US3401074A - Faucet camouflage - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, 1968 Momo TAKENoUcHl 3,401,074

FAUCET CAMOUFLAGE Filed March 23. 1964 I N VEN TOR. MXP/a /rE/voacff/ United States Patent O 3,401,074 FAUCET CAMOUFLAGE Mrio Takenouchi, 2017 Baltic Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90810 Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 353,811 Claims. (Cl. 161-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE An attachment hanger is clamped to a water pipe adjacent its faucet end which projects from a building for occasional coupling to a hose, or alternately the hanger is yoked over the pipe and anchored by insertion of pointed ends into the ground. The hanger pivotally supports an outward-projecting arm or platform which holds (artificial or natural) replaceable foliage in alternate positions, (a) in front of the faucet so as esthetically to conceal same, (b) swung aside 90 so as to allow connection of a hose to the faucet. Limit means on the swinging platform locate positions (a) and (b) for automatic alignment,

This application relates to attachments which are adapted to be coupled more-or-less permanently to a water pipe -adjacent its faucet end, so as to dispose in front of the faucet appropriate masking or camouflage material in orde-r to conceal the presence of the faucet, so as to present a pleasing esthetic effect which blends with the landscaping and decorative pattern of the environment. Such masking material may be foliage, either natural and/or artificial, which blends or matches with that growing nearby. Accordingly it may be changed :from time to time to correspond to the changing seasons.

The attachment unit may be anchored to the ground or may be suspended free from the ground, but in either event it is secured to the'faucet end of the pipe, and additi-onally is swingable (when desired) from its front masking position to a transversely displaced position whereby a hose or other irrigating conduit is directly coupled to the then unobstructed faucet. Thus the function of the faucet head is not impaired, but its presence is visually eliminated when not in use. In addition, the presence of a row of such attachment units alongside a building may contribute appreciably to the appearance of the building. Thus the attachments may each resemble a' flower box or similar container, and/ or may be painted or otherwise decorated to complement or match the window trim, shutters and other decorative elements of the building.

The objects of the invention include the provision of structural elements capable of achieving the foregoing advantages, as well as to improve generally the type of article herein described as will be made apparent hereafter.

In the drawings which form part of the present specification and illustrate by way of example two presently preferred forms of the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an outside water faucet to which my camouflage unit is attached, the latter appearing partially in vertical section;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the attached camoullage unit, viewed at right angles to FIGURE 1 as indicated by the arrow;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the faucet and attached camouflage unit taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 with the foliage stems seen in -horizontal section, and the sideswung position of the unit indicated in broken lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view of a fragment of the platform of the unit, particularly showing the positions occupied by the stop-lug when the platform is at alternate locations which respectively conceal and expose the faucet;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of a modified construction of my camouflage unit which is anchored in the 3,401,074 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 ground and wherein the foliage retaining means are disposed above rather than below the level of the water pipe and faucet; and

FIGURE 6` is a top plan view of the unit of FIGURE 5 with the foliage removed for greater clarity.

In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG- URES 1-4, my camouflage unit is constructed with an elongated or generally upright attachment member, conveniently a fairly rigid strip 10 such as :metal or synthetic plastic, provided at one end with suitable clamping means 12 by which it can be secured -more-or-less vertically to the projecting end of a water pipe P adjacent its terminally mounted faucet F. Such faucets are commonly located outward a short distance from a building wall B and with a small vertical clearance from the ground G so as to enable easy coupling of a lawn sprinkler or water hose (not shown). The `adjustable jaw 13 of the clamp permits engagement with water pipes or fittings of different diameter so that the unit is widely interchangeable, with the two clamp jaws simply tightened against any size pipe by tightening the bolts 14, 15. v

The opposite or lower end of the strip 10 is directed approximately perpendicular to its length to provide an attachment tab 11 which is thus generally horizontal. An outward projecting arm or platform 18 is hung or suspended above and generally parallel to the ground G by means of a pivot bolt 20 inserted upward therethrough and jointly traversing the juxtaposed tab 11 and an overlying washer 16, being held by a locknut 22 or similar fastening means on its free end. Along the front 19 or forward margin of the platform 18, is located a more-or-less rectangular, upstanding fr-ame 24, the face panel 25 of which may be shaped -and/ or decor-ated to match or correspond to a flower pot or window box. Thus it may be painted the same color(s) or pattern as the window or door trim, or the shutters, or the window boxes of the building B immediately adjacent.

The frame 24 has its base 28 secured flat atop the platform 18 as by staples 29, 30 and may be the foundation for a complete open-top container in which plants are grown; however it is preferred simply to provide retaining means for (detachably) holding stems S of artificial foliage which can be easily replaced from time to time. In the form of FIGURES 1-4, such retaining means are provided by a horizontally disposed block or holder 32 which is fastened against the rear of the facing panel 25 with its respective ends lodged in registration with the side wal- ls 26, 27. The retaining block 32 is drilled or slotted with one or more rows of slits or horizontal apertures 33, 34 for insertion of the foliage stems S. It will be observed that the cluster of leaves or fronds 36 thus effectively forms a screen across the face of the faucet head and which may also to a certain extent conceal it from either side as well.

It will be observed that the pivot bolt 20 which couples together the upright strip 10 (by its tab 11) and the platform arm 18, is offcenter relative to the latter, so that the arm by a quarter rotation or less horizontally about the pivot 20 will swing the frame 24 (and its carried foliage) from in front of the faucet to permit unhindered connection of a hose line thereto. As a limit means for both of these positions, there is a stop-lug 38 driven or threaded into the upper face of the platform 18 with its protruding head disposed to abut the edge of the attachment tab 11 at two alternate positions as indicated in FIGURE 4. After the clamp jaws 12, 13 iniially locate the camouflage unit in the desired alignment (with the facing panel 25 parallel to the building B and the stop-lug 38 abutting the edge of the attachment tab 11 adjacent the strip 10), then after each time that the frame or platform is pushed to the side, when it is swung bac-k in front of the faucet it will be automatically aligned by abutment of the stoplug 38 again with the tab 11 as seen in solid line in FIG- URE 4.

In the construction shown in FIGURES -6, the attachment member is in the shape of an inverted-U-shaped, somewhat 'bendable, strip 40, the center 42 being adapted to be pressed down snugly over the pipe P like a yoke, and with the arms having pointed spearelike ends 44, 4S for insertion into the ground G as an anchorage. One side of each pointed end may be laterally slit (at 47) and either twisted a little before insertion into the ground, or allowed to assume such a disaligned position upon insertion so as to further anchor it against withdrawal.

A short shaft 50 is upstanding from the yoke 42 and serves as an elongated pivot axis for a forward extending arm 52 which in front of the plane of the faucet head extends transversely (54) so as to dispose a series of Clasp arms 56 in position to hold the steam-s S of foliage in front of the faucet in masking or camouflage position. As before, the arm 52 and its carried foliage can be swung to one side to expose the faucet F for Coupling a water conduit thereto. As in the previous embodiment, the foliage can be replaced readily as often as desired, either to change the type of display, or to renew it with fresh items when the earlier specimens have become soiled by rain, mud, dust, snow or despoiled by animals or children.

I claim:

1. A camouage unit for attachment to a projecting pipe end, and disposable selectively in position to hide a spigot or the like which is carried by Said end, and alternately to be shifted without detachment so as to expose the spigot and permit temporary coupling of a conduit thereto, said unit comprising in combination with such pipe and spigot:

an attachment member having means for firmly securing it to such pipe;

a forwardly extending arm, ouiwardly carrying foliage retaining means and being pivotally secured to said member so as to be swingable generally transversely to said spigot to position such carried foliage spaced in front of the spigot hiding the same, and alternately retracia'ble to position the foliage to one side thereof so as to expose the spigot and permit coupling of a conduit thereto.

2. The camouflage unit of the lpreceding claim 1 Wherein said attachment member is essentially an inverted-U- shaped strip adapted to frictionally overlie such pipe like a yoke, and having pointed ends adapted for insertion into the `ground along opposite sides of said pipe.

3. The camouage unit of the preceding claim 1 wherein the lower end of said attachment member is pivotally secured to said arm which is spaced vertically intermediate the pipe and the ground, and said foliage retaining means are carried by an upstanding panel supported along the outer end of said arm, which arm is swingable generally parallel to the ground about its pivotal attachment to said member.

4. A camouflage unit of the character described, comprising in combination:

an elongated attachment member having clamp means at one end to secure it to the fau-eet end of a pipe adjacent the terminus thereof;

a forward extending arm pivotally secured adjacent the other end of said attachment member, said arm extending outward beyond and spaced from said faucet; and

a generally transverse series of retaining means individually adapted to removably receive a foliage stem, whereby such foliage collectively may be positioned in front of said faucet to hide the same, and alternately upon pivotal movement of the arm may be retracted to one side thereof so as to expose the spigot and permit coupling of a conduit thereto.

5. The camouflage unit of the preceding claim 4 Wherein said forward extending arm comprises a generally horizontal platform adapted to be located intermediate and spaced from both the pipe and the ground, the forward margin carrying an upright panel which holds said transverse series of stem-retaining means, and the rear margin of said platform being pivotally secured laterally offcenter to said upright attachment means and provided with stop means whereby a shift between limit positions of said stop means respectively hiding and exposing said spigot may be effected by an approximate quarter rotation of the platform about the attachment member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,566,982 12/1925 Shee. 1,783,007 11/1930 Alland 47-38.1

ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner.

W. A. POWELL, Assistant Examiner.

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