GB2482060A - A thermal insulation cover for protecting a stopcock from freezing in the winter - Google Patents

Abstract

An insulating device 400 suitable for insulating a stopcock (not shown) comprises a main body with a side wall 402 and an upper end wall / cap 208 together defining a cavity 404 within the main body, the cavity being suitable for receiving a stopcock, wherein a handle 210 is provided above a top face of the upper end wall. The side wall is preferably a tubular sleeve, and is dimensioned to form a tight fit within a stopcock chamber, in use. The upper end wall is preferably fixed to the sleeve, but may optionally be removable. A handle loop 210 preferably passes through holes on the cover cap / end wall, or may be integral with the end wall. The thermal insulating material of the main valve / water stop cock is ideally foamed closed cell nitrile rubber material. By having the shape of a tea-cosy / bell / hood, it is easily located over a stop cock / mains tap. By insulating the stopcock, the water within is prevented from freezing.

Description

"An insulating device"

Introduction

This invention relates to an insulator and in particular to an insulator for use on stopcocks.

Due to worsening harsh winters in Europe, the incidences of frozen water pipes in domestic buildings and commercial buildings has increased dramatically in recent years. The problem can be extremely costly as the frozen pipes can lead to the closure of business, require extensive repair work to be carried out and needless to say the impact of being cut off from a water supply can be a very harrowing experience for families, particularly so in cold winter months.

Generally, the water supply to a building is supplied by a mains water provider. The mains water provider is in charge of a water supply network which branches out to include a mains water supply pipe running beneath ground level outside the boundaries of houses and buildings on most streets. The mains water is then directed into each building, passing the building's boundary, via a rising main pipe. The rising main pipe leads from the mains water supply pipe running beneath ground level on the street outside the building towards the building to be supplied with the mains water.

The mains water supply pipes are typically located approximately three to four feet beneath ground level so as to take advantage of the geothermal heat which is present at such a depth. The geothermal heat acts as a natural heat source for the mains water supply piping and even in the harshest weather conditions, the temperature of the earth, and consequently the temperature of the mains water supply pipes and mains water in the mains water supply pipes never reach sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, the mains water in the mains water supply pipes at this depth never freeze.

In the majority of mains water supply networks, two stopcocks are provided for each building. The stopcocks are valves which are used to shut off the supply of mains water is so required. One of the stopcocks is an external stopcock and the other stopcock is an internal stopcock. The internal stopcock is usually positioned adjacent a water outlet within the building itself, such as adjacent a bath or most usually beneath the sink in the kitchen of the building. Thus, the mains water supply to the house can be cut off at this point within the building itself. The external stopcock is usually located along the rising main pipe, just outside the boundary of a building, so as to allow external access to the water supply of the building. In some instances, the mains water provider or emergency service may have reason to shut off the supply of water to the house from a location outside of the building. It should be noted that any references to stopcocks throughout the remainder of this specification are directed to the external stopcock.

The stopcock is located within a stopcock chamber outside the boundary of the building beneath a stopcock cover. The stopcock is positioned along the rising main pipe which directs mains water from the mains water supply pipe to the building, and, the stopcock is located approximately 6 inches to 12 inches below ground level. This is much closer to ground level than the remaining part of the mains water supply pipes in the mains water supply network.

The stopcock needs to be located at this relatively shallow level beneath the ground so as to provide ease of access for a homeowner, plumber, mains water provider or emergency worker and the like. As a result, the rising main pipe needs to slope upwardly from the main supply pipe, which is approximately 3 or 4 feet beneath ground level, to a depth of just 6 inches to 12 inches beneath ground level. The geothermal heat which is present at this shallower depth of 6 inches to 12 inches below ground level is far less than the geothermal heat which is present at a depth of three or four feet below ground level.

Consequently, there is a problem whereby the stopcock can become frozen during prolonged periods of freezing temperatures as there is not enough geothermal heat at that relatively shallow depth to keep the stopcock above sub-zero temperatures.

Thus, the mains water supply to the building is cut out. This is obviously very troublesome for homeowners of domestic buildings with no mains water supply, and indeed can also cause large disruptions to business housed in commercial buildings, particularly factories and manufacturing plants which have a very high reliance on mains water supply for the production lines and manufacturing processes.

As mentioned above, the stopcock is housed in a stopcock chamber. The stopcock chamber is also referred to as a stopcock housing occasionally. The stopcock chamber comprises a cover is typically a hinged cover placed over a small chamber in the ground. The stopcock chamber is typically 4 inches in diameter, within which the stopcock is located. In recent times, stopcocks with a meter attachment, known as meter-ready stopcocks have been installed during repair works or upgrading works. The meter-ready stopcock will eventually have a small meter with wireless communication capabilities attached to it to keep a track of the usage of water in a household. The stopcock meter will have a transponder to allow a passing vehicle with complementary communications means to receive information regarding the mains water usage wirelessly from the meter. These meter-ready stopcock chambers are slightly larger than the standard circular 4 inch stopcock chambers, and are typically about 8 inches in diameter with a circular or square cover.

As the surround earth around the stopcock chamber freezes during cold periods, particularly at night, and the stopcock chamber cover, typically made of a metal, becomes cold as well, the stopcock chamber freezes and any heat in the stopcock chamber is conducted away from the stopcock valve. Even in the case that the stopcock chamber uses a plastic cover instead of a metal cover, although the conductivity of the plastic cover is less than that of the metal cover, the heat will still be conducted away.

Another reason for stopcocks freezing so easily in cold weather is that the stopcock chamber cover does not form an air tight nor water tight seal and consequently rainwater and surface water can easily enter the stopcock chamber. During long periods of freezing temperatures, the water which is in the stopcock chamber freezes quite quickly as it is exposed to the freezing air temperatures and this ice than surrounds the stopcock in the stopcock chamber which has a detrimental effect on the operation of the stopcock.

Due to the above problems of the exposure of the stopcock chamber to freezing air temperatures and icy water during cold nights, it is quite common for the water passing through the stopcock to become frozen itself. This freeze blocks the stopcock valve and cuts off the mains water supply to the building. The freeze may then continue along the rising mains pipe either side of the stopcock valve.

During the day when a building's water supply is active, a good deal of mains water will flow through the stopcock and even in freezing temperatures it is unlikely that a freeze will occur as the mains water is not still for a sufficient amount of time to allow a freeze to quickly envelop the stopcock. The running mains water maintains the temperature of the stopcock at approximately the same temperature as the running mains water itself which has been kept above freezing temperatures by geothermal heating in the mains water supply pipes. However, at night when the mains water flow rate through the stopcock is significantly reduced, then the freezing air and freezing surrounding water in the stopcock chamber cause the water in the stopcock to freeze. Moreover, at night time the temperatures will drop to their lowest point. Thus, the vast majority of stopcocks become frozen over the course of a night.

At present, if a stopcock becomes frozen, ft must be allowed to thaw out naturally as applying direct heat to the stopcock may cause the stopcock to crack and require the stopcock valve to be replaced which is both costly and time-consuming to carry out.

At present, there is no solution on the market which prevents the stopcock from becoming frozen during prolonged periods of cold, sub-zero temperatures.

Moreover, if the stopcock is frozen and the water is blocked from moving, water in other parts of the water supply network will be stagnant and more prone to become frozen. This could crack the pipes and cause large disruption and prove very costly to repair. If the freeze continues either side of the stopcock valve, the thawing process will take even longer to fully enact itself and consequently it will take even longer for running mains water to return to the building.

The stopcock is considered by experts to be the weakest point along the mains water supply network from the council water mains to buildings., in the sense that the stopcock is most exposed to freezing temperatures due to the shallow depth at which the stopcock is installed and due to the stopcock chamber not being airtight nor Watertight and exposed to the elements. As a consequence, the stopcock is the first point at which the mains water supply will fail due to freezing during freezing, sub-zero temperatures.

Due to the location of the stopcock, the environment in which the stopcock is located is a damp, cold and dirt-ridden environment. Such an environment is not suitable for receiving many types of material as the environment is too harsh for the material to operate effectively. Many types of materials have been used to wrap the stopcock valve such as towels and the like, however all have failed due to their design and material characteristics.

It is a goal of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes at least some of the above mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to an insulating device for insulating a stopcock, the insulating device comprising a main body having an endless side wall supporting an upper end wall, which side wall and upper end wall together define a cavity within the main body which is suitable for receiving the stopcock; and the insulating device further comprising a handle located above a top face of the upper end wall.

The advantage of such a construction of insulating device is that the insulating device provides a substantially watertight and substantially air tight seal around the stopcock to prevent the stopcock from freezing.

The provision of a handle allows the stopcock to be removed for any inspection and/or repair work to the stopcock chamber and/or stopcock valve.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device is dimensioned to form a tight fit within a stopcock chamber housing the stopcock. This tight, snug fit is advantageous as it increases the air tightness and water tightness of the fit of the insulating device over and around the stopcock.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device comprises a length of insulating material which is rolled into a tube with the sides of the length of insulating material fixed together to form the endless side wall; an upper disc of insulating material which forms the upper end wall and is fixed to one end of the endless side wall; and, a loop forming the handle, wherein the loop runs beneath the upper end wall and above the upper end wall, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall.

This construction of the insulating device is advantageous as the interlacing device may be relatively cheaply constructed from a length of insulating material and a correspondingly dimensioned disc of insulating material.

Moreover, the handle may be easily provisioned by a loop of material, such as a plastic tie wrap, a length of malleable metal, a fabric such as a rope, or a loop of rubber.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device is further comprises a rigid support plate which is located between a bottom face of the upper end wall and a portion of the loop running beneath the upper end wall; and, an inner disc of insulating material which is placed within the cavity of the main body and substantially covers the bottom face of the upper end wall, the rigid support plate and the portion of the loop running beneath the upper end wall when in place.

The inner disc provides additional insulation to the stopcock and provides a protection barrier between the stopcock and the rigid support plate and the portion of the loop running beneath the upper end wall.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device comprises a tube of insulating material which forms the endless side wall; an upper disc of insulating material which forms the upper end wall and is fixed to one end of the endless side wall; and, a loop forming the handle, wherein the loop runs beneath the upper end wall and above the upper end wall, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device comprises a tube of insulating material which forms the endless side wall; and, a sealing cap which forms the upper end wall and is fixed to one end of the endless side wall.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device further comprises a loop forming the handle, wherein the loop runs beneath the upper end wall and above the upper end wall, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall.

In a further embodiment, the sealing cap further comprises an integrated gripable portion which forms the handle.

In a further embodiment, the insulating device is made of an elastomeric closed cell material. In a further embodiment, the insulating device is made of a closed cell polyethylene material. In a further embodiment, the insulating device is made of a closed cell nitrile rubber material. In a further embodiment, the insulating device is made of a foamed closed cell material. In a further embodiment, the loop is made of a plastics.

Closed cell insulation has been found to be particularly effective as this type of closed cell insulation does not absorb any water and therefore provides a watertight protection barrier over the stopcock. Furthermore, this type of insulation material is particular eftective and against freezing temperatures as long as minus twenty degrees centigrade.

In a further embodiment, the rigid support plate is made of a metal. The rigid support plate is important as this widens the pressure point caused by pulling up on the handle, in the form of a loop of material, on the underside, or bottom face, of the upper end wall.

In a further embodiment, the main body is substantially circularly shaped in cross section. In a further embodiment, the main body is substantially ovally shaped in cross section. The substantially ovally shaped interlacing device will advantageously receive a meter-ready stopcock.

The present invention is further directed to a stopcock insulator for encasing a stopcock in a snug fit so as to form a substantially watertight seal over and around the stopcock, wherein the stopcock insulator comprises a sleeve having a cavity suitable to receive the stopcock, and, a hand grip to allow the stopcock insulator to be removed from its snug fit encasing the stopcock.

The advantage of providing a stopcock insulator is that the stopcock will be protected from freezing conditions during periods of low temperatures. Thus, the water supply to a building will not become blocked due to a frozen section of the water supply network and the water supply will continue to operate normally during the periods of freezing weather conditions.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve is formed from cylindrically shaped insulation material having a blind hole at one free end which extends along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and, the stopcock insulator further comprises a sealing cover fixed over the other free end of the sleeve, wherein, the hand grip is mounted on the sealing cover.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve is formed from tubular insulation material having a through hole along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and, the stopcock insulator further comprises a sealing cover fixed over an upper free end of the sleeve, wherein, the hand grip is mounted on the sealing cover.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve potion is formed from a closed cell insulating material and the sealing cover is formed from the closed cell insulating material.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve potion is formed from a closed cell insulating material and the sealing cover is formed from a plastics.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve potion is formed from closed cell nitrile rubber and the sealing cover is formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Nitrile rubber has been found to be a particularly effective material for use in the environment as found in many stopcock chambers.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve potion is formed from closed cell polyethylene and the sealing cover is formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

In a further embodiment, the sleeve potion is formed from an elastomeric closed cell material.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve potion is formed from a foamed closed cell material.

In a further embodiment, the sealing cover is formed from a metal. Preferably the metal is a stainless steel, a mild steel or an aluminium.

In a further embodiment, the cavity is formed in one end of the sleeve and the handgrip is incorporated into the sleeve so as to extend from an opposing end of the sleeve. -10-

In a further embodiment, the sleeve and the handgrip are formed from closed cell insulating material.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve portion comprises an inner support frame within the material which extends into the hand grip to provide a more robust hand grip.

The present invention is further directed towards a closed pipe constructed of closed cell insulating material which closed pipe is dimensioned to fit snugly within a stopcock chamber, encasing the stopcock with the closed cell insulating material.

The present invention is further directed towards an insulating device comprising an open ended pipe constructed of closed cell insulating material which open ended pipe is dimensioned to fit snugly within a stopcock chamber, encasing the stopcock with the closed cell insulating material; and, the insulating device further comprises an upper end wall in the form of a removable lid constructed of closed cell insulating material which is dimensioned to fit atop the open ended pipe when the open ended pipe is fit snugly within the stopcock chamber.

The removable lid is advantageous as it allows easy access to view the stopcock whilst the open ended tube of closed cell material remains in place.

In a further embodiment, the upper end wall comprises an integrated handle. In one embodiment, the integrated handle is formed by a substantially U-shaped cut-out in the upper end wall defining a gripable cross bar.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of water supply to a building; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stopcock insulator in accordance with the present invention with hidden parts shown in phantom lining; Figure 3 is a front view of the stopcock insulator of Figure 2 with hidden parts shown in phantom lining; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a stopcock insulator in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention with hidden parts shown in phantom lining; Figure 5 is a front view of the stopcock insulator of Figure 4 with hidden parts shown in phantom lining; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a stopcock insulator in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention with hidden parts shown in phantom lining; Figure 7 is a front view of the stopcock insulator of Figure 6 with hidden parts shown in phantom lining; Figure 8 is a front perspective view of a stopcock insulator in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a sectioned view of the stopcock insulator of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the stopcock insulator of Figure 8 in a partially constructed phase; Figure 11 is another perspective view of the stopcock insulator of Figure 8 in a partially constructed phase; and, -12-Figure 12 is perspective view of a stopcock insulator in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is provided a water supply network indicated generally by the reference numeral 100. The water supply network 100 comprises a main supply conduit 102 which runs beneath a road 104. A rising main pipe 106 branches away from the main supply conduit 102 and directs water into a building at 110 as shown by reference arrows 108, 112.

A stopcock 114 is located within a stopcock chamber 116 which is covered by a stopcock cover 118. The stopcock 114 is located beneath a path 120 just outside a boundary 122 of the building 110. It will be appreciated that the stopcock may be located in varying other locations depending on the standard practice within a particular jurisdiction.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, there is provided a stopcock insulator indicated generally by the reference numeral 200. The stopcock insulator 200 comprises a sleeve 202 having a cavity 204. The sleeve 202 is a tubular shaped piece of insulating material such as nitrile rubber. The cavity 204 in the sleeve 202 is formed by a through hole which runs along a longitudinal axis A' of the entire sleeve 202. The stopcock insulator 200 encases a stopcock (not shown) in a snug fit, so as to form a substantially watertight seal and/or a substantially air tight seal, over and around the stopcock and within the stopcock chamber (not shown) by abutting against the walls of the stopcock chamber.

The stopcock insulator 200 further comprises a sealing cover 208 at an upper free end indicated generally by reference numeral 206 of the sleeve 202. The sealing cover 208 is permanently affixed to the upper free end 206. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing cover 208 is abutted to the sleeve 202 by adhesive means.

The stopcock insulator 200 comprises a handle 210 which allows a user to remove the stopcock insulator 200 from its snug fit encasing the stopcock within the stopcock -13-chamber.

The stopcock insulator 200 is placed over the stopcock, allowing the stopcock to protrude through the open lower free end indicated generally by reference numeral 212 such that the stopcock is encased within the cavity 204 of the sleeve 202. The diameter of the sleeve 202 may be selected such as to form a snug, watertight fit within the stopcock chamber.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, wherein like parts previously described have been assigned the same reference numerals, there is provided a stopcock insulator indicated generally by reference numeral 400. The stopcock insulator 400 comprises a sleeve 402 having a cavity 404. The cavity 404 is a blind hole within a cylindrically shaped piece of closed cell insulating material, such as nitrile rubber.

The stopcock insulator 400 comprises a sealing cover 208 having a handle 210. As before, a lower free end indicated generally by reference numeral 212 allows the stopcock insulator 400 to be placed over a stopcock (not shown) such that the stopcock is encased in the stopcock insulator 400, and the stopcock insulator 400 creates a snug fit with in the stopcock chamber (not shown). In this manner, the stopcock is kept in a warm, substantially water-free environment and therefore the stopcock will not freeze, even in sub-zero temperatures.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, wherein like parts previously described have been assigned the same reference numerals, there is provided a stopcock insulator indicated generally by reference numeral 600. The stopcock insulator 600 comprises a sleeve 602 having a cavity 404. The cavity 404 is a blind hole within a piece of closed cell insulating material, such as nitrile rubber.

The sleeve 602 extends into a handle 210 at an upper free end indicated generally by reference numeral 608 of the sleeve 602. Internal wire supports 604, 606 extend around the handle 210 and down along, within the sleeve 602 so as to provide a robust link between the handgrip 210 and the remainder of the sleeve 602. -14-

In use, the stopcock insulator 600 is placed over a stopcock (not shown) so as to allow the stopcock to enter into the cavity 404 via an open lower free end indicated generally by reference numeral 212. As before, the stopcock insulator 600 forms a tight fit over and around the stopcock.

Ref erring to Figures 8 to 12 inclusive, wherein like parts previously described have been assigned the same reference numerals, there is provided an insulating device, which is a stopcock insulator, indicated generally by reference numeral 800. The stopcock insulator 800 comprises a main body having an endless side wall 802 supporting an upper end wall 804, which side wall 802 and upper end wall 804 together define a cavity 212 within the main body which is suitable for receiving a stopcock (not shown). The stopcock insulator 800 further comprising a handle 210 located above a top face of the upper end wall 804. A rigid support plate 806 is located between the bottom face of the upper end wall 804 to disperse the pressure exerted by the handle 210 on the upper end wall 804 when a user (not shown) attempts to extract the stopcock insulator 800 for its snug fit within a stopcock chamber. The handle in this embodiment, may be formed by connecting a tie wrap 810 into a loop.

In particular, the stopcock insulator 800 comprises a length of insulating material which is rolled into a tube with the sides 1002, 1004 of the length of insulating material fixed together to form the endless side wall 802. An upper disc of insulating material, which forms the upper end wall 804, is fixed to one end of the endless side wall 802, and, a loop forming the handle 210 beneath the upper end wall 804 and above the upper end wall 804, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall 804.

The stopcock insulator 800 further comprises a rigid support plate 806 which is located between a bottom face of the upper end wall 804 and a portion of the handle 210 running beneath the upper end waIl 80. An inner disc 808 of insulating material is placed within the cavity 212 of the main body of the stopcock insulator 800 and the -15-inner disc 808 substantially covers the bottom face of the upper end wall 804, the rigid support plate 806 and the portion of the handle 210 running beneath the upper end wall 804. The upper end wall 804 may have its side face 1006 cut at substantially degrees relative to its upper face to allow its side 1006 to be affixed to the top face 1008 of the endless side wall 802. The affixing may be preferably achieved using a glue. In another embodiment, neither the sides 1002, 1004 of the length of insulating material, which may preferably be closed cell such as nitrile rubber, nor the face 1006, 1008 of the upper end waIl 804 and the endless side wall 802 respectively are permanently fixed to one another but rather abut against one another without any gluing or other such affixing means.

During the construction of the insulating device, which is the stopcock insulator 800, the inner disc 808 is fixed to the bottom face of the upper end wall 804, the rigid support plate 806 and the portion of the handle 210 running beneath the upper end wall 804 as indicated by reference arrow B, and, the length of insulating material is rolled into a substantially cylindrical tube as shown by reference arrow C. With reference to Figure 12, wherein like parts previously described have been assigned the same reference numerals, there is provided a stopcock insulator indicated generally by reference numeral 1200. The stopcock insulator 1200 comprises a tubular main body 1202 having an inner cavity for receiving a stopcock (not shown). An upper end removable cap 1204 is provided with a handle formed by a substantially U-shaped cut-out in the upper end cap 1204 defining a gripable cross bar 1206. The face 1006 of the upper end removable cap 1204 and the top face 1008 of the tubular main body 1202 are not affixed to one another and the upper end removable cap 1204 rests on the tubular main body 1202 as shown by reference arrows D and E. It will be understood that any type of closed cell insulator material may be used to form the sleeve of the stopcock insulators. In essence, the insulating device, which is the stopcock insulator, should be dimensioned, and constructed from a suitable material, so as to form a tight fit within the stopcock chamber when the insulating -16-device is placed over the stopcock, thus reducing the possibility for any water to accumulate within the stopcock chamber and becoming frozen in sub-zero temperatures.

Throughout the preceding specification, the term "building" shall be understood to encompass a building, or each dwelling such as an apartment of which there are a plurality within the same building, or in some cases may refer to a set of buildings forming a single property or estate. The external stopcock may be thus provided for each apartment in a building, each building or for a ground of buildings on the same portion of road or within a particular area.

The terms "comprise" and "include", and any variations thereof required for grammatical reasons, are to be considered as interchangeable and accorded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbef ore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS1. An insulating device for insulating a stopcock, the insulating device comprising a main body having an endless side wall supporting an upper end wall, which side wall and upper end wall together define a cavity within the main body which is suitable for receiving the stopcock; and the insulating device further comprising a handle located above a top face of the upper end wall.
2. 2. An insulating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the insulating device is dimensioned to form a tight fit within a stopcock chamber housing the stopcock.
3. 3. An insulating device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein, the insulating device comprises: a length of insulating material which is rolled into a tube with the sides of the length of insulating material fixed together to form the endless side wall; an upper disc of insulating material which forms the upper end wall and is fixed to one end of the endless side wall; and, a loop forming the handle, wherein the loop runs beneath the upper end wall and above the upper end wall, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall.
4. 4. An insulating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the insulating device is further comprises: a rigid support plate which is located between a bottom face of the upper end wall and a portion of the loop running beneath the upper end wall; and, an inner disc of insulating material which is placed within the cavity of the main body and substantially covers the bottom face of the upper end wall, the rigid support plate and the portion of the loop running beneath the upper end wall when in place.
5. 5. An insulating device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein, the insulating device comprises: a tube of insulating material which forms the endless side wall; an upper disc of insulating material which forms the upper end wall and is fixed to one end of the endless side wall; and, a loop forming the handle, wherein the loop runs beneath the upper end wall and above the upper end wall, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall.
6. 6. An insulating device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein, the insulating device comprises: a tube of insulating material which forms the endless side wall; and, a sealing cap which forms the upper end wall and is fixed to one end of the endless side wall.
7. 7. An insulating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the insulating device further comprises a loop forming the handle, wherein the loop runs beneath the upper end wall and above the upper end wall, passing through a pair of holes in the upper end wall.
8. 8. An insulating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the sealing cap further comprises an integrated gripable portion which forms the handle.
9. 9. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the insulating device is made of an elastomeric closed cell material.
10. 10. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the insulating device is made of a closed cell polyethylene material.
11. 11. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the insulating device is made of a closed cell nitrile rubber material.
12. 12. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the insulating device is made of a foamed closed cell material.
13. 13. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the loop is made of a plastics.
14. 14. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the rigid support plate is made of a metal.
15. 15. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the main body is substantially circularly shaped in cross section.
16. 16. An insulating device as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the main body is substantially ovally shaped in cross section.