The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 12, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2001
Kenneth F. Warnes, Vancouver, WA (US);
Christian O. Nelson, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Frank M. McElheran, Portland, OR (US);
Lance S. Landis, West Linn, OR (US);
Thane J. Landis, Portland, OR (US);
William R. Huseby, Vancouver, WA (US);
John Barker, Vancouver, WA (US);
Matthew S. Cameron, Portland, OR (US);
3 Dimensional Contracting, Inc., Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
A valve cover for enclosing an underground area surrounding the actuating mechanism of a flow control valve. The valve cover includes a body having a structure configured to position the valve cover in a desired orientation relative to the flow control valve. This positioning structure may be at least partially elastomeric, and configured to resiliently deform and urge against the flow control valve when the valve cover body is placed over the valve actuating mechanism. This maintains the valve cover body seated in a centered, leveled orientation relative to the valve actuating mechanism. The positioning structure may also be formed as a spacer configured to contact the valve actuating mechanism itself and space the actuating mechanism from the valve cover body. The valve cover body is configured so that, when it is installed, a valve tool may be freely inserted into the enclosed underground area and operatively engaged with the valve actuating mechanism.