Stop valve

Abstract

A stop valve includes a valve body, a multi shot resilient control sleeve, O-ring and handle. The control sleeve is molded to the valve stem to create an integral but separately molded fluid control member. Inlet line pressure resiliently biases the side walls of the control sleeve and a circumferential sealing flap formed thereon into sealing engagement with the valve bore to prevent leakage. The control sleeve consists of a hard plastic cylinder and a flexible barrel member molded as one consistent piece by a multishot molding process. The O-ring also serves as a backup seal to prevent leakage to atmosphere. A valve handle is secured to the valve by either a screw or a snap protrusion.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A valve for controlling fluid flow between a fluid inlet and a plumbing fixture, said valve comprising: 
 a valve body having a housing chamber with an inlet port in communication with the fluid inlet and an outlet port in communication with the plumbing fixture, said valve body including an aperture;    a valve member rotatably received within said valve body, said valve member including: 
 a valve stem extending through said aperture of said valve body to facilitate manipulation of said valve member within said valve body, said valve stem including an upper stem portion extending through said aperture and an increased diameter base portion, said valve stem having a substantially rigid material property to withstand axial twisting of said upper stem portion during manipulation of said valve member; and  
 a valve sleeve separately molded to said base portion to materially bond said valve sleeve to said valve stem such that said valve member includes distinct valve sleeve and valve stem whereby manipulation of said valve stem is transmitted directly to said valve sleeve, said valve sleeve including an inner chamber and an outlet port, said valve sleeve having elastomeric properties less rigid than said valve stem to facilitate expansion under fluid pressure within said inner chamber for improved sealing within said housing chamber of said valve body; and  
   a handle connected to said upper stem portion of said valve stem for selective manipulation of said valve member within said valve body.    
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The valve member as defined in  claim 11  wherein said upper stem portion of said valve stem includes a plurality of longitudinal splines, said cylindrical upper stem portion adapted to receive a handle to facilitate manipulation of said valve member.  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The valve member as defined in  claim 11  wherein said valve sleeve has a substantially cylindrical configuration with an outer surface conforming to an interior surface of the valve body, said valve sleeve having elastic properties such that fluid pressure within said sleeve chamber moves said outer surface into sealing contact with the interior surface of the valve body.  
   
   
       16 . The valve member as defined in  claim 15  wherein said valve sleeve includes at least one annular sealing lip engaging the interior surface of the valve body.  
   
   
       17 . The valve member as defined in  claim 15  and further comprising a pressure opening formed in said outer surface of said valve sleeve and in fluid communication with said sleeve chamber.  
   
   
       18 . The valve member as defined in  claim 17  wherein said pressure opening is an aperture formed in said wall of said valve sleeve.  
   
   
       19 . The valve member as defined in  claim 17  wherein said pressure opening is a groove formed in said outer surface of said valve sleeve and in communication with the interior of said valve sleeve.  
   
   
       20 . The valve member as defined in  claim 13  and further comprising a retainer ring coaxially mounted to said valve stem and valve sleeve, said retainer ring selectively engageable with the valve body to lockingly retain said vale member within the valve body.  
   
   
       21 . A valve member adapted to be rotatably received within a valve body to control the flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet of the valve body, said valve member comprising: 
 a valve stem having an upper stem portion extending from the valve body to facilitate manipulation of said valve member within the valve body and an enlarged diameter base portion, said valve stem having a substantially rigid material property to prevent torsional distortion of said upper stem portion upon rotation of the valve body; and    a valve sleeve molded around to encapsulate at least a portion of said base portion of said valve stem to materially bond said valve sleeve to said valve stem such that manipulation of said valve stem is transmitted to said valve sleeve through said base portion of said valve stem, said valve sleeve including at least one annular sealing lip engaging the interior surface of the valve body and an inner chamber with an outlet port, said valve sleeve being distinctly formed from said valve stem and having elastomeric properties less rigid than said valve stem to facilitate expansion under the fluid pressure within said inner chamber for improved sealing within the valve body.    
   
   
       22 . The valve member as defined in  claim 21  and further comprising an elastomeric retainer ring coaxially mounted to said valve stem and valve sleeve, said retainer ring selectively engageable with the valve body to lockingly retain said valve member within the valve body.