Abstract:
A side inlet is provided on a valve assembly about which inlet the assembly is rotatable and the valve assembly is rotatable to prevent damage thereto upon impact or force imposed on the valve assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Quick coupling valve assemblies have long been known in the prior art and have generally embodied coaxial bottom inlets for water or other liquid.  
         [0002]     An elongate member has generally been secured to a valve base and enables valve assembly rotation about a vertical axis.  
         [0003]     Such prior art valve assemblies are subject to damage, leakage and unwanted discharge of water upon impact as by a vehicle, golf cart, vandalism, etc. Such damages result from the impact upon the valve assembly damaging the water input means at the bottom of the assembly.  
         [0004]     The present invention provides a valve assembly having a side inlet instead of the prior art vertically oriented inlet. The valve assembly is rotatably threadedly mounted on the side inlet so that upon impact or a blow on the apparatus it rotates about the side inlet instead of being damaged or broken, and the valve assembly remains functional.  
         [0005]     The present invention provides a side inlet on a valve assembly for liquid intake about which inlet the assembly is rotatable. The valve assembly is rotatable to prevent damage thereto upon impact or force being imposed on the valve assembly.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a valve assembly according to the invention disposed on a conventional swing joint riser for positioning the valve in three-dimensional space;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the invention wherein a valve side inlet of the invention is threadedly connected with an inlet conduit;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of a side inlet according to the invention connected with a threaded nipple on a conduit;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of an inlet portion of the valve assembly wherein the inlet has square threads to receive a conduit with similar threads;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the invention wherein a conduit member has an annular flange engaging the valve assembly side inlet, with components secured together by a clamp member;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a valve assembly according to the invention in closed configuration; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is an elevational sectional view of a preferred embodiment of  FIG. 6  wherein the side inlet is threadedly connected with an inlet conduit member.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0014]     The present invention embodies a side inlet  12  instead of a conventional vertically oriented inlet.  
         [0015]     Illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 5  are respective embodiments of interconnections between a valve side inlet  12  and respective liquid input components.  FIG. 2  illustrates a side inlet  12  threadedly connected with an input conduit member  14 .  FIG. 3  shows a side inlet  12  and a threaded end portion of a conduit nipple  15 , a flanged end portion  16  of which is disposed in an annular groove in a threaded end portion of a water conduit  18 .  FIG. 4  shows a valve side inlet  20  having square threads to receive a similarly threaded conduit end portion  22 , with a resilient annular seal between the side inlet and the conduit end portion.  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment wherein a conduit member  24  has an annular flange  26  which engages and end portion of a valve side inlet  30 , these components being retained together by a retaining clamp member  28 , as shown.  
         [0016]     In the operation and use of the valve assembly according to the invention, the assembly is actuated in conventional manner to effect the dispensing or spray of water by pushing downwardly on and rotating the valve key handle  32 , referring to  FIG. 7 , to engage a key lug member  34 . The key handle is turned 90° to 180° to engage the key lug member. Like valve assemblies of the prior art, the valve assembly of the invention cannot become unscrewed in the manner of valve assemblies of the prior art, Such unscrewing about the longitudinal axis typically occurs after a long period of service and wear or through vandalism. The probability of conventional valve assemblies becoming loosened and disengaged substantially increases after a long period of service or through vandalism. Such loosening and disengagement result in failure, with leakage, water gushers, and possible injury to persons and damage to property.  
         [0017]     A valve assembly of the invention, upon impact thereon, rotates about the side inlet  12  on which it is threadedly mounted, typically through a substantial angle up to 90°, and the valve assembly is thus not seriously damaged by a blow from an impact or by vandalism.  
         [0018]     The swivel inlet according to the invention, provides safe operation with no added cost of separate stabilizers which otherwise would be required.  
         [0019]     It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.