Garden hose security device

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a continuation of, was first described in, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/268,567 filed Dec. 17, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of locking mechanisms and more specifically relates to a garden hose locking device that may be secured to the ground to prevent theft of garden hoses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, in today's society, items get stolen all the time. Surprisingly, a common problem is the theft of garden hoses and other water carrying pipes that are left unattended for certain periods of time. This has become a reoccurring problem at many golf courses, apartment complexes, public parks and not to mention residential homes. In an effort to minimize and prevent the theft of garden hoses and other water carrying pipes, golf courses, apartment complexes and public parks have taken steps to install underground sprinkler systems. However, for individual homeowners, an underground sprinkler or irrigation system is too expensive or too difficult to install to consider as an option. This is not desirable.

Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in locking mechanism art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,803,858; 5,193,366; and 4,793,376. These prior art references are representative of locking mechanisms.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a reliable locking mechanism that may be secured to the ground and prevent theft of garden hoses, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a security box which comprises a first body half, a second body half and a center panel. The first body half has a first body half first side, a first body half front side, a first body half top side and a first body half rear side. The second body half has a second body half first side, a second body half front side, a second body half top side and a second body half rear side. The center panel is hingedly secured at a first end to a bottom edge of the first body half first side and hingedly secured at a second end, and opposite the center panel first end, to a bottom edge of the second body half first side. A first cut-out is located along an interior side edge of the first body half rear side, subjacent the first body half top side while a second cut-out located in mirror opposition to the first cut-out along an interior side edge of the second body half rear side, subjacent the second body half top side. An anchor comprising a corkscrew is secured to a central underside portion of the center panel. In an alternate embodiment, the anchor may comprise a rod which is secured at a proximal end to a central underside portion of the center panel and a plate secured to a distal end of the rod wherein the anchor is capable of securing the security box to a surface.

The first body half and second body half is capable of being configured to a closed state. The first cut-out and the second cut-out are co-aligned with each other when the security box is in the closed state. The first cut-out and the second cut-out are configured to permit a passage of a garden hose and a faucet the cut-outs when combined. A first fastener, is secured along a first interior edge of the first body half front side and a second fastener, is secured along a first interior edge of the second body half front side which is opposite the first fastener. The first and second fasteners are capable of mating with each other to secure the security box in a closed state.

The center panel may have a plurality of apertures. The first cut-out comprises a first gasket and the second cut-out comprises a second gasket. The first and second gaskets comprise opposing hemispherical cut-outs. The first and second gaskets may also comprise durable weather resistant rubber. The first body half and the second body half comprise plastic or metal. The anchor comprises plastic. The security box may also comprise a pair of handles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garden hose security box 10, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, is a perspective view illustrating the garden hose security box 10 in an open condition, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the garden hose security box 10 in an open condition, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom side view of the first center panel 21a, projecting a first anchor 30a, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom side view of the second center panel 21b, projecting a second anchor 30b, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the top side view of the second center panel 21b, projecting a second anchor 30b, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a garden hose security box 10, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, depicting a first gasket 46 a second gasket 47;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the top side view of the first center panel 21a or second center panel 21b, having a plurality of plurality of drainage apertures 48 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a garden hose security box 10, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, depicting a first handle 48 disposed within the second body half top side 19 and a second handle 49 disposed within the first body half top side 14; and,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a garden hose security box 10 taken along line I as depicted in FIG. 1 showing a faucet 120 and attached hose 130 secured within security box 10 which in turn is secured within surface 100.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

• • 10 garden hose security box
  • 11 first body half
  • 12 first body half first side
  • 13 first body half front side
  • 14 first body half top side
  • 15 first body half rear side
  • 16 second body half
  • 17 second body half first side
  • 18 second body half front side
  • 19 second body half top side
  • 20 second body half rear side
  • 21a first center panel
  • 21b second center panel
  • 22 first anchor plate
  • 23 first anchor plate weldment
  • 25 first hinge
  • 27 second hinge
  • 30a first anchor
  • 30b second anchor
  • 31 second anchor first nut
  • 32 second anchor first washer
  • 33 second anchor plate
  • 34 second anchor rod
  • 35a first fastener
  • 36a second fastener
  • 37 second center panel first aperture
  • 38 second anchor plate aperture
  • 39 second anchor plate second washer
  • 40 first cut-out
  • 41 second anchor second nut
  • 45 second cut-out
  • 46 first gasket
  • 47 second gasket
  • 48 plurality of drainage apertures
  • 49 first handle
  • 50 second handle
  • 100 surface
  • 110 structure
  • 120 faucet
  • 130 hose

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is directed to a garden hose security box 10. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garden hose security box 10, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the garden hose security box 10 in an open condition, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the garden hose security box 10 in an open condition, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom side view of the first center panel 21a, projecting a first anchor 30a, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom side view of the second center panel 21b, projecting a second anchor 30b, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the top side view of the second center panel 21b, projecting a second anchor 30b, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7, is a perspective view of a garden hose security box 10, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, depicting a first gasket 46 a second gasket 47; FIG. 8, is a perspective view illustrating the top side view of the first center panel 21a or second center panel 21b, having a plurality of plurality of drainage apertures 48 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9, is a perspective view of a garden hose security box 10, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, depicting a first handle 48 disposed within the second body half top side 19 and a second handle 49 disposed within the first body half top side 14; and, FIG. 10, which depicts a sectional view of a garden hose security box 10 taken along line I as depicted in FIG. 1 showing a faucet 120 and attached hose 130 secured within security box 10 which in turn is secured within surface 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the security box 10 has a first body half 11 and second body half 16. The first body half 11 comprises a first body half first side 12, a first body half front side 13, a first body half top side 14, and first body half rear side 15. The second body half 16 comprises a second body half first side 17, a second body half front side 18, a second body half top side 19, and second body half rear side 20.

A first hinge 25 connects the second body half 16 to a first side of the center panel 21a at the bottom edge of the second body half first side 17. A second hinge 27 connects the first body half 11 to a second and opposite side of the center panel 21a at the bottom edge of the first body half first side 12. In a closed configuration, the security box 10 defines an interior cubic rectangular shape void sufficiently sized such that a garden hose is able to be enclosably stored within during periods of non-use.

A cut-out 40 is located along an interior side edge of the second body half rear side 20, subjacent second body half top side 19 while a cut-out 45 is located in mirror opposition to cut-out 40, along an interior side edge of the first body half rear side 15, subjacent first body half top side 14. The pair of cut-outs 40, 45 combine to permit passage of an outdoor faucet installation therethrough and is secured to the ground by a first anchor 30a, such as a spike or stake (or other suitable securing means).

The first anchor 30a will provide dependable support for the security box 10 above the ground. The first anchor 30a may comprise a rigid plastic or metal material. The first anchor 30a may be a cork screw design and may be screwed or twisted in the ground or secured into concrete if desired. The first anchor 30a is affixed to a first anchor plate 22 by a weldment 23 or other means commonly accepted within the industry. The first anchor plate 22 is secured to a bottom central part of the first center panel 21a of the security box 10 by a weldment, industrial adhesive or other means commonly accepted within the industry.

As detailed above, the security box 10 preferably comprises a cubic rectangular shape, approximately thirty-six inches (36 in.) tall, twenty-four inches (24 in.) deep, and twenty-four inches (24 in.) wide. A first fastener 35a is located on the front face of the second body half front side 18 and a second fastener 36a is located on the front face of the first body half front side 13 opposite the first fastener 35a. When the security box 10 is closed, the first fastener 35a is capable of mating with the second fastener 36a, thereby locking the security box 10 in the closed state. The first fastener 35a and second fastener 36a may be configured to accept a removable combination or keyed lock (please see FIG. 9). The security box 10 may be manufactured using plastic and metal or either. The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the security box 10 may vary upon manufacturing. Other sizes of security boxes 10 may be available.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, in a second embodiment of security box 10, a second anchor 30b, secured to a second center panel 21b, is depicted and may also provide dependable support for the security box 10 above the ground when the second anchor 30b is secured to the second center panel 21b, while encased in earth, stone or concrete. The second anchor comprises a second anchor plate 33 which is secured at a distal end of a second anchor rod 34 by a second anchor first washer 32 and second anchor first nut 31 through a second anchor plate aperture 38. The proximal end of the second anchor rod 34 is secured to the central bottom side of the second center panel 21b by a second anchor plate second washer 39 and second anchor second nut 41 through a second center panel first aperture 37.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in a third embodiment of security box 10, a first gasket 46 secured within second cut-out 45 and a second gasket 47 secured within first cut-out 40 is depicted. Each gasket 46, 47 is friction fit or adhered to the interior respective portion of each cut-out 40, 45. Each gasket is made of a durable weather resistant material such as rubber and possesses a hemispherical cut-out, mirror opposite each other, such that in a closed configuration both gaskets 46, 47 form a secure seal about a portion of a garden hose which extends beyond the external perimeter of the security box 10.

Referring now to FIG. 8, in a fourth embodiment of security box 10, the first central panel 21a or the second central panel 22b, is depicted showing a plurality of drainage apertures 48. Each drainage aperture 48 is configured to permit excess water from a garden hose stored within or exterior leakage from rain to pass into the supporting environment beneath the first central panel 21a or the second central panel 22b.

Referring now to FIG. 9, in a fifth embodiment of security box 10, the security device 10 is depicted with a first handle 49 disposed within the second body half top side 19 and a second handle 50 disposed within the first body half top side 14. Each handle 49, 50 is either integrally molded to each respective top side 14, 19 or attached thereto by any suitable means known within the industry.

Referring lastly to FIG. 10, which depicts a sectional view of a garden hose security box 10 taken along line I as depicted in FIG. 1 showing a faucet 120 and attached hose 130 secured within security box 10 which in turn is secured within surface 100. The hose 130 may of course be stored in any manner within the security box 10 which permits the enclosure of the security box 10 about the hose 130.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.