Abstract
A camouflaged cover assembly covers a valve box and appears like surrounding ground cover in order to hide the cover by matching the cover to surrounding ground coverage. The valve box can house items like sprinkler heads, valves, and plumbing fittings. The cover can include a decoration to match the surrounding ground coverage. For example, the decoration can be artificial turf that matches a variety of grass that surrounds the valve box. The decoration can match other types of surrounding ground coverage such as mulch and wood chips.
Claims
1. A camouflaged cover assembly for a box, hole, or conduit placed in ground having a surface, the camouflaged cover assembly comprising: a cover for limiting access to a box, pipe, or conduit, said cover having a top surface; and a decoration matching the surface of the ground being disposed on said top surface of said cover.
2. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said decoration is artificial turf.
3. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said decoration is a plurality of wood chips.
4. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said decoration is a piece of cement or concrete.
5. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said decoration is a plurality of tiles.
6. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said decoration is a photograph matching the surface of the ground.
7. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 2, further comprising an elastomer layer disposed between said top surface of said cover and said decoration.
8. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said decoration completely covers said top surface of said cover.
9. The camouflaged cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said top surface of said cover contrast said decoration.
10. A method for camouflaging a box seated in ground, which comprises: placing a cover on a sidewall of the box; choosing a decoration to match coverage of the ground surrounding the box; and disposing said decoration on a top surface of said cover.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: the coverage of the ground is mulch or wood chips; and said decoration looks like the mulch or wood chips.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: the coverage of the ground is a type of grass; and said decoration looks like the type of grass.
13. A camouflaged cover assembly, comprising: a cover for closing an opening to a box, the box being surrounded by a material; a rim raised from a periphery of said cover, said rim and said cover having a height equal to a distance from a top of the box to a ledge in the box; a decoration matching the material being placed on a top of said cover; and a thickness of said decoration being as thick as a height of said rim above said cover.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0023] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a popup sprinkler with a camouflaged cover assembly according to the invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camouflaged cover assembly shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the camouflaged cover assembly shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of a camouflaged cover assembly with a number printed thereon.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of the camouflaged cover assembly with woodchips disposed thereon.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a valve box covered with a camouflaged cover assembly.
[0029] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the camouflaged cover assembly shown in FIG. 2.
[0030] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the camouflaged cover assembly shown in FIG. 4.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cover for a valve box with a concrete cover.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a valve box to be used with the cover shown in FIG. 9.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of the valve box shown in FIG. 10.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a top elevational view of a manhole covered with an asphalt cover.
[0035] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the manhole cover shown in FIG. 12.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a top elevational view of a water meter covered with a brick cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] FIGS. 1-3 and 7 show a camouflaged cover assembly 20. The camouflaged cover assembly 20 includes a cover 1. An elastomer layer 21 is disposed on the top surface of the cover 1. Artificial turf 22 is disposed on the cover 1. In this embodiment, the artificial turf 22 completely covers the cover 1. The artificial turf 22 is selected to match the length and variety of the surrounding grass 11.
[0038] A preferred embodiment of a popup sprinkler head 6 is connected to the cover 1. The popup sprinkler head 6 includes a housing 5 disposed in the ground 10. A base 4 is disposed in the housing 5. The base 4 is connected to a water supply pipe, which is not shown. When water is supplied to the base 4, water pressure extends a piston 3. As the piston 3 extends, a sprinkler head 2 and cover 1 are pushed above the surface of the ground 10. When the water supply is cut to the base 4, the piston 3 retracts into the base 4 and the cover 1 lowers to the level of ground 10. The artificial turf 22 conceals the cover 1 within the grass 11.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 7, the elastomer layer 21 is preferably artificial foam rubber. The elastomer layer 21 has a thickness configured to match the physical qualities including hardness and resilience of the surrounding ground 10 and grass 11.
[0040] Shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the cover 1 has a rim 24 extending upward from the perimeter of the cover 1. A decorative unit is formed by a decoration and a foundation. In FIG. 7, the decoration is artificial turf 22 and the foundation is elastomer layer 21. Different decorative units which are configured to match different surrounding materials can be set into the cover 1 and affixed by adhesive or other fastener.
[0041] FIGS. 4 and 8 show an embodiment of a camouflaged cover assembly 20. The artificial turf 22 and the elastomer layer 21 have a rectangular cutout 26 formed therein. A number 23 is painted on the top surface of the cover 1. The number 23 is visible through the cutout 26. In the preferred embodiment, the number 23 is a distance from the camouflaged cover assembly 20 to a golf hole, which is not shown.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of camouflaged cover assembly 20 in which the decorative unit is a mulch decoration 30. The camouflaged cover assembly 20 with the mulch decoration 30 is used to match ground 10 covered with mulch. The mulch decoration 30 is configured to match the color and texture of the mulch covering the surrounding ground.
[0043] In an embodiment which is not shown, the camouflaged cover assembly 20 includes a photo image of grass, mulch, or other surrounding ground cover connected to a cover of a sprinkler head or valve box.
[0044] FIG. 6 shows a camouflaged cover assembly 20 for a valve box 30. The valve box 30 is configured to be buried in the ground. The valve box 30 is configured to hold valves and similar pipe fittings, to provide access to the valves and pipe fittings, and to separate those fitting from the surround earth. The valve box 30 has a sidewall 31. The camouflaged cover assembly 20 rests on the sidewall 31 and provides access to the interior of the valve box 30 when removed. The camouflaged cover assembly 20 includes a cover for the valve box 30. The cover has a rim 34 rising from the perimeter of the cover. Artificial turf 33 is disposed on the cover.
[0045] FIGS. 9-11 show an embodiment of the camouflaged cover assembly that includes a square shaped decorative unit that matches surrounding concrete. The decorative unit includes a foundation 41. A concrete layer 42 is adhered to the foundation 41. The concrete layer 42 matches the concrete in surrounding areas. The valve box has a rim 44. The decorative unit rests on a ledge 45 with a top surface of the concrete layer 42 even with a top of the rim 44. The valve box includes a wall 46, which has a rolled edge 47 at the bottom of the wall 46.
[0046] FIGS. 12-13 show an embodiment of the camouflaged cover assembly that is to be used when a surrounding surface is covered with asphalt 50. In the embodiment, a cover 53 has raised letters 56. A rim 54 raises from the perimeter of the cover 53. The top of the rim 54 is at a same height as the top of the raised letters 56. An insert 52 is made of asphalt that matches asphalt 50. The height (i.e. thickness) of the insert 52 equals the height of the rim 54. The insert 52 has a cutout 55 to complement the raised letters 56. The insert 52 is shaped and sized to rest within the rim 54 with the raised letters 56 filling the cutout 55. An adhesive such as tar can be used to adhere the insert 52 to the cover 53.
[0047] FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the camouflaged cover assembly that is to be used with a surrounding surface that is covered with bricks, pavers, or cobblestones 64. A water meter valve box is covered by the cover assembly. A metal rim 61 of the water meter valve box is exposed. A rim 64 of the cover sits within the metal rim 61. A layer of bricks, pavers, or cobblestones 62 are placed on the cover. The layer of bricks, pavers, or cobblestones 62 has a thickness equal to the height of the rim 64 so when they are placed on the cover they are flush with the rim 64. Raised letters 66 with a height equal to the rim 64 extend upward from the cover and are visible through cutouts in the bricks, pavers, or cobblestones 62. If the bricks, pavers, or cobblestones are connected with masonry 64, matching masonry 63 can be placed between the bricks, pavers, or cobblestones 62.
[0048] The bricks, pavers, or cobblestones 62 can be generic bricks, pavers, or cobblestones that are preconfigured and sold assembled to people who want to camouflage their covers. Alternatively, custom covers can be made from the same materials that surround the covers to produce perfectly matching camouflaged covers.
[0049] The above mentioned preferred embodiments provide examples of the invention but the scope of the invention should be judged by the claims themselves and not by the preferred embodiments.
