinal axis of an elongate base, and the intermediate component is located substantially centrally over the base. Such an embodiment provides an installation with a minimum footprint, and hence the attendant advantages discussed above.

[0061] The bracket may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials, given its intended uses, as described herein. Plastic materials would generally be preferred,

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 being cheaper, less prone to corrosion, stronger (for a given weight) and more resilient than many metallic substances. In some embodiments, the bracket will primarily be formed from a plastic material such as HDPE via an injection moulding process, which provides a good balance of ease of manufacture with overall strength. If tightening mechanisms are present in the gripping members, then such may be formed from metallic materials such as stainless steel or galvanised iron, etc. because these materials tend to be stronger.

[0062] It will be appreciated that the bracket may comprise other features not explicitly described herein and which a person skilled in the art would expect to improve its utility (e.g. by imparting additional strength, especially its torsional strength, improve its pipe gripping strength, improve its durability or suitability for a given installation, etc.).

[0063] Also disclosed herein is an assembly for housing an in-ground water meter. The assembly comprises a bracket for holding the water meter and pipes and a housing that is fastenable to (i.e. mountable on) the bracket. The bracket comprises a base, pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the base, each pipe receiving member being configured to receive a respective pipe, whereby aligned pipes are joinable via the water meter, and fasteners for receiving corresponding fasteners thereat. The housing comprises fasteners corresponding to the fasteners on the bracket, for releasably fastening the housing to the bracket, and side walls that define an interior of the housing therebetween and which have a lower edge that is complementary to an upper edge of the base and pipe receiving members. When the housing is fastened to the bracket, a substantially continuous barrier for preventing the ingress of earth into the interior is provided.

[0064] The assembly will be described in more detail below.

[0065] The assembly has a bracket having a base, a plurality of pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the base, each holding member being configured to receive a pipe, whereby pipes held by the pipe receiving members are held in alignment over the base and joinable via the water meter, and fasteners for receiving corresponding fasteners thereat. Provided that it includes all of its recited features, the bracket in the assembly may be as described herein in the context of the bracket of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0066] In some embodiments, for example, the pipe receiving members may be provided in the form of gripping members. The gripping members may, for example, be clamping members, each clamping member being configured to clamp the pipe. Each clamping

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 member may, for example, comprise clamping jaws configured to receive and clamp the pipe therebetween.

[0067] In some embodiments, each gripping member may comprise a manually operable tightening mechanism for gripping the pipe. In some embodiments, each gripping member may be configured to releasably grip the pipe.

[0068] In some embodiments, the base may be elongate. In such embodiments, the bracket may, for example, comprise two pipe receiving members. The pipe receiving members may, for example, be located at opposing longitudinal sides of the base.

[0069] In some embodiments, the base may be configured for attachment to the ground (e.g. via spikes, either provided integrally formed in the base, or passing through apertures in the base), [0070] In some embodiments, the assembly may further comprise an earthing rod configured to contact one or more of the pipes held by the pipe receiving members and thereby earth any electrical current present in the pipes.

[0071] Similarly, provided that it includes all of its recited features, the housing in the assembly may be as described herein in the context of the housing for joining to the bracket of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0072] As will be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure, the present invention provides a bracket capable of fixing and securely holding a range of valves and water meters and associated piping in set positions either mounted on walls or in an in-ground meter box. It should also be noted, however, that the assembly (or indeed, even the bracket) of the present invention could be used in other applications, such as in an above ground meter installation, where exposed to the elements, or even an underwater installation (especially when the bracket is formed from a non-corrosive material such as HDPE).

[0073] Advantageously, the multi-use brackets and assembly of the present invention do not require the plumbing work to pass through the walls of the housing when supplied as kits which, as discussed above, would likely necessitate complicated work to be earned out upon maintenance or replacement of components. Instead, the multi-use brackets and the assembly of the present invention allow for simple housing removal while leaving the plumbing work intact for maintenance.

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 [0074] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, shown is a bracket 10 for holding pipes in the form of valves 12A and 12B in alignment. Bracket 10 has a base 14 and pipe receiving members in the form of clamping arms 16A and 16B. As can best be seen in Figure 4, bracket 10 is elongate, with clamping arms 16A and 16B being located at opposing sides of the base 14. An intermediate component in the form of water meter 18 joins valves 12A and 12B and is substantially centrally located over the base 14. Referring again to Figure 4, it can be seen that the valves 12A and 12B and water meter 18 are in substantial alignment with a central longitudinal axis of the bracket 10 and do not overlap the edges of base 14.

[0075] In Figures 1 to 4, the valves 12A and 12B are the components gripped by the clamping arms 16A and 16B. As described herein, however, the bracket 10 is equally capable of being used with other forms of pipes, having different diameters and shapes. In this respect, Figure 5 shows the bracket 10 with pipes in the form of pipes 13A and 13B being held in a similar alignment to that of valves 12A and 12B, and joined by an intermediate component in the form of an isolation valve 19.

[0076] Valves 12A and 12B are isolation valves, which enable the flow of water through the system to be stopped at either side of water meter 18. Valves 12A and 12B are shown in Figures 1 to 4 with caps 20A and 20B, respectively, thereon for clarity. It will be appreciated that upstream valve 12A would, in practice (e.g. see Figure 8, described below), be connected to piping that leads to a source of water and downstream valve 12B be connected to piping that leads to a dwelling or the like (not shown), or vice versa.

[0077] Figures 6 and 7 show the bracket 10 without the valves 12A, 12B (or pipes 13A and 13B) and water meter 18 for comparative purposes.

[0078] Clamping arms 16A and 16B are identical and only one will be described in further detail below. As can be seen in Figure 2, clamping arm 16A has two jaws 22A and 22B, each of which have an outer portion 24 and an inner portion 26. Jaws 22A and 22B are separated by a tapered cleft 28, which widens towards an upper end of jaws 22A and 22B into arcshaped pipe receiving portions 30A and 30B, respectively. Jaws 22A and 22B also have an aperture 32 therethrough (see Figure 2), and through which a threaded bolt 34 can be fitted (only the head of bolt 34 can be seen in the Figures). A nut 36 is housed at an opposite end of the aperture 32, with the threaded end of the bolt 34 being receivable therein. Tightening

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 bolt 34 onto nut 36 causes jaws 22A and 22B to be drawn towards one another, with the cleft 28 closing and the arc-shaped pipe receiving portions 30A and 30B moving closer together.

[0079] In use, a pipe (e.g. valve 12A or pipe 13A) would be placed by a plumber into the recess defined by the arc-shaped pipe receiving portions 30A and 30B of jaws 22A and 22B, respectively (the bolt 34 having been loosened beforehand). Once the valve 12A was in approximately the correct alignment (i.e. facing towards the centre of the bracket 10 and approximately in alignment with its longitudinal axis) and position (i.e. overhanging the clamping arm 16A by a sufficient amount for being attached to water meter 18), the bolt 34 would be tightened, thereby drawing jaws 22A and 22B together and bringing the arc-shaped pipe receiving portions 30A and 30B to bear on the outside of valve 12A. As the jaws 22A and 22B are tightened, the alignment of the valve 12A will become even more aligned with the base. Once suitably tightened, there is little opportunity for the valve 12A to move with respect to the bracket 10. Further, as can best be seen in Figure 2, arc-shaped pipe receiving portions 30A and 30B of jaws 22A and 22B together define a pipe contacting portion slightly in excess of half of the circumference of the pipe, with lips 38A and 38B, respectively, substantially preventing the valve 12A from being able to escape the clamping arm 16 once so tightened.

[0080] A similar operation may carried out for valve 12B (or pipe 13B) in order to securely clamp it within the corresponding arc-shaped pipe receiving portions (not numbered for clarity) of the jaws of clamping arm 16B. Once valves 12A and 12B are so positioned, they are ready to be joined to water meter 18. Installation of water meter 18 may be performed by the same plumber or a different plumber, with the valves I2A and 12B all being left in a readily accessible and plumbed-in position on bracket 10. Ideally, the ends of valves 12A and 12B will be in the exact position for installation of the water meter 18 therebetween but, if a small amount of movement of the valves were required, the bolt 34 could be loosened slightly in order to release and enable one or both of the valves 12A and 12B to be moved slightly (bearing in mind they are already likely to be plumbed in to the water system and no longer loose pipes. Once the meter 18 has been joined to the valves 12A and 12B, the plumber’s job is complete. Valves 12A and 12B can then be turned on and appropriate testing conducted to ensure that water (or gas) is flowing correctly through the valves 12A and 12B and associated piping (or pipes 13A and 13B) and is being recorded by the meter 18. In this configuration, the valves 12A and 12B (or pipes 13A and 13B) and water meter 18 are securely held in place with respect to each other by the bracket and are therefore not

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 susceptible to the damage which might be caused were these components knocked or otherwise jolted. The components are all securely held in fixed relative positions to the bracket 10, and hence to the surface to which the bracket is attached (as described below).

[0081] As will be appreciated, the releasable nature of clamping arms 16A and 16B enables the valves 12A and 12B or pipes 13A and 13B to be repositionable with respect to the bracket 10 very easily, and fax' more easily than would be the case if pinch nuts or other complicated plumbing components were being used. Similarly, maintenance and replacement of components in the system described herein would be much simpler and more straightforward due to the releasable clamping nature of the arms 16A and 16B.

[0082] The base 14 is substantially rectangular is cross section and designed to be wide enough to carry the valves 12A and 12B and water meter 18 thereover. An underside of the base (not shown) is substantially planar in order to facilitate its stability when attached to surfaces such as a wall or the ground, as will be described in further detail below. Base 14 has a number (four, in Figures 1 to 4) of fastener-receiving apertures, shown generally as apertures 40, therethrough. Apertures 40 are adapted to receive a fastener appropriate to the surface onto which the base 14 is to be mounted. For example, as can be seen in Figure 4, the apertures 40 have two diameters, with a sunken flange, shown generally as 42, defining a surface onto which the head of a wall-engaging screw (not shown) can bear in order to screw the bracket 10 to a wall. Similarly, ground engaging spikes (also not shown) can pass through aperture 40 and into the ground, with a return portion (or the like) at the top of each spike being retainable either by the flange 42 or by an edge of the aperture 40.

[0083] The base 14 also has a number (four, in Figures 1 to 4) of fasteners, shown in the form of tabs (shown generally as 44), on its peripheral edges. Tabs 44 are arranged in spread apart locations on base 14, with two being on each side. The tabs 44 are resilient members that are biased into the position shown in the Figures, but which can be deflected inwardly by pushing against each tab’s release portion, shown generally as 46. Release portion 46 has a ramp like shape such that, when a housing (described in further detail below) is slid over the bracket 10, a corresponding tab receiving portion of the housing bears against the release portion 46, thereby causing tab 44 to be deflected inwardly until the housing passes over the end of the release portion 46, whereupon the resilience of tab 44 causes it to spring back into its original position. The sharp underside edge of release portion 46 prevents the housing from being lifted off the base 14 without a person pushing inwardly on the release portion 46 with a force

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 sufficient to displace the sharp edge such that it no longer bears against the tab receiving portion of the structure.

[0084] Referring now to Figure 8, a plurality of brackets 10 are shown arranged in parallel adjacent to a water supply manifold 48 in a water meter cupboard of an apartment complex. Each bracket 10 securely holds valves 12A and 12B and a water meter thereon, as described above. An incoming pipe 50A leads from the manifold 48 to the valve 12A, and an outgoing pipe SOB leads from valve 12B to a respective apartment (not shown).

[0085] A first plumber would usually mount the brackets 10 to the wall of the water meter cupboard in an appropriate position relative to the manifold 48. In some forms, the manifold 48 may be provided with the pipes 50A pre-installed, but these could be plumbed in using existing techniques if necessary. Once the template for the plumbing is provided by the manifold 48 and brackets 10, the plumber can then install the piping 50A (if not already) and valve 12A onto one side of the bracket 10 and clamp it thereon for safety. The plumber can then install the valve 12B and piping 50B, leading to the apartment, onto the opposite side of the bracket 10 and clamp it thereon for safety. Subsequently, a second plumber (or the same plumber) may visit the apartment to install all of the water meters 18 at once. To do so, the clamps 16A and 16B of each bracket may be loosened (i.e. in the manner described above) in order for pipes/valves 12A/50A and 12B/50B to have a small amount of play to make the installation of the water meter 18 easier. Once the water meter 18 has been appropriately connected to the valves 12A and 12B, the valves can again be clamped onto the bracket 10, [0086] Referring now to Figure 9, a bracket 10 is shown having a housing 52 thereon. Housing 52 has four tab-receiving members, shown generally as 54, which are configured to deflect tabs 44 of bracket 10 in the manner described above, with the housing 52 being securely retained on the bracket 10 when the tabs 44 return to their biased positions because flange 56 of member 54 bears against release portion 46. The only way to subsequently remove the housing 52 from the bracket 10 is for a person to push the release portion 46 of each tab 44 whilst lifting the housing 52 a sufficient distance off the bracket 10 such that the flange 56 clears the sharp edge of the release portion 46.

[0087] Housing 52 has a lower edge, shown generally as lower edge 58 that substantially conforms to the outer periphery of bracket 10 when in the configuration shown in Figure 9.

Lower edge 58 includes two cut-out portions 60A and 60B, which substantially conform to the outer edges of the clamping arms 16A and 16B, respectively. In this manner, housing 52

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 and bracket 10 together define an enclosure that is substantially impervious to earth and the like, even when buried in the ground, as would be the case in an in-ground meter installation. Advantageously, as will be described below, this configuration not only enables for a simpler installation process, but also, in the event of components needing to be subsequently maintained or replaced, a simpler maintenance or replacement process. Although not shown, a lid would usually be provided to fit over the open top of housing 52 in order to cover the contents of the housing and protect them from the ingress of materials. The lid would also prevent people etc. from potentially hurting themselves should they walk over the buried meter (e.g. in the dark), and should therefore be strong enough to hold a significant weight.

[0088] During installation, a trench (not shown) would be dug in the appropriate location and pipes leading from the water supply and to a dwelling would be laid. A plumber would then fit the pipes and water meter 18 to the bracket 10 in a manner similar to that described above, but with the bracket 10 having been affixed to the ground at the bottom of the trench by ground-engaging pegs or the like in the manner described above. Advantageously, this fiddly plumbing work can be conducted before the housing 52 is put in place (and thereby restrict the plumber’s access to the pipes etc.), which is a vast improvement over some prior art housings (not shown), where the housing needs to be in position already because the pipes pass through the walls of the housing.

[0089] Once the plumbing has been completed, the housing 52 can simply be placed above the bracket 10 and then pushed down until the tabs 44 audibly click and the housing 52 is affixed to the bracket in a substantially earth-tight manner. The trench can then be backfilled after appropriate checks have been made to ensure that the plumbing system is working. Typically, only the very top of the housing 52 (or its lid, not shown) would remain above the ground once backfilling has occurred, in order for a person to be able to easily locate the meter for reading, but not so high as to provide a potential trip hazard.

[0090] In the event of the meter or other plumbing components within the housing 52 (or the housing 52 itself) ever requiring maintenance or replacement, it would be necessary to remove the earth surrounding the outside of housing 52, and then for a person to simply press the release portion 46 of the tabs 44 and lift the housing 52 off the bracket 10. As the pipes 22A and 22B do not pass through the walls of the housing 52, there is no need to destroy the housing in order to perform this action, as is the case for many existing housings. Furthermore, the housing 52 can be removed even if only to improve the plumber’s access to the meter 18 etc., thereby potentially simplifying the work needed to be carried out. At the

2017100757 11 Dec 2017 completion of the work, the housing 52 can simply be replaced onto the bracket 10 in the manner described above, and the hole refilled.

[0091] It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a number of new and useful results. For example, specific embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more of the following advantages:

• a single bracket is provided that can be used to fix and secure a range of valves and meters in set positions in wall mounted, on-ground and in-ground installations;

• the bracket can provide a template in order to simplify the installation of plumbing in confined areas;

• other structures can be attached to the bracket in order to accessorise it and make it more suitable for specific applications;

• the bracket may be provided as a single unit, totally without the requirement for other components such as fasteners, pinch nuts, etc.

• the bracket is adaptable for retaining and, in some forms, gripping pipes of varying sizes and materials;

• the pipes may be securely held in place but relatively quickly released via a “quick release” type mechanism; and • simple mechanical mechanisms may be provided for tightening and loosening the grip on the pipes, thus potentially simplifying installation, maintenance and replacement.

[0092] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the following claims.

[0093] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

2017100757 11 Dec 2017

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A bracket for holding pipes, the bracket comprising:

an elongate base comprising: an upper side;

an underside which is adapted for mounting on a surface;

fasteners located at opposing longitudinal edges of the base and configured for a housing to be releasably fastenable thereto; and apertures configured to receive surface engaging fasteners therethrough, pipe receiving members located at opposing sides of the upper side of the base, each pipe receiving member being configured to receive a respective pipe, whereby pipes are alignable above a longitudinal axis of the base and joinable via an intermediate component locatable substantially centrally over the base, wherein a footprint of the bracket has a width similar to that of the pipes and intermediate component but whereby the pipes and intermediate component do not overlap the opposing longitudinal edges of the base.

2/5

Z-X

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Figure 2

2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the fasteners comprise snap fit tabs configured for releasably fastening the housing to the bracket.

3/5

2017100757 16 Jun2017

Figure 3

Figure 4

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IM

Figure 6 ψ t Figure 7

3. The bracket of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing comprises side walls that are configured to define an enclosure around the bracket when the housing is fastened to the bracket and a lower edge of the side walls is complementary to the longitudinal edges of the bracket, wherein a substantially continuous barrier around the bracket is provided when the housing is fastened to the bracket.

4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the side walls of the housing taper outwardly.

5. The bracket of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pipe receiving members comprise clamping members, each clamping member comprising clamping jaws configured to receive and clamp the pipe therebetween.

5/5

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