Ball valve including seat retainer securing means and method for forming the same

A valve comprising:

• a) a valve body defining a cavity, said valve body including first and second joined body pieces, at least one of said body pieces including:
• an annular flange defining a passage communicating with said cavity, said flange disposed adjacent said cavity, said flange having an outer surface;
• and
• a first element comprising at least one of a recess defined in said outer surface of said flange and a projection extending from said outer surface of said flange;
• b) an annular seat retainer mounted on said flange and having an inner surface, said seat retainer including a second element comprising at least one of a recess defined in said inner surface of said seat retainer and a projection extending from said inner surface of said seat retainer;
• c) a valve member rotatably mounted in said cavity;
• and
• d) a valve seat retained on said flange by said seat retainer and engaging said valve member;
• e) wherein said seat retainer is secured to said flange by a cooperative snap fit engagement between said first and second elements.

A valve comprising:

• a) a valve body defining a cavity, said valve body including first and second joined polymeric body pieces, at least one of said body pieces including:
• an axially extending annular flange defining a passage communicating with said cavity, said flange disposed adjacent said cavity, said flange having an outer surface;
• and
• a continuous, endless, circumferential, radially extending groove defined in said outer surface of said flange;
• b) a resilient, annular seat retainer mounted on said flange and having an inner surface, said seat retainer including a continuous, endless, circumferential rib extending radially inwardly from said inner surface of said seat retainer;
• c) a valve ball including a ball passage defined therein, said valve ball rotatably mounted in said cavity;
• d) a valve seat retained on said flange by said seat retainer and engaging said valve member;
• and
• e) wherein said rib cooperatively engages said groove to secure said seat retainer to said flange.

A valve comprising:

• a) a valve body defining a cavity and including:
• a flange having an outer surface;
• and
• a first element comprising at least one of a recess defined in said outer surface of said flange and a projection extending from said outer surface of said flange;
• b) a seat retainer mounted on said flange and having an inner surface, said seat retainer including a second element comprising at least one of a recess defined in said inner surface of said seat retainer and a projection extending from said inner surface of said seat retainer;
• and
• c) a valve seat retained on said flange by said seat retainer;
• d) wherein said seat retainer is secured to said flange by a cooperative snap fit engagement between said first and second elements.