Retainer for check valve

{
  "publication_number": "US10295067B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Retainer for check valve",
  "abstract": "A retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body includes a continuous body, a first group of projections, and a second group of projections. The continuous body is configured to engage a slot of the valve body to secure the continuous body to the valve body. The continuous body is further configured to include an opening configured to receive a portion of the check valve. The first group of projections is configured to extend radially from the continuous body. The first group of projections is further configured to contact the valve body to limit rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body. The second group of projections is configured to extend axially from the continuous body. The second group of projections is further configured to engage at least one of the check valve and the valve body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body, the retainer comprising: a continuous body having an upper surface defining a first plane and a lower surface defining a second plane, and configured to engage a slot of the valve body upon rotation of the continuous body relative to the valve body to secure the continuous body to the valve body, wherein the continuous body includes an opening configured to receive a portion of the check valve; a first group of projections having an upper surface on the first plane and a lower surface on the second plane, and configured to contact the valve body to limit rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body; and a second group of projections extending axially from the continuous body and configured to engage at least one of the check valve and valve body; wherein the retainer is configured to be rotatable relative to the check valve.",
    "2. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 1, wherein the retainer is rotatable relative to the valve body to selectively engage the continuous body with a channel of the valve body.",
    "3. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 1, wherein the retainer is rotatable relative to the check valve to secure the continuous body to the check valve.",
    "4. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 1, wherein the continuous body has an annular shape.",
    "5. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 1, wherein the continuous body is flat.",
    "6. A valve assembly for a plumbing fixture, comprising: a valve body configured to be fluidly connected to a plumbing fixture, the valve body defining a cavity and a wall including a channel; a check valve disposed in the cavity and configured to selectively stop a flow of fluid through the valve assembly; and a retainer that includes: a continuous body that selectively engages the channel upon a first rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body and the check valve to couple the retainer to the valve body; a first group of projections configured to contact a stop of the valve body upon a second rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body and the check valve; and a second group of projections extending axially from the continuous body of the retainer and configured to radially deflect and engage at least one of the check valve and the valve body.",
    "7. The valve assembly for a plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein when the first group of projections contacts the stop, further rotation of the retainer in a direction toward the stop is prohibited by the stop.",
    "8. The valve assembly for a plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the second rotation of the retainer occurs over a greater distance than the first rotation of the retainer.",
    "9. The valve assembly for a plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the second group of projections engages a recess in the channel of the valve body.",
    "10. The valve assembly for a plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the outer edge of the continuous body of the retainer engages a slot of the valve body and an inner edge of the continuous body of the retainer engages a retention protrusion of the check valve.",
    "11. The valve assembly for a plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the continuous body has an annular shape.",
    "12. The valve assembly for a plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the continuous body is flat.",
    "13. A retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body for use within a plumbing fixture, the retainer comprising: a continuous body configured to engage a slot of the valve body upon rotation of the continuous body relative to the valve body to secure the continuous body to the valve body, wherein the continuous body includes an opening configured to receive a portion of the check valve; a first group of projections configured to contact the valve body to limit rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body; a second group of projections extending axially from the continuous body and configured to engage at least one of the check valve and valve body; and a group of tangs extending axially from the continuous body and configured to exert a force on the second group of projections upon radial displacement of the group of tangs; wherein the retainer is configured to be rotatable relative to the check valve.",
    "14. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein the retainer is rotatable relative to the valve body to selectively engage the continuous body with a channel in the valve body.",
    "15. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein the retainer is rotatable relative to the check valve to secure the continuous body to the check valve.",
    "16. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein the continuous body has an annular shape.",
    "17. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein the continuous body is flat.",
    "18. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein when the first group of projections contacts a stop of the valve body, further rotation of the retainer in a direction toward the stop is prohibited by the stop.",
    "19. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein the continuous body engages a channel in the valve body upon a first rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body; wherein the first group of projections are configured to contact the stop of the valve body upon a second rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body; and wherein the second rotation of the retainer occurs over a greater distance than the first rotation of the retainer.",
    "20. The retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body of claim 13, wherein the second group of projections engages a recess in a channel in the valve body."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present application relates generally to a retainer and a system for retaining a check valve in a valve body for use in a plumbing fixture. More particularly, the present application relates to a retainer having tangs, a first group of projections, a second group of projections, a continuous body and a hole.\n\nMachines, tools and numerous other types of structures and equipment often include movable components which are to be secured in place. To achieve this goal, use is sometimes made of retainers which are mounted on one component to form an artificial shoulder lying in the path of the other component, i.e., the retained part. Retainers are used in a variety of applications with grooved parts that are relatively movable axially of each other in order to limit or restrain the extent of such relative axial movement. In using a conventional design of a retainer, retaining ring, or snap ring, it is necessary for an operator to use tools to open the retainer. In some applications, retainers contain small recesses or holes in each side of the retainer body within which an operator can insert a special tool to open the retainer. Requiring the use of tools for the installation or removal of retainers is cumbersome and inefficient.\n\nA typical retainer is circular and includes the retainer body and end sections which are flat and coplanar with the retainer body. The end sections may include recesses, holes, pins, or other suitable means for manipulation through the use of a tool. Typical retainers are not built directly into assemblies and rather are installed by operators on an as-needed basis.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16K 5/08",
    "F16B 21/04",
    "F16K 15/00",
    "F16K 27/00",
    "F16K 27/0209",
    "F16K 27/06",
    "F16K 51/00",
    "F16L 37/08",
    "F16L 37/101",
    "F16L 37/24"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 21/04",
    "F16K 27/02",
    "F16K 27/06",
    "F16K 5/08",
    "F16L 37/08",
    "F16L 37/10",
    "F16L 37/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Kohler Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Steven D. Williams"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-08-12",
  "publication_date": "2019-05-21",
  "grant_date": "2019-05-21",
  "priority_date": "2015-08-19",
  "application_number": "US-201615236048-A",
  "family_id": "56851389",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}