Patent ID: 7419190
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A universal water meter connector assembly comprising: (a) a hexagonal body having a head with external threads at one end, said hexagonal body having an internally threaded medial portion and an internally threaded end portion at an end of said hexagonal body that is opposite said one end, said internally threaded medial portion having threads of a first size and said internally threaded end portion having threads of a second size, said first sized threads smaller than said second sized threads; (b) an open ended, hollow cone-shaped member having a wide opening at one end and a narrow opening at an opposite end, a rim at said wide end; (c) an internally tapered seat formed at an open end of said head, said internally tapered seat is configured to receive said cone-shaped member, said narrow end of said cone-shaped member is sized and shaped to mate with said internally tapered seat; (d) a gripper ring with a ring portion and fingers that depend inwardly and downwardly from said ring portion, said depending fingers positioned at an inner edge of said rim at said wide end of said cone-shaped member; and (e) a connector nut with an inwardly extending flange at an upper end, said connector nut formed with an internally threaded portion extending upwardly from a lower end of said connector nut toward said upper end, said internally threaded portion is sized to be threaded onto said external threads of said head, said cone-shaped member and said gripper ring positioned on said body and in said connector nut, said internal flange of said connector nut engaging said gripper ring and urging said ring portion against said cone-shaped member and urging said fingers inwardly of said rim when said connector nut is threaded onto said external threads of said head.