US 12,259,078 B2
Locking cap for fire department connections
Jason S. Pedersen, Phoenix, AZ (US); Tab S. Hinton, Phoenix, AZ (US); Nathan M. Becktold, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Bryan E. Pavlovic, Cave Creek, AZ (US)
Assigned to KNOX Associates, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by KNOX Associates, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/381,533.
Application 18/381,533 is a continuation of application No. 17/165,550, filed on Feb. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,821,565.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/003,483, filed on Apr. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/969,269, filed on Feb. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0247748 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. F16L 55/115 (2006.01); B65D 59/02 (2006.01); B65D 59/06 (2006.01); F16L 57/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/115 (2013.01) [B65D 59/02 (2013.01); B65D 59/06 (2013.01); F16L 57/005 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A locking cap for a pipe end, the locking cap comprising:
a first portion comprising a front cover having a front surface and a rear surface;
a second portion axially movable relative to the first portion, the second portion comprising a plug portion comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a central region extending between the front surface and the rear surface, the plug portion sized and configured to be received by the pipe end with a side surface of the central region of the plug portion having a surface area generally coextensive with an inner contact surface of the pipe end, wherein the second portion further comprises a threaded region disposed on the central region configured to mate with the pipe end; and
a tool receiver accessible through the front surface of the plug portion, wherein when the locking cap is in a locked position a gap between a nut and the plug portion is increased compared to when the locking cap is in an unlocked position, wherein the nut is attached to a fastener that fastens the front cover to the plug portion, and wherein the fastener increases an axial load between threads of the plug portion and threads of a swivel portion of the pipe end resisting rotation of the plug portion relative to the swivel portion when in the locked position.