US2887899A - Valve handle - Google Patents

Description

y 26, 1959 E. J. URBAS 2,887,899

' VALVE HANDLE Filed A ril 7, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

a 4/ :IE 1D WM/VM United States Patent VALVE HANDLE Ernest J. Urbas, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Guarantee Specialty Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation Application April 7, 1953, Serial No. 347,334 Z'Claims. (Cl. 74-545) The primary object of my present invention, is to provide an extremely simplified form of handle or key for gascocks or valves, and one which may be manufactured at relatively low cost.

In the carrying out of my invention, I produce the valve key or handle from sheet metal, and in order to afford ample bearing for the opening in the handle which receives the flat-sided portion of the stem of the valve, the piece of metal employed of elongated form, is folded upon itself so that it will be of double thickness at the point where the stem receiving opening is punched therein. In addition to the folding over of an end portion of the metal for the purpose above specified, the main body of the piece of sheet metal from which my handle is formed, has its longitudinal edge portions bent against and over the part which is folded against the body, thereby rigidifying the folded portion with the body to afford substantially the same advantages as if the body portion and .said folded portion were integral.

In the practical embodiments of my invention, it is contemplated that the flat-sided opening in the handle member may be located centrally of the body portion which is to be grasped in manipulating a valve, or said opening may be disposed near one 'end of the body portion in which event the handle will extend substantially in one direction only from the valve stem. Under any and all conditions, however, it is contemplated that the said flat-sided opening by which the handle is keyed or inter-locked with the flat end portion of the valve stem shall be formed in the double thickness layer of metal which is provided incident to bending one end of the body metal against the underside of the main body portion thereof.

The preferred embodiments of my invention, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a conventional form of gascock illustrating the form of my handle or key in which the stem engaging opening is provided at the middle portion of the handle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating a modified form of the invention wherein the stem engaging opening of the handle is adjacent to one end thereof.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing the construction of Figure'S.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the modification of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of the handle or key and the View illustrates the structure whether made in the modification of the type of Figure 1 or the modification of the type of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a view looking toward the opposite end of the handle from that illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe form of handle shown in Figure 5, also Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the blank piece of flat metal from which the handle is made.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a common form of gascock generally designated 1, which is equipped with a valve which may be turned in either direction to open the same from its closed position. The said valve is operable by means of the usual valve stem 2, the upper end of which is reduced and formed with the flat sided extension or boss 3 of customary form, the latter entering the opening which is provided in the handle of corresponding shape, to interlock the stem 2 with said handle.

When the handle of this invention which is designated 4 in Figure 1 and other figures showing the same construction is to be permanently attached to the stem 2 of the gascock or like valve, the usual washer 5 and screw 6 adjuncts will be employed as well known in the art.

When the handle or key of the invention is to be utilized primarily as a key attachable and detachable from the stem 2, the washer 5 and the screw 6 will be dispensed with.

Flurther describing the handle 4, reference is made to Figures 2 and 9 wherein it will be seen that the main body of metal forming the handle 4 has an extended end portion thereon folded underneath the same and designated 4-11, the folding being performed by the usual use of dies designed for the bending operation. The portion 4-a is bent so as to be flat against the bottom or underside of the handle 4 body in close contact therewith. To rigidify the whole body stnucture of the handle 4, longitudinal edge flanges 7 are bent laterally or downwardly from the main body portion, and pressed against the longitudinal edges of the 'folded portion 4-a, the lower edges of said flanges 7 being bent to overlie slightly the longitudinal edges of the portion 4-a so that the flanges 7 are not only pressed against the longitudinal vertical edges of the part 4-a, but inwardly toward the body of the handle and over such edges so to speak to thus consolidate the portions 4a and 4 as designated in the drawings, into a rigid structure by reason of the engaging action of said flanges 7 with the edge portions of the part 4-a.

As seen in the drawings, the folded portion 4-a of my handle, extends along the top of body portion of the handle a distance slightly :greater than half the distance of the length of the unit, and Figure 9 shows the manner of punching of the holes supplied in the handle of Figures 1 and 2.

First there is provided the middle 'hole or opening 8, the flat side of which is seen in Figure 8 when the hole is arranged according to the illustration in Figure 2. Next, there are also provided spaced side openings 9 and 10, the opening 9 being only made in one thickness of the metal, whereas the opening 10 is provided in both thicknesses of the metal as seen in Figure 9.

The openings 9 and 10 are mere side openings through which indicia words such as on and o seen in Figure 2, may be visible when the valve is turned in either direction from its on position to an intermediate off position.

Figure 8 illustrates the flat sided opening 8-a of the valve handle near one end of the latter, and there is also provided a single side opening 9-a in this construction, usable for the same purpose as its corresponding opening in the construction of Figure 9, namely to enable the on and ofi indicia on the valve to be seen when the handle is moved from one position, say the on position, to the ofi position and vice versa.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided a very simple structure for my handle or key, one of the utmost rigidity, one in which ample depth of the flat sided opening to receive the valve stem is obtained, and an article of manufacture that can be manufactured at very low cost, making it very desirable to the purchasing public. The flanges 7, in addition to their rigidifying action, provide smooth surfaces, instead of the raw edges of the metal body at the longitudinal edges of the handle so the latter may be turned readily on grasping without liability of cutting the hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an integral valve handle for gascocks or the like, comprising a single elongated piece of flat metal of uniform thickness having one end thereof folded against one side of the 'body thereof so as to lie fiat against said side, the body being wider than the folded end portion and formed with flanges on its longitudinal edges lying against the longitudinal edges of the folded end portion, said flanges being arcuately rollled over the edges of the folded end portion, the body and folded end having a stem receiving opening formed therethrough.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a valve handle for gascocks or the like, comprising an integral body consisting of an elongated piece of sheet metal having a section of like thickness reversely bent flat against a side thereof, the body piece being formed with longitudinal flanges lying impingingly against the edges of the section and at least partially forced over the same for reinforcing and uniting the latter to the body piece of metal, both said pieces of metal having registering openings therethrough to receive a valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,373 Irons Sept. 10, 1912 1,545,462 Watson et al. July 3, 1925 1,670,453 Klous May 22, 1928 1,734,356 Welch Nov. 5, 1929 2,131,883 Becker Oct. 4, 1938 2,497,283 Whaharem et al Feb. 14, 1950 2,499,739 Forbes Mar. 7, 1950 2,637,584 Atkinson May 5, 1953 2,669,011 Burmbaugh Feb. 16, 1954

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