Patent ID: 7337797

Claim:
A method of making a unitary tube ball valve, said ball valve having an elongated tube with a cross-sectional area, a first, inlet end, a medial portion, and a second, outlet end, a ball valve assembly with an extension, said extension having threads on an outer surface, and a torus having an inner side and an outer side, said torus inner side having threads, said torus outer side having a groove, the torus inner side threads being coupled to the ball valve assembly extension with threads, said method comprising the steps of: a) altering said tube first, inlet end to have a cross-sectional area being smaller than said original cross-sectional area; b) inserting substantially all of said ball valve assembly into said tube medial portion via said second, outlet end; c) crimping said tube inwardly at a location corresponding to said torus groove so that said tube is coupled to said torus; d) rotating said extension with threads relative to said torus so that said ball valve assembly is compressed; and e) altering said tube second, outlet end to have a cross-sectional area being smaller than said original cross-sectional area.