Patent ID: 11959260
Assignee: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC E  F  Y | IPC E  F

Claim 13:
14. A nozzle cap spacer for a hydrant nozzle cap comprising:
a substantially planar spacer body defining an outer body edge; and
a resilient spacer spring arm extending from the outer body edge at a proximal arm end, the spacer spring arm configurable in an extended orientation and a compressed orientation, the spacer spring arm biased to the extended orientation;
wherein, in the extended orientation, the nozzle cap spacer defines a spacer length that is greater than a spacer width of the nozzle cap spacer, and in the compressed orientation, the nozzle cap spacer defines a substantially circular shape wherein the spacer length is about equal to the spacer width; and
wherein:
a slot is defined between the spacer spring arm and the outer body edge;
in the extended orientation, a width of the slot increases towards a distal arm end of the spacer spring arm;
the distal arm end is opposite the proximal arm end;
a joint is formed between the spacer spring arm and the spacer body;
a notch is formed at the joint; and
a width of the notch is greater than the width of the slot between the proximal arm end and the outer body edge.