Granted Patent B2

US 12,338,928 · App. 18/300,298 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Inventors: Sai Kishore Ravisankar (Alpharetta, GA); William Vernon Kluss (Woombye, AU); Eliana Pippen (Powder Springs, GA); Samantha Kelly (New York, NY); Randy Graves (Atlanta, GA)

Assignee: RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION

F16L37/0915F16L41/021F16L41/023F16L41/03

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A valve, comprising

a valve body including a fluid channel;

a push-to-connect fitting having a connector body coupled to the valve body and in communication with the fluid channel;

wherein the push-to-connect fitting includes:

a sealing member configured to form a sealing engagement with a fluid conduit;

a grab ring comprising a plurality of teeth configured for coupling to the fluid conduit;

a cartridge positioned adjacent to at least part of the grab ring and having a hollow portion therethrough, the grab ring being interposed between the cartridge and the sealing member;

a retainer sleeve received over at least part of the cartridge and at least part of the connector body;

a plurality of latches located on the retainer sleeve, the plurality of latches being configured to secure the retainer sleeve to the connector body to facilitate retention of the sealing member, the grab ring, and the cartridge; and

wherein the connector body includes a first flange having a catch surface for engaging the plurality of latches and a second flange spaced apart from the first flange along a longitudinal axis, the second flange being positioned adjacent to an end of the retainer sleeve, wherein the first and second flanges each extend circumferentially about the longitudinal axis, wherein the second flange extends past and obstructs an end portion of the retainer sleeve in a radial direction, and wherein a radius of the second flange is greater than a radius of the end portion of the retainer sleeve.

2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the second flange extends outwardly beyond an outer diameter of the retainer sleeve.

3. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the second flange provides an outermost diameter of the push-to-connect fitting.

4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises a flow control mechanism positioned in fluid communication with the fluid channel of the valve body, the flow control mechanism being configured to control flow therethrough.

5. The valve of claim 4 , wherein the valve further comprising a handle connected to the flow control mechanism, the handle being configured to control movement of the flow control mechanism.

6. The valve of claim 5 , wherein the flow control mechanism includes a ball valve member located in the fluid channel of the valve body.

7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a stop valve, a check valve, a ball valve, a garden valve, a hose bibb, a pressure regulating valve, a temperature and pressure regulating valve, or a thermostatic mixing valve.

8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein, when fully assembled, each of the plurality of latches is located axially between the first flange and the second flange.

9. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a plurality of connector bodies each including a corresponding first flange and second flange for engaging with a corresponding retainer sleeve.

10. A valve, comprising

a valve body;

a push-to-connect fitting coupled to the valve body, the push-to-connect fitting comprising:

a connector body;

a sealing member configured to form a sealing engagement with a fluid conduit;

a grab ring comprising a plurality of teeth configured for coupling to the fluid conduit;

a cartridge positioned adjacent to at least part of the grab ring and having a hollow portion therethrough, the grab ring being interposed between the cartridge and the sealing member;

a retainer sleeve received over at least part of the cartridge and at least part of the connector body; and

a plurality of latches located on the retainer sleeve, the plurality of latches being configured to secure the retainer sleeve to the connector body to facilitate retention of the sealing member, the grab ring, and the cartridge;

wherein a latch opening extends through a sidewall of the retainer sleeve at a proximal end of each of the plurality of latches.

11. The valve of claim 10 , wherein the valve includes a stop valve, a check valve, a ball valve, a garden valve, a hose bibb, a pressure regulating valve, a temperature and pressure regulating valve, or a thermostatic mixing valve.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (9)

References Cited (224)