US4168705A — Float and check valve for hydrotherapy unit air i…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 252 words

A float check valve comprising: an elongated tubular unitary body having an annular inner wall, with a substantially constant diameter and a top member at an upper end of the body forming a valve top opening and a peripheral valve seat on an underside thereof; at least one nub selectively affixed to said annular inner wall of said body, said body having an open lower end of a diameter substantially equal to said diameter of said body, a float having a side wall and a top wall, said float being slidably received in said tubular body inwardly of said annular wall and carrying on said top wall, a removably mounted, compressible sealing means operable to seal against said valve seat; and a retainer removably engaging said nub, the retainer receiving the float in abutting, underlying relation thereto in an open position of the valve, and operable to retain said float within said body member, said retainer being located between said nub and said float and being flexible so as to be slidable past said nub and removable through said open lower end so that said float might also be removed through said port for cleaning or repair, whereby in a first flow condition fluid is passed downwardly through said valve top opening, about said float, and past said retainer and in a second, opposite flow condition fluid passing upwardly through said body urges said float in an upward direction so that said sealing means of said float sealingly engages said valve seat.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 252 words

A float check valve comprising: an elongated tubular unitary body having an annular inner wall, with a substantially constant diameter and a top member at an upper end of the body forming a valve top opening and a peripheral valve seat on an underside thereof; at least one nub selectively affixed to said annular inner wall of said body, said body having an open lower end of a diameter substantially equal to said diameter of said body, a float having a side wall and a top wall, said float being slidably received in said tubular body inwardly of said annular wall and carrying on said top wall, a removably mounted, compressible sealing means operable to seal against said valve seat; and a retainer removably engaging said nub, the retainer receiving the float in abutting, underlying relation thereto in an open position of the valve, and operable to retain said float within said body member, said retainer being located between said nub and said float and being flexible so as to be slidable past said nub and removable through said open lower end so that said float might also be removed through said port for cleaning or repair, whereby in a first flow condition fluid is passed downwardly through said valve top opening, about said float, and past said retainer and in a second, opposite flow condition fluid passing upwardly through said body urges said float in an upward direction so that said sealing means of said float sealingly engages said valve seat.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

A float and check valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner wall carries a plurality of radially inwardly-extending, elongate guide ribs spaced circumferentially about the inner wall and spaced radially for guiding the float therealong.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

A float and check valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the float is hollow and the side and top walls form an upwardly-closed air chamber to ensure positive buoyancy of the float with respect to water.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

A float and check valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a resilient gasket, said gasket being compressible between said valve seat and said float to seal against fluid passage in the second direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 63 words

A float and check valve as defined in claim 4, further comprising a tapered member extending upwardly and radially outwardly from a center of said top wall of said float, the member receiving said gasket over its taper and retaining it on said top wall of said float, and wherein said tapered member is receivable into said top opening of said top member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

A float and check valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said retainer comprises an annular ring received within said lower portion of said tubular body between said float and said nub.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 192 words

A float and check valve comprising: an elongated tubular body having an annular wall, and surface means at an upper end of the body forming a top opening and a peripheral valve seat on an underside thereof; a float having side wall and a top wall, the float being slidably received in said tubular body inwardly of said inner wall and carrying an annular valve surface on said top wall thereof; and a retainer engaged in a lower portion of the tubular body, the retainer receiving the float in abutting, overlying relation thereto in an open position of the valve, whereby in a first flow condition fluid is passed downwardly through the valve top opening, about the float, and past the retainer and in a second, opposite flow condition fluid passing upwardly through the body urges the valve surface of the float sealingly against the valve seat; wherein the retainer comprises an annular ring received within the lower portion of the tubular body and; wherein the retainer further comprises at least one abutment pin extending axially upwardly from the ring and into contact with the float in the first flow condition thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 192 words

A float and check valve comprising: an elongated tubular body having an annular wall, and surface means at an upper end of the body forming a top opening and a peripheral valve seat on an underside thereof; a float having side wall and a top wall, the float being slidably received in said tubular body inwardly of said inner wall and carrying an annular valve surface on said top wall thereof; and a retainer engaged in a lower portion of the tubular body, the retainer receiving the float in abutting, overlying relation thereto in an open position of the valve, whereby in a first flow condition fluid is passed downwardly through the valve top opening, about the float, and past the retainer and in a second, opposite flow condition fluid passing upwardly through the body urges the valve surface of the float sealingly against the valve seat; wherein the retainer comprises an annular ring received within the lower portion of the tubular body and; wherein the retainer further comprises at least one abutment pin extending axially upwardly from the ring and into contact with the float in the first flow condition thereof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 194 words

A float and check valve comprising: an elongated tubular body having an annular wall, and surface means at an upper end of the body forming a top opening and a peripheral valve seat on an underside thereof, a float having side wall and a top wall, the float being slidably received in said tubular body inwardly of said inner wall and carrying an annular valve surface on said top wall thereof; and a retainer engaged in a lower portion of the tubular body, the retainer receiving the float in abutting, overlying relation thereto in an open position of the valve, whereby in a first flow condition fluid is passed downwardly through the valve top opening, about the float, and past the retainer and in a second, opposite flow condition fluid passing upwardly through the body urges the valve surface of the float sealingly against the valve seat; wherein the retainer comprises an annular ring received within the lower portion of the tubular body and; wherein the retainer is snap-fittingly retained in the tubular body by at least one nub extending into engagement therewith inwardly from the inner wall of the body below the retainer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 194 words

A float and check valve comprising: an elongated tubular body having an annular wall, and surface means at an upper end of the body forming a top opening and a peripheral valve seat on an underside thereof, a float having side wall and a top wall, the float being slidably received in said tubular body inwardly of said inner wall and carrying an annular valve surface on said top wall thereof; and a retainer engaged in a lower portion of the tubular body, the retainer receiving the float in abutting, overlying relation thereto in an open position of the valve, whereby in a first flow condition fluid is passed downwardly through the valve top opening, about the float, and past the retainer and in a second, opposite flow condition fluid passing upwardly through the body urges the valve surface of the float sealingly against the valve seat; wherein the retainer comprises an annular ring received within the lower portion of the tubular body and; wherein the retainer is snap-fittingly retained in the tubular body by at least one nub extending into engagement therewith inwardly from the inner wall of the body below the retainer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

A float and check valve as defined in claim 1, further comprising a protective cap spaced above said top opening to form thereunder a passage for fluid into said opening while blocking downward passage of foreign matter into said opening.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 116 words

In combination with an air inlet to a hydrotherapy nozzle, the nozzle mixing air from an air intake conduit with a stream of pressurized water, a float and check valve comprising: a vertical axis tubular valve body having an annular wall, a lower end received on said air intake conduit, and surfaces forming a top air inlet radially inwardly of said wall and a downwardly-facing valve seat; and a valve float received in said valve body in axially slidable relation thereto, said float being buoyant upon water, and having a valve surface on an upper portion thereof engageable against the valve seat surface in a raised position of the float to form a liquid-tight seal therewith.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 116 words

In combination with an air inlet to a hydrotherapy nozzle, the nozzle mixing air from an air intake conduit with a stream of pressurized water, a float and check valve comprising: a vertical axis tubular valve body having an annular wall, a lower end received on said air intake conduit, and surfaces forming a top air inlet radially inwardly of said wall and a downwardly-facing valve seat; and a valve float received in said valve body in axially slidable relation thereto, said float being buoyant upon water, and having a valve surface on an upper portion thereof engageable against the valve seat surface in a raised position of the float to form a liquid-tight seal therewith.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 120 words

In combination, a hydrotherapy nozzle assembly having an inlet for a stream of pressurized water, a suction inlet for passing atmospheric air into said stream, and an outlet for a flow of aerated water; a conduit means for connecting said suction inlet to atmosphere and having an upper end; and a float and check valve having a tubular body sealingly received on said upper end of the conduit, an annular wall forming a generally vertical flow passage through the body, a valve seat surface on an upper portion of the body, and a valve float slidable in the body and sealingly engageable with the seat surface upon a rise in water level in the conduit and body about the float.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 120 words

In combination, a hydrotherapy nozzle assembly having an inlet for a stream of pressurized water, a suction inlet for passing atmospheric air into said stream, and an outlet for a flow of aerated water; a conduit means for connecting said suction inlet to atmosphere and having an upper end; and a float and check valve having a tubular body sealingly received on said upper end of the conduit, an annular wall forming a generally vertical flow passage through the body, a valve seat surface on an upper portion of the body, and a valve float slidable in the body and sealingly engageable with the seat surface upon a rise in water level in the conduit and body about the float.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

The combination defined in claim 11, wherein the float and check valve is comprised of a plastic material and the float is a hollow member open at the bottom and having side and top surfaces forming an air bell therein, whereby to assure positive buoyancy of the float.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

The combination of claim 11, wherein a resilient gasket is carried by a top surface of the float, thereby to seal the seat surface and the float against passage of air and water therebetween.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 125 words

The combination of claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of radially inwardly-extending, elongate ribs on said annular wall, said ribs having inward surfaces for guiding the float in a selected fixed orientation with respect thereto; and an annular retainer ring retained in a lower portion of the valve body upwardly of the conduit means and carrying circumferentially-spaced lower abutment surfaces engageable with the float in a lowermost position of the float, whereby air passing downwardly through the valve body passes about the float, among the guide ribs, among the abutment surfaces, and through the retainer ring into the conduit means, and water passing upwardly into the valve body buoys the float upwardly into sealing engagement with the valve seat surface to stop the water flow.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The combination of claim 14, wherein the annular retainer ring is snap-fittingly received between a plurality of nubs extending inwardly from the annular wall of the valve body and lower abutment surfaces of the guide ribs.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The combination of claim 14, further comprising a protective cap spaced over a top opening of the flow passage.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 179 words

A check valve comprising: a hollow tubular valve body having an interior annular wall, with a substantially constant radius, a plurality of guide ribs extending axially of said radially inwardly from said wall, and surfaces forming a fluid passage along the wall and ribs and a valve seat about a top fluid passage opening in the body; a port at a lower end of said valve body of substantially said radius and perpendicular to said valve body; and a valve float received axially slidably in the body inwardly of the guide ribs and having a closed, annular side wall, a closed top wall unitary therewith, and a seal on said top wall engageable with said valve seat, a retainer having substantially said radius positioned within said body below said float and removably engageable with at least one nub selectively located on said interior annular wall, said nub operable to retain said retainer between said float and said nub, whereby air can flow downwardly through the valve but water cannot flow upwardly out of the valve past the valve float.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 179 words

A check valve comprising: a hollow tubular valve body having an interior annular wall, with a substantially constant radius, a plurality of guide ribs extending axially of said radially inwardly from said wall, and surfaces forming a fluid passage along the wall and ribs and a valve seat about a top fluid passage opening in the body; a port at a lower end of said valve body of substantially said radius and perpendicular to said valve body; and a valve float received axially slidably in the body inwardly of the guide ribs and having a closed, annular side wall, a closed top wall unitary therewith, and a seal on said top wall engageable with said valve seat, a retainer having substantially said radius positioned within said body below said float and removably engageable with at least one nub selectively located on said interior annular wall, said nub operable to retain said retainer between said float and said nub, whereby air can flow downwardly through the valve but water cannot flow upwardly out of the valve past the valve float.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-09-24	1983-03-26	1983-09-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-09-24	1987-03-26	1987-09-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-09-24	1991-03-26	1991-09-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Float and check valve for hydrotherapy unit air intake

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag