Low profile backwater valve with lock

• US 9,097,363 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gabe Coscarella
• Original Assignee: Gabe Coscarella
• Inventors: Coscarella, Gabe
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): Soski, Frederick D
• Application Number:
  US13/818,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20130220448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 137/410, 137/456, 137/448, 137/521, 137/529, 137/527, 137/527.6, 137/527.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/04 Valves for preventing return flow in gullies, drains or the like E03F5/042
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/03 with a hinged closure member or with a pivoted closure member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1821 for check valves with a hinged or pivoted closure member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/18 actuated by a float floats F16K33/00; float-actuated valves in steam-traps F16T1/20, in boilers F22D5/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/22 with the float rigidly connected to the valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion

Abstract

A low profile backwater valve includes a hollow valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a top and a bottom. A pivoting valve member that is buoyant in water moves between a normally open position along the bottom of the valve body and a closed position sealing the inlet. A locking member is positioned in the hollow valve body. The locking member has a release position below the pivot axis of the valve member that permits the valve member to pivot freely, and a locking position immediately adjacent to the valve member that secures the valve member in the closed position. A handle is attached to the locking member and is accessible from outside and from the top of the hollow valve body. The handle moves the locking member between the release position and the locking position.

Claims

1. A low profile backwater valve, comprising:

a hollow valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a top and a bottom;

a pivoting valve member pivotally movable between a normally open position along the bottom of the valve body and a closed position sealing the inlet, the valve member having a hinge end that pivots about a pivot axis toward the bottom of the hollow valve body, a remote end, and opposed sides, the valve member being buoyant in water;

characterised in that;

a locking member is positioned in the hollow valve body, the locking member having a release position below the valve member when the valve member is in the normally open position that permits the valve member to pivot freely, and a locking position immediately adjacent to the valve member that secures the valve member in the closed position; and

a handle is attached to the locking member and accessible from outside and from the top of the hollow valve body, the handle moving the locking member between the release position and the locking position when the handle is lifted.

2. The low profile backwater valve of claim 1, wherein the locking member is received in a channel in an inner surface of the hollow valve body in the release position.

3. The low profile backwater valve of claim 1, wherein connectors connect the handle to the locking member, the connectors being received in channels in an inner surface of the hollow valve body, the channels acting as guides to guide the locking member between the release position and the locking position.