One-Way Valve Cap
OwnerMatthew Grossinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improvements in a one-way valve cap to allow a homeowner to install the cap without requiring tools. This allows a homeowner to simply remove the existing cap and install the new cap to prevent removal from an unauthorized person. The one-way locking mechanism includes a ramp that prevents a person from unscrewing to cap without a tool. The opening allows a person to insert the tool through the outer housing and into the inner housing to unscrew the inner housing from the valve. A hex key or a custom key design can be used for removing the cap. A seal is inserted in the inner housing and seals the inner housing with the valve. The elastomeric seal prevents intrusion of contamination inside of the valve and also provides an additional seal to the valve to reduce a potential leak of gas from the line.
Claims11
1-10. (canceled)
11:
- A one-way valve cap comprising:
- an inner cap;
- a middle cap;
- an outer cap;
- said inner cap being captured between said middle cap and said outer cap;
- said inner cap having a first end with a threaded hole sided for threading on a valve stem;
- said inner cap having a second end with an opening for accepting a torsion tool;
- said second end of said inner cap having at least one one-way tapered ramp with a wall;
- said outer cap having a complementary one-way tapered ramp with a wall that engages in said at least one-way tapered ramp with said wall from said inner cap whereby said wall(s) and said outer cap walls provides threading of said inner cap threaded hole, and
- said tapered ramp of said outer cap and said tapered ramp of said inner cap prevents unthreading of said inner cap threaded hole.
12:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 wherein said inner cap essentially floats within said middle cap and said outer cap.
13:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 wherein said middle cap is plastic.
14:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 wherein said outer cap is plastic.
15:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 wherein said inner cap is plastic.
16:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 further includes an elastomeric seal in said inner cap.
17:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 wherein said torsion tool is selected from a group consisting of a hex key, a blade driver, a Philips driver, a star driver, a torx driver or a key shaped driver.
18:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 wherein said outer housing has a clearance hole that is larger than a diameter of said torsion tool.
19:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 17 wherein said outer housing requires a drill to clear a clearance hole for insertion of said torsion tool.
20:
- The one-way valve cap according to claim 1 further includes a clearance of said inner cap within said outer cap whereby said inner cap can rotate and translate within said outer cap.