Valves and valve actuation – Extension for actuator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-14
2001-02-13
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Valves and valve actuation
Extension for actuator
C016S427000, C016S432000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186475
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to valve handles and more particularly to a device for extending the handle of a spigot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Residential water valves, particularly exterior spigots used for hose connections, typically have valves with relatively small diameter valve handles located in close proximity to an exterior wall or other obstruction. The valve handles on these exterior spigots are usually circular with indentations around the outer circumference to accommodate the fingers of the operator's hand. However, in addition to being small, the valve handles are smooth and slippery when wet. As a result, they are difficult to grip adequately to open or close the valve. Since the valve handles are oftentimes located so very close to an obstruction, slippage can cause abrasion injuries to the operator's hand. These problems are especially difficult for people with reduced or impaired gripping strength, such as some of the elderly or people afflicted with arthritis or other debilitating conditions.
In addition, old valve handles of residential exterior spigots may be difficult to remove after years of exposure to the elements. In addition, the valve handles of some residential exterior spigots, particularly those readily accessible to passersby, must be easily removable to avoid unauthorized use.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an ergonomically designed and easily gripped, non-slip valve handle extender especially suitable for ease of installation and removal on residential spigot valves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for extending a valve handle includes a rotatable body and engaging means for engaging a valve handle so as to be rotatable conjointly therewith. The engaging means is enclosed within the body and is also rotatable conjointly with the body, so that the engaging means rotates an engaged valve handle in response to the rotation of the body. In a preferred embodiment, the body is formed by identical hermaphroditic body halves with posts and receivers which engage when the body halves are mated together. The body includes a pair of attached opposing wings, a plurality of slots, and a central bore. The engaging means is an engager which includes a base with an opening, a plurality of bosses projecting from one side, and a plurality of fingers projecting from the opposite side. The bosses on the base fit engagingly into slots within the body and the fingers on the base fit engagingly between the spokes of the valve handle when the engager and valve handle are enclosed within the body. The central bore through the body aligns with an opening in the base to allow access to any fastener connecting the valve handle to the valve, allowing removal and replacement of the body and an engaged valve handle as a unit. The body can accommodate interchangeable engagers configured to grip various styles of valve handles, particularly residential spigot handles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a spigot handle extender constructed in accordance with the present invention and a spigot on which the extender is to be installed;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the spigot handle extender of
FIG. 1
installed on the spigot shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a front elevational view of a body half for the spigot handle extender shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a rear elevational view of the body half shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view of the body half shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a top plan view of the body half shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 7
is a bottom plan view of the body half shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 8
is a front elevational view of a body for the spigot handle extender shown in
FIG. 1
, the rear elevational view being identical thereto;
FIG. 9
is a right side elevational view of the body shown in
FIG. 8
, the left side elevational view being identical thereto;
FIG. 10
is a top plan view of the body shown in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 11
is a bottom plan view of the body shown in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 12
is a top plan view of an engager for the spigot handle extender shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 13
is a side elevational view of the engager shown in
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 14
is a bottom plan view of the engager shown in
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 15
is a top perspective view of the engager shown in
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 16
is a bottom perspective view of the engager shown in
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 17
is a perspective view of the engager of
FIGS. 12-16
positioned in the body half of
FIGS. 3-7
;
FIG. 18
is a perspective view of the engager of
FIGS. 12-16
installed on the spigot handle shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 19
is a perspective view similar to
FIG. 17
, except that the engager has been installed on the spigot shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 20
is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of an engager for the spigot handle extender shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 21
is a side elevational view of the engager shown in
FIG. 20
;
FIG. 22
is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line
22
—
22
in FIG.
21
and looking in the direction of the arrows, of the engager shown in
FIG. 21
;
FIG. 23
is a bottom plan view of the engager shown in
FIG. 21
;
FIG. 24
is a top perspective view of the engager shown in
FIG. 21
;
FIG. 25
is a bottom perspective view of the engager shown in
FIG. 21
;
FIG. 26
is a perspective view of the engager of
FIGS. 20-25
installed on a spigot handle different than the one shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 27
is a perspective view similar to
FIG. 19
, except that it shows the engager of
FIGS. 20-25
and the spigot handle of
FIG. 26
applied to the body half of
FIGS. 3-7
and the spigot of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 28
is a perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the body half shown in
FIGS. 3-7
;
FIG. 29
is a perspective view of the body half of
FIG. 28
applied to a spigot handle similar to the one shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 30
is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the body half of
FIG. 28
applied to a spigot handle similar to the one shown in
FIG. 27
; and
FIG. 31
is a perspective view of the body half of
FIG. 30
applied to a spigot handle similar to the one shown in FIGS.
26
and
27
.
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Rivell John
Selitto & Associates
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