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:
Nov. 29, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 29, 2010
Gary A. Moren, Advance, NC (US);
Gary A. Moren, Advance, NC (US);
Hayward Industries, Inc., Elizabeth, NJ (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an improved needle valve, where, in some preferred embodiments, the needle valve includes a stem having a ball linkage and a seat having a ball linkage housing. The ball linkage can be snap-fit to the seat, and the ball linkage and ball linkage housing cooperate to form a ball-and-socket joint. In some embodiments, an axis is formed at least in part by the stem, and the ball-and-socket joint allows rotation of the seat about the axis and inhibits rotation of the seat about another axis. A gap may be provided between the seat and the stem to accommodate deformation of the seat. Also disclosed herein is an improved needle valve, where, in some preferred embodiments, a stem and a handle are provided with mating geometry and a biased snap-fit mechanism to facilitate ease of assembly.