Spring-Hinged Insulating Freeze Frame for Outdoor Faucets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor faucet protection solutions, such as foam covers, are often forgotten during cold weather, damaged, or lost, and do not provide security against freezing or vandalism, leading to potential pipe damage and structural issues.
Innovation Solution
A freeze frame, comprising two insulating polymer boxes with a spring-loaded hinge and locking mechanism, securely covers and insulates outdoor faucets and hoses, allowing year-round protection and securing the water supply with a lock, while remaining durable and easy to install.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foam cover is used to protect the outdoor faucet, then the faucet is insulated from freezing, but the cover is often forgotten during cold weather, damaged, or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insulation function with a permanent mounting structure. The foam cover is integrated with a bracket that attaches to the faucet, merging the protective cover with a secure mounting mechanism that eliminates the need for separate attachment and removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is pre-installed on the faucet before cold weather arrives. The foam cover is designed to snap onto the pre-installed bracket, ensuring protection is automatically in place when needed without requiring manual attachment during cold spells.
2Reliability
If a foam cover is used to protect the outdoor faucet, then the faucet is insulated from freezing, but the cover offers no form of security for the water faucet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insulation function with a security locking mechanism. The bracket that mounts the foam cover also incorporates a locking mechanism that prevents unauthorized removal, combining thermal protection with anti-vandalism and anti-theft features in a single integrated system.
3Reliability
If the hose is removed when temperature dips below freezing, then the faucet is protected from freezing, but the hose must be stored somewhere safe
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pre-installed on the faucet before cold weather arrives. The foam cover is designed to snap onto the pre-installed bracket, ensuring protection is automatically in place when needed without requiring manual attachment during cold spells.
4Reliability
If a foam cover is used to protect the outdoor faucet, then the faucet is insulated from freezing, but the cover must be purchased every year
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pre-installed on the faucet before cold weather arrives. The foam cover is designed to snap onto the pre-installed bracket, ensuring protection is automatically in place when needed without requiring manual attachment during cold spells.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The freeze frame effectively prevents outdoor faucet freezing, allows hoses to remain connected year-round, and provides enhanced security against vandalism and theft, reducing the risk of pipe damage and flooding while being durable and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
each box is constructed using an insulating polymer
Implementation Method 2
the two boxes are held-together using one or more spring-loaded hinge
Data Source
AI summary
A freeze frame to protect an outdoor faucet and hose when the outside temperature dips below freezing is disclosed. The frame comprises a first box and a second box. The two boxes are held-together using one or more spring-loaded hinge. The first box has a cavity and a pair of padlock tabs at its upper portion. The second box comprises a cavity and a pair of lock hasps at its lower portion. The cavity of each box forms a hole, which allows the hose to remain connected to the hose bib. The frame further comprises a closed-cell foam gasket with one or more mounting flanges. The gasket is configured to mount the second box to the dwelling wall using one or more fasteners. The first box is configured to cover and secure the water pipe connection surrounded by the second box.