GB2517138A

GB2517138A - Protective cover for utility supply outlets

Info

Publication number: GB2517138A
Application number: GB1313107.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Margaret Shakespeare; Jacqueline Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-23
Filing date: 2013-07-23
Publication date: 2015-02-18
Also published as: GB201313107D0

Abstract

A protective cover for external freestanding utility and power supply outlets on campsites or recreation and industrial areas, which may comprise; a flexible material waterproof cover 1A sized to fit over and house the utility outlet (17, figure 3), which is lined and designed to protect the unit from all weathers and provide information and warnings to users. The opening 4A, through which supply cables 15 (15B) may be passed and connected to receiving parties, may be re-sealable by the use of Velcro (RTM) 11 and 12. The protective cover may be secured to the ground by a securing band 7A and a peg 14. The protective cover may be used to cover caravan hook-up bollards or posts.

Description

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR UTILITY SUPPLY OUTLETS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the protection of power and / or water utility outlets commonly found on recreational or industrial areas including camping; caravan or dwelling sites and commercial or industrial land.

Background

The use of exterior areas of land for housing tents, caravans and similar long or short stay accommodation is common and widely known on a global basis.

Many types of accommodation, particularly those of the more ridged variety such as caravans or mobile homes rely on electrical hook up' when in place. This may also include other utilities including water. The water supply may be provided from standing vertical pipes from the ground of the campsite or other housed outlets and the users may walk to these areas with a suitable vessel in which to carry and provide the water in the accommodation. The water may also be provided from individual locations to provide facilities on a more individual or small group basis. These provisions are also known on industrial areas, for example; public water processing companies.

A vertical water and / or power supply post or unit may be provided to which one or more users can connect cables or pipes from their accommodation. These vertical utility units or posts are spread in numerous locations around the parking areas of the camp or caravan site. They serve the users and their caravans or mobile homes for the duration of their stay and the cost of this is included in the fees from the site owners.

These units are attached to the ground area and the mains supply is provided under or over ground to them individually in a multiple fashion from the single original mains supply for the site.

The solid nature of the units and the way by which they are supplied with hazardous electrical or pressured water, means they are subject to collision and weather dangers over a period of time. The units may be subject to frost, rain, lightening, wind damage as well as the possibility of impact from the vehicles using the site. Currently they have some provision to prevent this including electrical input points that have dosing covers and some applications to help prevent rain accessing vulnerable areas, usually where cables are plugged in or inserted. Markings to the units may also be provided to indicate their location more clearly, to improve visibility to traffic on site and users.

However, these applications for safety are limited and in many countries of the world none existent leaving these highly exposed units and posts at great risk to the elements and vehicles.

The present invention provides a method by which any individual, company or group of campsite users or owners can cover the utility units and posts or outlets throughout the area and protect against all-weather elements and warn vehicle or similar users of the location and safety aspects of these units.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a method for covering or housing the utility units or posts that are found on campsites, recreational or industrial areas.

Caravans or mobile homes use cable or piping to attach themselves to these units to access the electricity or possibly water provided therein.

The cover would be provided to house the utility unit and any stand and its dimensions can be varied to suit the average size of known or emerging designs of these. Its material would be of any suitable fabric or type that is able to withstand long periods of varying weather conditions, including extensive heat from the sun and very wet or low freezing temperatures. This extends itself to the thread used to manufacture the cover this would have an anti-corrosion element in its material. The resistance to dust or wind is also provided in the design of the housing cover. The outer fabric used to create the exterior surface of the cover can be made of any chosen materials A guide would be 100% Polyester with a coating Acrylic to make waterproof. This can be of any variation of colours required. Green tones would be a more aesthetically suitable choice as it blends with the colours of the grass normally found in these sites. Although the need to provide other exterior colours may be desired. An example of which is the warning approach.

Therefore, red could be used as a visual warning, either with or without combined graphics, to warn of the danger of the content housed within. Namely; electricity and pressured water in some instances.

The exterior of the cover would be of a four sided rectangle shape with the long sides making the verticals of the cover and a more square horizontal top. Although 4 vertical sides or areas are used they may form a tube' or combined' vertical form when manufactured. This comprises 5 side areas to form a cover and although a rectangle is advised as it coincides with the area and form of the unit being covered; it may be required to shape the covers in a triangular or other shape in some countries or instances.

The vertical length of the covers may vary but a noted 95cm for the height of the four rectangle sides forming the single tube' is suggested. The upper area or top of the cover would be variant also in its exacting measurements but a suggested 43cm and 45cm are noted as good averages.

The exterior may also be used to display any chosen visual colour, graphic or pictorial and message.

For example the use of any wording to support a corporate name, logo or message may be printed or applied to the cover exterior for commercial gain. Its use for public safety messages is also possible for example: Warning Electrical Power. A campsite may wish to have their name, logo or a character for example displayed or applied to the cover surface. This may be extended to all variables including characters such as DISNEY (TRADE MARK) for children's camp areas. All materials are made of fire retardant variants and will comply with exacting standards for material safety in this type of usage.

Covers may be made in different sizes to be used in the housing of other articles of unlimited types, these may include gas containers' or any other unit that requires protection from the elements.

It is known that is different locations around the world standard of electrical care and safety may vary quite extensively. You may not therefore, receive the high safety and protective laws in all countries and therefore their campsites or recreational areas equally.

The cover could be coded or coloured in Red for these reasons and indicating stripes or other suitable livery applied to the exterior.

The use of reflective stripes or shapes to all covers is advised to reflect vehicle headlights on location and warn people clearly of the location of, not only the covers but also the power units therein.

The use of covers therefore acts not only as a weather proofing method for the units housed within but also as a clear coloured indicator to arrivals at a site as to where the power and water outlets are located in the first instance. It may be possible that units covered in this way may be visible from many hundreds of yards away making location of the vehicle or portable accommodation easier.

The interior of the cover may be of any variation of suitable materials but it is suggested that a thicker fleece or similar type of lining is used. To increase the protection against weather variants such as low temperatures, winds and frost. A suggested material would be a Sherpa Backing of 100% polyester pile made up of 25% Acrylic and 75% Polyester. These may vary upon manufacturers choice but still remain, as with all variants mentioned, within this disclosure. The exterior may be made of any known or emerging suitable material and a Nylon water proof option is suggested with a webbing material used for edging to finishing and the opening areas.

This allows for weather resistance in the more vulnerable sections that will not corrode.

The cover, having a complete opening opposite to the top area is slid over the utility outlet that is located to the ground. This may then be secured in place using any number of ground attachment, including material hoops or tabs located at the bottom and known pegs being staked through the opening into the ground to hold it in place.

Should penetrable ground not be available at the base of the cover, other means such as a length of cord or rope passed through the said loops and tied around the exterior may be used to secure. To at least one of the panels is located an opening section.

This is suggested for two of the sides of the cover and allows the users to pass cables or pipes through the cover and locate them to the power or water unit housed within.

These opening areas may be of variable shapes and may be elongated or more door shaped but always providing easy access to the user for the cable from the unit inside to their caravan or other accommodation. The use of a known attachment method such as Velcro (TRADEMARK) is advised to hold the opening flap area to the cover when in used or closed. This allows the conduits; cables or piping to exit freely and the unit remain houses and weather proofed therein.

Brief description of figures

Figures 1 show a dimensional example of the cover in a closed position.

Figures 2 show a single dimensional example of the cover with two openings and a cable inserted.

Figures 3 show a single dimensional example of the cover with two cables entering an opening.

Figures 4 show a caravan vehicle connected to a utility supply unit housed in a cover.

Detailed description of figures

A protective cover for utility supply outlets on campsites and recreational areas has a vertical body 1 that is made of flexible materials. It forms a housing for ground mounted utility supply outlets that supply cabled power or other provisions to users such as caravans, mobile homes or similar. The vertical body 1 has a top 2. as shown in Figure 1 that is attached to at least one surrounding vertical panel, forming a tubular and slightly cuboid singular appearance when stitched together or manufactured. The horizontal top 2 is of a squared appearance and forms the general shape of the cover as the vertical body 1 as it is stitched around the square of the top 2 at the joining area 8. The vertical body 1 therefore follows the form of the top 2 which reflects by creating a squared and rounded vertical body 1 therein.

A front panel 3 has an opening area 4 that is of a corresponding material to that of the vertical body 1. Its appearance formed of its sectional provision due to it opening and the stitching used to form its more ridged area 10. A weather sealing webbing edging 5 is extended to the vertical shape of the opening area 4 to the edge of the cut material as a binding and finishing element. When dosed this sealing edging overlaps the vertical body I forming a weather seal to that area.

A reflective band 6 is attached to the exterior of the vertical body I to provide a visual reflection when in contact with vehicle lights to alert people of its position. This may travel the full circumference of the vertical body 1 and be located in any suitable portion of the surface.

A securing band 7 is provided to locate the cover to the ground; this can be done by inserting any suitable holding method including tent pegs being staked into the ground or a binding process with cord or length of rope. This can be passed through the securing band 1 in a circumference method and pulled together at the foot of the cover to secure it in place. It may be required to add more than two securing bands 7.

To the interior of the vertical body 1 is an insulation material 9; this covers the entire interior surface of the vertical body 1. Once in position the vertical body 1A, as shown in Figure 2 may accommodate cables 15 or other conduit through an opening provided by an opening area 4A. This may be located in at least one part of the vertical body 1k or to other areas of its body 13 as shown in Figure 2. The front panel 3A seats underneath the opening panel 4A and both are held together when closed by a holding method 12 and 11 such as Velcro (TRADE MARK). Overlapping of the opening panel 4A over the front panel 3A is aided by a weather sealing webbing edging 5A. This is made of a variant material that is weather proofing and none corrosive.

A reflective band 6A is located to the circumference of the vertical body 1A exterior. As shown in Figure 2. The vertical body 1A is secured to the ground using a securing band 7A and a fixing or tent peg 14. Other fixing methods may be used.

The power & supply outlet unit 16 as shown in Figure 3 is ground mounted and covered by the hollow body of the vertical body lB. Cables or conduits I piping 15B from user's accommodation or location is passed through an opening 18 in the vertical body 18 and attached at the input points 17 from which utilities are drawn.

The power & supply unit 16, as shown is of a vertical shaped form and may vary in size. The vertical bodyl B is sized and formed to allow for variations in the supply unit 16 and remain suitably proportioned to be pulled over the power & supply unit 16 in a downward motion as indicated by the two arrows in Figure 3, then secured to the ground as aforementioned.

Cables or conduits I piping 158, shown in Fig 3 may exit as shown or in other directions toward where the cables are to be attached. They may also exit in a forward trajectory to that shown, this being possible due to the openings provided in the vertical body 18.

A caravan 19 is shown as a single example of a vehicle that would hook up or connect to a power or other supply on a campsite. A cable or conduit / piping I 5C is sent from the caravan 19 from its electrical input point to connect to the power & supply outlet 16C which is housed and covered by the vertical body and cover IC, as shown in Figure 4. Protecting the power & supply outlet 16C from all weather conditions and warning of its content and location. a

Claims

Claims 1. A protective cover for utility supply outlets, houses ground mounted units that provide electricity and/or other provisions to users including mobile home and caravan occupants.
2. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 1 wherein a material cover is weather proof.
3. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material cover is weather proof and is fitted over the utility supply outlets.
4. A protective cover for utility supply outlets has openings that allow cables and pipes to enter the cover.
5. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 4 has openings that allow cables and pipes to enter the cover and the openings may be held closed using a method.
6. A protective cover for utility supply outlets may be externally coloured or decorated.
7. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 6 may be externally coloured or decorated including warnings, commercial messages and reflective materials.
8. A protective cover for utility supply outlets may be secured to the ground.
9. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in all previous claims is a flexible material cover sized to fit over and house utility outlets for electricity or other supplies found on campsites, recreational areas and industrial locations, which is lined and cut to protect the housed unit from all weather and provide information and warnings to users.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows; Claims 1. A protective cover for utility supply outlets, houses ground mounted units that provide electricity and/or other provisions to users including mobile home and caravan occupants.2. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 1 wherein a material cover is weather proof.3. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material cover is weather proof and is fitted over the utility supply outlets.4. A protective cover for utility supply outlets has openings that allow cables and pipes to enter the cover.5. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 4 has openings that allow cables and pipes to enter the cover and the openings may be held closed using a method.6. A protective cover for utility supply outlets may be externally coloured or decorated.7. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in claim 6 may be externally coloured or decorated including warnings, commercial messages and reflective materials.8. A protective cover for utility supply outlets may be secured to the ground.9. A protective cover for utility supply outlets as claimed in all previous claims is a flexible material cover sized to fit over and house utility outlets for electricity or other supplies found on campsites, recreational areas and industrial locations, which is lined and cut to protect the housed unit from all weather and provide information and warnings to users.