Patent ID: 8651452

Claim:
A valve comprising: a handle extending laterally from and supported on a valve body for rotation about an axis for rotating a valve member thereabout through a range of rotary movement, and a detent mechanism having a detent element disposed on the handle and movable along an arcuate path about the axis as the handle is rotated thereabout, the detent mechanism being configured so as to be selectably operable for moving the detent element between an unlocking position and a locking position; a notch plate supported on the valve body and extending generally laterally relative to the axis adjacent to the handle, the notch plate including a generally arcuate radial outer periphery located between the handle and the detent element of the detent mechanism generally coextensive with the arcuate path and including a plurality of intermediate notches therealong disposed for cooperatively receiving and holding the detent element when in the locking position and aligned therewith, respectively, each of the intermediate notches being open in a radially outwardly facing direction and in a first axial direction only so as to be enclosed in an axial direction opposite the first axial direction, and the detent element being releasable from the intermediate notches, respectively, by movement to the unlocking position; and wherein at least one of the intermediate notches is disposed on a radial outer tip of a radially extending finger of the notch plate, bounding at least one through notch extending completely through the notch plate.