Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Rigid jaws
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-21
2003-08-26
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Rigid jaws
C081S176150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609445
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to means for connecting and disconnecting valves to and from pipe lines, and, more particularly, to structural means for such connecting and disconnecting of pipe line valves to and from water carrying pipe lines embedded underground.
Pipe lines which carry water to residential and commercial buildings incorporate valves which are used to control the water flow into each particular building. These valves which are referred to as corporation stops typically interconnect the water line going directly into the building with the water pipe line coming from the water main line. The interconnected pipe lines are typically one inch or three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Corporation stop valves and pipe lines are typically buried approximately one and one-half feet below ground surface which renders them relatively invulnerable to damage due to pedestrian and other types of traffic. However, their underground location requires persons attempting to repair or replace the valve or adjacent lines to dig a trench to provide access to the valve and pipe lines. The depth of the trench makes it difficult to attach a pipe wrench to opposing flat faces of the valve and rotate the valve ninety degrees to provide wrench access to the other opposing flat faces of the valve due to the necessary narrowness of the trench blocking large rotational movements of the wrench. This difficulty is exacerbated by corrosion of the threads of the valve and pipe due to being in a relatively moist underground environment for long periods. Use of wrenches with jaws that can provide clamping force on the valve is not practical because of the high likelihood of damage to the valve threads and body if such wrenches are placed on the valve at other than the flat faces thereof. In addition, the use of tapered pipe threads at the main line end of the valve requires the application of high torque to rotate the valve and thereby connect the valve to and disconnect the valve from the pipe line. The requirement of high torque makes the use of jaw type clamping wrenches impractical if used on other than the flat faces of the valve because such wrenches cannot maintain their grip on the valve under such high torque. Also, the application of high torque is very difficult in the cramped area of the very narrow trench when using an ordinary pipe wrench or adjustable wrench. Consequently, the task of repairing or replacing the valve and/or adjacent pipes is very time consuming and can result in extensive damage to the valve and the pipes. In addition, these difficulties can result in poor connections at the valve producing leaks and shortening the service life of the valve and pipes.
Many prior art wrenches and wrench fittings have been designed especially for plumbing and other pipe line fittings and attachments. An example of such a wrench designed especially for a plumbing valve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,783 to Spector. The Spector wrench is specifically designed to eliminate the necessity of attaching an ordinary wrench directly to the plumbing valve and thereby eliminate the unsightly teeth marks and wear marks produced by attachment of such ordinary wrenches. The Spector wrench has a housing which partly encloses the valve and has an opening at one end thereof which fits around part of the pipe end of the valve for secure positioning thereon. The wrench housing is held in position on the valve by means of a stabilizer bolt attaching it directly to the valve. A wrench drive hole is provided at another end of the housing for receiving a wrench drive therein thereby enabling a ratchet wrench or the like to be used to rotate the housing and thereby the valve. The Spector wrench is a marked improvement over the use of conventional jaw type wrenches. However, a major disadvantage of the Spector wrench is that it is specially designed for angle valves, tees and elbows and thus cannot be used for corporation stops as well as many other types of pipe valves and fittings. In addition, the Spector wrench requires the use of a bolt to attach the housing to the angle valve and thus limits such wrenches to use on structures which are produced with such bolt holes or which may be provided with such bolt holes. Moreover, attachment of such a bolt may be time consuming and may be impractical due to the necessity of working in cramped quarters or inaccessibility of the bolt hole area.
Other prior art tools have been designed to facilitate the operation of plumbing fixtures. An example of such a tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,721 to Kowats. The Kowats patent discloses a socket type of tool having an oval shaped recess which is dimensioned to fit on and around a faucet handle to securely grip the faucet thereby. The Kowats socket has a drive hole and an hexagonal head at an end thereof to enable engagement thereof by a suitable wrench. The Kowats socket thus enables improved leverage to be applied to the faucet handle and thereby facilitates operation thereof. A desirable feature of the Kowats socket is that it may be easily manually placed on and removed from the faucet handle. However, a primary disadvantage of such a socket design is that it does not have a means for securing the socket in the desired position on the handle to preclude cocking thereof. In addition, this design cannot be used on plumbing structures other than faucet handles of a particular shape and size.
A tool is thus needed that can be fitted onto a corporation stop type valve and facilitate rotation thereof. Such a tool is needed that is adapted for engagement by a ratchet wrench so that it can allow rotation of the valve thereby in a narrow and confined area of a ground trench which are typically used since they are the most pragmatic means for providing access to the valve and pipe lines. Such a socket is also needed that can positively and securely engage the valve by simply manually fitting it thereon without the necessity of special tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a tool which allows the application of high torque thereby in a narrowly confined area in connecting and disconnecting a pipe valve to and from pipe lines.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tool which can be manually fitted onto a pipe valve for connection and disconnection thereof.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which can be manually removed from a pipe valve after use for connection and disconnection of the valve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which securely and firmly fits onto the valve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which is shaped and sized to snugly fit against and around a pipe valve for positive engagement thereof so that the tool can provide more effective rotation of the valve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which has openings at lateral portions thereof so that it can accomodate valve structures protruding from the main body of the valve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which includes a structure which fits inside a pipe end of a pipe valve to prevent undesired lateral movement of the tool relative to the valve when used to rotate the valve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool having a wrench drive bore at an end thereof to enable use of a ratchet wrench thereon to connect and disconnect a pipe valve to and from pipe lines.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for connection and disconnection of a pipe valve to and from pipe lines which is simple in construction for inexpensive manufacture thereof.
Basically, the tool of the present invention enables rotational connection and disconnection of a pipe structure situated in very cramped working quarters. The tool of the present invention is a socket having a recess which is shaped and sized to fit around most of a pipe valve. A standard sized valve used in water piping i.e., a corporation stop valve, is app
Papageorge Chris
Smith James G.
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