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US 6,991,016 B2Granted
Locking valve stem cap system, components thereof, and associated methods
AssigneeUara
InventorMyron C. Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking valve stem cap system includes a sleeve, a valve stem cap, and a rotation tool. The sleeve is configured to threadingly engage a valve stem, with a portion of a threaded region of the valve stem protruding into a cap receptacle thereof. The valve stem cap is configured to be inserted into the cap receptacle of the sleeve and to threadingly engage the portion of the threaded region that is located within the cap receptacle. The rotation tool is configured to facilitate rotation of the valve stem cap when the outer periphery thereof is substantially surrounded by the sleeve, thereby facilitating tightening or loosening of the valve stem cap relative to the sleeve. Methods for installing and removing the valve stem cap system from a valve system are also disclosed.
Claims26
A valve stem cap system, comprising:
- a sleeve, including:
- a cap receptacle;
- a ledge at a lower end of said cap receptacle;
- and
- an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said ledge having a thickness which is less than a length of a threaded region of the valve stem;
- a valve stem cap configured to be disposed within said cap receptacle, having a height which is about the same as or less than a height of said cap receptacle, and substantially peripherally surroundable by said sleeve, said valve stem cap including:
- a lower end with a valve stem receptacle that includes threading configured complementarily to the threading on the exterior of the valve stem;
- and
- an upper end at or adjacent to which access to at least one rotation facilitation feature may be obtained;
- and
- a rotation tool including at least one key element corresponding to and configured to engage said at least one rotation facilitation feature so as to facilitate rotation of said valve stem cap.
8 more elements
A sleeve configured for use in locking a valve stem cap into place on a valve stem, the sleeve comprising:
- a receptacle for the valve stem cap, having a height which is about the same as or greater than a height of the valve stem cap, and configured to facilitate rotation of the valve stem cap when the valve stem cap is disposed therein;
- a ledge at a lower end of said receptacle;
- an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said aperture configured to engage the valve stem and to permit an end, including a portion of the threading thereon, to protrude into said receptacle;
- and
- a protective recess on an opposite side of said ledge from said receptacle, said protective recess communicating with said aperture and configured to substantially surround a base of a protruding portion of the valve stem when said sleeve is installed upon the valve stem.
2 more elements
A method for installing and uninstalling a valve stem cap on a valve stem, comprising:
- installing a sleeve on a valve stem by threadingly engaging the valve stem, a threaded portion of the valve stem being exposed in a cap receptacle of said sleeve upon installation of said sleeve on the valve stem;
- introducing a valve stem cap into said cap receptacle;
- installing said valve stem cap on the valve stem by threadingly engaging the valve stem, a height of said valve stem cap being substantially peripherally surrounded by the sleeve to prevent an individual from grasping the valve stem cap;
- and
- engaging a lower edge of said valve stem cap against a base of said cap receptacle such that said valve stem cap will prevent manual removal of said sleeve and said valve stem cap from the valve stem.
2 more elements
A valve stem cap system, comprising:
- a sleeve, including:
- a cap receptacle;
- a ledge at a lower end of said cap receptacle;
- an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said ledge having a thickness which is less than a length of a threaded region of the valve stem;
- and
- a protective recess on an opposite side of said ledge from said cap receptacle, said protective recess communicating with said aperture and configured to substantially surround a base of a protruding portion of the valve stem when said sleeve is installed upon the valve stem;
- a valve stem cap configured to be disposed within said cap receptacle and substantially peripherally surrounded thereby, said valve stem cap including:
- a lower end with a valve stem receptacle that includes threading configured complementarily to the threading on the exterior of the valve stem;
- and
- an upper end at or adjacent to which access to at least one rotation facilitation feature may be obtained;
- and
- a rotation tool including at least one key element corresponding to and configured to engage said at least one rotation facilitation feature so as to facilitate rotation of said valve stem cap.
9 more elements
A valve stem cap system, comprising:
- a sleeve, including:
- a cap receptacle;
- a ledge at a lower end of said cap receptacle;
- and
- an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said ledge having a thickness which is less than a length of a threaded region of the valve stem;
- a valve stem cap configured to be disposed within said cap receptacle and substantially peripherally surrounded thereby, said valve stem cap including:
- a lower end with a valve stem receptacle that includes threading configured complementarily to the threading on the exterior of the valve stem;
- an upper end at or adjacent to which access to at least one rotation facilitation feature may be obtained;
- and
- at least one indicium at said upper end;
- and
- a rotation tool including at least one key element corresponding to and configured to engage said at least one rotation facilitation feature so as to facilitate rotation of said valve stem cap.
9 more elements
A valve stem cap system, comprising:
- a sleeve, including:
- a cap receptacle;
- a ledge at a lower end of said cap receptacle;
- and
- an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said ledge having a thickness which is less than a length of a threaded region of the valve stem;
- a valve stem cap configured to be disposed within said cap receptacle and substantially peripherally surrounded thereby, said valve stem cap including:
- a lower end with a valve stem receptacle that includes threading configured complementarily to the threading on the exterior of the valve stem;
- and
- an upper end at or adjacent to which access to a plurality of indents located adjacent an outer periphery of said valve stem cap at an upper edge thereof may be obtained;
- and
- a rotation tool including at least one key element corresponding to and configured to engage said at least one rotation facilitation feature so as to facilitate rotation of said valve stem cap.
8 more elements
A valve stem cap system, comprising:
- a sleeve, including:
- a cap receptacle;
- a ledge at a lower end of said cap receptacle;
- and
- an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said ledge having a thickness which is less than a length of a threaded region of the valve stem;
- and
- a valve stem cap configured to be disposed within said cap receptacle and substantially peripherally surroundable by said sleeve, said valve stem cap including:
- a lower end with a valve stem receptacle that includes threading configured complementarily to the threading on the exterior of the valve stem;
- a bottom edge configured to abut an upper surface of said ledge when said sleeve and said valve stem cap are both threadingly installed on the valve stem and, when a bottom edge of said sleeve abuts a surface from which the valve stem protrudes, to lock against said upper surface of said ledge so as to prevent manual removal of said valve stem cap and said sleeve;
- and
- an upper end at or adjacent to which access to at least one rotation facilitation feature may be obtained.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.