Valve handle

Inventor: Curt Owens (Fontanet, IN)

Assignee: GREEN LEAF, INC.

F16K31/607 F16K31/602 F16K37/0008

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12687240
App. No.: 19/634,329
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B1

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Abstract

A valve assembly having a handle and a valve body. The valve assembly includes an indicator and a marker that denote the rotational range and position of the handle relative to the valve body. The indicator generally has a contrasting color compared to the handle to ensure visibility. The indicator can be an inlay embedded on the top side of the handle. The indicator is generally arc-shaped. The alignment of the marker and the indicator can allow users to determine an appropriate direction to rotate the handle that is within the rotational range of the handle.

Claims (39)

1 . A valve assembly comprising:

a valve body, said valve body defining a body axis from a front side to a rear side, wherein said valve body includes a valve positioned within said valve body;

a handle rotatably attached to said valve body, said handle including a base portion attached to said valve body and an elongated portion extending away from said base portion, wherein said handle is rotatable about a handle axis relative to said valve body and between an open position and a closed position; and

an indicator positioned on an upper portion of said base portion of said handle, wherein said indicator is a color that is different than a color of said handle, wherein said indicator defines an arc that extends around said handle axis, wherein said indicator has a first end and a second end, and wherein said indicator defines a width in a direction transverse to said arc and that varies along said arc;

wherein rotating said handle to said open position opens said valve to allow fluid flow through said valve body, wherein said first end of said indicator is aligned with said body axis when said handle is in said open position;

wherein rotating said handle to said closed position closes said valve to obstruct fluid flow through said valve body, wherein said second end of said indicator is aligned with said body axis when said handle is in said closed position;

wherein said width of said indicator is greater at said first end than at said second end, wherein said width at said first end corresponds to said open position of said handle, wherein said width at said second end corresponds to said closed position of said handle, and wherein said width gauges the position of said handle between said open and closed positions as said width varies along said arc.

2 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle includes a tab that protrudes from said base portion, and wherein said tab is located at one of said first and second ends of said indicator.

3 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said indicator includes an inlay that is embedded in said base portion of said handle.

4 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said elongated portion extends along a first plane in a transverse direction to said handle axis, wherein said base portion extends along a second plane in a transverse direction to said handle axis and in a parallel direction to said first plane, wherein said handle defines a height between said first plane and said second plane, and wherein said second plane is spaced from said first plane by said height in a direction away from said valve body.

5 . The valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein said handle includes a transition portion positioned between said base portion and said elongated portion, wherein said transition portion is sloped relative to said base portion and to said elongated portion.

6 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a marker positioned on said valve body, wherein the position of said indicator between said first end and said second end that is aligned with said marker corresponds to the position of said handle between said open position and said closed position.

7 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle includes a guide and a punch-out positioned on said elongated portion, and wherein said guide is configured to direct a tool to remove said punch-out from said handle.

8 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle is an orange color.

9 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said handle is a yellow color.

10 . A valve assembly comprising:

a valve body, said valve body defining a body axis from a front side to a rear side, wherein said valve body includes a valve positioned within said valve body;

wherein said base portion of said handle extends along a first plane oriented in a transverse direction to said handle axis, wherein said elongated portion of said handle extends along a second plane oriented in a transverse direction to said handle axis and in a parallel direction to said first plane, wherein said handle defines a height between said first plane and said second plane, and wherein said second plane is spaced from said first plane by said height in a direction away from said valve body;

11 . The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein said handle is an orange color.

12 . The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein said indicator is a green color.

13 . The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein said handle includes a transition portion positioned between said base portion and said elongated portion, wherein said transition portion is sloped relative to said base portion and to said elongated portion.

14 . The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein said handle includes a tab that protrudes from said base portion, and wherein said tab is located at one of said first and second ends of said indicator.

15 . The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein said indicator includes an inlay that is embedded in said base portion of said handle.

16 . The valve assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a marker, wherein said marker is positioned on said valve assembly, and wherein said marker is aligned with said body axis.

17 . A valve assembly comprising:

a valve body, said valve body defining a body axis extending through said valve body, wherein said valve body includes a valve positioned within said valve body;

an indicator positioned on said base portion of said handle, wherein said indicator is a color that is different than a color of said handle, wherein said indicator defines an arc that extends around said handle axis, wherein said indicator has a first end and a second end, wherein said indicator defines a width in a direction transverse to said arc and that varies along said arc, and wherein said indicator denotes a range for said handle to rotate between said open position and said closed position;

wherein said valve body defines a first plane extending through said body axis and said handle axis;

wherein rotating said handle to said open position opens said valve to allow fluid flow through said valve body, wherein said first end of said indicator intersects said first plane when said handle is in said open position;

wherein rotating said handle to said closed position closes said valve to obstruct fluid flow through said valve body, wherein said second end of said indicator intersects said first plane when said handle is in said closed position; and

18 . The valve assembly of claim 17 , wherein said elongated portion extends along a second plane in a transverse direction to said handle axis, wherein said base portion extends along a third plane in a transverse direction to said handle axis and in a parallel direction to said base portion, wherein said handle defines a height between said base portion and said elongated portion, and wherein said elongated portion is offset from said base portion by said height in a direction away from said valve body.

19 . The valve assembly of claim 18 , wherein said handle includes a transition portion positioned between said base portion and said elongated portion, wherein said transition portion is sloped relative to said base portion and to said elongated portion.

20 . The valve assembly of claim 17 , wherein said handle is an orange color and/or a yellow color, and wherein said indicator is a green color.