# US 11,306,463 B2 · Hydrant shoe assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,463 B2 - Document ID: US11306463B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/942,996 - Filed: 2020-07-30 - Published: 2020-11-12 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-04 - Assignees: Mueller International, LLC - Applicants: Mueller International, LLC - Inventors: Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu; Wright Hackett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306463B2 ## CPC - E03B 9/02: Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants - F16L 17/03: having annular axial lips - E03B 9/04: Column hydrants - F16L 17/032: {the sealing rings having only one lip} - F16L 21/03: placed in the socket before connection ({F16L21/022,} F16L21/025 take precedence) - F16L 21/065: {tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins} - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract Example aspects a hydrant shoe assembly and a method for assembling a hydrant shoe assembly are disclosed. The hydrant shoe assembly can comprise a shoe body defining a shoe body outer surface and a shoe body inner surface, the shoe body inner surface defining a void, the void defining an inlet end and an outlet end, an opening extending from the shoe body inner surface to the shoe body outer surface, the opening oriented proximate to the inlet end; a harness received in the void, the harness defining a harness inner surface and a harness outer surface, a protuberance extending radially outward from harness outer surface, the protuberance engaging the opening; and a pipe extending into the void through the inlet end, the harness inner surface engaging the pipe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrant shoe assembly comprising: a shoe body defining a shoe body outer surface and a shoe body inner surface, the shoe body inner surface defining a void, the void defining an inlet end and an outlet end, an opening extending from the shoe body inner surface to the shoe body outer surface, the opening oriented proximate to the inlet end; a harness received in the void, the harness defining a harness inner surface and a harness outer surface, a protuberance extending radially outward from harness outer surface, the protuberance engaging the opening to prohibit axial and rotational movement of the harness relative to the shoe body; and a pipe extending into the void through the inlet end, the harness inner surface engaging the pipe to restrain the pipe relative to the shoe body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the harness defines an arcuate spine, the arcuate spine defining the harness inner surface and the harness outer surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the harness further defines a first fastener lug extending from a first end of the harness and a second fastener lug extending from a second end of the harness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 3, wherein the shoe body defines a first slot and a second slot, the first fastener lug extending through the first slot and the second fastener lug extending through the second slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 4, wherein the shoe body further defines a first gap formed at the inlet end and a second gap formed at the inlet end, the first gap in communication with the first slot and the second gap in communication with the second slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein: the harness is a first harness; the hydrant shoe assembly further comprises a second harness, the second harness defining a second protuberance, wherein the pipe is oriented between the first harness and second harness, and each of the first harness and second harness engage the pipe; the shoe body defines a second opening; and the second protuberance engages the second opening to prohibit axial and rotational movement of the harness relative to the shoe body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 6, further comprising a fastener coupling the first harness to the second harness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 7, wherein: the fastener comprises a bolt and a nut; a spring is mounted to a shank of the bolt; and the spring is oriented between the first harness and the second harness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket received in the void, the gasket defining an outer sealing surface and an inner sealing surface, the outer sealing surface engaging the shoe body and the inner sealing surface engaging the pipe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 9, wherein the harness is oriented between the gasket and the inlet end of the shoe body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 9, wherein: the shoe body inner surface defines a gasket channel configured to receive the gasket; and the shoe body inner surface defines a harness channel configured to receive the harness. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket defines an inner sealing ring, an outer sealing ring, and a center ring between the inner and outer sealing rings, a first groove formed between the outer sealing ring and the center ring, and a second groove formed between the inner sealing ring and the center ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the harness further defines a rib extending from the harness inner surface, the rib engaging an outer surface of the pipe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 13, wherein: the rib is a first rib defining a first height; the harness further defines a second rib extending from the harness inner surface and defining a second height, wherein the second height is different from the first height; and each of the first rib and second rib engage the outer surface of the pipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The hydrant shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the shoe body further comprises a mounting flange at the outlet end, the mounting flange defining mounting apertures formed therethrough. ### Claim 16 A method for assembling a hydrant shoe assembly comprising: providing a shoe body, the shoe body defining a shoe body outer surface and a shoe body inner surface, the shoe body inner surface defining a void, an opening extending from the shoe body outer surface to the shoe body inner surface; inserting a harness into the void; engaging a protuberance of the harness with the opening in the shoe body, the harness defining a harness inner surface and a harness outer surface, the protuberance extending from the harness outer surface; and engaging a pipe with the harness inner surface to restrain the pipe relative to the shoe body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein engaging a pipe with the harness inner surface comprises pressing a ridge extending from the harness inner surface into an outer surface of the pipe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the shoe body further comprises a gasket received in the void, the method further comprising engaging an outer surface of the pipe with the gasket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the harness is a first harness; the method further comprises inserting a second harness into the void and engaging a second protuberance of the second harness with a second opening in the shoe body; and the pipe is received between the first harness and the second harness. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein; the first harness is coupled to the second harness; and the method further comprises pressing a first rib of the first harness into an outer surface of the pipe and pressing a second rib of the second harness into the outer surface of the pipe.